When women of all colors join forces, they can prove the table is big enough for all. To get there, substantive, meaningful conversations and connections need to flourish among women, backed by a clear, data-driven understanding of allyship in the entertainment and music industries.

That’s why JukeJoint Foundation and A Seat at the Table, both projects led by music executive, entrepreneur, and researcher Janishia Jones, have launched allyship events, where women can come together, learn, and support each other in a shared quest for real change. After a successful event in LA, co-hosted by MAX&FRIENDS and sponsored by Stem, Jones and her fellow JukeJoint members are bringing the conversation to Nashville for a May 17th event at the JW Marriott designed to coincide with the Music Business Conference.

“So many are wanting to align themselves with allyship yet have no insight into meaningful ways to engage,” says Jones. “While most women share similar challenges in the workplace, many don’t realize how their connections and resources can support their sisters facing less than equitable systems. These events help build a bridge towards creating a safe space for all.”

Cocktails & Conversations will be more than a free-wheeling networking session, but will incorporate learning and structured conversation to ensure deeper connections. Jones will present this year’s results from A Seat at the Table, a research project capturing data and experiences of women of color in the music business, to support open discussion and to find common cause.

This event will be based on a model that has evolved in collaboration with allies such as Amanda Schupf, the founder of MAX Music Management & Consulting, a trusted advisor to leading businesses and creatives in the music business, bridging the gap between music talent & rights and music tech. Schupf regularly holds curated dinners called MAX&FRIENDS focused on meaningful community building in the music industry. For the third iteration of the series, Schupf joined forces with Jones and Stem Disintermedia to nurture real allyship. 

The results were eye opening and inspiring for participants. “When I first started these dinners, I didn't know what impact I could have, but I knew I wanted to create spaces where everyone felt included and heard, and could make purposeful business connections. At this event, Janishia and I were able to have an impact collectively, and now we have a template to have an impact on the industry,” Schupf reflects. “We sat down in a circle and Janishia went through her findings. We talked through the points and talked about our experiences as women, both white and of color, in a much deeper way.” 

"We were thrilled to be included as partners and to have the opportunity to participate in the conversation,” notes Kristin Graziani, President of Stem, which sponsored the LA event. “I find that small intimate gatherings like this are beneficial for more authentically understanding, learning and conceptualizing actions we can put into place and ways in which we can be allies to women of color in music and entertainment specifically."

“It felt validating to be in a room full of women who share the experiences and are dealing with the same barriers I've faced as a woman of color in the entertainment industry. It let me know that I am not alone or ‘in my head’ about the opposition I've faced while navigating this business,” reflects Timea Gaines of Love Life Media and SheROCKS. “It was also empowering to have so many women ready to lean in and have the hard conversations respectfully, while also offering solutions and the resources their privilege has afforded them. I am so grateful to JukeJoint Foundation and MAX for curating this safe space for women like me.”

About Janishia Jones 

Janishia Jones has led a decade-long career working for some of the most revered music companies in the world including SRC / Universal Motown, eOne, Kobalt Music Publishing and EMPIRE. In 2019, Janishia founded Fresh 'N Sassy Productions, an ecosystem of safe-spaces for women of color in the music business. In 2022, Janishia launched ENCORE Music Tech Solutions, where she consults & develops rights management systems for music enterprises. She is also a member of the Recording Academy’s class of ‘22, a musician/ singer-songwriter, activist and philanthropist. 

About JukeJoint Foundation

JukeJoint Foundation was founded in 2022 as a community for women of color in the music industry to receive funding for scholarships, grants, and access to events across the music industry. The Foundation provides the music industry with access to a qualified diverse talent pool while also creating mentorship, networking, and job opportunities.

Janishia Jones hosts in-depth, thought-provoking discussions with women of color in the music business in a podcast that aims to build community and inspire transformation.

Pub Royalty Queen Podcast returns with Season 3, highlighting diverse female voices in various sectors of the music industry. Meaningful conversations with women of color leading the music industry are hosted by Janishia Jones, founder of ENCORE Music Tech and co-founder of JukeJoint Foundation, a non-profit that supports networking, funding and professional development for women of color in music.

Jones talks candidly with established executives, brilliant young minds, and passionate entrepreneurs making an impact on the music business. Each episode shines a light on the wisdom skilled women from marginalized groups have gleaned from making their way in an industry often unaware of their perspectives and hopes. Though designed specifically to speak to women of color, insights abound for anyone interested in the music industry and how to show support.

“While women of color are the culture creators of the world, they are often isolated in these rooms as the only representatives from their communities. I saw all these amazing women around me in music who exemplified cultural leadership, yet are overlooked for opportunities or worse yet, tokenized,” explains Jones. “I started Pub Royalty Queen in an effort to amplify their voices and create a safe space to commiserate about their experiences while navigating a white male-dominated industry.”

Season 3 at a glance

E1. Tina Davis (SVP, A&R - EMPIRE)
E2. Brittney King Brock (CEO, King Creative Group)
E3. Chlon Rogers (CEO, Checkmate Business Management)
E4. Drea Jackson (Artist & Label Partnerships Manager - Soundcloud)
E5. Ladidai (Talent Manager / Director Social & Partnerships - Campfire)
E6. Christine Osazuwa (CSO - Shoobs / Founder, Measure of Music)
E7. Lisa Robinson (VP, Community & Social Engagement - Downtown Music Holdings)
E8. Angie K (Manager, Marketing & Brand Strategy - Audiomack)
E9. Dre Wallace (CEO - Opnr)
E10. Kristine Mbadugha (Independent Music Partnerships - YouTube)

Pub Royalty Queen builds on Jones’ mission to shine a light on women of color’s lives and careers in music. The podcast provides an anecdotal look at diverse womens’ perspectives, supplementing Jones’ data-driven project, A Seat at the Table, presented at SXSW this March. All of these efforts reinforce Jones’ ultimate goal: to build a community that wins together.

 "Women of color advocate for each other in many ways. Industry veterans pay it forward by offering support to the next generation in the form of mentorship, while the new generation are cross-collaborating on projects adopting a ‘win together’ mentality,” reflects Jones. “Pub Royalty Queen Podcast turns the competitiveness on its head; seeing ourselves in each other gives us the space to acknowledge each other's accomplishments and contributions. We're creating a ‘girls club’ within the ‘boys club.’"

Listen to the Pub Royalty Queen Podcast wherever you find your podcasts, or start here.

New nonprofit organization seeks to promote professional development of women of color in the music industry through networking, programming initiatives, and funding.

Janishia Jones, a music industry executive and entrepreneur, founded JukeJoint Foundation (jukejointfoundation.org) with a clear mission: to celebrate and support women of color working in the music business. The organization is dedicated to promoting greater inclusion of women of color in the industry and advancing equity in decision-making processes.

“Women of color are the culture creators of the world, yet we are seldom driving the narratives to our own stories,” explains Jones. “The value of women of color in the music industry cannot be overstated, despite being underrepresented. Though there is only one black female music executive for every 18 white male music executives, it is evident that diverse perspectives are crucial in generating larger profits and reaching wider audiences. The scarcity of people of color in this business only highlights the value add they bring.”

The current board members of JukeJoint Foundation - including Candace Newman, CEO of Live Out L!ve; Britnee Foreman, Head of Data Strategy at Exceleration Music; Katrina Lee, Operations Manager at Jammcard; and Daphnee Pierre, Head of Finance at Mass Appeal - bring with them extensive experience in the nonprofit sector, particularly in the areas of youth development, women's empowerment, and supporting music industry professionals.

JukeJoint Foundation aims to revolutionize the music industry by removing the barriers that prevent marginalized groups from succeeding. Beyond raising cultural awareness and sensitivities - they are working to tackle the practical challenges that limit the professional potential of women of color.

“Through my research study, A Seat at the Table, I’ve been able to pinpoint several concrete issues women of color face in the music business by analyzing the data. Though they are the most educated, the majority take on student loan debt to finance their education and enter via unpaid internships which creates a direct economic disadvantage,” Jones notes. “In a relationship-driven industry, the most significant barrier to entry is the lack of direct connections or access to the same resources of white counterparts. With programming and initiatives aimed at addressing these and other specific challenges, we can make a lasting impact on the music business.”

JukeJoint Foundation will help women of color forge key professional connections via access to music industry events, scholarships to assist student members in repaying student loan debt, and grants to aid in the launch of their own music businesses. It plans to open chapters in New York, Atlanta, and Nashville, in addition to LA. Potential members and sponsors can reach out to the Foundation at jukejointfoundation.org.

FOUNDING MEMBERS MEETUP
TIME: 5PM PST
DATE: Saturday, March 4, 2023
PLACE: Harriet’s Rooftop
WHO: Networking with purpose: a meet & greet for the JukeJoint Foundation's Founding Members, Prospective Members, and Board Members

About Janishia Jones 

Janishia Jones has led a decade-long career working for some of the most revered music companies in the world including SRC / Universal Motown, eOne, Kobalt Music Publishing and EMPIRE. In 2019, Janishia founded Fresh 'N Sassy Productions, an ecosystem of safe-spaces for women of color in the music business. In 2022, Janishia launched ENCORE Music Tech Solutions, where she consults & develops rights management systems for music enterprises. She is also a member of the Recording Academy’s class of ‘22, a musician/ singer-songwriter, activist and philanthropist. 

About JukeJoint Foundation

JukeJoint Foundation was founded in 2022 as a community for women of color in the music industry to receive funding for scholarships, grants, and access to events across the music industry. The Foundation provides the music industry with access to a qualified diverse talent pool while also creating mentorship, networking, and job opportunities.

New woman of color-founded music tech consultancy celebrates its launch with its first client, working with the publishing arm to scale and improve performance across royalty payment, reporting, sync, and other complex systems.

ENCORE Music Tech Solutions is announcing its recent relationship with EMPIRE Publishing, the new company’s first enterprise customer. Founded by experienced royalties/rights management specialist and systems architect Janishia Jones, ENCORE Music Tech Solutions is working to ensure EMPIRE’s business systems are ready for the next era of tech transformation.

“I am thrilled to work with EMPIRE to streamline their business processes and build the tools they need,” says Jones. “This relationship validates ENCORE Music Tech Solutions' ability to produce high level products & demonstrates EMPIRE's commitment to supporting diversity in music and tech.”

ENCORE Music Tech Solutions has helped create crucial systems for EMPIRE Publishing, including solutions to better manage agreements, financial accounts, and copyrights.

Jones launched ENCORE Music Tech Solutions after a decade of hands-on experience at some of the biggest names in music and publishing, including Motown, eOne, and Kobalt. She sees a significant gap between the demands of music business processes and the tech required to manage them. As the pace of innovation increases, the need to address this gap grows. 

“As we edge toward web3, there’s an urgency to figuring out how to define and incorporate new technology into the business so major players can be part of this era,” Jones explains. “Some of the larger music companies I have worked with were bogged down with antiquated systems. Sometimes, they haven’t done much development work since the 1990s.”

From startups to storied major labels, “Rights management is a huge issue across the board,” notes Jones, “And with decentralized platforms emerging, figuring out how to organize data and streamline workflows is a primary focus.” Along with large music companies, ENCORE Music Tech Solutions plans to consult with a wide range of businesses that need new tools and new knowhow in managing data and rights. 

Beyond support for her clients, Jones, a woman of color, hopes to use ENCORE Music Tech Solutions to shine a light on another important issue facing the music industry: the lack of BIPOC at the intersection of music and technology. “Part of my mission is to bring awareness to the operations and tech side, where you don’t see many people of color, but where you can often find a work/life balance you don’t see on the creative side,” Jones says. “By launching a black-owned consultancy, I can make an impact and work to change this.”

About ENCORE Music Tech Solutions

ENCORE Music Tech Solutions (encoremusic.tech) offers system architecture, design, development, and implementation aimed at scaling business operations within the music industry. CEO / Consultant, Janishia Jones has led a decade-long career working in business operational roles for some of the most revered music companies in the world. ENCORE Music Tech Solutions builds proprietary systems and integrates complex models that expand operations for your highest ROI.

About Janishia Jones 

Janishia Jones has led a decade-long career working for some of the most revered music companies in the world including SRC / Universal Motown, eOne, Kobalt Music Publishing and EMPIRE. In 2019, Janishia founded Fresh 'N Sassy Productions, an ecosystem of safe-spaces for women of color in the music business. In 2022, Janishia launched ENCORE Music Tech Solutions, where she consults & develops rights management systems for music enterprises. She is also a member of the Recording Academy’s class of ‘22, a musician/ singer-songwriter, activist and philanthropist.