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<\/p>\nPresident and CEO of Femme It Forward<\/i>\u00a0<\/i><\/b>to Support Advancement of Nonprofit\u2019s Music Industry Education Programs for <\/i>Underrepresented Youth<\/i><\/p>\n
(LOS ANGELES \u2013 October 2, 2020) <\/b>\u2014 The Music Forward Foundation today announced Heather Lowery,\u00a0president and CEO of Femme It Forward, has been elected to the nonprofit\u2019s board of directors.<\/p>\n
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Lowery joins current Music Forward Foundation board members Ron Bension, president, Venues, Live Nation;\u00a0Michael Grozier, executive vice president, Venues, Live Nation; Eric Lassen, deputy general counsel, Live Nation; Emily Simonitsch, senior vice president talent, Live Touring and Talent, Live Nation; Patti-Anne Tarlton, chairman, Ticketmaster Canada and executive vice president of venues and promoters for North America; Kathy Willard, chief financial officer, Live Nation; and Nurit Siegel Smith, executive director, Music Forward.<\/p>\n
Music Forward\u2019s next generation programs- now in the digital world -provide information, tools, access, and opportunity to high-school and college-aged young people in order to break the barriers of gender, poverty, and race to enter the music industry. Music Forward is unyielding in its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The organization is focused on addressing gender and racial parities in the industry through its free community programs and through incorporating diverse perspectives and experiences across the institution. Additionally, the charity administers and manages industry initiatives like Crew Nation, the global relief fund for live music crews, that has raised $15 million to support crew members who have been affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n
A strategist, creative visionary, power-negotiator and dealmaker, Heather Lowery was recently appointed through her new joint venture partnership with Live Nation, as the\u00a0president and CEO of Femme It Forward, the revolutionary multi-format music and entertainment company whose mission is to celebrate, educate and empower women.<\/p>\n
Femme It Forward, which Lowery launched during her time as vice president of Talent and Touring at Live Nation Urban in 2019, has produced more than 20 concerts and panel sessions featuring performances by Cardi B, Jill Scott, Jorja Smith, City Girls and Brandy, along with newcomers like Kiana Led\u00e9 and Nicole Bus. The series notably donates a portion of every ticket sold directly to charities supporting women in music education, career development, empowerment, homelessness, domestic abuse and incarceration.\u00a0Femme it Forward\u2019s recent Brandy vs Monica \u2018Verzuz\u2019 was a record-breaking event that generated more than 6 million views, 1.9 million tweets, and\u00a0raised more than $250,000 for\u00a0When We All Vote<\/i>.<\/p>\n
As an integral part of the Live Nation Urban team, Lowery was essential in bringing the world RapCaviar Live, in partnership with Spotify, bringing the likes of Chance the Rapper, Migos, Cardi B, and Juice WRLD to their fans. She also played large roles in producing Broccoli City Festival, The Roots Picnic, and launched Atlantic Records Presents, the first ever HBCU Tour where she booked several homecoming concerts for HBCUs and other colleges. Additionally, with her team at Live Nation Urban, Lowery produced several festivals including the three-day sold out BETX experience, the three-day inaugural SuperBowl Music Fest, H.E.R.\u2019s inaugural Lights on Festival, as well as the largest ever Lil Weezyana Festival amongst several other monumental events in the hip hop, R&B and gospel space.\u00a0Lowery was honored on Pollstar\u2019s inaugural \u201cWomen of Live\u201d and “Impact 50\u201d in 2020 and Billboard\u2019s “Women in Music,” “New Power\u00a0Generation 25 Top Innovators,\u201d and \u201cR&B Hip-Hop Power Players\u201d in 2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cI especially want the\u00a0young women who don\u2019t normally see\u00a0themselves in\u00a0positions of influence\u00a0to feel\u00a0empowered and inspired to\u00a0use their gifts and voices to enter\u00a0and contribute to a more equitable and inclusive\u00a0entertainment industry culture.\u201d\u00a0said Lowery. \u201cI am excited to join Music Forward\u2019s board of directors and eager to work together on removing barriers to enter the music\u00a0industry\u00a0and\u00a0harnessing our power and passion to elevate our communities.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHeather is an incredible addition to the Music Forward board of directors as an influential leader in the industry,\u201d said Kathy Willard, Music Forward board member. \u201cHer experience, expertise, and vision bring great value to the board as we work together to further the mission and impact of the organization.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are thrilled to welcome Heather to our board of directors,\u201d said Nurit Siegel Smith, executive director. \u201cShe will bring energy and a focus on strategic alliances to our board and strengthen Music Forward\u2019s commitment to enhancing mission-critical solutions to better serve our young people, our communities, and the industry we serve.\u201d<\/p>\n
As part of the House of Blues and Live Nation Entertainment family, the Music Forward Foundation\u00a0is focused on providing young people from diverse, underrepresented communities interested in music industry careers with artist development, educational, and mentoring programs.\u00a0It has impacted over one million lives and invested $25 million in transformational music programs during the last 25 years.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"