Universal Music, the UK’s leading music company have partnered with the National Portrait Gallery for an exclusive insight into the music business with Rebecca Allen, President of Decca Records and singer-songwriter Imelda May, one of biggest-selling UK female artists of the year.
The discussion is aimed at anyone wanting to break into the music industry – on and off stage – and will include the opportunity to meet both Rebecca and Imelda.
The event forms part of the Mayor of London’s Sounds Like London festival, a celebration of the capital’s grassroots venues, up-and-coming talent and music heritage. In the year of the centenary of the women’s vote, Sounds Like London also highlights the important contribution made by women in the music industry.
It takes part during Rebel Women, the National Portrait Gallery’s year-long season of events in 2018 to mark the centenary of women gaining the vote in Britain.
Biographies
Rebecca Allen
After studying at the Trinity College of Music in London, Rebecca Allen started her career at the BBC where she worked with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and then the BBC Proms. She joined Universal Classics & Jazz in 1999 as Press Assistant, later rising to the role of Director of Media, and she remained with the label after it was renamed Decca Records in 2009. Allen was promoted to General Manager in 2012, Managing Director in 2014 and then to President of Decca Records Group UK in 2017 – becoming the first woman to lead the label in its long and distinguished history. Since taking the helm, she has signed major artists including legendary film composer Ennio Morricone and Norwegian songstress Aurora; she has put UK country music in the spotlight with the success of The Shires; she has helped bring jazz to a wider audience with Gregory Porter and Melody Gardot; and she has championed young classical stars such as Nicola Benedetti, Sheku Kanneh-Mason and Milos. She continues to work closely with many high profile artists including Rod Stewart, Andrea Bocelli, The Lumineers, Ludovico Einaudi and Alfie Boe. Rebecca also sits on the board of Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance
Imelda May
Imelda May, born and raised in The Liberties area of Dublin, has become one of Ireland’s most celebrated female artists. Discovered by Jools Holland, who asked Imelda to support him on tour, she has gone on to perform alongside such legends as Lou Reed, Robert Plant, Van Morrison and Jeff Beck, and can count an array of eminent artists including Bob Dylan and Bono as fans and friends. Imelda has headlined at some of the most prestigious venues in the world, including London’s Royal Albert Hall, as well as appearing on high-profile TV series such as The Graham Norton Show and Jay Leno. The gifted singer, songwriter and producer has three Top 10 albums to her name, all released on Decca. Her most recent, ‘Life. Love. Flesh. Blood’, released in 2017 and produced by T Bone Burnett, garnered critical acclaim across the media and secured Imelda’s position as one of the biggest-selling UK female artists of the year.
Tickets can be bought here.