Festival Republic relaunches ReBalance initiative for women and gender-expansive UK artists

Festival Republic has announced six gender-inclusive UK artists to participate in their industry development programme for 2024.

ReBalance, a year-long initiative supporting up-and-coming artists, provides acts with five days of studio time and a guaranteed slot at a Festival Republic event in 2025.

The selected acts this year are Mary O’Donnell, Sprout, Bebeluna, samxemma, cruush and Red Ivory.

Melvin Benn, the Managing Director of Festival Republic, said: “We'll be investing in emerging artists, offering practical support at a pivotal stage in their careers.

“This includes providing them with tools, connections and a commitment to a festival booking at one of our events.”

The selected artists will be offered support by industry experts in the form of mentorship and educational days in both London and Manchester, culminating in a showcase at the end of the year.

Each act will be paired with a producer and studio for a recording project, and their studio time will be led or assisted by a female or gender-expansive professional.

A spokesperson from Festival Republic explained: “This will foster an inclusive environment in which all artists can thrive.

“Rebalance aims to address some of the challenges along the new music pipeline journey, while providing crucial, tangible support to emerging talent.”

The project was initially launched in 2017 and occurred for three consecutive years before the pandemic in 2020.

Gender disparity is prevalent in the music industry, with only one in ten festival headliners in the UK being women or non-binary in summer 2023, according to research from the BBC.

Further research by the Music Producers Guild revealed that 90% of female respondents felt discriminated against because of their sex or gender during their careers.

Ellie Adams, a researcher into women’s safety at live music events, said: “By investing in female and non-binary artists from the grassroots all the way to the large festival line ups, we hope to see a shift away from the misogynistic culture that clouds the music industry.

“Additionally, festival organisers have an important role in ensuring gender representation in their workforce.”

Festival Republic’s project focuses on both aspect’s described by Adams, ensuring female and non-binary artists and producers are supported through the scheme.

She explained that attitudes at the top of the industry influence and impact behaviour of attendees at live music events.

Mary O’Donnell, one of the selected artists for 2024, announced the news on her social media accounts.

She said: “This amazing project by Festival Republic is aiming to create change both on-stage, and in the studio.”

Initiatives such as ReBalance supporting young gender-inclusive artists within the industry is a small step towards change on a wider scale.

You can read more about the ReBalance project on their site.