Berlin/Manchester: WOMEX – the Worldwide Music Expo has revealed the official Jury members for this year. From all the submissions that are being made from around the globe (call for proposals is currently open, more info below), this year’s selected Jury will handpick the Showcase and Conference Programme for the special 30th-anniversary edition of WOMEX in Manchester, UK, from October 23rd to 27th, 2024.

WOMEX is committed to representing the diverse music and its vibrant community with fairness and equity at its core. Given the proposals’ rich diversity in style, genre, and personality, it’s fitting that the judges themselves come from varied backgrounds within the music industry, ensuring a diverse perspective and fair representation of global music communities. Each Jury member represents a unique knowledge and expertise as the Jury plays a crucial role in maintaining the high standards and diversity of the music presented at WOMEX. Comprising five women and two men representing eight countries, they are artistic directors, label managers, music programmers, booking agencies, record labels, live venues, festival directors, DJs, radio broadcasters, and more.

The Club Summit lineup is meticulously curated by an independent curator in collaboration with the WOMEX team, which will be announced in the coming weeks.

The Showcase Jury:

  • Annamaija Saarela (Finland), CEO, G Livelab Tampere
     
  • Danka van Dodewaard (The Netherlands), director, Amsterdam Roots Festival; board member, Forum of Worldwide Music Festivals (FWMF)
     
  • David Agnew (UK), artistic director, Sound Roots/English Folk Expo
     
  • Juan Souki (Venezuela/USA), executive director, Mid Atlantic Arts
     
  • Leïla Chaibeddra (Algeria/France), director, Tartine Production

The Conference Jury:

  • Dr. Erica K. Smith (Barbados), CEO, Copyright Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Inc.
     
  • Wozzy Brewster (UK), founder, executive director & artist manager, OBE FRSA

You can find additional information about the Jury here.

Statements from our Jury Members:

 

“I am honoured to come on board as one of the jury members this year, and I can’t wait to listen to the artists who applied to showcase for this 30th-anniversary edition. For years, WOMEX has been an inspiration, and being a jury member this year feels like a responsibility and a privilege.”

– Juan Souki (Venezuela/USA)

“WOMEX presents a unique opportunity for learning by providing a platform with diverse perspectives around key issues affecting the global music industry. This is the essential value of the conference sessions, and I look forward to it the most each time I attend WOMEX. It is an honour to serve as a jury member this year, although it will be challenging to pick from what I know will be many excellent and worthy proposals.”
– Erica K. Smith (Barbados)