The recruitment for the Keychange Talent Leadership programme has concluded.
The recruitment for the Keychange Talent Leadership programme has concluded. Partnered with the East of Culture – Different Sounds Festival, this initiative focuses on developing leadership skills and increasing regional diversity within the music industry. This year, 44 individuals from across Europe and Canada have joined the movement.
What is Keychange?
Keychange is a pioneering international initiative that transforms music’s future by encouraging festivals and music organisations to achieve at least 50% women and gender-diverse individuals in their programming, staffing and beyond. It aims to accelerate change and create a more inclusive music industry for present and future generations.
In 2019, the East of Culture – Different Sounds Festival—one of Poland’s most inspiring and discovery-oriented music events—joined the ranks of this extraordinary initiative’s signatories. Two years later, it became the official Polish partner of the network. This partnership has shaped our mission, centering the festival’s growth on the criteria of ever-increasing inclusivity. Consequently, audiences have spent recent years witnessing female artists and innovators who are active participants in the international movement to support women and minorities in European musical life.
What is Talent Leadership Programme (TLP)?
Launched in 2024 as part of Keychange, the Talent Leadership Programme (TLP) is a training scheme funded by Creative Europe and facilitated by Artist in Bloom. Its goal is to support talent from underrepresented groups in building a more accessible music industry.
This year’s cohort features an exceptional group: from DEI&A pioneers and activists to senior executives from companies such as Universal Music Group, Eurosonic Noorderslag (ESNS), and Mundial Montréal. The programme offers international support and knowledge exchange, turning report findings into a tangible investment in early- and mid-career leaders. It is a concrete step toward equitable representation and cross-border collaboration. The programme will run until April 2027. Any music organization can join these efforts by signing the Keychange Pledge.
From 255 applications for the 2026 programme, 44 female and male leaders representing 25 European countries and Canada were selected. Poland is well-represented in this edition by Ewa Wodzyńska and Natalia Hoffmann-Pawlak. Such a diverse regional delegation amplifies voices from areas identified in the Pledge report as underrepresented, promoting participation that goes beyond typical Western European, festival-centric patterns.
Responding to real-world challenges
The programme is a direct response to the findings of the Manifesto and the Keychange Pledge 2023–2025 reports. The latter, which analyzed data from hundreds of organizations, indicates that while half are actively working toward gender equality, significant disparities persist across regions, sectors, and identities.
The report also confirms that Western European organizations lead the way in action and reporting, while engagement from Eastern and Central European institutions remains lower. Efforts to integrate diverse groups into professional life—particularly regarding race, class, accessibility, and socioeconomic factors—are progressing slowly.
Against this backdrop, this year’s group serves as a calculated response to these issues: a geographically diverse team of professionals ready to deepen inclusivity and strengthen leadership throughout the entire music ecosystem.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA)
The primary selection criterion was Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA). The process was overseen by 55 recruiters and eight independent jury members. The result is a clear shift toward leaders who already possess established knowledge and practice in DEIA. Half of the selected participants (50%) are professionals aged 35–44, demonstrating that the programme engages leaders at a crucial stage of their career development.
“Our recruiters, jury, and participants reflect a wide range of experiences, including the perspectives of women and gender-diverse individuals from around the world. 25% of participants come from Global Majority backgrounds. Another vital element is professional diversity: from the live sector, event management, and publishing to advocacy, labels, and creators—artists and producers make up 15% of the group,” says Christina Hazboun, Advocacy and Knowledge Manager at Keychange.
Talent Leadership 2026 in Numbers
60% of participants identify as LGBTQIA+ (an increase from 47.2% at the application stage).
25% are individuals with disabilities or chronic conditions, whose accessibility needs are supported by dedicated grants.
All selected leaders have at least five years of industry experience, ensuring they have the capacity to truly influence systems, culture, and strategic changes within their organizations.
The group includes experts in event organisation, artist support, production, and management. Their presence responds to the industry’s call for structural change. By reaching individuals from previously overlooked regions, Keychange is turning theory into concrete action.
Join: keychange.eu/the-keychange-pledge
More info: keychange.eu
Partners
Alongside the East of Culture – Different Sounds Festival / Workshops of Culture in Lublin, the programme partners include: Reeperbahn Festival, Shiftworks/Tallinn Music Week, Musikcentrum Öst, Keychange (ASBL), Music Export Poland, SACEM, Oslo World, Artist in Bloom, PRS Foundation, FACTOR, SOCAN Foundation, STIM, Swedish Arts Council, GEMA, Pro Helvetia, and Talent Norge.