Festival Republic launch ReBalance for emerging women and non-binary artists: “I hope that more people give them the same opportunity”

nme.com:

NME about the launch of their new ReBalance initiativ eand his commitment to supporting emerging women and non-binary artists..The festival boss, who is behind Reading & Leeds, Download and more, spoke to NME around the relaunch ReBalance – a year-long development programme that provides opportunities to women and gender-expansive artists throughout the UK.Initially, the programme was launched in 2017 and ran for three years, before ultimately being shelved due to COVID.

Now, six up-and-coming acts have been announced as participating in the revamped 2024 programme, and are set to receive expert mentorship in the studio, as well as a guaranteed slot at a Festival Republic event in 2025.“I launched it in 2017 because it was apparent — and continues to be apparent — that there is an insufficient number of women and non-binary people getting into recording studios and getting their albums made to the standard where they can get airplay,” Benn told NME, explaining how the initiative looks to offer more than just the opportunity to perform on a festival stage.“It’s the easiest thing in the world to just put more women and non-binary people on a stage at a festival, but if the audience don’t know them, they won’t receive them well and that won’t do their career any good,” he continued.