LIMF Academy’s all-female music project underway

LIMF Academy has teamed up with the Ivors Academy Trust and PPL to deliver an all-female music project in Liverpool City Region as part of its 10-year anniversary celebrations. 

‘YES WE ARE!’ sees 12 female songwriters, composers, musicians, and producers undertake guided collaborative song creation and recording sessions at Kempston Street Studios in Liverpool, alongside an all-female team. 

The programme is facilitated by Ivor Novello Award winning singer-songwriter, Michelle Escoffery, alongside guest-facilitator, Låpsley – a singer, songwriter, musician, and producer who was born and raised the Liverpool City Region. 

Following two rounds of creative and recording sessions, which began in November, group members will attend a bespoke industry day at the Roundhouse in London this month, with some participants also offered the opportunity to perform at the acclaimed Kindred Showcase at the Southbank Centre in London in the following weeks.

The project aims to address gender equality in the UK music industry, from the perspective of both song writers and performers. It is delivered in partnership with Ivors Academy Trust, a charity focusing on making the craft of songwriting and composition accessible to everyone, alongside PPL – the UK music industry’s Collective Management Organisation (CMO), responsible for collecting music royalties on behalf of performers and recording rightsholders.

Despite a rise in women’s representation in mid-to-senior roles, and a higher proportion of women in the workforce overall, significant disparities still exist across the industry. Women remain underrepresented in senior leadership and specific roles like producers, engineers, and DJs, as well as in certain music genres. 

Data from 2020 found that only one in six people (16.7%) receiving streaming royalties as a songwriter or composer were women. Similarly, in 2023, the PRS Foundation noted that women made up just 17% of registered writers and music creators. Gender imbalance also persists in technical roles – in 2024, only 15% of live sound engineers and 12% of studio/mastering engineers were women. 

LIMF Academy is Liverpool City Council’s pioneering music talent development programme – founded in 2014 as part of Liverpool International Music Festival to showcase local talent, the Academy has become a vital part of Liverpool’s music ecosystem, bringing together creative development, industry access, personal growth, and performance opportunities. 

To date, it has supported over 200 emerging music creators, delivered more than 400 hours of professional expertise, and created over 220 workshops and teaching sessions – all free to the participants. 

Alongside ‘YES WE ARE!’, 2026 brings a further programme of impactful events and projects delivered by LIMF Academy.

In January, five pairs of Academy alumni came together to debut brand-new collaborations at Liverpool Philharmonic Music Room as part of ‘FOR THE LOVE…’ This powerful celebration of artistry and community featured KOJ & Astles, Tee & Michael Aldag, Ni Maxine & Immi Dash, Tonia & two blinks, i love you, and Amber Jay & Bethane.

Tomorrow, Saturday 7 February, Liverpool’s burgeoning Hip-Hop and Rap scene will take centre stage with acclaimed hometown rapper KOJ’s TRiBE event at the Philharmonic Music Room, presented in partnership by Africa Oyé and LIMF Academy.

Celebrating the genre’s diversity and depth, the lineup brings together standout talent from Liverpool and the wider city region – including KOJ, whose gritty yet eclectic UK rap blends grime influences with deeply personal storytelling, Philly D, a Ghana-born artist fusing drill, Afro-swing, Afrobeat and UK rap, and TEE, a key figure in the city’s Hip-Hop and Soul scene now stepping fully into his own emotionally driven solo project. All these artists came through the LIMF Academy talent development programme. 

Completing the bill is Amber Rose, an electrifying Scouse DJ known for her high-energy, multi-genre sets spanning reggae, dancehall, amapiano, UK funky and garage, who has already made waves with appearances on Boiler Room, BBC 1Xtra, and major club nights across the UK. Tickets are available from the Liverpool Philharmonic website.

This month also sees the launch of LIMF Academy Sound Sessions – a new series delivered in partnership with Pirate Studios’ ‘Studio For All Fund,’ created to develop, support and platform the next generation of under-represented DJs from Liverpool City Region. Through filmed DJ sessions, masterclasses, free rehearsal time and original content, the project shines a light on the depth, diversity and creativity of the city’s region’s DJs.

The Sound Sessions kick off with a run of DJ set episodes featuring Amber Rose, MYOHMY, Sharan Deep and YEAHITSRENEE, all presented by Hannah Lynch (Girls Don’t Sync). A DJ, producer and proud Liverpool native, Hannah brings her expertise and energy to the series, guiding audiences through each session while championing emerging talent.

As part of the project, Hannah Lynch will host a free DJ masterclass on 25 February at District Liverpool, open to anyone wanting to learn more about DJing. The evening will include hands-on DJ training and an open Q&A with Hannah, offering insight into her career and the wider music industry. From the attendees, Hannah will select four DJs to do a live filmed DJ session and receive mentorship as part of the LIMF Academy Sound Sessions.

Tickets for LIMF ACADEMY SOUND SESSIONS: An evening with Hannah Lynch are available via Skiddle.

Next up, LIMF Academy Orchestrated returns to Liverpool Philharmonic Music Room in March – bringing together musicians from Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Session Orchestra with the best of LIMF Academy’s artists. The annual showcase event celebrates the talented emerging music creators of our city and features specially arranged cross-genre originals and covers. More information and ticket details can be found on the Liverpool Philharmonic website.

For further information on LIMF Academy and its upcoming projects and events, follow @limfacademy on Instagram.

Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Culture, Councillor Harry Doyle, said: “LIMF Academy has done some incredible work over the past ten years to support local talent in launching and developing their careers, as well as building a fantastic community that promotes creativity and equality. 

“The YES WE ARE! project is another brilliant example of this – addressing the important issue of gender equality throughout the wider music industry and giving a platform to the remarkable female talent we have throughout our region. 

“We are looking forward to seeing the impact of this pioneering programme as well as all the other fantastic projects and events LIMF Academy has lined up this year.” 

Michelle Escoffery, Chair of Ivors Academy Trust and programme facilitator, said: “YES WE ARE! is about creating access, confidence, and long-term pathways for women and non-binary creators in music. When we bring people together in a supportive, collaborative environment, led by women, centred on skills and craft, and connected to real industry opportunities, the impact is transformative. This programme is not just about making songs, it’s about changing who gets to make them, how they are made, and who gets seen.” 

Sarah Wall, Senior Events and Partnerships Manager, PPL, said: “It is our absolute pleasure to support ‘YES WE ARE!’ through PPL Giving. We’ve long been admirers of LIMF Academy’s talent development programme and are excited to be part of its 10-year anniversary. ‘YES WE ARE!’ is an inspiring project with an important remit of promoting gender equality in the music industry.” 

Bethane, artist and programme participant, said: “Being part of the YES WE ARE! songwriting camp has been an amazing experience. I’ve gained so much knowledge and guidance, and working with Michelle was incredible – she created such a safe, supportive environment for all of us. Being in a room full of women felt really special, and I didn’t even realise how much I needed that space until I was in it.

“The project taught me how to communicate my ideas and feelings clearly, to ask for what I want creatively, and to not feel ashamed or ‘too much’. It felt genuinely safe and empowering and was a reminder as to why I love writing and performing music so much.

“The opportunities this project has opened up have been incredible, and I’m so grateful to be part of something that champions women and creativity in such a meaningful way.”