YouTube Music Team by Photo courtesy of Sheniece CharwayPOWER UP
Sheniece joined YouTube Music in 2019, and has played a seminal role in the growth of Black Music on the platform. She was crowned Music Week’s ‘Rising Star’ in the 2021 Women in Music Awards. She also helped to curate YouTube Music's first 'Excellence Brunch' in early 2020.
Shen at Roundhouse Event (2021-10-13) by SureThing MediaPOWER UP
This was a celebration of the best of Black British culture in music, hosted by YouTube’s Tuma Basa and Lyor Cohen. Attendees included UK and international artists, YouTube creators and personalities, cultural influencers as well as label and artist management executives.
Legacy Series
As POWER UP Ambassador, she is a fierce advocate of tackling anti-Black racism within music, and is a driving force behind YouTube Music’s Legacy Series - a year-long calendar of events that celebrate Black culture and raise awareness around Black issues through music and art.
POWER UP caught up with Sheniece, to talk about her experiences of being a Black British woman in the UK music industry. The following is a excerpt from the conversation...
Southbank Centre Panellists (2023-02-21) by SureThing MediaPOWER UP
“As we all know, this is a male dominated industry and being a female and Black, I’ve definitely had a different experience. I’ve always felt that I have to over-achieve and work to ensure that I was on the same playing field as my White male and female counterparts."
Sheniece Charway photo (2023-04-01) by Photo courtesy of Sheniece CharwayPOWER UP
“I have been guided and supported by so many Black female music industry professionals. I’d love to shout out Grace Ladoja, Vannessa Amadi & Jada Pollock who have always pushed me to the best I can be.”
“Their journeys have been incredible and it’s amazing to see the success they’ve built off their own backs. They’ve always empowered me and never doubted my ability.”
"This is What Community Looks Like!" (2020-06-05/2020-06-05) by Shawn PridgenWhat We Seee
"In recent years, there has been a big shift with diversity and inclusion around race and gender but there most definitely needs to be more initiatives and support. We saw a lot of change with the death of George Floyd but I feel like a lot of it was a tick box exercise.”
Sheniece Charway at Roundhouse London (2021-10-13) by SureThing MediaPOWER UP
“That said, there have been so many great initiatives for Black executives and artists including the Black Music Coalition and POWER UP."
YouTube Music Team by Photo courtesy of Sheniece CharwayPOWER UP
"I would say, in this current climate, it’s amazing to be a Black British female in this industry especially as we are seeing that Black music is consistently dominating the charts.”
Watch the Young, Gifted and Black: Women In Music video, hosted by Music Week and Youtube Music.
POWER UP: An ambitious, long-term initiative which supports Black music creators and industry professionals and executives, as well as addressing anti-Black racism and racial disparities in the music sector.
Sheniece Charway: YouTube Music's Artist Partnerships Manager, Black Music & Culture.
