Live Nation Urban's Heather Lowery Bringing Femme it Forward to Billboard Live Music Summit

"This year Heather and Shawn Gee with Live Nation Urban curated a number of panels for Billboard and we immediately said yes when Heather shared her vision for bringing Femme it Forward to the Live Music Summit," explains Dave Brooks, Billboard's senior director for live and touring. "Heather has so much credibility and admiration in the music industry and there's no one better to lead this conversation at this year's summit."

First launched in April during Rico Nasty’s Femme It Forward panel and performance at Harvard University, sponsored by the Association of Black Harvard Women, Femme It Forward spotlights female artists and music executives through a series of events and initiatives that include performances, immersive activations, panel discussions and comedy shows. Artist that have performed in the Femme it Forward series include Cardi B, City Girls, Teyana Taylor, Nicole Bus, Rico Nasty, Jorja Smith, Kali Uchis, Ari Lennox, Ama Lou, Dounia, Brianna Cash, Mahalia, Jill Scott, Faith Evans, Tweet, Monica, Brandy, Ashanti, Keri Hilson, Amerie, Lil Mo and Mya.

“Since our inception in 2017, Live Nation Urban continues to create opportunities for emerging and established urban artists -- both on the stage and behind the scenes,” Lowery told Billboard in April. “This past year has been an exceptional one for women in music and entertainment, and with the incredible contributions of women, it is fitting that we honor the future of music and its continued steps on the path to inclusion.”

Femme it Forward will join artists like P!nk, Hootie and the Blowfish, deadmau5 and concert industry luminaries like Coachella co-founder Paul Tollett and Paradigm’s global head of music Marty Diamond at this year’s summit. Set at the Montage in Beverly Hills, the conference features two days of high-level panels, artist interviews and executive Q&As with some of the biggest names in music, comedy and live entertainment. Additional speakers and panelists will be announced in the coming days.

Learn more and register here.