Leeds americana artist Ramona Rose announced as Girls I Rate GETHEARD Future Hitmaker

London rappers Abigail Asante and Kween Deekayy also to receive Future Hitmaker prizes

Girls I Rate (GIR), a movement focussed on equality, diversity and opportunities for young women in the creative industries, has announced that Leeds americana artist Ramona Rose, and London rappers Abigail Asante and Kween Deekayy have been selected from over 600 applicants as winners of the 2022 GETHEARD Future Hitmaker Competition, in partnership with PRS for Music with support from PRS Foundation, Sony Music Publishing, ellesse UK and audio-technica and media support from BBC Music Introducing and The Beat London.

Ramona Rose, Abigail Asante and Kween Deekayy were awarded Future Hitmaker funding of £3,000, £2,000 and £1,000 respectively. Created in collaboration with Carla-Marie Williams, the Future Hitmaker Award is powered by PRS Foundation’s Hitmaker Fund and supported by Spotify. The prize also includes PIRATE.COM studio time to hone their craft, apparel from ellesse and audio equipment from audio-technica arming the winners with the tools to take their songwriting and performing careers to the next level. PRS for Music has partnered with Girls I Rate on #GETHEARD for six years since its launch in 2017. The initiative is one of a series of collaborations supported by PRS for Music, to empower future talent entering the music industry.

The final three songwriters were the unbeatable choices for the panel of judges who are some of the most influential A&Rs in the music industry: Shauni Caballero, Senior A&R Manager at Sony Music Publishing, Jodeci Chin, Music & Talent Manager at Vevo, Lloyd Murray, A&R Manager at Warner Records and Jacqueline Pelham-Leigh, Relationship Manager - Black Music at PRS for Music. 

Culminating in a grand finale live event held on Saturday 3 December at West London members' club, Kindred, the evening was hosted by KISS DJ Ellie Prohan. Over 130 young women from across the UK attended the event to listen to feedback and network with industry executives. Attendees were granted an exclusive live performance from one of last year’s winners, rapper Ariez Baby. 

My team and I were really impressed with the quality of this year’s submissions, over 600 young women sent in their music for us to listen to! Congratulations to all those shortlisted – you are all future hitmakers in my eyes.

The final ten shortlisted submissions were all really impressive, it was difficult to narrow it down to the final three. Congratulations to Ramona Rose, Abigail Asante and Kween Deekayy on being selected as this year’s Future Hitmakers, we are excited to see and hear what you create.

Congratulations to all three GIRLS I RATE Future Hitmaker Competition winners, Ramona Rose, Abigail Asante and Kween Deekayy. We’re delighted to partner with Carla and the GIRLS I RATE team to offer each winner a talent development bursary through our Hitmaker Fund supported by Spotify. We look forward to seeing the impact of this support as each creator builds an exciting career for years to come.

Massive congratulations to winners Ramona Rose, Abigail Asante and Kween Deekayy, as well as all the womxn creators, songwriters and producers who submitted their music to this fantastic competition. We are honoured to have supported Girls I Rate as they continue to champion and elevate womxn in the music and entertainment industry.

For another year Girls I Rate pulled off a fantastic live final on Saturday! So much inspiring female talent in one room, and a great day celebrating emerging artists. We are thrilled to have been a part of it.

About PRS for Music

PRS for Music is a world-leading music collective management organisation representing the rights of more than 165,000 talented songwriters, composers and music publishers around the globe. Headquartered in the UK, it works diligently on behalf of its members to grow and protect the value of their rights. With a focus on innovation and integrity, PRS for Music is redefining the global standard for music royalties to ensure creators are paid whenever their musical compositions and songs are streamed, downloaded, broadcast, performed and played in public. In 2022, PRS for Music collected £964m and paid out £836.2m in royalties. prsformusic.com