Australian Women in Music Awards 2022 ‘change makers’: Tamara Georgopoulos and Deena Lynch
Two young women have been recognised for their decision to speak up about their experiences at the hands of powerful men in the music industry.
Following a tumultuous year in the Australian music industry, where decades of bad behaviour was exposed to sunlight and scrutiny, two young women have been recognised for their decision to speak up about their experiences at the hands of powerful men.
At the Australian Women in Music Awards, held in Brisbane on Wednesday night, the inaugural “change maker” award was shared between Tamara Georgopoulos and artist Jaguar Jonze, aka Deena Lynch.
“Change in the music industry is very, very slow, and a lot of the attention around what needs to be done in terms of creating change has really been instigated by the courage and bravery of Tamara and Deena,” AWMA founder Vicki Gordon said.
“It’s so important that we empower our younger women who’ve had the courage to speak out; to know that they are supported, and to know that they are believed.”
Georgopoulos is a former artist and repertoire co-ordinator at Sony Music Australia who was one of several former employees to appear on ABC TV’s Four Corners last year, and describe a culture of bullying, alcohol abuse and sexual harassment that was allowed to thrive under former chief executive Denis Handlin, who was fired from his role last year after more than 50 years at Sony.
“You don’t speak out for recognition, and this has been very unexpected and really lovely,” she said. “I’m absolutely very proud that I did it – it’s just unfortunate that victims have to advocate for themselves, and then there’s not a real conversation around the personal cost that comes at.
“I’m sitting here feeling as though I’ve lost everything – but it’s also an amazing feeling to know that, in speaking out, it’s helped others have the career that I perhaps could have had.”
Georgopoulos left Sony in late 2015 after experiencing bullying and sexual harassment to start her own music company.
The change maker award was presented by Patricia Amphlett, aka singer Little Pattie, who said she was moved by the courage of both women.
“When I began my career, our business was no different to most businesses, where women – let’s be honest – we knew our place,” Amphlett said. “We pretty well did as we were told, because we didn’t know any different.”
In a statement, Lynch said: “Being recognised for the tireless advocacy that myself and so many others have done to push our industry to a higher standard of safety in the workplace is just the first step.
“Many of us risked everything – our artistry, our careers, our wellbeing and security – to ensure we didn’t contribute to a culture of silence, and actively pushed against the cycle of abuse. And for racially marginalised people in a predominantly white industry, the risks only increase. We did this, in the absence of our leaders. There’s still a lot of work that needs to be done.”
Other award winners on Wednesday included pianist and composer Elena Kats-Chernin (artistic excellence), singer-songwriter Martha Marlow (emerging artist), Frontier Touring director Sahara Herald (music leadership) and singer Deborah Cheetham (lifetime achievement).