The worldwide music industry has been chastised in recent years for the lack of women occupying power positions, and the U.K. scene isn't much different. However, a handful of women have influential roles in Britain, with a number of rising stars looking likely to compete with the established penis power in the future. In celebration of International Women's Day, we’ve detailed the names you need to know.

At David Joseph’s UMG U.K., Capitol Records EVP of A&R Jo Charrington has been integral in the huge success of Sam Smith and 5 Seconds of Summer. Ambitious and frank-talking, there’s rumours the smart female assistant in Kill Your Friends is a character she inspired, and one which has no limitations to what she’ll endure to land the much-coveted A&R job in a notoriously male-dominated industry.

Rebecca Allen is MD at classical imprint Decca, and has just celebrated an Oscar win for film composer Maestro Morricone’s score for Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight. Allen—a dynamic, creative, exceptionally skilled and versatile exec—was tapped for the top job in November 2014 after 15 years at UMG.
Nicola Tuer is Sony Music U.K. COO and Chairman and CEO Jason Iley’s right-hand woman. Known for her competitive spirit, commercial acumen and passion for music, Tuer has a vital role in leading the company forward under Iley’s leadership and has been the one signing deals and promoting key members of staff in recent months.
Over at Sony U.K. imprint Columbia, A&R exec Alison Donald is Co-President. She has an “amazing connection with her artists who trust in her,” notes Iley, because “she gives them the time and space to develop not only their sound, but also their identity.”
When Iley moved from Roc Nation to Sony in 2014, he took digital whiz Dorothy Hui with him a year later as VP Digital Business, an exec he describes as “a very gifted creative with a next-level understanding of social media who consistently innovates in her field.”
At Max Lousada’s WMG, Briony Turner is A&R Director, Atlantic U.K., where she looks after Jess Glynne, one of the biggest British breakthrough artists of 2015, and Clean Bandit, who won a Grammy for their huge track "Rather Be."
When Warner bought Parlophone in 2013, Mandy Plumb was one of the execs that took on a new title of SVP, Marketing, Parlophone & Warner Bros. Records U.K. She's since been promoted to General Manager, overseeing activity across TV and radio promotion, press, marketing and creative for both labels. Plumb recently worked on Muse, Royal Blood, Coldplay and Blur campaigns.
First Access Entertainment’s Sarah Stennett is a superstar manager, A&R whizz and legal mind who has worked with names including Rita Ora, Conor Maynard, Iggy Azalea, Jack Garratt and Ellie Goulding since founding Turn First in 2004. Now named First Access, Stennett’s new home sits under Len Blavatnik’s Access Industries.
Other female managers worthy of kudos include Years & Years manager Martha Kinn, Tara Richardson of Q Prime (Foals, Peace) and former Fiction Records marketing exec Lisa Ward, who has just joined Red Light Management as EVP Artist Strategy.
At indie level, Liz Goodwin was recently appointed MD at Daniel Glass’ Glassnote U.K. Goodwin joins the label after 14 years at UMG’s Polydor, where she worked with Lana Del Rey, Elbow, Lady Gaga and more.
Alexi Cory-Smith is SVP at BMG Chrysalis U.K., and has taken the label from a staff of 12 to over 120 in five years, and overseen multiple acquisitions.
In 2012, "proven leader" Kim Frankiewicz was named Managing Director at publisher Imagem Music U.K. after 15 years at Universal Music Publishing.
On the live side, notable names include highly respected CAA Queen Emma Banks, Adele agent Lucy Dickins at ITB, Director of Live of Beggars Group U.K. Ruth Barlow and General Manager for The O2 Arena, Rebecca Kane.
Other names well worth knowing include Janice Brock, Head of A&R U.K., Sony ATV, MCPS and IMPEL Chief Exec Jane Dyball, Rough Trade Records Co-Owner Jeanette Lee, Head of Marketing at Island Records U.K. Natasha Mann, Jackie Hyde, Vice President, Artist and Company Relations at Sony Music Entertainment and Caroline Elleray, VP of A&R at UMPG.