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Lislea singer and harpist Niamh Noade has been named as the first recipient of a new mentorship scheme aimed at supporting female artists at key points in their careers.
Why Not Her? has launched its Mentorship & Accelerator Programme, with Niamh selected for the first of two annual cycles.
The programme runs twice a year, in May and September, with two artists chosen each year. It is delivered as a three-month mentorship focused on long-term career development, with an emphasis on sustainability, clarity and artist identity rather than short-term results.
The Why Not Her? team will work with Niamh on her positioning, media narrative, industry alignment and overall strategy. The programme covers strategic PR and media positioning, broadcast and industry alignment, long-term career planning and building the foundations needed to sustain momentum.
Niamh said: "I am so excited to announce that I have been chosen as the first-ever recipient of the Why Not Her? Mentorship & Accelerator Programme, designed by the award-winning music industry strategist Linda Coogan Byrne and her team at Why Not Her? With all of the exciting opportunities coming in since BGT, the timing of this programme could not be better."
Linda Coogan Byrne, Founder of Why Not Her?, said: "From the moment we saw Niamh perform, it was obvious there was something incredibly special there. Not just vocally, but in the way she carries herself as an artist. She already has a strong sense of identity and emotional depth at such an early stage in her career, and that is rare."
She added: "Women remain underfunded, under-represented, and too often expected to navigate environments that are not built with their safety or progression in mind. Our role is to provide structure, protection and clarity so artists can move forward with confidence and make informed decisions about their careers."
Applications for the September 2026 cycle will open in August.
Check out whynother.eu
