Janelle Mitchell named as latest Richard Antwi Scholar

The Richard Antwi Scholarship has named Janelle Mitchell is its fifth scholar.

Mitchell will be awarded a full scholarship for a place this year on University of Westminster’s Music Business Management MA course in London, commencing later this month.

Janelle Mitchell is a London-based creative and emerging music executive, who started off as a DJ in 2017, and now finds herself supporting artists from Kojey Radical to Little Simz, whilst also guest mixing for BBC 1Xtra, KISS FM and Capital XTRA and DJing at festivals, from Stormzy’s Merky Festival in Ibiza to Strawberries & Creem Festival.

Mitchell also works as an Artist Relations Manager at Believe.

The prestigious Richard Antwi Scholarship comprises full course fees; a bursary of £10,400 and career support.

The Richard Antwi Scholarship was founded in 2016 as a response to the death of hugely respected industry lawyer, manager and entrepreneur, Richard Antwi, who had contributed to the Music Business Management MA course on numerous occasions as a guest lecturer.

The RAS is an annual award that seeks to champion talent from diverse ethnic backgrounds, with the aim of continuing Antwi’s legacy of supporting and enabling young people to succeed in the music industry.

The scholarship has been funded by all three UK major record labels, music publishers, and several of the top independent music companies and music law firms as well as individual donors: Sony Music UK, Universal Music UK, Warner Music UK, Sony Music Publishing, XL Records, Beggars Group, Young, Clintons, Hoare Associates and Modest! Management.

The scholarship is awarded in conjunction with the University of Westminster, to applicants who hold an offer of a place on the university’s Music Business Management MA course.

Previous scholars include the inaugural recipient Jojo Mukeza (2018), followed by Esther Bokuma (2019). There was a hiatus in 2020, followed by two scholars in 2021; Shanice Edwards and Idris Green-Holder (in partnership with Universal Music UK). There have also been associate scholars, Daniel Beckley and Isatta Sheriff.

“Huge congratulations to Janelle Mitchell for becoming the fifth Richard Antwi scholar. It has been over six years since Richard’s passing, and although we continue to miss him greatly, it is truly humbling to see his legacy and vision still out there in the world.”

Phillip Antwi

Phillip Antwi, said: “Huge congratulations to Janelle Mitchell for becoming the fifth Richard Antwi scholar. It has been over six years since Richard’s passing, and although we continue to miss him greatly, it is truly humbling to see his legacy and vision still out there in the world, embodied by the Richard Antwi Scholars, the scholarship team and all its champions, partners, supporters and funders across the industry. He would be proud.

“My family and I are so happy to honour and pay tribute to my brother Richard in this way, but also help to create a trusted pathway into the music business and therefore build access and opportunities for our diverse future leaders.”

“My ambitions are to utilise the MA to gain a senior position in music and shake up the industry from within, focusing on representation and diversity across the board.”

Janelle Mitchell

Janelle Mitchell added: “Receiving the Richard Antwi Scholarship feels like such an honour and I’m so excited for what’s to come! As a Black woman in music, the glass ceiling feels even more impenetrable, so being equipped with the Music Business Management MA, doubled up with guidance from the RAS team, will be an absolute game-changer for me.

“My ambitions are to utilise the MA to gain a senior position in music and shake up the industry from within, focusing on representation and diversity across the board.”Music Business Worldwide

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