Meet Janice McLean DeLoatch

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Janice McLean DeLoatch. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Janice below.

Janice, thank you so much for joining us and offering your lessons and wisdom for our readers. One of the things we most admire about you is your generosity and so we’d love if you could talk to us about where you think your generosity comes from.
When you describe some words they can mean different things. When you describe Generosity – It only means one thing.
You have the ability to be kind to people. You want to give away something of yourself
to make others happy.

This is who I am. I enjoy seeing other people Happy! As cliche as this may sound.
I feel good when I have the opportunity to do something for someone else.

In a world that seems so bent on lifting and building people up only to find the smallest thing
to tear them down. I want to be a beacon that shines bright to help others.
There is no other way to describe how fulfilling this feeling is.

I hope that my kindness and willingness to help others will engage others to do the same. I have so
many examples that I could share of people who took an opportunity to be nice to me and others.
Just think if everybody purposely went out of their way to lift others up what a different world this would be!

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
As the Founder & Executive Director for The Women Songwriters Hall of Fame. It is a pleasure to tell you about WSHOF.

It is an organization that supports Girls and Women in Music.
What is special about WSHOF is that we are working to widen the space for female songwriters, celebrate their unique energy in songwriting and celebrate the history of their legacies and etch them in the memory and fabric of history for many years to come.

Each year – WSHOF celebrates our Annual Award Show and Songwriting Mixer. This year that will happen on Friday, June 7 2024 Songwriting Mixer and Saturday June 8 2024 -Award Show.

The Women Songwriters Hall of Fame (WSHOF) is all about celebrating the incredible women who have shaped music history through their songwriting! Here’s why it’s important and what’s coming up:

Honoring Herstory: We shine a light on the talented women behind the music, from legendary artists to those just starting out. The industry often focuses on performers, but WSHOF recognizes the power of the songwriters who craft the hits we love.

Empowering the Next Generation: We’re not just about the past. WSHOF fosters new songwriting talent through workshops, scholarships, and showcases. We want to see even more women writing the songs that will move us tomorrow.

Upcoming Events: Join us for a fun-filled celebration of women and music! The 2024 WSHOF Social Mixer and Songwriting Contest is happening on June 8th at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. It’s a night of networking, meeting inspiring industry professionals, and maybe even some of the inductees themselves!

We believe that women’s voices deserve to be heard. The WSHOF is a celebration of their creativity, talent, and undeniable impact on the music we all love.

We hope you will join us this year. You can purchase tickets here: https://womensongwritershalloffame.org/2024-award-show-tickets

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Looking back on the founding and growth of the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame, three things stand out as the most impactful:

Passion for Equity and Recognition: The music industry is showing some signs of improvement for women, but has a long way to go regarding recognizing the incredible contributions of women songwriters.

My passion for this issue fueled my determination to create a platform to celebrate their achievements and inspire future generations.

Embrace the Rollercoaster: There will be setbacks. Learn from them, adapt, and never let them define you. Develop a growth mindset and focus on the progress you make, not just the end goal.

Resilience and Tenacity: Building a non-profit organization is no easy feat. There were countless hurdles, setbacks, and moments of doubt. But resilience kept me pushing forward, finding creative solutions, and never giving up on the vision.

The Ability to Build Relationships: The Women Songwriters Hall of Fame wouldn’t exist without the incredible network of supporters, board members, and fellow music enthusiasts I’ve been fortunate to connect with. Building trust, fostering collaboration, and being a good communicator were key to forging these essential relationships.

Advice for Aspiring Changemakers

If you’re fired up about a cause and are early in your journey, here’s how you can develop these impactful qualities:

Find Your Why: What ignites your passion? Dig deep and understand the fundamental reason you want to make a change. This will be your fuel when the going gets tough.

Start Building Your Network: Connect with people who share your vision. Attend industry events, volunteer for organizations you admire, and don’t be afraid to reach out to potential mentors.

As a creative, forward thinker with business ideas that range from pantyhose vending machines to television shows about entrepreneurship (before people wanted to talk about entrepreneurship on mainstream television) to Radio/Tv to my role with Women Songwriters Hall of Fame, here are three qualities, skills, and areas of knowledge that have held the most impact in my journey, along with advice for those starting out:

Passion for Equity and Recognition: Started by being driven by a cause – to create a space to celebrate the achievements of women songwriters who were often overlooked.

Advice: Identify a cause you genuinely care about. The passion will fuel your perseverance through challenges.
Business Acumen and Experience:
I have had a lot of experience running businesses. This has helped me navigate organizational aspects of founding a non-profit like the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Advice: Seek out opportunities to learn about business management, fundraising, and non-profit structures. There are online courses, workshops, and mentorship programs available.

Network and Community Building: Women Songwriters Hall of Fame could not continue to expand without connecting to and the support of other women in the music industry and building a strong network.

Advice: Start building your network early. Attend industry events, connect with people on LinkedIn, and reach out to potential mentors or collaborators.

Look for opportunities to volunteer or intern with organizations you admire. Women Songwriters Hall of Fame certainly would like the opportunity to discuss these types of opportunities. You can send an email to: info@womensongwritershalloffame.org if interested in discussing further.

Remember, it’s a marathon, not a sprint. By nurturing these qualities and continuously developing yourself, you’ll be well on your way to making a positive impact in your chosen field.

How would you describe your ideal client?
The Women Songwriters Hall of Fame is an organization that honors women songwriters for their contributions to the music industry. An ideal client for the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame would be a woman songwriter who has had a long and successful career in the music industry. She would have written songs that have been recorded by other artists and have had a significant impact on popular culture. She would also be a role model for other aspiring songwriters.

Here are some specific characteristics that would make a woman songwriter an ideal client for the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame:

A long and successful career in the music industry
Songs that have been recorded by other artists
Songs that have had a significant impact on popular culture
A role model for other aspiring songwriters

The Women Songwriters Hall of Fame is a great organization that recognizes the important contributions of women to the music industry. By inducting talented and successful songwriters, the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame helps to inspire future generations of women to pursue careers in music.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
All photos and flyers courtesy of: 1.Janice McLean DeLoatch 2. Women Songwriters Hall of Fame

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