Het HEM maintains close ties with the local community and provides support where possible. With the launch of the Homebase Music Talent Programme (HMTP), Het HEM helps up-and-coming female musical talents to take the next step in their career and build a support network. Through coaching and master classes with female professionals from different departments within the music industry, participants develop an understanding of their talents and ways of working. They learn how to stay close to themselves, make their own choices and relate to others in an industry mostly run by men.

This programme was set up in collaboration with Homebase initiator Ella John and is part of the Giving Back-programma ‘Soundwaves’ of the global sound experience company Sonos. With Soundwaves, Sonos supports organisations with a specific social objective, such as promoting inclusivity in the music industry and music education.

“A shocking 2% of music producers and sound engineers are women. We need to include more voices in music and this begins with supporting emerging artists and talent. At Sonos, we’re proud to support Het HEM’s Homebase Music Talent Programme”, said Deji Olukotun, Director of Policy & Corporate Social Responsibility at Sonos.

After the successful pilot year in 2022, participants continue their development and prepare for a writers' camp at the end of March, in collaboration with Rosetta Beats and Goddess of the Mic, two Amsterdam-based platforms committed to gender equality in the music industry. With female producers, they are working on new music. Later this year, we will jointly organise an event for female professionals and artists to exchange experiences and music. Keep an eye on our website and social media for more information.

Watch the 2022 documentary made by Homebase participant Giovanni Tuinfort about the programme and the talents' development. In the documentary, the talents talk about their experiences, you can relive their live performances during Homebase Connects 2022 and coach Olga Zegers expresses her pride in their development.

Olga Zegers, a music expert with more than 30 years of experience, is the coach of the participants. Zegers started her career in the pioneering club RoXY and at the booking agency Barkers. She then got a position as a programmer at event organisation ID&T, where she was the driving force behind international festivals such as Mysteryland and Sensation and where she worked for 17 years. Olga is now the programmer at the Gashouder in Amsterdam.