LGBTIQ+ List 2026:
Shorlette Ammons | Farm Aid

"The same handful of corporations controlling food systems are often shaping culture and access in entertainment, too"

By IQ | 12 June 2026

[she/her] Co-executive director / programme director, Farm Aid Durham, NC, USA [email protected] Shorlette is a native of Beautancus, North Carolina, where she grew up in a large family of farmworkers, cooks, storytellers, and spades players.

She currently serves as co-executive director of Farm Aid, an organisation founded by musician and artist Willie Nelson, that seeks to raise money and awareness of the plight of family farmers to keep them on their land.

Farm Aid hosts an annual festival…

This premium content is available to subscribers only.

Subscribe now to unlock unlimited access to all of our magazine content, annual reports, contact directories and more

Subscribe

Share this

LGBTIQ+ LIST 2026:

Jyn Paul

DICE

"Equitable access to tickets remains the biggest challenge the industry faces in keeping fans motivated and artists connected"

Steve Berry

Stagetruck Ltd

"I do what I do because I want everyone who comes to work with us to feel welcome, included, and part of something they’re proud of"

Bihter Çetinyol

Charmenko

"The industry in Türkiye is small; you can only work for corporations, governmental corporations, municipalities, and private companies"

Toby Corton

Mighty Hoopla / Sounds Queer / State is Flow

"Pay artists fairly, regulate, and redistribute profits in favour of the people who, without their work, the 'music industry' would just be 'industry'"

Antonia Lines

LIVE Trust

"We're working in collaboration with the live sector to fix long-term problems and create a better future for everyone"

Kat Winfield

CAA

"It’s not just about representation on paper; it’s about creating an environment where people genuinely feel supported"

Sandra Schweizer

Gadget Entertainment AG

"Being surrounded by so many people actively shaping the business was genuinely inspiring and gave me a stronger sense of perspective"

Thiago Nakano

30e

"In Brazil, where music is such a strong part of people’s identities, tours can become real cultural moments"

Mary Allen

UTA

"We’re navigating a significant level of touring oversaturation alongside growing price resistance"

Peter Allott-Fletcher

AEG Presents

"Everything has become more expensive, and often unpredictably so – global events have an almost immediate impact"

Pol Mitchell

Soft Serve Management

"There’s been a real backslide in lineup diversity in mainstream events, which is a signal of bigger economic and systemic disruption"

Mariano Otero

Fever / DICE

"The ticketing industry is entering a period of increased scrutiny and regulatory change, which is both necessary and overdue"

Małgorzata Staniszewska

Alter Art

"When we prioritise fair treatment, economic security, and a safe, respectful environment, we create an industry where talent can thrive"

Mica Sefia

Black Lives in Music

"As a Black, queer, neurodivergent woman, my identity informs everything I do, whether intentionally or not"

Harry Wilding

Festival Republic / Kelham Pride / ILMC

"Grassroots venues help grow the careers of new artists that will one day become our arena fillers and festival headliners"

Paul Schäfer

Freelance

"Representation matters because it creates role models, opens pathways, and signals to the next generation that there is space"

Erik Kammerer

Live Nation

"We need to slow down, pause, and identify those who will challenge industry norms while also honouring legacies"

Ethan-James Luke

Legends Global

"The audiences are diverse, the talent is diverse, so the people shaping the industry should reflect that, too"

Bruno Sérgio Gomes

30e

"Demand is huge, but production costs, routing, and ticket affordability are putting a lot of pressure on the middle of the market"

MOST POPULAR

Related Content

Farm Aid ploughs ahead for 40th edition

Organisers of the longest-running charity concert, anchored by Willie Nelson, preview this year’s milestone ahead of the landmark event

News 19 September, 2025

Best of 2022: Lucy Dickins – A tale of two cities

Looking back on her first 25 years in the music industry, WME's global head of contemporary music and touring revisits her path to the top

Feature 31 December, 2022

Farm Aid at 40: ‘The farmers are the VIPs’

Event founders Willie Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp starred at music's longest-running charity concert

News 26 September, 2025

Back to top