During this year’s Women In Music Awards, we inducted a host of trailblazing industry executives into the Roll Of Honour, in association with TikTok.
They join a huge list of previous honourees, including some of the leading names from across the business like Kanya King, Sarah Stennett, Emma Banks, Charisse Beaumont, Rebecca Allen, Stacey Tang, Shani Gonzales and Mary Anne Hobbs, who have been selected since the awards began in 2014. The Roll Of Honour aims to shine a spotlight on the variety of individuals who are leading the charge in the music industry and consistently using their platforms to support women, or focus on empowerment and gender disparity.
Following the Women In Music Awards ceremony, Music Week is running Q&A interviews with all of this year’s Roll Of Honour inductees.
Ally Horn qualified as a solicitor in 2008 after completing her law degree at Cambridge University. She trained at Allen & Overy and then moved to Harbottle and Lewis.
In 2011, Horn stepped into the role of head of legal and business affairs at SPZ Properties, an entertainment group that encompassed Sarm Studios, Music Bank, Stiff Records and ZTT Records. Alongside this, she also served as managing director of Perfect Songs, an independent music publishing company. Here, Horn worked closely with a roster of songwriters and artists, arranging co-writing sessions and negotiating publishing and licensing deals.
Since joining Russells in 2016, one of the leading law firms in the music and entertainment industry, Horn has brought a rare combination of legal expertise and industry insight to her role as partner. She works with both the corporate and commercial teams, working with established clients and some of the most exciting new talent in the UK.
Horn combines clarity, creativity and a pragmatic approach with extensive relationships across the entertainment industry, enabling her to provide advice that is both commercially astute and strategically grounded. Her legal expertise, industry experience, and commitment to nurturing talent allow her to support clients in achieving their ambitions while navigating the complexities of a fast-moving and ever-evolving sector.
Ally Horn was made an equity partner in March 2025. She is the first female equity partner at Russells. Horn is a single mother and has three children.
How do you feel about joining the Music Week Women In Music Roll Of Honour?
“I was absolutely thrilled to be asked, but I do hate any kind of attention so slightly nervous as well!”
How do you look back on your early years getting into the industry?
“I was working for my family and so I got totally dropped in the deep end. I wish I’d asked a few more people for advice.”
Did you have a mentor at that stage?
“In the early days, sadly no! Now, definitely yes – all of the women who were close to my mother have been very kind and supportive. Sonia Diwan has been consistently very lovely to me.”
The WIM Awards shines a light on inequality and deep-seated issues around this area in the music industry. Can you share any personal experiences or points of view on this topic?
“I think when you are a working mum you give up so much to be at work, every minute counts and it really focuses your ambition. Also, to quote my colleague, Liv, it’s one of the hardest things in the world to be firm with a smile and resist trying to please.”
I really believe that when an artist is making amazing music it finds a way to break through
Ally Horn
Having worked with a significant number of emerging acts, what is your view on the last few years in terms of UK breakthroughs? There has been lots of talk suggesting the industry is not producing enough mainstream breakthrough acts…
“I really believe that when an artist is making amazing music it finds a way to break through. I've been lucky enough to work with clients who are making a difference internationally and I'm confident there are lots more to come!”
Beyond A&R and the music side, what do new artists need to have in place to break through?
“Management is really critical, managers are playing an increasingly important role in artist development and in running campaigns. A good manager can make a huge difference to an artist’s career and whether they break through or not.”
Having worked in publishing and other areas before, why is law the right place for you?
“I really care about what I do and I’m passionate about taking care of my clients and acting in their best interests. The music industry can be an overwhelming place for young people and hopefully I can make the experience easier for them. I also still enjoy the intellectual challenge of law – I’m a bit of a geek!”
What’s your biggest achievement so far?
“My children.”
What advice would you offer young women about enjoying a successful career in music?
“You have to work really hard! No way round it.”
What’s the best advice you’ve ever had?
“It's not what you say or do, it's how you make people feel – Gavin Maude.”
Is there a young woman you'd like to shout out who you think is a rising star in the industry?
“All the young women at Russells are amazing – Alex Murray, Sibilla Anselmetti and Sara Al Hamad. I am also very lucky to work with Chloe Forsyth and Liv Lyons, their stars have definitely already risen.”
Similarly, is there a young woman artist whose music you're enjoying right now/excited about?
“I love listening to all my clients, I still love going to gigs and I am a huge fan of everyone I am lucky enough to represent. In terms of brand new music, right now I’m really excited about Nadia Loren and Kid 12. Liv also has some incredibly exciting clients – Storm Henshaw and Sofia And The Antoinettes, amongst many others.”
Finally, what’s your biggest lesson from 2025 so far?
“Acceptance.”
PHOTOS: Louise Haywood-Schiefer / Panni Renner
