Linda Coogan Byrne: Company MD, Publicist, Entertainment Consultant and Gender/Diversity Equality Activist and Campaigner.
With over two decades of expertise, Linda Coogan Byrne stands as a trailblazer in the music industry, celebrated for her impactful contributions to gender and racial diversity. Currently serving as the CEO of the award-winning PR & Marketing Company, Good Seed PR, and the MD of Why Not Her?, Linda’s influence extends beyond business.
As an unwavering activist and Managing Director of the Culture Change company, Why Not Her?, Linda has significantly reshaped Irish and UK radio airplay towards gender and racial parity. Her Gender & Racial Disparity Data Reports, addressing the industry’s lack of diversity, have propelled the #WhyNotHer movement to unprecedented heights, reaching over 220 million audiences.
Linda’s accolades include recognition among the Top 100 most influential women in Ireland in 2021, an acknowledgment of her dedication to challenging perceptions and making a positive impact on a global scale. In 2024, she was named among the Top 20 influential women in Ireland, and Campaigner of the year Nominee in the Music Week Awards in 2023, as well as being nominated for a Women Of Vision 2024 Award in Ireland. She was inducted into the Music Week Hall of Honour in 2024, one of the most prestigious accolades given to women in music in the UK. All solidifying her status as a key figure in the industry.
Widely featured in reputable outlets such as The Guardian, Sunday Times, Clash, BBC, RTE, and The Independent, Linda’s work has left an indelible mark. Her engagements as a speaker, lecturer, and panelist at esteemed events and festivals underscore her commitment to fostering change. Notable appearances include Hotpress MixSix, Women’sWork, OutPut, MUTEK Barcelona, and BBC The Biggest Weekend Festival, among others.
In her roles as a Music Consultant/Publicist and Culture Changer/DEI specialist, Linda has represented acclaimed acts and bands, including Cyndi Lauper, Suzanne Vega, Counting Crows, and Duran Duran. Collaborations with brands such as RTE, BBC, IKEA, and many leading global companies showcase her versatility. Her company Good Seed PR is also listed on Design Rush as one of the Top 30 Public Relations agencies in the world.
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Linda’s extensive experience with record labels and management companies, including Cooking Vinyl Records, Warner, Universal, V2 Records, and Thirty Tigers, further attests to her influence. Beyond the music realm, she served as a board member of the Arts Council of Ireland, contributing to the funding, development, and promotion of the arts in the country and worked on shaping the new Music Policy of the Arts Council of Ireland.
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Linda was also part of a historic moment for the media sector in Ireland (July 2024) when Catherine Martin, T.D., Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, launched Coimisiún na Meán’s Gender, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy. Linda was a stakeholder consultant on this groundbreaking strategy, the first of its kind for the industry, which aims to foster a culture of equality and inclusivity in the media.
If Linda was stuck on a Desert Island: her must have items would be: her Ukulele, a few good books, a Banana because they stay in your system for a few days and are a slow digestion carb and a nice bottle of Meursault – it can chill by the sea at night!