Contact: Bobbi Marcus @ Bobbi Marcus PR / [email protected]
Web: wearesona.com
Celebrating and reuniting the music industry’s top songwriters, partners, allies, and creative changemakers, Songwriters of North America (SONA) held their annual SONA Warrior Awards at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. Now in its fourth year, this year’s event was sold out and included over 450 people in celebration of prominent industry changemakers.
Opening the evening with some engaging theatrics, gala hosts Shane Stevens (Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande) and Bonnie McKee (Katy Perry, Britney Spears) elevated the vibe of the room, reappearing with multiple colorful costume changes throughout the evening. ‘Absolutely’ (Abby Keen) gave an incredible performance on behalf of her sister RAYE, who was presented an award by her Producer Mike Sabath (LIZZO, Meghan Trainor), but was unable to attend in person.
Melanie Fiona blew the roof off with “It Kills Me,” performed in tribute to late songwriter Andrea Martin (Toni Braxton, En Vogue, SWV, Leona Lewis, Jennifer Hudson), whose family was present to accept Martin’s award on her behalf, presented by Sylvia Rhone of EPIC Records. The room rose to a standing ovation.
David Stewart of The Eurythmics was on hand to present BMG President Thomas Scherer with his Warrior Award, and their camaraderie was palpable. Speaking on the red carpet, Stewart shared that he is happy to be part of “anything that has to do with helping songwriters get what they truly deserve because it has been so corrupt for years and years. Everybody now is supposed to have transparency, so I’m hoping it’s going to get better.” Stewart spoke on stage of Scherer’s unwavering commitment to artists and songwriters, creating improved transparency, and always following through to make things happen.
Working in his capacity as an artist, songwriter, music publisher, producer, label owner, and executive, Scherer has spent over thirty years with BMG (and parent company Bertelsmann), and has been instrumental in the careers of Diane Warren, Bebe Rexha, Lewis Capaldi, and in securing the catalogs of Paul Simon, Mötley Crüe, Gucci Mane, and others. “To get a SONA Warrior Award is the most important Award for me,” said Scherer on the carpet. “The song is the foundation. They go into the studio and there is an open space of nothing, and then they create something […]. It starts there.”
As the auctioneer of the evening, Justin Tranter (Chappell Roan, Saweetie), helped raise funds for the organization by engaging in a spirited live auction for one-of-kind items including Hendry Diltz original prints of Joni Mitchell, a dozen bottles of Veuve Clicquot, VIP tickets to the Eagles at The Sphere, and co-writing sessions with a-list songwriters.
Willie “Prophet” Stiggers was presented with his SONA award by his son, who spoke of how inspired he was by his father’s dedication to his work as a changemaker. As a social justice activist since his teenage years, Stiggers’ ongoing efforts include his role as Co-founder of the #BreatheWithMe Revolution, and work alongside his sister with Little Debbie’s Second Chance Homes (a collection of group homes named in memory of their mother). As CEO of 50/50 Music Management, and co-founding/co-chairing The Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC) in 2020, Stiggers is on a mission to eradicate systemic racism within the music industry and beyond. He spoke passionately about racial inequality and encouraged the music community to stand together and hold each other up, especially during difficult times.
Songwriter-producer Ross Golan (Andy Grammer, Demi Lovato), whose dedicated efforts were instrumental in passing the Music Modernization Act, accepted his award from Benny Blanco (Maroon 5, Justin Bieber), and then gave an incredible speech. Calling out labels, publishers, and performing rights organizations (PROs) to step up for songwriters, he challenged artists to a point match, asking them to each give a point to their songwriter, and then ask their publisher to match it. He followed up with a rendition of “Dangerous Woman” (which he penned for Ariana Grande).
Seidah Garrett (Michael Jackson, Jennifer Hudson) closed the evening with a beautiful rendition of “Man In The Mirror” (which she co-wrote for Michael Jackson) and the room was on its feet singing along.
SONA was founded in 2015 by songwriting partners Kay Hanley and Michelle Lewis in response to unfair licensing pay for creatives by digital streaming platforms, with support from entertainment attorney Dina LaPolt. Comprised of a community of songwriters, composers, and entertainment professionals committed to pay equity and advocacy for the rights of music creatives, SONA began as a living-room gathering of like minds but has developed into a pivotal force for change on behalf of songwriters in the new age of digital music. SONA’s efforts were vital in helping to craft, lobby for, and pass 2018’s Music Modernization Act.
