7 Best Moments From 2025 SONA Warrior Awards: Jam & Lewis, Chappell Roan & a Fiery Larry Mestel: ‘Shame on Spotify’

We’ve each heard the aged adage: “It each begins with the song.” At SONA (Songwriters of North America), that isn’t conscionable a saying; it’s a ngo statement. The organization, present 10 years old, exists to support and beforehand songwriters’ rights. At the 5th yearly SONA Awards, presented connected Sunday (Oct. 12) astatine the Skirball Cultural Center successful Los Angeles, organizers and grant recipients named names, some of those who they judge are helping the origin — and hurting it.

In his fiery acceptance speech, honoree Larry Mestel, Primary Wave founder/CEO, took Spotify to task. “There is nary Spotify without songwriters. … Shame connected Spotify for trying to screw songwriters; for paying them little than they’re worth.”

People and organizations who got affirmative shout-outs implicit the people of the evening included Chappell Roan (also an honoree), who utilized her Grammy champion caller creator acceptance code successful February to advocator for a surviving wage and wellness security for caller artists; Amazon Music, which is providing escaped One Medical subscriptions and currency grants to screen aesculapian costs for SONA members (“It’s not wellness security yet, but it’s a immense measurement forward” said Michelle Lewis, SONA & SONA Foundation CEO/founder); and Tyler Johnson and Kid Harpoon, who produced Miley Cyrus’ Grammy-winning, Billboard Hot 100-topping “Flowers” without insisting that they beryllium added arsenic songwriters.

Four sitting members of Congress helped contiguous awards: Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), Angie Craig (D-Minn.), Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) and Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.)

The different honorees were Dina LaPolt, founder/CEO of Primary Wave Music; Girls Make Beats, which is seeking to empower the adjacent procreation of pistillate euphony producers, DJs and audio engineers (the grant was accepted by laminitis Tiffany Miranda connected behalf of the team); and Grammy-winning producer/songwriters Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.

In her opening remarks, SONA’s Lewis called this “the astir songwriterly nighttime of the year” — an apt description. The lawsuit deed each the close notes — fiery passion, witty remarks, beardown performances — though it could person been tightened and better-paced. Desmond Child led a show-capping singalong of Bon Jovi’s classical “Livin’ connected a Prayer” (which helium co-wrote with Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora) erstwhile conscionable astir everyone was acceptable to permission aft a agelong night. He deserved an assemblage that was afloat attentive and appreciative.

Songwriters Bonnie McKee and Shane Stevens co-hosted the lawsuit and performed Roan’s “Pink Pony Club.” Songwriter Brett James was besides remembered 1 period aft helium died successful a level crash astatine property 57.

Here are the 7 champion moments from the 5th yearly SONA Warrior Awards

Linda Perry Performs a Pop Classic

In tribute to honoree Dina LaPolt, Linda Perry performed 4 Non Blondes’ 1993 classical “What’s Up?”, which showed the staying powerfulness of a large song. Perry made wide that she wouldn’t bash this for conscionable anyone. “I would rath...