Songwriters of North America (SONA) will host its 2026 awards ceremony and a supporting week of events in Los Angeles this October. The program introduces a Global Impact Award to honor songwriters who drive international cultural change.
600 Music Professionals at the Skirball Cultural Center
The 2026 SONA Awards will gather approximately 600 music industry professionals and fans at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. According to the report, the evening will begin with a black-carpet event presented by TikTok and hosted by podcast host Daniel Wall . this high-visibility start sets the stage for the announcement of five winners of the community-voted Emerging Songwriter Award, a process promoted through the "Songwriters. Awards" YouTube channel.
The event features a prestigious roster of presenters, including Justin Tranter, Toby Lightman, Ross Golan, Kay Hanley, and Dina LaPolt.. These figures will recognize achievements in songwriting and professional service, reflecting Songwriters of North America's (SONA) broader goal of brining public recognition to those who typically operate behind the scenes of a hit record.
The Global Impact Award and the Shift from Warrior Awards
A significant change for the 2026 cycle is the introduction of the Global Impact Award. As the source reported, this new honor is designed for songwriters whose work has created substantial cultural change and transcended international borders. This marks a strategic evolution from the previous "SONA Warrior Awards," which focused more heavily on grassroots contributions to the craft.
This shift reflects a broader trend in the music industry where the role of the songwriter is being redefined in a borderless, digital economy. By expanding its scope, Songwriters of North America (SONA) is signaling that the fight for equitable treatment is no longer just a domestic struggle but a global necessity for artists and composers.
Hubert from Kobalt and the October 28 Summit at Village Studios
Beyond the ceremony, the SONA Awards Week includes a professional development component. On October 28, the SONA Songwriters Summit will take place at Village Studios in Hollywood, featuring a keynote conversation with Hubert from Kobalt. The summit will consist of an all-day series of panels focusing on the evolving music economy and the critical role of legal advocacy.
These discussions are central to the mission of Songwriters of North America (SONA),which has advocated for U.S. songwriters since 2015. By bringing together publishers, attorneys, and activists, the organization aims to provide songwriters with the tools to secure proper royalties and credit in an increasingly complex global market.
Michelle Lewis and the Missing 2024-2025 Honorees
The direction of the organization is steered by a board that includes CEO and Chair Michelle Lewis, Executive Director Erin McAnally, and Government Affairs Lead Linda Bloss-Baum. This leadership team is tasked with shaping a more inclusive landscape for musicians , supported by corporate partnerships with YouTube and TikTok.
However, some details regarding the organization's recent history remain unclear. The report notes that the announcement of the 2024 and 2025 award honorees is currently missing. Furthermore, while the board list identifies Michelle Lewis as CEO, the source mentions a CEO and co-founder whose name was not listed in the specific excerpt regarding the ceremony's speaking roles, leaving a slight ambiguity about the full leadership lineup for the event.
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