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\n\tIn his fiery acceptance speech, honoree Larry Mestel, Primary Wave founder\/CEO, took Spotify to task. \u201cThere is no Spotify without songwriters. \u2026 Shame on Spotify for trying to screw songwriters; for paying them less than they\u2019re worth.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tPeople and organizations who got positive shout-outs over the course of the evening included Chappell Roan<\/a> (also an honoree), who used her Grammy best new artist acceptance speech in February to advocate for a living wage and health insurance for new artists; Amazon Music, which is providing free One Medical subscriptions and cash grants to cover medical costs for SONA members (\u201cIt\u2019s not health insurance yet, but it\u2019s a huge step forward\u201d said Michelle Lewis, SONA & SONA Foundation CEO\/founder); and Tyler Johnson and Kid Harpoon, who produced Miley Cyrus<\/a>\u2019 Grammy-winning, Billboard Hot 100-topping \u201cFlowers\u201d without insisting that they be added as songwriters.<\/p>\n \n\tFour sitting members of Congress helped present awards: Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), Angie Craig (D-Minn.), Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) and Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.)<\/p>\n \n\tThe other honorees were Dina LaPolt, founder and owner of LaPolt Law, P.C. (and a SONA co-founder); Girls Make Beats, which is seeking to empower the next generation of female music producers, DJs and audio engineers (the award was accepted by founder Tiffany Miranda on behalf of the team); and Grammy-winning producer\/songwriters Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\tIn her opening remarks, SONA\u2019s Lewis called this \u201cthe most songwriterly night of the year\u201d \u2014 an apt description. The event hit all the right notes \u2014 fiery passion, witty remarks, strong performances \u2014 though it could have been tightened and better-paced. Desmond Child<\/a> led a show-capping singalong of Bon Jovi<\/a>\u2019s classic \u201cLivin\u2019 on a Prayer\u201d (which he co-wrote with Jon Bon Jovi <\/a>and Richie Sambora<\/a>) when just about everyone was set to leave after a long night. He deserved an audience that was fully attentive and appreciative.<\/p>\n \n\tSongwriters Bonnie McKee<\/a> and Shane Stevens co-hosted the event and performed Roan\u2019s \u201cPink Pony Club.\u201d Songwriter Brett James<\/a> was also remembered one month after he died in a plane crash<\/a> at age 57.<\/p>\n \n\tHere are the seven best moments from the fifth annual SONA Warrior Awards<\/p>\n \t\tLinda Perry Performs a Pop Classic\t<\/p>\n \n\tIn tribute to honoree Dina LaPolt, Linda Perry<\/a> performed 4 Non Blondes\u2019 1993 classic \u201cWhat\u2019s Up?\u201d, which showed the staying power of a great song. Perry made clear that she wouldn\u2019t do this for just anyone. \u201cI would rather stay home with my dogs. Only for you would I do this,\u201d she said to LaPolt.<\/p>\n \n\tAlso to honor LaPolt, Morgan Wade<\/a> performed her 2021 country hit \u201cWilder Days,\u201d which she co-wrote with Sadler Vaden.<\/p>\n \t\tAn Awards Mix-Up That Somehow Made Perfect Sense\t<\/p>\n \n\tWhen the awards were presented to Jam & Lewis, songwriting partners for 50 years, there was a slight mix-up. \u201cAppropriately, I have Terry\u2019s award and he has mine,\u201d Jam said.<\/p>\n \n\tShawn Stockman of Boyz II Men<\/a> sang several of the pair\u2019s hits, including the Force MDs<\/a>\u2018 \u201cTender Love,\u201d New Edition<\/a>\u2019s \u201cCan You Stand the Rain\u201d and Boyz II Men\u2019s own \u201cOn Bended Knee,\u201d which Jam said was added to the group\u2019s album II when Jam decided \u201cyou need a begging song.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tJam also recalled the moment he first became intrigued by the idea of songwriting, in 1967, when Motown released The Supremes Sing Holland-Dozier-Holland, an album of all-HDH songs, including \u201cYou Keep Me Hangin\u2019 On\u201d and \u201cLove Is Here and Now You\u2019re Gone.\u201d The album reached No. 6 on the Billboard 200 and turned a young boy into a future Rock & Roll Hall of Famer.<\/p>\n \t\tPaul Anka Sings a Classic and Gets Off a Zinger\t<\/p>\n \n\tIn tribute to honoree Mestel, Paul Anka<\/a> sang special lyrics to \u201cMy Way,\u201d the French song for which he wrote English lyrics in 1968 and which became one of Frank Sinatra<\/a>\u2019s signature hits.<\/p>\n \n\tA fit and youthful-appearing Anka was brash and funny at the event. \u201cYou\u2019re looking at a guy who\u2019s 84, who has been around for six decades. I take care of myself, as you can see. I\u2019ve been on Jenny Craig more than Mr. Craig.\u201d<\/p>\n \t\tJustin Tranter Presents to Chappell Roan\t<\/p>\n \n\tJustin Tranter<\/a> (a 2023 Warrior Award recipient) was characteristically funny in presenting to Chappell Roan: \u201cI am honored to present my friend, co-writer and fellow homosexual with this award,\u201d they said. Tranter co-wrote Roan\u2019s 2024 smash \u201cGood Luck, Babe!\u201d with Roan and Dan Nigro<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\tRoan, accepting by video, said, \u201cSongwriters are the backbone of the music world. Change comes from demanding it.\u201d<\/p>\n \t\tJanelle Mon\u00e1e Makes It Personal\t<\/p>\n
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