RAY, Willie “Prophet” Stigers, Thomas Scherer, Ross Golan and the late songwriter Andrea Martin will be honored at the fourth annual SONA Warrior Awards Gala on Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. in Herscher Hall at the Skirball Center in Los Angeles. The awards are presented by Songwriters of North America (SONA).
British singer-songwriter RAYE made history at the BRIT Awards in March with six wins and seven nominations, the most anyone has ever received in one year. Her global smash “Escapism” was the biggest-selling single by a British artist of 2023, becoming her first No. 1 on the official UK Singles chart and peaking at No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Stiggers is the co-founder, CEO and president of the Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC), which advocates for racial equality and justice in the music industry on behalf of Black artists, songwriters, producers, managers, agents, executives, advocates and others.
Scherer has been with BMG and its parent company Bertelsmann for nearly three decades as an artist, songwriter, music publisher, music producer, label owner and executive. Under his leadership, BMG has signed and re-signed writers in the US, among them Diane Warren, Bebe Rexha, and Lewis Capaldiand has secured more than 50 acquisitions, among them Mötley Crüe, Paul Simon, Five Finger Death Punch, and Gucci Mane. In January, Scherer was named president of global catalog recordings, while retaining his responsibilities as president of North American music publishing.
Songwriter and advocate Golan is the host of the podcast And the Writer Is, where he interviews top songwriters. His advocacy helped pass the Music Modernization Act. In addition, he served as the first songwriter on the board of the National Music Publishers Association.
Martin is best known for composition En Vogue's “Don't Let Go (Love)” as well Angie Stone's “Wish I Didn't Did You” and Leona Lewis“Better in time.” He also wrote 'I Love Me Some Him' for Toni Braxton and “Before You Walk Out of My Life” for Monica, and “It Kills Me” by Melanie Fiona. Martin was also a recording artist whose singles in the late 1990s included “Let Me Return the Favor” and “Share the Love.”
tickets for the event cost $241.94 or $535.38, with the latter option including a four-course dinner. The tickets are tickets-926553465357?aff=ebdshpsearchautocomplete” data-type=”link” data-id=”https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sona-warrior-awards-tickets-926553465357?aff=ebdshpsearchautocomplete” rel=”nofollow” target=”_blank”>on sale now.
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