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Songwriters Honored at SONA Warrior Awards, Demand Change in Music Industry
13 Oct
Summary
- SONA hosts annual awards honoring songwriters and music creators
- Advocacy for better pay, healthcare, and fighting AI outsourcing
- Criticism of Spotify's audiobook bundling strategy hurting songwriters
On October 13, 2025, the Songwriters of North America (SONA) held its annual Warrior Awards in Los Angeles, honoring industry leaders for their contributions to the music industry. The event brought together a diverse group of executives, hitmakers, and members of Congress to celebrate songwriting and address systemic issues plaguing the business.
The evening's honorees included Girls Make Beats founder Tiffany Miranda, pop star Chappell Roan, and music executives like Primary Wave's Larry Mestel and attorney Dina LaPolt. Advocacy and fighting for a more equitable music industry were central themes, with speakers highlighting the need for better pay, access to affordable healthcare, and combating the threat of AI outsourcing songwriting jobs.
During his acceptance speech, Mestel took aim at Spotify, criticizing the streaming service's controversial audiobook bundling strategy that has led to decreased payments to songwriters. "There are no songs without songwriters, there are no artists without songs, there is no Spotify without songwriters," Mestel said. "Shame on Spotify... for that bundling crap. Fuck Spotify."
The event also featured surprise performances, including Linda Perry's rendition of "What's Up" and Paul Anka serenading Mestel with a version of "My Way." The night concluded with a singalong of Bon Jovi's "Livin' On A Prayer" led by Desmond Child.
