The 2026 Resonator Awards from We Are Moving the Needle

When I first heard about the Resonator Awards in 2024, I had recently interviewed artist/producer SASAMI [Tape Op #157] and production great Jennifer DeCilveo [#161] for Tape Op (the former had signed on to perform, the latter was to receive the All-Star Award), and I was simultaneously thrilled to learn of its existence and gutted to realize that I could not attend. What do you mean We Are Moving the Needle, an organization helmed by legendary mastering engineer Emily Lazar, hosts an award show honoring women, nonbinary, and trans engineers, producers, and artists as well as allies in the music industry as the Grammys continue to (mostly) overlook them?! This might just be the only awards show I care about now!

Well, this year, with Tape Op’s support, I was able to attend, and it was even more full of heart – and surprisingly star-studded – than I had anticipated. Leading up to the event, it seemed every email announced a new presenter lending their prestige to the cause. While two years ago it took place at Beauty & Essex, what is essentially a restaurant, this year it expanded into Chaplin Studios (formerly Henson Studios), newly acquired by McG and John Mayer. All told, participants included Fred Armisen as host; pianist/vocalist Victoria Canal, indie artists Jim James and Margo Price, and vocal group Flo as performers; Tony Berg [#121], Jason Isbell, Addison Rae, Anderson .Paak, Laufey, Cher (via video), Aaron Dessner [#141], Doechii, Rostam (of Vampire Weekend), Olivia Rodrigo, Nancy Wilson (of Heart), and Joni Mitchell – a last-minute addition, shocking all of us in attendance – as presenters; and Roselilah, Apogee Electronics Co-founder Betty Bennett [#165], Gena Johnson, Luka Kloser & Elvira Anderfjärd, Alissia, Amy Allen, Roger Davies, Bella Blasko [#150], Jayda Love, HAIM, St. Vincent [#134], Chappell Roan, and Chaka Kahn – introduced by Joni, her good friend – as honorees. The night ended with small ensembles of powerhouse performers playing Chaka Kahn’s best known songs, and throughout the evening, Chappell Roan’s touring band (consisting of all women musicians) handled the transitions on and offstage with skill and prowess.

As I was there on behalf of Tape Op, the audio legends were my primary focus, and boy, did I find them. Fellow Tape Op contributor/interview subject, and We Are Moving the Needle Soundboard member, Sadie Dupuis [#142] was running around gathering interviews for WAMTN’s social media accounts as Catherine Marks [#102] and Jennifer DeCilveo were hanging out, chatting at the reception before the event. Suzy Shinn [#151] delighted in the organization’s mission of, “showing young girls that you can be a producer, an engineer, a mixer – be involved in music in more ways than we grew up seeing in the ‘90s;” Bella Blasko, an award recipient that evening, shared how much it meant to her as “someone who's usually behind the scenes [to be] honored and visible;” Lenise Bent [#146] was pleased to see a studio she has had such fondness for being preserved by owners who have “fallen in love” with it; and Leslie Ann Jones [#74] reflected on the honor of having been recognized in 2024, and marveled at how much the event itself has grown since then, under Emily Lazar’s care and leadership, as well as its, “wonderful, collaborative spirit where everybody's rooting for everyone.” For more info on the night itself – the speeches, and all else – please reference one of my esteemed press-tablemates’ accounts of the evening, found here, here, here, and here. It ruled.