Chappell! Chaka! Inside The Resonator Awards—A Ceremony Rewriting Whose Voices Get Heard in Music
Ahead of the Resonator Awards—a ceremony honoring both new and legacy creators shaping sound—founder Emily Lazar was exactly where she feels most at home: behind the scenes. Not at a microphone or center stage, but listening closely and taking it all in. “I’m usually making records, helping tell someone else’s story,” Lazar told Vogue. “Being at the forefront of this and putting on a Valentino dress is a whole new game.”
Lazar, a Grammy-winning mastering engineer herself and the founder of nonprofit We Are Moving the Needle, soon stepped into the spotlight with intention. While hosted during music’s biggest week, the Resonator Awards didn’t initially set out to mirror a traditional industry ceremony. Instead, it was built as a response to a problem Lazar believes the music business can no longer ignore. “The mission has always been about access and opportunity,” Lazar said. “It’s creators celebrating creators, with real respect for the work that happens in studios, behind consoles, and in rooms most people never see.”
Hosted by Fred Armisen at Chaplin Studios, the evening brought together a mix of legacy artists, rising voices, and backstage power players. Olivia Rodrigo, Joni Mitchell, Laufey, and Addison Rae served as presenters throughout the night, while Chappell Roan, Chaka Khan, and St. Vincent were among the honorees recognized for their cultural impact. Other notable guests included Niecy Nash, John Mayer, Bon Iver, Maggie Rogers, and Dave Grohl, who joined a crowd deeply invested in the work being celebrated.
Much of the urgency behind the evening is rooted in numbers Lazar knows well. “This year’s Album of the Year nominees include 58 producer and engineer credits,” she said. “Only three of those are women. And only one is credited solely as an engineer.” The imbalance goes far beyond a single category. Across the history of the Grammys, only nine women have ever been nominated for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical. In 2026, there were none. “That’s not a coincidence,” Lazar said. “It’s a pattern.”
As she puts it, the issue has never been a lack of talent. It’s about access: Who gets trusted with major sessions, who gets invited into the room, and who continues to be left out of the conversation. That belief led Lazar to launch We Are Moving the Needle, an organization with four tenets: Educate, equip, energize, and equalize. Since 2021, the nonprofit has awarded $875,000 in scholarships and grants, pairing recipients with one-on-one mentorship from its advisory SoundBoard—a group Lazar affectionately calls the organization’s fairy godmothers. “And we know a fairy godmother can change someone’s life in a single moment,” she offered.
The work now extends beyond professional studios. With 22 college chapters and an Amplitude Youth Program reaching students as young as middle school, the goal is long-term normalization. Girls growing up seeing women in positions of creative authority—and boys growing up assuming that presence is standard rather than surprising. “If you can see it; you can be it,” Lazar said. “That idea drives everything we do.”
Midway through the ceremony, the focus shifted sharply as a live auction took over the room. With an auctioneer on the mic, the volume rose as bids moved quickly across the floor, from music memorabilia tied to HAIM, boygenius, and Remi Wolf, to one-of-a-kind experiences, like a trip to Mykonos that ultimately went to Doechii.
The awards categories shone a light on both visible and unseen creative labor. Chappell Roan received the Harmonizer Award, presented by Heart’s Nancy Wilson, honoring her use of music as a vehicle for social change. St. Vincent accepted the Golden Trifecta Award from Olivia Rodrigo, recognizing her work across artistry, production, and engineering. The HAIM sisters received the Disruptors Award, while Gena Johnson was presented with the Powerhouse Award for her enduring influence as a producer.
Behind-the-scenes excellence also came to the fore. Bella Blasko and Jayda Love were each recognized with the Exceptional Ears Award, while Amy Allen received the Calliope Award for songwriting. Alissia accepted the All-Star Award, Elvira Anderfjärd and Luka Kloser were honored with the In Stereo Award, and Emily Lazar herself presented the Breakthrough Award to Roselilah. The ceremony paused to recognize the Resonator Hall of Fame too, honoring Allee Willis and SOPHIE posthumously, alongside Elaine Martone, Jaime Sickora, Judith Sherman, Mary Mazurek, and Michelle Sabolchick.
The evening concluded with an emotional centerpiece as Chaka Khan received the Luminary Award, presented by Joni Mitchell. The room then turned its attention to an all-star musical tribute in her honor. Sia kicked things off with Tell Me Something Good, joined by Danielle Haim on the drums. Maggie Rogers followed with Ain’t Nobody, before Lalah Hathaway performed Through the Fire, eventually joined by Khan herself.
When asked what she hopes the Resonator Awards will represent five or ten years from now, Lazar didn’t hesitate: “I want them to become unnecessary. I want true parity to feel normal. And when we get there, we’ll celebrate, and then move on to fixing the next thing.” Until then, the work continues. Last year alone, We Are Moving the Needle received more than 1,000 scholarship applications and was able to fund just five percent. “The hunger is there,” Lazar said. “The talent is there—the support needs to catch up.”
Photo by: Shervin Lainez1/37HAIM and Chappell Roan
Photo by: Shervin Lainez2/37Olivia Rodrigo
