We Are Moving The Needle’s Resonator Awards Honors Six Outstanding Women Producers and Engineers
We Are Moving The Needle, a non-profit organization that is radically reshaping the future of the recording industry by advancing gender equity for producers and engineers, held its inaugural Resonator Awards in Los Angeles on January 30th, honoring six extraordinary women for their work in the recording studio as producers, engineers and mixers: Alanis Morissette, Corinne Bailey Rae, Caroline Polachek, Catherine Marks, Laura Sisk and Jennifer Decilveo. Resonator Impact Awards were also presented to music executives Michael Goldstone of Mom+Pop Music and Christine Thomas of Dolby Labs for their commitment to advancing gender equity across the music industry. Shirley Manson, boygenius, Jack Antonoff, Ariel Rechtshaid, FLETCHER, Autumn Rowe and We Are Moving the Needle founder/award-winning mastering engineer Emily Lazar were on hand to present the awards.
The evening also featured stripped-down performances by Empress Of, Sasami, and a fiery cover of Morissette’s hit "Hand In My Pocket" by Remi Wolf. SiriusXM on-air personality and creator of the LSQ podcast Jenny Eliscu hosted the Resonator Awards, which were empowered by EqualizeHer. Artists, producers and music industry executives filled the audience at the Resonator Awards, including Thundercat, Bethany Cosentino, Christina Perri, Terrace Martin, Robert Glasper, Lisa Loeb, Shailene Woodley, and more.
Lazar, who presented awards to Goldstone and Thomas, challenged the assembled luminaries to ask themselves, "How can I make more spaces like this? Who can I invite to the party and how will that simple invitation change things?
This is what We Are Moving The Needle is about. We’re not a women’s organization. We are an organization that is fighting for equity for all people in our business. We’re about possibility and community. And I want to welcome you all to our family."
The invite-only event at Beauty & Essex in Los Angeles also celebrated the first class of the Resonator Hall of Fame, including Linda Perry, Marcella Araica, Lenise Bent, Claudia Brant, Lynne Earls, Leslie Ann Jones, Pat Sullivan, Alicia Keys, Ann Mincieli, Angela Piva, Darcy Proper, Susan Rogers, Trina Shoemaker, Terri Winston and Sylvia Robinson, who was inducted In Memoriam. The Resonator Hall of Fame honors legendary producers and engineers who paved the way, making significant contributions to the music industry over their careers. Honorees and Hall of Fame inductees were selected by a committee of their peers based on their technical integrity, artistic excellence, innovation, and impact.
The 2024 Resonator Awards
Luminary of the Year Award — Alanis Morissette presented by Shirley Manson
Powerhouse of the Year Award — Catherine Marks presented by boygenius
Catherine’s credits include: Alanis Morissette, boygenius, The Killers, Wolf Alice.
Exceptional Ears Award — Laura Sisk presented by Jack Antonoff
Laura’s credits include: Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey, Jack Antonoff.
The Golden Trifecta Award — Caroline Polachek presented by Ariel Rechtshaid
Harmonizer Award — Corinne Bailey Rae presented by Autumn Rowe
The All-Star Award — Jennifer Decilveo presented by FLETCHER
Jennifer’s credits include: Miley Cyrus, Hozier, Andra Day, FLETCHER, Galantis.
The Transformer Award — Michael Goldstone, Founder/Owner at Mom+Pop Music presented by Emily Lazar
The Equalizer Award — Christine Thomas and Dolby Laboratories - presented by Emily Lazar
GRAMMY® Award winner and eight-time nominee, Emily Lazar made history in 2019 as the first female mastering engineer to win the GRAMMY for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical for Beck’s album Colors. She founded We Are Moving the Needle in 2021 to help close the vast gender gap in the recording studio. Last year, the nonprofit organization’s Fix the Mix initiative released its first annual report on gender representation in producing and engineering roles in the recording industry in conjunction with Middle Tennessee State University and Howard University. The study confirmed that women and non-binary people are outnumbered 49:1 by men in technical roles in the recording studio. Since its establishment, We Are Moving The Needle has awarded more than $425,000 in scholarships to women and non-binary talent to attend audio education programs globally. In addition to scholarships, recipients receive support from a WAMTN soundBoard mentor to further guide them in advancing their careers.
About We Are Moving the Needle
We Are Moving The Needle (WAMTN) is a nonprofit organization that is radically reshaping the future of the recording industry. WAMTN works to create inclusive spaces for women and non-binary individuals in music production and technology, and to provide them with the tools and resources they need to succeed in these fields. More information at wearemovingtheneedle.org.