We Are Moving the Needle has announced the return of the Resonator Awards, taking place January 28, 2025 at Avalon Hollywood in Los Angeles. The Resonator Awards celebrate the creative and technical achievements of underrepresented voices in the recording arts. The evening includes a seated dinner, awards ceremony, and live performances. Funds raised from the evening will go to support the work of We Are Moving the Needle. The full list of 2025 recipients, presenters and performers will be announced in the new year.
We Are Moving the Needle is a nonprofit organization working to reshape the future of the recording industry, according to the announcement. Founded by Grammy-winning mastering engineer Emily Lazar, the organization empowers women and non-binary producers and engineers to succeed at the highest levels through scholarships and grants, mentorship, research, advocacy, and community events. Its goal is to close the gender gap and bring equity and inclusion to the recording industry.
The inaugural Resonator Awards, held during Grammy Week 2024, honored Alanis Morissette, Corinne Bailey Rae, Caroline Polachek, Catherine Marks, Laura Sisk and Jennifer Decilveo, Michael Goldstone and Christine Thomas. Inaugural Hall of Fame inductees included industry veterans Alicia Keys and Linda Perry. Presenters included Shirley Manson, boygenius, Jack Antonoff, Ariel Rechtshaid, Fletcher, Autumn Rowe and Emily Lazar, while Empress Of, Sasami, and Remi Wolf performed. The Awards were hosted by Jenny Eliscu.
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Lazar says, “The Resonator Awards is about celebrating creative excellence and honoring the collective spirit of innovation. We also shine a light on those in the community who lean in, champion, and hire with intention, ensuring that everyone has a seat at the table. We are proud to continue this important tradition that elevates the voices of those who inspire us all.”
In 2019, Lazar became the first female mastering engineer to win the for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical for her work on Beck’s album “Colors.” A nine-time Grammy nominee, she up up for Album of the Year for her work on Jacob Collier’s “Djesse Vol. 4.” She founded We Are Moving the Needle in 2021 to help close the vast gender gap in the recording industry. We Are Moving The Needle’s “Fix the Mix Report” on gender representation in producing and engineering roles in the recording industry, confirmed that men outnumber women and non-binary tech creators 49:1.
Since its establishment, We Are Moving the Needle has awarded more than $525,000 in scholarships to creators to attend audio education programs globally.