Awards
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The dividing line between music fans and sports fans was all but erased at the 31st annual ESPY Awards, which were presented at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Wednesday (July 12). Lil Wayne opened the show performing his 2008 hit “A Milli.” H.E.R. performed her latest single, the elegant power ballad “The Journey,” as a tribute to the 30th anniversary of basketball coach Jimmy Valvano’s inspirational speech at the first ESPYS in 1993 when he was terminally ill with cancer.
Several other music stars were also on board for the three-hour show, which was telecast on ABC. Quavo and Lil Dicky were among the presenters. Common narrated a segment paying tribute to Liam Hendriks, who battled back from Stage 4 non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Angel Reese, who won best breakthrough athlete for leading the Louisiana State University women’s basketball team to the college title this past spring, has become a pop-culture star. Reese recently made a cameo in Latto’s “Put It On Da Floor Again” music video, in which featured act Cardi B raps, “I been ballin’ so damn hard could’ve went to LSU.”
This is the second year in a row that a woman has won in the gender-neutral best breakthrough athlete category. Skier Eileen Gu won last year. This is the first time in the history of the ESPYS that women have won back-to-back awards in this category.
Reese competed in the category with Iowa basketball star Caitlin Clark, her NCAA finals foe. But Clark also won an award this year – best college athlete, women’s sports.
Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs won two awards – best athlete, men’s sports and best NFL player. The Chiefs also won as best team. Argentina soccer superstar Lionel Messi also won two awards – best championship performance and best soccer player.
ESPN sports analyst Pat McAfee gave an opening monologue, though there was no formal host, due to the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike.
The show, which was co-produced by ESPN and Full Day Productions, was a lot like a music awards show in a couple of respects. Even with a generous three-hour time slot, it ran over by about 10 minutes. And only eight competitive awards were announced on the show. The other 14 competitive awards didn’t rate so much as a mention (but we have them here for you).
Here’s the full list of winners, including special awards and sports humanitarian awards.
Best Athlete, Men’s SportsNikola Jokić, Denver NuggetsAaron Judge, New York YankeesWINNER: Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City ChiefsLionel Messi, Argentina
Best Athlete, Women’s SportsWINNER: Mikaela Shiffrin, SkiSophia Smith, Portland ThornsIga Świątek, TennisA’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
Best Breakthrough AthleteCaitlin Clark, Iowa Women’s BasketballBrock Purdy, San Francisco 49ersWINNER: Angel Reese, LSU Women’s BasketballJulio Rodríguez, Seattle Mariners
Best Record-Breaking Performance–Novak Djokovic wins his 23rd Grand Slam title, breaking a tie with Rafael Nadal for the most major singles trophies in the history of men’s tennis.–WINNER: LeBron James surpasses Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for NBA career scoring record.–Mikaela Shiffrin breaks the record for the most World Cup victories with her 87th win.–Max Verstappen wins the Mexican Grand Prix, breaking the record for most wins in a season.
Best Championship Performance–Leon Edwards, UFC – defeats Kamaru Usman by fifth-round KO to win UFC welterweight title, handing Usman his first UFC loss.–Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets – 2023 NBA Finals MVP.–WINNER: Lionel Messi, Argentina – 2022 World Cup Final – scored two goals and scored in the penalty shootout to win Man of the Match. He won the Golden Ball as FIFA’s best player of the tournament.–Rose Zhang, LPGA – defeated Jennifer Kupcho in a two-hole sudden death playoff, becoming the first woman in 72 years to win her first professional start.
Best Comeback Athlete–Jon Jones, UFC – Jones’ first fight in the UFC since 2020. He was last seen in action against Dominick Reyes, where he defended his light-heavyweight championship at UFC 247.–WINNER: Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets – Murray missed the entirety of last season due to a torn ACL in his left knee. He suffered the injury on April 12, 2021, and didn’t play in the 18 months since then.–Alyssa Thomas, Connecticut Sun – 2022 WNBA Comeback Player of the Year. Thomas missed all but six games last season while recovering from a torn Achilles tendon. The eight-year veteran started all 36 of Connecticut’s games in 2022, and was an All-Star earlier this season.–Justin Verlander, Current New York Mets / Houston Astros – 2022 NL Comeback Player of the Year, after being limited to only six innings in 2020 and missing the entire ’21 season due to Tommy John surgery, the Astros’ ace returned this season to go 18-4 with a 1.75 ERA.
Best PlayMichael Block Hole-in-One! GOLFWINNER: Justin Jefferson with the Catch of the Century NFLAlly Lemos with the perfect corner to tie the National Championship game NCAATrinity Thomas Perfect 10 Tying the All-Time NCAA Record NCAA
Best TeamDenver Nuggets, NBAGeorgia Bulldogs, NCAA FootballWINNER: Kansas City Chiefs, NFLLas Vegas Aces, WNBALouisiana State Tigers, NCAA Women’s BasketballOklahoma Sooners, NCAA SoftballVegas Golden Knights, NHL
Best College Athlete, Men’s SportsZach Edey, Purdue Men’s BasketballDuncan McGuire, Creighton SoccerBrennan O’Neill, Duke LacrosseWINNER: Caleb Williams, USC Football
Best College Athlete, Women’s SportsJordy Bahl, Oklahoma SoftballWINNER: Caitlin Clark, Iowa Women’s BasketballIzzy Scane, Northwestern LacrosseTrinity Thomas, Florida Gators Gymnastics
Best Athlete With a DisabilityErica McKee, Sled Hockey TeamWINNER: Zach Miller, SnowboardingAaron Pike, Wheelchair Racing & Cross-Country SkiingSusannah Scaroni, Wheelchair Racing
Best NFL PlayerNick Bosa, San Francisco 49ersJalen Hurts, Philadelphia EaglesJustin Jefferson, Minnesota VikingsWINNER: Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Best MLB PlayerPaul Goldschmidt, St. Louis CardinalsAaron Judge, New York YankeesWINNER: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles AngelsJustin Verlander, Houston Astros
Best NHL PlayerJonathan Marchessault, Vegas Golden KnightsWINNER: Connor McDavid, Edmonton OilersDavid Pastrňák, Boston BruinsLinus Ullmark, Boston Bruins
Best NBA PlayerJimmy Butler, Miami HeatJoel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ersWINNER: Nikola Jokić, Denver NuggetsJayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
Best WNBA PlayerSkylar Diggins-Smith, Phoenix MercuryCandace Parker, Chicago Sky (Current Las Vegas Aces)Breanna Stewart, Seattle Storm (Current New York Liberty)WINNER: A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
Best DriverBrittany Force, NHRAKyle Larson, NASCARJosef Newgarden, IndyCarWINNER: Max Verstappen, F1
Best UFC FighterLeon EdwardsWINNER: Jon JonesIslam MakhachevAmanda Nunes
Best BoxerGervonta DavisDevin HaneyWINNER: Claressa ShieldsShakur Stevenson
Best Soccer PlayerAitana Bonmatí, Spain/BarcelonaErling Haaland, Norway/Manchester CityWINNER: Lionel Messi, Argentina/PSGSophia Smith, USWNT/Portland Thorns
Best GolferWyndham ClarkNelly KordaJon RahmWINNER: Scottie Scheffler
Best Tennis PlayerCarlos AlcarazWINNER: Novak DjokovicAryna SabalenkaIga Świątek
Special Awards
Pat Tillman Award for Service: Buffalo Bills’ training staff for helping Damar Hamlin recover from a devastating injury
Arthur Ashe Award for Courage: The U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team for successfully fighting for pay parity.
Jimmy V Award for Perseverance: Chicago White Sox pitcher and cancer survivorLiam Hendriks for battling back from a diagnosis of Stage 4 non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Sports Humanitarian Awards
Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award:Jrue Holiday (Milwaukee Bucks) & Lauren Holiday (retired U.S. Women’s National Team)
Billie Jean King Youth Leadership Award: Jordan Adeyemi, Ashley Badis, Rishan Patel
Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year: San Antonio Spurs
Stuart Scott ENSPIRE Award Honoree: Dr. Richard Lapchick
Numerous music-related shows were nominated in program categories for the 75th annual Primetime Emmy Awards. The nominations were announced on Wednesday (July 12). The awards will be presented on Monday, Sept. 18.
The Apple Music Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show Starring Rihanna (Fox) is nominated for outstanding variety special (live), where it is competing with the Tonys (CBS), the Oscars (ABC), Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium (Disney+) and Chris Rock: Selective Outrage (Netflix). Last year, The Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show Starring Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, 50 Cent became the first Super Bowl halftime show to win a top program Emmy.
These are the first Primetime Emmy nominations for Rihanna and Elton John. If the British superstar wins, he’ll become an EGOT. Chris Rock is a four-time Primetime Emmy winner, including a 1997 award for outstanding variety, music or comedy special for Chris Rock: Bring the Pain.
Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC) received its 12th nomination for outstanding talk series, which puts it in a tie with Real Time With Bill Maher for the most nods in the category without a win (yet). Competing with Kimmel’s show this year are The Late Show With Stephen Colbert (CBS, its seventh nod in the category), The Daily Show With Trevor Noah (Comedy Central, its sixth), Late Night with Seth Meyers (NBC, its second) and The Problem With Jon Stewart (Apple TV+, its first).
Last Week Tonight With John Oliver, which won for outstanding talk series the last seven years in a row, was moved to outstanding scripted variety series, where it is nominated. Its chief competition in its new category is Saturday Night Live, which has won here the last six years in a row. The Emmys have thus shaken up two categories where there was very little suspense. The scripted variety series category is rounded out by HBO’s A Black Lady Sketch Show, nominated for the fourth year in a row.
NBC’s The Voice is nominated for outstanding reality/competition program for the 12th time, which constitutes a new record for a music or dance program. It tops Dancing With the Stars (11 nods), American Idol (nine) and So You Think You Can Dance (five).
Dear Mama (FX), a program about Tupac Shakur and his mother, Afeni Shakur, is competing for outstanding documentary or non-fiction series. Another series about a rapper, jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy, about Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, was nominated last year, but lost to The Beatles: Get Back.
George & Tammy (Showtime), about country music legends George Jones and Tammy Wynette, is nominated for outstanding limited or anthology series.
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (The Roku Channel) and Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas (NBC) are nominated for outstanding television movie. Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square won in this category two years ago. Other recent music-related movies to win in this category are Bessie (about gospel legend Bessie Smith, 2015) and Behind the Candelabra (about entertainer Liberace, 2013).
Carol Burnett: 90 Years Of Laughter + Love is nominated for outstanding variety special (pre-recorded). This is the seventh consecutive decade the TV icon has received a nomination. She landed her first nod in 1962 for her work on The Garry Moore Show.
The 75th Emmy Awards are set to telecast live coast-to-coast from Los Angeles on Monday, Sept. 18, (8:00-11:00 p.m. ET/5:00-8:00 p.m. PT) on FOX. Emmy winners Jesse Collins and Dionne Harmon and Emmy nominee Jeannae Rouzan-Clay of Jesse Collins Entertainment will executive produce the show.
Here are the nominees in all program categories.
Outstanding Variety Special (Live)
The Apple Music Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show Starring Rihanna • FOX • Jesse Collins Entertainment, DPS and Roc Nation
Chris Rock: Selective Outrage • Netflix • Netflix / Tenth Planet
Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium • Disney+ • Disney+ Presents in association with Rocket Entertainment / A Fulwell 73 Production
The Oscars • ABC • Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
75th Annual Tony Awards • CBS • White Cherry Entertainment
Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded)
Carol Burnett: 90 Years Of Laughter + Love • NBC • Silent House Productions
John Mulaney: Baby J • Netflix • Netflix
Lizzo: Live In Concert • HBO Max • HBO Max in association with LizzoBangers and Done+Dusted
Norman Lear: 100 Years Of Music & Laughter • ABC • Done+Dusted
Trevor Noah: I Wish You Would • Netflix • Bob Bain Productions, Day Zero Productions and Mainstay Entertainment for Netflix
Wanda Sykes: I’m An Entertainer • Netflix • Push It Productions for Netflix
Outstanding Talk Series
The Daily Show With Trevor Noah • Comedy Central • Central Productions, LLC
Jimmy Kimmel Live! • ABC • ABC Signature in association with Kimmelot
Late Night With Seth Meyers • NBC • Universal Television and Broadway Video
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert • CBS • CBS Studios
The Problem With Jon Stewart • Apple TV+ • Busboy / EDEN in association with Apple
Outstanding Scripted Variety Series
A Black Lady Sketch Show • HBO Max • HBO in association with For Better or Words, Inc., HooRAE, 3 Arts Entertainment and Jax Media
Last Week Tonight With John Oliver • HBO Max • HBO in association with Sixteen String Jack Productions and Avalon Television
Saturday Night Live • NBC • SNL Studios in association with Universal Television and Broadway Video
Outstanding Reality Competition Program
The Amazing Race • CBS • WorldRace Productions, Inc.
RuPaul’s Drag Race • MTV • World of Wonder
Survivor • CBS • MGM Television
Top Chef • Bravo • Magical Elves
The Voice • NBC • MGM Television and Warner Bros. Unscripted Television in association with Warner Horizon and ITV Studios; The Voice USA, Inc.
Outstanding Television Movie
Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas • NBC • Warner Bros. Television in association with Magnolia Hill Productions and Sandollar Productions
Fire Island • Hulu • Searchlight Pictures Presents, a JAX Media Production
Hocus Pocus 2 • Disney+ • Walt Disney Pictures
Prey • Hulu • 20th Century Studios
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story • The Roku Channel • The Roku Channel, Funny or Die, Tango Entertainment
Outstanding Comedy Series
Abbott Elementary • ABC • Delicious Non-Sequitur Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television and 20th Television
Barry • HBO Max • HBO in association with Alec Berg and Hanarply
The Bear • FX • FX Productions
Jury Duty • Amazon Freevee • Amazon Studios
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel • Prime Video • Amazon Studios
Only Murders in the Building • Hulu • 20th Television
Ted Lasso • Apple TV+ • Apple presents a Doozer Production in association with Warner Bros. Television and Universal Television
Wednesday • Netflix • A Netflix Series / An MGM Television Production
Outstanding Drama Series
Andor • Disney+ • Lucasfilm Ltd.
Better Call Saul • AMC • High Bridge, Crystal Diner, Gran Via Productions and Sony Pictures Television
The Crown • Netflix • Left Bank Pictures and Sony Pictures Television for Netflix
House of the Dragon • HBO Max • HBO in association with 1:26 Pictures, Bastard Sword, and GRRM Productions
The Last of Us • HBO Max • HBO in association with Sony Pictures Television Studios, PlayStation Productions, Word Games, The Mighty Mint, and Naughty Dog
Succession • HBO Max • HBO in association with Project Zeus, Hyberobject Industries, Gary Sanchez Productions and Hot Seat
The White Lotus • HBO Max • HBO in association with Rip Cord and The District
Yellowjackets • Showtime • SHOWTIME Presents, Entertainment One
Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series
BEEF • Netflix • A Netflix Series / An A24 Production
Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story • Netflix • Ryan Murphy Productions for Netflix
Daisy Jones & The Six • Prime Video • Hello Sunshine, Amazon Studios
Fleishman Is In Trouble • FX • ABC Signature
Obi-Wan Kenobi • Disney+ • Lucasfilm Ltd.
Outstanding Structured Reality Program
Antiques Roadshow • PBS • GBH
Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives • Food Network • Knuckle Sandwich and Citizen Pictures
Love Is Blind • Netflix • Kinetic Content for Netflix
Queer Eye • Netflix • Scout Productions Inc. and ITV Entertainment LLC for Netflix
Shark Tank • ABC • MGM Television in association with Sony Pictures Television
Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program
Indian Matchmaking • Netflix • The Intellectual Property Corporation (IPC) for Netflix
RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked • MTV • World of Wonder
Selling Sunset • Netflix • Done+Done Productions and Lionsgate for Netflix
Vanderpump Rules • Bravo • Evolution Media
Welcome To Wrexham • FX • Boardwalk Pictures
Outstanding Game Show
Family Feud • ABC • Fremantle
Jeopardy! • ABC • Quadra Productions in association with Sony Pictures Television
The Price Is Right • CBS • Fremantle
That’s My Jam • NBC • Universal Television Alternative Studio in association with Electric Hog Dog
Wheel Of Fortune • ABC • Quadra Productions in association with Sony Pictures Television
Outstanding Animated Program
Bob’s Burgers • The Plight Before Christmas • FOX • 20th Television Animation
Entergalactic • Netflix • Netflix / Mad Solar / Khalabo Ink Society / Edelgang
Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal • Shadow Of Fate • Adult Swim • Cartoon Network Studios Rick And Morty • Night Family • Adult Swim
Rick and Morty LLC, Williams Street
The Simpsons • Treehouse Of Horror XXXIII • FOX • A Gracie Films Production in association with 20th Television Animation
Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special
Being Mary Tyler Moore • HBO Max • Hillman Grad Productions, Debra Martin Chase Productions, The Mission Entertainment and Good Trouble Studios; Ben Selkow, Produced by; James Adolphus, Produced by; Lena Waithe, Produced by; Rishi Rajani, Produced by; Debra Martin Chase, Produced by; Andrew C. Coles, Produced by; Laura Gardner, Produced by
Judy Blume Forever • Prime Video • Amazon Studios Meredith Kaulfers, Executive Producer; Sara Bernstein, Produced by; Justin Wilkes, Produced by; Davina Pardo, Produced by; Leah Wolchok, Produced by; Marcella Steingart, Produced by
My Transparent Life • Prime Video • Elysium Media; Serena De Comarmond, Executive Producer; Evan Jenkins, Producer
Pamela, A Love Story • Netflix • A Netflix Documentary / A Dorothy St Pictures, Tripod Media, and Colony Entertainment Production; Jessica Hargrave, Producer; Ryan White, Producer; Julia Nottingham, Producer; Brandon Thomas Lee, Producer; Josh Braun, Executive Producer
Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie • Apple TV+ • An Apple Original Film in association with Concordia Studio; Nelle Fortenberry, Executive Producer; Laurene Powell Jobs, Executive Producer; Nicole Stott, Executive Producer; Davis Guggenheim, Produced by. Annetta Marion, Produced by; Jonathan King, Produced by; Will Cohen, Produced by
Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series
Dear Mama • FX • FX Presents A Defiant Ones Media Group Production / An Amaru Entertainment Production in association with DreamCrew Entertainment, Interscope, MACRO, Polygram Entertainment; Lasse Järvi, Executive Producer; Nelson George, Executive Producer; Peter Nelson, Executive Producer; Jamal Joseph, Executive Producer; Ted Skillman, Executive Producer; Allen Hughes, Executive Producer; Stef Smith, Produced by; Loren Gomez, Producer; Joshua Garcia, Producer; James Jenkins, Producer
100 Foot Wave • HBO Max • HBO Presents, Topic Studios, Library Films, Amplify Pictures Maria Zuckerman, Executive Producer; Ryan Heller, Executive Producer; Joe Lewis, Executive Producer; Chris Smith, Executive Producer; Nancy Abraham, Executive Producer; Lisa Heller, Executive Producer; Bentley Weiner, Executive Producer
Secrets of the Elephants • National Geographic • Oxford Scientific Films LTD and Earthship Productions for National Geographic; James Cameron, Executive Producer; Maria Wilhelm, Executive Producer; Pamela Caragol, Executive Producer; Lucinda Axelsson, Executive Producer; Caroline Hawkins, Executive Producer; Jonathan Frisby, Series Producer; Dr. Paula Kahumbu, Producer; Kim Butts, Producer
The 1619 Project • Hulu • Onyx Collective, Lionsgate Productions in association with One Story Up Productions, Harpo Films and The New York Times; Nikole Hannah-Jones, Executive Producer; Roger Ross Williams, Executive Producer; Shoshana Guy, Executive Producer; Caitlin Roper, Executive Producer; Kathleen Lingo, Executive Producer; Helen Verno, Executive Producer; Oprah Winfrey, Executive Producer; Geoff Martz, Co-Executive Producer; Carla Gardini, Co-Executive Producer; Jonathan Clasberry, Producer
The U.S. and the Holocaust • PBS • Florentine Films and WETA; Sarah Botstein, Produced by; Lynn Novick, Produced by; Ken Burns, Produced by; Mike Welt, Produced by
Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking
The Accused: Damned or Devoted? • PBS • A 64th Street Media and Brook Lapping Production Mohammed Ali Naqvi, Produced by/Directed by
Aftershock • Hulu • ABC News Studios, Onyx Collective; Paula Eiselt, A Film by Tonya Lewis Lee, A Film by
Last Flight Home • Paramount+ • Interloper Films, MTV Documentary Films Ondi Timoner, Produced by; David Turner, Produced by
The Territory • National Geographic • National Geographic Documentary Films Presents a Documist and Associação Jupaú Film in association with Time Studios, Xtr, Doc Society Climate Story Fund / A Production of Protozoa Pictures, Passion Pictures, Real Lava; Alex Pritz, Produced by; Darren Aronofsky, Produced by; Sigrid Dyekjær, Produced by; Will N. Miller, Produced by; Gabriel Uchida, Produced by; Lizzie Gillett, Produced by; Txai Suruí, Executive Producer
Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special
The Light We Carry: Michelle Obama & Oprah Winfrey • Netflix • A Netflix Special in association with Higher Ground Productions & Jesse Collins Entertainment; Michelle Obama, Executive Producer; Jesse Collins, Executive Producer; Dionne Harmon, Executive Producer; Tanisha Whitfield, Supervising Producer; Tonia Davis, Produced by; Ethan Lewis, Produced by; Oprah Winfrey, Host
My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman And Volodymyr Zelenskyy • Netflix • A Jax Media and Worldwide Pants Production for Netflix; Tom Keaney, Executive Producer; Mary Barclay, Executive Producer; John Skidmore, Executive Producer; Justin Wilkes, Executive Producer; Michael Steed, Executive Producer; Razan Ghalayini, Co-Executive Producer; Tommy Alter, Producer
Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy • CNN • CNN Original Series, RAW; Stanley Tucci, Executive Producer/Host; Shauna Minoprio, Executive Producer; Robin O’Sullivan, Executive Producer; Amy Entelis, Executive Producer; Lyle Gamm, Executive Producer; Jon Adler, Executive Producer; Katie Isaacson, Supervising Producer; Fiona Cleary, Series Producer; Nadya Mahdi, Series Producer; Francesco Ficarra, Producer
Taste The Nation With Padma Lakshmi • Hulu • Part2 Pictures, Delicious Entertainment; Padma Lakshmi, Executive Producer/Host; David Shadrack Smith, Executive Producer; Rachel Tung, Executive Producer; Lauren Budabin, Co-Executive Producer; Matthew Alvarez, Producer
United Shades of America With W. Kamau Bell • CNN • CNN Original Series, Zero Point Zero Production, Inc. W. Kamau Bell, Executive Producer/Host; Christopher Collins, Executive Producer; Lydia Tenaglia, Executive Producer; Sandra Zweig, Executive Producer; Morgan Fallon, Executive Producer; Amy Entelis, Executive Producer; Lyle Gamm, Executive Producer; Dwayne Kennedy, Supervising Producer; Crystal Isaac, Producer; Andrew Ford, Producer
Outstanding Emerging Media Program
For All Mankind Season 3 Experience • Apple TV+ • Apple TV+ in association with Tall Ship Productions Apple TV+ Tall Ship Productions Antibody Elastic
Gorillaz Presents • Google • Nexus Studios, Google, Eleven Management Nexus Studios Google Eleven Management
MLK: Now Is The Time • Oculus • Time Studios, Meta, Flight School Studio Amy Seidenwurm, Executive Producer Ian Orefice, Executive Producer Matthew O’Rourke, Producer/Executive Producer Sulivan Parker, Producer Limbert Fabian, Director
The Notorious B.I.G. Sky’s The Limit: A VR Concert Experience • Facebook & Meta Horizon Worlds • A Gunpowder & Sky Production Gunpowder & Sky The Notorious B.I.G. Estate Alex Coletti, Executive Producer Elliot Osagie, Executive Producer
You Destroy. We Create | The War On Ukraine’s Culture • Meta Quest TV • NowHere Media, Meta Quest VR for Good NowHere Media
Outstanding Short Form Comedy, Drama or Variety Series
Awkwafina Is Hangin’ With Grandma • Comedy Central • MTV Entertainment Studios, Comedy Partners; Nora Lum, Executive Producer; Teresa Hsiao, Executive Producer; Emily Moffatt, Executive Producer; Harika Manne, Executive Producer; Minnie Bennett, Supervising Producer
Better Call Saul Filmmaker Training • AMC • AMC Networks Content Room, Bacon & Sons Film Co.; Dan Appel, Executive Producer; Melissa Bernstein, Executive Producer; Peter Gould, Executive Producer; Ariel Levine, Executive Producer
Carpool Karaoke: The Series • Apple TV+ • CBS Studios in association with Fulwell 73 and Apple; Ben Winston, Executive Producer; James Corden, Executive Producer; Eric Pankowski, Executive Producer; David Young, Co-Executive Producer; Blake Webster, Producer
I Think You Should Leave With Tim Robinson • Netflix • Netflix; Tim Robinson, Executive Producer; Zach Kanin, Executive Producer; Akiva Schaffer, Executive Producer; Ali Bell, Executive Producer; Alex Bach, Executive Producer; Alice Mathias, Executive Producer
Only Murders in the Building: One Killer Question • Hulu • 20th Television; Dave Roth, Executive Producer; Zuriht Serna, Executive Producer; Trisha Choate, Executive Producer; Jillian Novak, Executive Producer; Xavier Salas, Executive Producer
Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series
House Of The Dragon: Inside The Episode • HBO Max • HBO in association with 1:26 Pictures, Bastard Sword, and GRRM Productions; Anthony Mauro, Executive Producer; Cristina Catanzaro, Co-Executive Producer; Mia Hildebrand, Co-Executive Producer; Dan Storey, Supervising Producer; Ashley Morton, Supervising Producer; Dana Froome, Producer
The Last Of Us: Inside The Episode • HBO Max • HBO in association with Sony Pictures Television Studios, PlayStation Productions, Word Games, The Mighty Mint, and Naughty Dog; Emily Giannussa, Executive Producer; Julio Cabral, Executive Producer; Badger Denehy, Executive Producer; Eddie Maldonado, Executive Producer; Kathy Rocklein Sontag, Executive Producer
Saturday Night Live Presents: Behind the Sketch • NBC • SNL Studios in association with Universal Television and Broadway Video; Lorne Michaels, Executive Producer; Grace Shaker, Supervising Producer; Dina Moles, Supervising Producer; Dan D’Lauro, Producer; Matt Yonks, Producer; Mike Diva, Producer
Succession: Controlling the Narrative • HBO Max • HBO in association with Project Zeus, Hyberobject Industries, Gary Sanchez Productions and Hot Seat Productions; Chris Grasso, Executive Producer; Melora Soodalter, Executive Producer; Lindsay Nowak, Senior Producer; Jack Quinn, Producer
The White Lotus: Unpacking the Episode • HBO Max • HBO in association with Rip Cord and The District; Shanna Yehlen, Executive Producer; Jim Weiner, Executive Producer; Ximena Lopez, Co-Executive Producer; Katla McGlynn, Co-Executive Producer
For the most part, the nominations for the 75th Emmy Awards went according to plan, but as ever, there were some snubs and surprises.
Nominations were announced Wednesday (July 12) from the Hollywood Athletic Club, the site of the first Emmy ceremony in 1949. The virtual ceremony was hosted by Emmy-nominated actress Yvette Nicole Brown and Television Academy chair Frank Scherma.
Succession was the year’s most nominated program, with 27 nominations, followed by The Last of Us (24), The White Lotus (23), Ted Lasso (21) and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (14).
Adam Blackstone, Nicholas Britell and pop titans Ed Sheeran and Max Martin were among the nominees in the seven music categories. Here’s a full report. And here, RuPaul, John Legend, Riley Keough and more stars celebrated their Emmy nominations.
There were 38 first-time performer nominees this season, including Jessica Chastain (George & Tammy), Taron Egerton (Black Bird), Riley Keough (Daisy Jones & The Six), James Marsden (Jury Duty), Jenna Ortega (Wednesday), Pedro Pascal (The Last of Us, Saturday Night Live and Patagonia: Life on the Edge of the World), Daniel Radcliffe (Weird: The Al Yankovic Story) and Jason Segel (Shrinking).
In addition to Pascal, performers with multiple nods this year include Murray Bartlett (The Last of Us and Welcome to Chippendales), Alex Borstein (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Family Guy), Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary and Saturday Night Live), Bill Hader (performance, directing and writing for Barry), Sharon Horgan (performance and writing for Bad Sisters), Melanie Lynskey (Yellowjackets and The Last of Us), Jason Sudeikis (performance and writing for Ted Lasso), and Ali Wong (BEEF and Tuca & Bertie).
The nominations may be revised in cases where names or titles are incorrect or appeals for changes are approved by the Television Academy’s Emmy Awards Committee. Producer nominees in certain program categories will be announced mid-August and may increase the number of multiple nominees. Final-round online voting begins Aug. 17.
The complete list of Emmy nominations, and other Academy news and updates are available at Emmys.com.
The 75th Emmy Awards is scheduled to broadcast live coast-to-coast on FOX on Monday, Sept. 18, (8:00-11:00 p.m. ET/5:00-8:00 p.m. PT) from the Peacock Theater at L.A. LIVE. Emmy winners Jesse Collins and Dionne Harmon and Emmy nominee Jeannae Rouzan-Clay of Jesse Collins Entertainment will executive-produce the show.
The 2023 Creative Arts Emmy Awards are scheduled to take place at the Peacock Theater over two nights on Saturday, Sept. 9, and Sunday, Sept. 10. An edited presentation is planned to air on Saturday, Sept. 16, at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on FXX.
Here’s a list of snubs and surprises, with a focus on music, talk and variety categories.
Snubs: Selena Gomez & Steve Martin
07/12/2023
The 75th Emmy Awards will air live from Los Angeles on September 18.
07/12/2023
Adam Blackstone, who won his first Primetime Emmy last year for outstanding music direction for his work on the Super Bowl Halftime Show, has double nominations in that category this year. He is nominated as music director of the 2022 Rock and Roll Hall Fame Induction Ceremony and as one of two music directors on The Apple Music Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show Starring Rihanna (his co-nominee is Omar Edwards).
Two other past winners in that same category, Greg Phillinganes and Rickey Minor, are also nominated again. Phillinganes, who won in 2015 for Stevie Wonder: Songs in the Key of Life – An All-Star Grammy Salute, is nominated for his work on another salute to a music legend – Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song: Joni Mitchell. Minor, who has won twice in the category, for Taking the Stage: African American Music and Stories That Changed America and the Kennedy Center Honors, is nominated for The Oscars.
The nominations were announced on Wednesday (July 12). The awards will be presented on Monday Sept. 18.
Pop music titans Ed Sheeran and Max Martin were nominated, along with Foy Vance, for outstanding original music and lyrics for “A Beautiful Game,” which they wrote for an episode of Ted Lasso. A second song from that series, “Fought & Lost,” was nominated in that same category. It was co-written by Tom Howe, Jamie Hartman and Sam Ryder.
Nicholas Britell has two of the five nominees for outstanding music composition for a series (original dramatic score). He is up for his work on Andor and Succession. Britell is also nominated for outstanding original main title theme music for Andor.
Nora Felder, last year’s winner for outstanding music supervision for Stranger Things, is nominated again in that category for her work on that buzzy series.
Danny Elfman has two nominations for his work on Wednesday. He is nominated for outstanding music composition for a series (original dramatic score) in tandem with co-nominee Chris Bacon and for outstanding original main title theme music.
Laura Karpman has two nods for her work on Ms. Marvel. She is nominated for outstanding music composition for a limited or anthology series, movie or special (original dramatic score) and outstanding original main title theme music.
The 75th Emmy Awards will telecast live coast-to-coast from Los Angeles on Monday, Sept. 18, (8:00-11:00 p.m. ET/5:00-8:00 p.m. PT) on FOX. Emmy winners Jesse Collins and Dionne Harmon and Emmy nominee Jeannae Rouzan-Clay of Jesse Collins Entertainment will executive produce the show.
Here’s a complete list of nominees in the seven music categories.
Outstanding Music Direction
The Apple Music Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show Starring Rihanna; FOX; Jesse Collins Entertainment, DPS and Roc Nation; Adam Blackstone, Music Director; Omar Edwards, Music Director
Library Of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song: Joni Mitchell; PBS; Ken Ehrlich Productions, Inc., Library of Congress; WETA; Greg Phillinganes, Music Director
The Oscars; ABC; Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; Rickey Minor, Music Director
2022 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony; HBO Max; A Tenth Planet Production; Adam Blackstone, Music Director
Saturday Night Live; Host: Austin Butler; NBC; SNL Studios in association with Universal Television and Broadway Video; Lenny Pickett, Music Director; Leon Pendarvis, Music Director; Eli Brueggemann, Music Director
Outstanding Music Supervision
Daisy Jones & The Six; “Track 8: Looks Like We Made It”; Prime Video; Hello Sunshine, Amazon Studios; Frankie Pine, Music Supervisor
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel; “Four Minutes”; Prime Video; Amazon Studios; Robin Urdang, Music Supervisor
Stranger Things; “Chapter Nine: The Piggyback”; Netflix; Monkey Massacre Productions & 21 Laps Entertainment for Netflix; Nora Felder, Music Supervisor
Ted Lasso; “So Long, Farewell”; Apple TV+; Apple presents a Doozer Production in association with Warner Bros. Television and Universal Television; Tony Von Pervieux, Music Supervisor; Christa Miller, Music Supervisor
The White Lotus; “Bull Elephants”; HBO Max; HBO in association with Rip Cord and The District; Gabe Hilfer, Music Supervisor
Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics
Ginny & Georgia; “Hark! Darkness Descends!” / Song Title: “Marriage Is a Dungeon”; Netflix; A Netflix Original Series; Lili Haydn, Music & Lyrics; Ben Bromfield, Music & Lyrics
The L Word: Generation Q; “Questions for the Universe” / Song Title: “All About Me”; Showtime; SHOWTIME Presents, An MLR Original; Heather McIntosh, Music & Lyrics; Taura Stinson, Music & Lyrics; Allyson Newman, Music & Lyrics
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel; “Susan” / Song Title: “Your Personal Trash Man Can”; Prime Video; Amazon Studios; Curtis Moore, Music & Lyrics; Thomas Mizer, Music & Lyrics
Ted Lasso; “Mom City” / Song Title: “Fought & Lost”; Apple TV+; Apple presents a Doozer Production in association with Warner Bros. Television and Universal Television; Tom Howe, Music & Lyrics; Jamie Hartman, Music & Lyrics; Sam Ryder, Music & Lyrics
Ted Lasso; “So Long, Farewell” / Song Title: “A Beautiful Game”; Apple TV+; Apple presents a Doozer Production in association with Warner Bros. Television and Universal Television; Ed Sheeran, Music & Lyrics; Foy Vance, Music & Lyrics; Max Martin, Music & Lyrics
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story; Song Title: “Now You Know”; The Roku Channel; The Roku Channel, Funny or Die, Tango Entertainment; Al Yankovic, Music & Lyrics
Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score)
Andor; “Rix Road”; Disney+; Lucasfilm Ltd.; Nicholas Britell, Composer
The Last of Us; “Long, Long Time”; HBO Max; HBO in association with Sony Pictures Television Studios, PlayStation Productions, Word Games, The Mighty Mint, and Naughty Dog; Gustavo Santaolalla, Composer
Succession; “Connor’s Wedding”; HBO Max; HBO in association with Project Zeus, Hyberobject Industries, Gary Sanchez Productions and Hot Seat Productions; Nicholas Britell, Composer
Wednesday; “Woe Is the Loneliest Number”; Netflix; A Netflix Series / An MGM Television Production; Danny Elfman, Composer; Chris Bacon, Composer
The White Lotus; “In the Sandbox”; HBO Max; HBO in association with Rip Cord and The District; Cristobal Tapia de Veer, Composer
Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited or Anthology Series, Movie or Special (Original Dramatic Score)
Hocus Pocus 2; Disney+; Walt Disney Pictures; John Debney, Composer
Ms. Marvel; Time and Again; Disney+; Marvel Studios; Laura Karpman, Composer
Prey; Hulu; 20th Century Studios; Sarah Schachner, Composer
A Small Light; What Can Be Saved; National Geographic; ABC Signature; Ariel Marx, Composer
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story; The Roku Channel; The Roku Channel, Funny or Die, Tango Entertainment; Leo Birenberg, Composer; Zach Robinson, Composer
Outstanding Music Composition for a Documentary Series or Special (Original Dramatic Score)
Eva Longoria: Searching for Mexico; Veracruz; CNN; CNN Original Series, RAW; Tony Morales, Composer
Light & Magic; Gang of Outsiders; Disney+; Imagine Documentaries and Lucasfilm Ltd.; James Newton Howard, Composer
Pamela, A Love Story; Netflix; A Netflix Documentary / A Dorothy St Pictures, Tripod Media, and Colony Entertainment Production; Blake Neely, Composer
Prehistoric Planet; Badlands; Apple TV+; BBC Studios in association with Apple; Hans Zimmer, Composer; Anže Rozman, Composer; Kara Talve, Composer
Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie • Apple TV+ • An Apple Original Film in association with Concordia Studio; John Powell, Composer
Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music
Andor; Disney+; Lucasfilm Ltd.; Nicholas Britell, Composer
Guillermo Del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities; Netflix; Netflix / Double Dare You; Holly Amber Church, Composer
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power; Prime Video; Amazon Studios; Howard Shore, Composer
Ms. Marvel; Disney+; Marvel Studios; Laura Karpman, Composer
Wednesday; Netflix; A Netflix Series / An MGM Television Production; Danny Elfman, Composer
Loverboy, April Wine, Glass Tiger, Chilliwack and PRISM are among 13 rock acts from the 1970s and ’80s that will be added to Canada’s Walk of Fame. They will be celebrated in an event at Massey Hall in Toronto on Sept. 28.
The eight other acts that will be inducted are Lee Aaron, Lighthouse, Max Webster, Michel Pagliaro, Platinum Blonde, Rough Trade, The Parachute Club and Trooper.
“These trailblazing musicians have had an extraordinary impact on our Canadian rock landscape,” Jeffrey Latimer, CEO of Canada’s Walk of Fame, said in a statement. “Their longevity, many of whom still tour and sell out venues, is inspiring, and we are proud to welcome them each to Canada’s Walk of Fame.”
All 13 acts will be in attendance for the event, which will feature live performances, special guests and a reunion of Canadian DJs. Lou Pomanti is musical director.
Canada’s Walk of Fame’s partners in producing the event are Anthem Entertainment and Live Nation. Tickets go on sale through Ticketmaster.com on Friday, July 14, at 10 a.m. ET. A limited number of tickets will be sold during a general on-sale on Thursday, July 13, between 10 a.m.-10 p.m. ET. AMEX cardholders qualify for Front of the Line ticket access from Wednesday, July 12 at 10 a.m. ET to Thursday, July 13 at 10 p.m. ET.
Loverboy, April Wine and Chilliwack have been voted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
Loverboy, Parachute Club and Glass Tiger have won Juno Awards for single of the year. Glass Tiger won back-to-back awards in that category in 1986 for “Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone)” and in 1987 for “Someday.” Loverboy won in 1982 for “Turn Me Loose,” Parachute Club in 1984 for “Rise Up.”
All three of those groups have also won Juno Awards in other categories, as have Lighthouse, PRISM and Trooper.
Six of these 13 acts have cracked the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100. Loverboy amassed nine top 40 hits, followed by Glass Tiger (four), April Wine (three), Chilliwack and Lighthouse (two each) and PRISM (one).
The Sept. 28 event is a one-time music induction celebration for the 25th anniversary events. This event is separate from the annual Canada’s Walk of Fame Induction Ceremony to be held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on Saturday, Dec. 2, where all of the 2023 inductees will be honored. The annual induction ceremony will feature performances and tributes from today’s top stars and alumni from the past 25 years. A special broadcast will air at a later date on CTV.
Canada’s Walk of Fame was established in 1998 by founders Bill Ballard, Dusty Cohl and Peter Soumalias, with Dianne Schwalm and in partnership with Gary Slaight.
Canada’s Walk of Fame is a national, not-for-profit organization that celebrates achievement in the fields of arts & entertainment, sports & athletics, entrepreneurship & philanthropy, humanitarianism, and science, technology & innovation. Canada’s Walk of Fame has more than 200 inductions to date, with stars having a permanent place of tribute on the streets of Toronto’s Entertainment District. For a complete list of inductees, visit: www.canadaswalkoffame.com
The Recording Academy is raising its annual membership fees from $100 to $150, its first increase since 2000. The Academy notified its members of the 50% increase in an email on Monday (July 10).
The increase takes effect on Aug. 1. Any dues submitted on or before July 31 will reflect the old rate.
Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. tells Billboard that if a member says that the fee increase would cause a hardship, they’ll make accommodations, just as they did during the pandemic.
Mason says “a small but significant” percentage of members claimed a hardship during the pandemic and were granted a fee waiver. “There were also some people that paid double dues during COVID to support people what weren’t able to pay dues,” he adds.
“If people do have hardships [with this fee increase], we’re going to continue that policy,” he said. “It’s not about trying to extract money from people that don’t have it. It’s just trying to make a fair value. So, when someone says we can’t afford to play $150, we’re going to say, ‘OK, what can you afford? Oh, you can’t afford it, No problem. We want you as a member regardless.’”
Asked if people take advantage of this lenient approach, Mason responded, “I’m sure there’s a small percentage of people that may take advantage of that, but for the most part the music community are good and fair people. If you’re involved in music and creativity and art, you’re not generally [looking for ways to cheat the system]. We’re not going to worry about the few who might have that in their heart.”
The Academy also has a waiver policy on entry fees. All professional and voting members of the Recording Academy receive five “courtesy entries” per year. If they choose to enter more than five entries, they must pay. This year, the fee is $40 for entries made between July 17-31, $75 for entries made between Aug. 1-23 and $125 for entries made between Aug. 24-31.
But the Academy notes, “Any member who would be burdened by the entry fees can request the fees be waived by reaching out to the awards department.”
The Academy justifies charging a fee for any member making more than five entries by saying, “The per-entry fee structure encourages entrants to consider the value of each entry and make mindful decisions to put forward work that they truly believe is Grammy-worthy.”
By way of justifying the membership fee increase, the Academy notes, “Since the last Recording Academy membership dues increase in 2000, the organization has organized more than 650 events across 12 Chapters, celebrated and recognized countless Grammy Award nominees and winners, provided $110 million in aid through MusiCares, and actively supported the passage of numerous bills at both the state and federal level to protect creators’ rights.”
The Recording Academy has always had rules and guidelines, dating back to its founding in 1957. In recent years, in a bid for greater transparency, and at the direction of Academy CEO Harvey Mason, jr., the Academy has posted its rules and guidelines online. It’s not a little digital pamphlet, either: It’s a 76-page document […]
Last month, the Recording Academy announced a series of changes to the Grammy Awards to better reflect an evolving music industry. Of those newly instituted guidelines, protocols involving technological advancements in machine learning sparked headlines: “Only human creators” could win the music industry’s highest honor in a decision aimed at the use of artificial intelligence in popular music.
“A work that contains no human authorship is not eligible in any category,” the rules read in part.
As the music industry continues to come to terms with this new technology, so too will the Grammys, says Recording Academy CEO and President Harvey Mason Jr.
“Here’s the super easy, headline statement: AI, or music that contains AI-created elements is absolutely eligible for entry and for consideration for Grammy nomination. Period,” Mason told The Associated Press. “What’s not going to happen is we are not going to give a Grammy or Grammy nomination to the AI portion.”
If an AI or voice modeling program performs the lead vocal on a song, the track would be eligible in a songwriting category, for example, but not a performance category, because “what is performing is not human creation,” he explains. “Conversely, if a song was sung by an actual human in the studio, and they did all the performing, but AI wrote the lyric or the track, the song would not be eligible in a composition or a songwriting category.”
“As long as the human is contributing in a more than de minimis amount, which to us means a meaningful way, they are and will always be considered for a nomination or a win,” he continued. “We don’t want to see technology replace human creativity. We want to make sure technology is enhancing, embellishing, or additive to human creativity. So that’s why we took this particular stand in this award cycle.”
The Recording Academy has long considered setting rules related to AI following the popularity of new songs created alongside AI technology: David Guetta’s “Emin-AI-em”, the AI -compositions of TikTok user @ghostwriter977, Grimes’ voice modeling AI software.
In order to establish their AI guidelines, the Recording Academy engaged in extensive research, including holding tech summits.
“I’ve met with the copyright office. We’ve talked about the future and what that looks like on a federal level and the legislative level,” Mason said, adding that AI conversations “really came to a head in the last six months.”
The new Grammy AI protocols were announced three days after Paul McCartney shared that “the last Beatles record” had been composed using artificial intelligence to extract John Lennon’s voice from an old demo. Without knowing the extent of the technology, Mason couldn’t confirm or deny whether the song would be eligible for a Grammy nomination.
“We’ll see what it turns out to be,” he said. “But I would imagine from the early descriptions that I’ve heard there would be components of the creation that would be absolutely eligible.”
So, can Grammy viewers expect to see work at least partially created with AI nominated for an award as early as next year?
It’s impossible to predict what is submitted. But as Mason affirms, “people are using the technology. I’m imagining it’s going to be involved in a lot of records a lot of songs this year, so we’ll see if some of them get nominated or not, but I’m sure there’ll be some that will be submitted.”
The 2024 Grammy Awards will return to Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024, airing live on CBS and livestreamed on Paramount+.
International independent pioneers Michel Lambot and Kenny Gates received IMPALA’s Outstanding Contribution award to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the [PIAS] group. The award was announced on Tuesday (July 4).
Over the last four decades, [PIAS] has grown from a vinyl record importer on behalf of UK independent record labels into a key European and global recording, marketing and distribution outlet. [PIAS] currently has 19 offices and 280 employees active globally.
Lambot and Gatesalso founded IMPALA in 2000 to develop a single voice for the independent music sector in Europe. They were instrumental in creating Merlin as well as Worldwide Independent Network (WIN), with a view to supporting and expanding the independent music ecosystem internationally.
Lambot and Gates were presented with their awards by Helen Smith, executive chair of IMPALA, at their BXL CENTRAL – CHEZ [PIAS] record shop and office located on Rue Saint Laurent in Brussels.
“Michel and Kenny’s story is an inspiration to all emerging independents starting out in the sector,” Smith said in a statement. “The contribution of [PIAS] to the European music sector is totally unique. [Their] amazing 40th-anniversary re-releases speak for the artists and great music, and IMPALA, Merlin and WIN speak for their approach on collaboration making everyone stronger.”
“Back some 25 years ago, we had the idea to combine forces of a handful of independent companies to increase our market leverage and playing field,” Lambot said in a statement. “That sounded crazy and naive: trying to unify independent companies owned and run by people fiercely independent was antinomic… And now getting an award by IMPALA which has become a kind of institution makes me feel so proud and so happy. The recognition by our peers of what we did all these years and are still doing, Kenny and myself, as [PIAS] on one hand, and for the independent world on the other hand, is very moving”.
Gates, who serves as CEO of [PIAS] added: “Our goal at [PIAS] has always been to expand our dreams by creating a company of holistic values that reflects a pan-European diversity. It’s been an incredible journey of constant adaptation, and we couldn’t receive this award without thanking all our staff and friends.”
IMPALA’s Outstanding Contribution Award is designed to put a spotlight on European independent music and those who drive it, as well as initiatives that deserve particular recognition. Previous recipients include Tony Duckworth, Didier Gosset, FONO, Kees Van Weijen, Keith Harris OBE, Tom Deakin, Love Record Stores, Music Declares Emergency, Markus Tobiassen and newspaper Dagens Næringsliv, Jonas Sjöström, Plus 1 Refugees welcome!, Alison Wenham, Label Love, Eurosonic Noorderslag, Sabine Verheyen MEP, Armada Music/Armin van Buuren, Martin Mills OBE, Mary Moneyball MEP, Charles Caldas and Mario Pacheco.
Lambot and Gates previously received the Indie Champion award at the AIM Music Awards 2022 in London.
Late British media journalist Juliana Koranteng previously invited Lambot and Gates to share their story on her 20MinutesWith podcast. In this episode, the two executives talked about their ambitions, successes and challenges in growing the [PIAS] network over the years. (Sadly, it turned out to the last episode Koranteng recorded. The journalist died in February at age 64.)
IMPALA was established in 2000 and now represents nearly 6,000 independent music companies. The organization’s mission is to grow the independent music sector sustainably, return more value to artists, promote diversity and entrepreneurship, improve political access, inspire change and increase access to finance.