Chaka Khan, St. Vincent, HAIM to be Honored at We Are Moving the Needle's 2026 Resonator Awards

The organization We Are Moving the Needle will present a starry awards event during Grammy Week. Honoring impactful female music makers, the 2026 Resonator Awards will recognize the Queen of Funk Chaka Khan, superstar Chappell Roan, rockers St. Vincent and HAIM, among other notable women working behind the scenes in production, engineering, and songwriting. Presenters include Olivia Rodrigo, Sia, Jason Isbell, Anderson .Paak, Laufey, and Addison Rae, plus performances from FLO, Thundercat, and Hayley Williams.

The Resonator Awards will be held on Jan. 27 at Los Angeles’ famed Chaplin Studios (formerly known as Henson Studios), which was recently reopened under the ownership of John Mayer and noted filmmaker McG. It’s the second year of hosting the event, and comedian and musician Fred Armisen is set to host. Chaka Khan will be toasted with a tribute of her greatest hits, performed by Grace Bowers, Hayley Williams, Lalah Hathaway, Maggie Rogers, and other special guests. R&B trio FLO, bassist Thundercat, and Sia are also set to perform.

We Are Moving the Needle was founded by Grammy-winning engineer Emily Lazar (Vampire Weekend, Coldplay) in 2021 as a response to severe underrepresentation by women in creative fields related to music. According to the 2025 Annenberg Report, only 5.9 percent of producers on the year-end Billboard Hot 100 chart are female.

“We Are Moving the Needle is about strengthening the music industry so creators can thrive on their own terms,” said Lazar in announcing the lineup. “The Resonator Awards are a reflection of that mission — honoring not only remarkable artistry, but the shared commitment to building an industry that lives up to its values.”

Added Khan: “Empowered women empower women. I am honored to be part of a movement that celebrates the creativity, resilience, and determination of women creators everywhere. We lift each other and shine. Together, we are moving the needle.”

An auction featuring music memorabilia and instruments from boygenius, Haim, Remi Wolf, Weezer, Nancy Whang, and more will also take place (check out a selection of the items here). All funds from the auction will go back to We Are Moving the Needle’s scholarship fund, with more exclusive items revealed live at the gala on Jan. 27.

See the full list of honorees below. For more information on We Are Moving the Needle’s mission, head to its website.

2026 Resonator Awards Honorees
Luminary Award – Chaka Khan (presented by Sia)
Golden Trifecta Award – St. Vincent (presented by Olivia Rodrigo)
Disruptors Award – HAIM (presented by Rostam)
Harmonizer Award – Chappell Roan (presented by Heart’s Nancy Wilson)
Powerhouse Award – Gena Johnson (presented by Jason Isbell)
Exceptional Ears Award – Bella Blasko (presented by Aaron Dessner)
Exceptional Ears Award – Jayda Love (presented by Special Guest)
Calliope Award – Amy Allen (presented by Laufey)
All-Star Award – Alissia (presented by Anderson .Paak)
In Stereo Award – Elvira Anderfjärd and Luka Kloser (presented by Addison Rae)
Breakthrough Award – Roselilah (presented by Emily Lazar)
Equalizer Award – Betty Bennett (presented by Tony Berg)
Transformer Award – Roger Davies (presented by Special Guest)

Resonator Hall of Fame Inductees
Allee Willis (In Memoriam)
Elaine Martone
Jaime Sickora
Judith Sherman
Mary Mazurek
Michelle Sabolchick
SOPHIE (In Memoriam)

Performances
Chaka Khan Tribute (Grace Bowers, Hayley Williams, Lalah Hathaway, Maggie Rogers & more surprise guests)
FLO
Sia
Thundercat
Greg Kurstin
Jim James
Lucius
Victoria Canal
U.S. Girls (DJ Set)

This story was updated on Jan. 23 with the announcements of new honoree Chappell Roan, host Fred Armisen, various artist performances, and auction details added to the Resonator Awards’ bill.

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