NMPA To Honor Taylor Swift, Sarah Trahern, More At Virtual Annual Meeting

The National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) has announced the honorees and speakers for its upcoming Annual Meeting, including Taylor Swift, Bill Simmons, Sarah Trahern, and Jerrold Nadler.

Following the record-breaking release of her three award-winning albums in a single year, NMPA will honor Swift with its Songwriter Icon Award. With 11 Grammy awards, one of only four artists in history to win three Grammy Album of the Year awards and the only female to do so, and 76 NMPA Songwriting Gold & Platinum awards, Swift is known for her advocacy on behalf of music creators and is one of today’s most influential singer-songwriters.

“Taylor Swift has had an unprecedented year of success. She gave the world incredible songwriting when they needed it most and she continues to rewrite the rulebook when it comes to her career. She has always identified as a songwriter first, and in doing so inspired and elevated countless other creators,” says NMPA President and CEO David Israelite. “Her advocacy has lifted the entire creative community, and she has done it at great cost and risk to her own career. The risks paid off, not just for her but for our entire industry, and there is no one more deserving of our Icon award.”

Country Music Association CEO Trahern will be presented with this year’s NMPA Industry Legacy Award for her leadership during this unprecedented period. Finding innovative ways to meet the moment, Trahern continues to modernize the genre and grow its global popularity and inclusiveness. In a press release, Israelite says of Trahern, “She is a true supporter of country music, and she has made it bigger and better.”

Congressman Nadler (D-NY) will receive this year’s NMPA President’s Award for his work to protect songwriters and music publishers. From his leadership in shepherding the Music Modernization Act through the House of Representatives, to his efforts to grow the music community in his home district, he has supported the industry for decades and continues to be on the forefront of progress as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.

Media stalwart Simmons will sit down for a keynote Q&A to discuss his upcoming music documentary series. The Ringer founder will talk with Israelite about where he sees entertainment—particularly podcasts—going in the post-pandemic era, and the many intersections of sports and music.

This year’s meeting will also feature special tributes from Luke Bryan and Sara Bareilles as well as up-and-coming talent Priscilla Block. The annual State of the Industry speech will examine new publishing industry data from the past year and offer a roadmap for the future.

“This is our most exciting Annual Meeting yet, and we are happy that though we cannot be in-person this year, the virtual program will allow the show to be more widely available. We look forward to ‘seeing’ you there,” Israelite adds.

This year’s Annual Meeting will be held virtually on June 9. For more information, visit nmpa.org or email Kartraice Hooper at khooper@nmpa.org.