Guild of Music Supervisors Awards: Raphael Saadiq to be Honored, Performers Revealed
The Guild of Music Supervisors (GMS) is set to honor Raphael Saadiq with its Icon Award and posthumously recognize Robin Kaye with the Legacy Award at its 16th annual ceremony on at The Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles. The event will also feature performances from a diverse lineup of artists, including Saadiq himself alongside Brittany Howard, and a tribute to Kaye led by American Idol alum Alejandro Aranda.
Saadiq, a three-time Grammy winner with 23 nominations spanning nearly three decades, is being celebrated for his significant contributions to the music and film industries. His work extends from co-founding the influential R&B group Tony! Toni! Toné! in the mid-1980s to a successful solo career encompassing albums like Instant Vintage and The Way I See It. More recently, he earned a Grammy as a producer on Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter. “I am honored to be the recipient of this year’s Icon Award,” Saadiq stated. “To be recognized by a community that celebrates the important relationship between music and cinematic storytelling means a lot to me.”
The Icon Award, established to acknowledge legendary figures in the intersection of music and film, has previously been bestowed upon industry giants such as Quincy Jones, Burt Bacharach, Kenny Loggins, Marc Shaiman, and Stephen Schwartz. Saadiq’s nomination for a 2026 GMS Award for best song written and/or recorded for a film, for “I Lied to You” from Ryan Coogler’s critically acclaimed Sinners, further underscores his impact.
Robin Kaye, the recipient of the Legacy Award, is being honored for her lasting impact on music supervision. A former VP of the Guild of Music Supervisors, Kaye’s career included work with Waylon Jennings and a long tenure at MTM Records. The Legacy Award recognizes individuals who have left an indelible mark on the industry, with past honorees including Allan Mason, Bonnie Greenberg, and Chris Montan.
The awards ceremony will feature a performance of “I Lied to You” from Sinners by Saadiq and Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes. Diane Warren, along with Sharon Farber and Eden Kontesz, will perform “Dear Me” from Diane Warren: Relentless, featuring Kesha. Alejandro Aranda, a runner-up on season 17 of American Idol in 2019, will deliver a tribute to Kaye, acknowledging her significant role as a music supervisor for the show.
Presenters for the evening include Kate Hudson, John Legend, Flavor Flav, Steven Tobolosky, John Tesh, and Nate Ruess, adding further star power to the event. The GMS Awards recognize outstanding achievements in music supervision across film, television, documentaries, advertising, trailers, and video games.
Sinners leads the nominations with three, recognizing Niki Sherrod’s music supervision and the original songs “I Lied to You” and “Last Time (I Seen the Sun).” Other films vying for awards include A Minecraft Movie, Wicked: For Good, and F1. The nominations reflect a diverse range of projects and highlight the crucial role music plays in storytelling across various media.
In the television categories, Poker Face Season 2 and The Girlfriend Season 1 are among the nominees for best music supervision in a comedy and drama, respectively. The awards also recognize excellence in reality television and video game music supervision. Notably, Keith Secola will perform “NDN Kars” from Dark Winds, and Cris Chil will debut a new song, “15K,” during the ceremony.
The documentary film category features nominations for projects like Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery and Diane Warren: Relentless, while the advertising and trailer categories acknowledge innovative music supervision in commercials and promotional materials. The awards also extend to video games, recognizing both synchronized music and original compositions.
The Guild of Music Supervisors noted that this year’s nominations reflect a wealth of great work from the music supervision community. Tickets for the 16th annual GMS Awards are now available, offering an opportunity to celebrate the artistry and dedication of music supervisors and their contributions to the entertainment industry.