NAMM 2023 Highlights & Photos: Hip Hop 50 at The TEC Experience + She Rocks Awards

NAMM 2023 HIGHLIGHTS

Celebrating Outstanding Technical Achievement at The TEC Experience, this NAMM 2023 event honored Chuck D of Public Enemy and GrandMixer DXT with special performances from Lord Finesse, Resonant Alien & Mike Relm.

A standing-room-only crowd at The TEC Experience celebrated twenty-one innovative technical achievement products and technologies, and one studio design project as a part of the NAMM Technical Excellence & Creativity (TEC) Awards. The NAMM TEC Awards are bestowed annually in celebration of the pro audio community and recognizes the individuals, companies, and technical innovations behind today’s sound recordings, live performances, films, television, video games, and other media.

Highlighting Hip Hop 50, which honored the career and legacy of Chuck D, a social activist, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, and GRAMMY® Lifetime Achievement Award winner. Musician, producer, songwriter and bandmate Brian Hardgroove presented Chuck with NAMM‘s Impact Music & Culture Award, an award he conceived in homage of Chuck’s ability to move culture through the power of music.

Upon receipt, Chuck D said, “It’s an honor to honor those who make this music, and that’s what I’m using this platform for. Seeing peers and technologists like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Lord Finesse, Arabian Prince, and being able to see Keith Shocklee, DJ Johnny Juice. This platform that NAMM provides us helps tell the story, and we need to continue to tell that story. It is important and something I am fortunate to be a part of.”

DJ Jazzy Jeff presented Rock Walk of Fame inductee, GrandMixer DXT with the Hip-Hop Innovator Award for his contribution of innovating the turntable as a musical instrument, the impact of which can be heard in every music genre.

Lord Finesse, an artist, producer extraordinaire, and member of the iconic hip-hop crew Diggin’ In The Crates (D.I.T.C.) gave a special performance to open The TEC Experience. Resonant Alien, featuring Hardgroove and DJ Johnny Juice of Public Enemy capped off the celebration with a performance. A specially-produced hip-hop video and music montage conceived by smash-up video man Mike Relm was also played at the event. Entertainment industry veteran and producer Larry Batiste hosted.

The 2023 TEC Awards recipients were selected by a panel of respected industry voters from pro audio publications and members of professional music, technical and creative organizations.

The TEC Awards will return with The NAMM Show in January 2024. Learn more about the TEC Experience at www.tecawards.org.

Photo L to R: Lisa S. Johnson, Michelle Bell, Shelly Peiken, Mary Spender, Noelle Scaggs, Katherine Wing, Judy Collins, Gretchen Menn, Stacey Ryan, Helen Culleton, WiMN Founder Laura Whitmore (photos courtesy of Kevin Graft)

The Women’s International Music Network (the WiMN) turned it up at the 11th annual She Rocks Awards with a night celebrating music, and creativity and honoring the careers and accomplishments of a diverse and inspiring group of women representing all areas of the music industry.

Powerhouse Honoree Noelle Scaggs, of Fitz & the Tantrums (pictured below), spoke on her inspiration for starting the organization Diversify the Stage, “I wanted young people to feel like they had a place in the industry,” said Scaggs. “It’s incredible to see our community standing up in ways I never got to see growing up; women are in greater positions of power to build new ways of thinking and actions that are truly moving the needle and bringing confidence to young people who may have felt they didn’t have a place here, or that the glass ceiling could never be broken. It’s important that young people see their reflections in this industry, to have people who share their identities, who have a familiar journey, this is what the DTS mission is, ensuring no human will ever feel dis-included in this space, because they see their reflections, in front and behind the scenes. “

Champion Award honoree, COO of the School of Rock Stacey Ryan, spoke about the work needed to be done to elevate more women into executive positions, and the importance of organizations like the Women’s International Music Network, for mentoring young up-and-coming women in the music industry. Her award acceptance was followed by a show-stopping performance by an all-female School of Rock Band performing En Vogue’s anti-prejudice anthem “Free Your Mind.”

The night culminated with a performance from acclaimed powerhouse guitarist and She Rocks Inspire Award recipient Gretchen Menn, who led her band in an original song followed by a show-stopping rendition of Led Zeppelin’s “Rock and Roll” with fellow Zepparella member Holly West on bass and stunning lead vocals helmed by guest Laura Clapp.