The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) celebrated artistry, leadership, and advocacy at a special event recognizing key figures for their work on the No Fakes Act, a bipartisan bill designed to protect individuals from AI-generated deepfakes and voice cloning.
Honorees included crossover artist Lauren Daigle, Gospel Music Association President Jackie Patillo, Christian Music Trade Association and Daywind Music Group President Ed Leonard, and Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN).
Senators Blackburn and Coons were named Policymakers of the Year for sponsoring the bill, while Leonard and Patillo were each honored as Executives of the Year for their leadership within the faith-based and broader music communities.
The evening closed with Lauren Daigle performing her stirring new song "Let It Be A Hallelujah" and her RIAA 6x Platinum-certified hit "You Say." She later welcomed Jon Batiste, who had honored her earlier in the night, back to the stage for an uplifting duet of "Be Okay."
From the stage, Daigle reflected on the unifying power of music:
"Music is this incredible tool, right? It goes far and wide. It goes all around the world, and it somehow is universal. You don't even have to speak the same language to feel something that the person next to you is feeling. I'm so grateful that music is this bonding agent in a time of division. We get to all sit and listen together, and in the process of doing that, we see the world become one. We see the world become whole again, even if it's for but a moment, and that, to me, is so beautiful. Hopefully these songs last beyond me, and are able to bring the beauty of Jesus to every heart long after I'm gone. Thank you for this honor."
The No Fakes Act-short for Nurture Originals, Foster Art, and Keep Entertainment Safe-continues to gain support from artists, policymakers, and industry leaders seeking to protect creators' voices and likenesses in the age of AI.
