For the first time in over two years, the NAMM Show has returned to the Anaheim Convention Center. From June 3-5, the National Association of Music Merchants event brings together the music, sound, and entertainment technology communities in a weekend full of star-studded performances, award shows, exhibits, and educational opportunities, giving attendees access to products, brands, and more.
The She Rocks Awards is a highlight of the weekend, celebrating women in music. The Women’s International Music Network (WiMN) was founded in 2012 by Laura B. Whitmore to unite women who work in all facets of the music and audio industries. Along with the awards show, there’s the She Rocks podcast, the LIVE: Front & Center web series, and the WiMN She Rocks Spotlight Showcase Series.
This year’s hybrid event (with both in-person and virtual elements) kicked things off on Thursday, June 2, at The Ranch in Anaheim. In the past, the She Rocks Awards has paid tribute to greats such as Melissa Etheridge, The B-52’s, Pat Benatar, Susie Quatro, Chaka Khan, Ronnie Spector, Lisa Loeb, The Bangles, the Go-Go’s, and a list of others. This year’s show included Dionne Warwick, Meredith Brooks, Carmen Vandenberg [BONES UK], and MILCK, among its honorees.
“When I started the organization and the She Rocks Awards, I didn’t really have a plan,” Laura Whitmore tells Hollywood First Look on the red carpet. “It was just an organic, feels-like-the-right-thing-to-do kind of moment. So for it to still be going strong is pretty amazing.”
Returning favorites, sisterly duo Charlotte and Sarah Command made their way from Canada to California for the occasion to represent as the house band, where they were joined on stage by Christina Torres. The pair, who are signed with Universal Music and Republic Records, last took the She Rocks stage with Lisa Loeb in 2019 to perform her ’90s anthem, “Stay.”
“The She Rocks every year is so magnetic but specifically this year because we haven’t been in-person in so long, you can just feel the love from [everybody],” Sarah Command said. During the show, the pair had a chance to perform their debut single, “I Like It,” off of their debut album, ROUGE. The duo was hosted by Martin, who, during this year’s NAMM Show, marked the milestone of their 2.5 millionth guitar ever made, by unveiling an instrument adorned with 436 diamonds.
Artists such as Heather Youmans were also on hand celebrating their first She Rocks performance. Youmans appeared on FOX’s “I Can See Your Voice” and went viral in a video where she sang the national anthem. Her latest single, “WORTH IT,” is out now. “To be honoring Dionne Warwick tonight, one of the most incredible artists of all time, it’s such an honor,” The singer-songwriter told Hollywood First Look.
Youmans performed a medley of “I Say a Little Prayer” and “That’s What Friends Are For” with artist Laura Clapp and She Rocks co-host, 2015’s Mad Skills Award winner, Mindi Abair. The Command Sisters put together the arrangement. Warwick, who couldn’t be there in person, as she’s currently in the UK on a world tour, sent a virtual thank you. The six-time GRAMMY award-winner and Lifetime GRAMMY recipient was honored with the She Rocks Legend Award.
With AXS TV’s Katie Daryl as co-host alongside Abair, the pair welcomed honorees across the board with their respective awards. Country artist Tenille Arts opened the show. SiriusXM host and author Lyndsey Parker was given the Dreaming Out Loud Award. Julie Robbins, CEO of EarthQuaker Devices, one of the top 10 pedal manufacturers in the world received the Powerhouse Award, followed by Carmen Vandenberg, who gave an impassioned speech that aligned with so much of the messaging behind her music. As one-half of the GRAMMY-nominated duo BONES UK, Vandenberg has collaborated with Jeff Beck and is the first female to design and release her own signature amp – the CV30 with partner Blackstar Amplification.
“The She Rocks is an incredible institution that showcases women for their worth, and I think there’s a necessity for that,” Vandenberg shared with Hollywood First Look before she accepted the Bold Star Award. “There was a lack of it before, especially when I was growing up, all of my role models were male, and it’s incredible that there’s a platform now that can showcase many more women in future years.”
Followed by Vandenberg was Sherri Chung, who received the Spirit Award. Chung is an award-winning composer whose work on The CW’s “Kung Fu” turned her into a trailblazer, making her the first Asian American female composer of a network television series. Her list of impressive credits extends to her work as a pianist, vocalist, performer, and songwriter. She celebrated the win with a performance of her original song, “Kangaroo.”
EveAnna Manley, President of Manley Laboratories aka “The Tube Chick,” received this year’s Mad Skills Award. Yvette Young, art teacher-turned-performer and guitarist/writer for the band Covet was given the Inspire Award. Former artist manager and event creator of Girl Power! Women Working In The Music Industry Conference, Kerry Fiero, received the Motivator Award. Soon after, singer-songwriter/advocate MILCK was honored with the Vision Award. It was a full-circle moment for the musician, as she’s been attending the NAMM Show since she graduated college.
“I feel like I’m constantly working on growing, so these awards are just encouragement along the way,” MILCK told Hollywood First Look before the show. The musician, who rose to fame after her song “Quiet” became the unofficial female anthem at the 2017 Women’s March, has been an impactful voice on every level. In 2020, MILCK’s single “Somebody’s Beloved” shined a light on systematic racism in America, leading her to establish The Somebody’s Beloved Fund. Her music generates resources for racial justice, feminism, LGBTQIA+ rights, criminal justice reform, and mental health. 2021’s “I Belong” was written after the shooting in Atlanta that took the lives of six Asian women. It’s a tribute to the AAPI community. “Steady As We Go” and her latest single, “Power,” highlights self-love and inner strength. Her next song centers around Roe v. Wade. After recently capturing the chant, “We Won’t Go Back,” on the steps of the Supreme Court, MILCK sampled the sound and has plans to collaborate on a track that features multiple artists.
MILCK took to the stage for her win. Then audio engineer Leslie Gaston-Bird, author of the book Women in Audio and owner of Mix Messiah Productions, accepted the Champion Award. After Dionne Warwick was honored, Laura Whitmore celebrated Myki Angeline with her “surprise” Warrior Award. Angeline hosts a podcast called “The Bad Filipino.” The host gave an emotional thank-you speech recognizing that the win falls in the mix of AAPI Heritage Month and Pride Month.
Closing out the night was Meredith Brooks. This year, the Trailblazer Award winner celebrates 25 years of success since her multi-platinum album Blurring the Edges took her GRAMMY-nominated song “Bitch” to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. “Bitch” co-writer Shelly Peiken [Christina Aguilera’s “What A Girl Wants,” Brandy’s “Almost Doesn’t Count”] said the occasion makes her a little weepy. “Everything just collided,” Peiken told Hollywood First Look about how the pair penned the ’90s anthem. “We had this common thread of this idea that we had, and it came out in about an hour.” Peiken acknowledged they loosened the lid on the word “Bitch” being used in a song for a woman. Mick Jagger had done it, and Elton John had done it, but there was pushback when Peiken and Brooks released the track. Now, the word is commonly used in songs.
“It was a time of deep soul searching. I was looking at all sides of myself. I was studying psychology. I love Carl Jung. I was actually studying all of my shadow selves,” Brooks told Hollywood First Look about when they first created the song. “I don’t think anyone’s written anything like it since,” Brooks added. “For me, the way it was written was talking about taking each part of ourselves, honoring each part of ourselves, and it’s neither good nor bad. I mean, you don’t have the good without the bad. When we start integrating it, it makes it a whole, so we’re all more functioning.”
Brooks stepped on stage at the end of the night to perform “Bitch” alongside MILCK, Carmen Vandenberg, Jennifer Jo Oberle, Janet Robin, and Samantha Maloney. “I think ‘Bitch’ became my anthem like it did for everyone else,” the rock and roll artist told Hollywood First Look. “I never grow tired of singing it.”
Additional attendees included Shira Yevin [Gritty In Pink], Heaven Lee, and 2016’s Excellence Award winner Chalise Zolezzi.
