RIAA Honors Celebrates Garth Brooks, Disney Music’s Head, U.S. Representatives for ‘Doing the Work’
Categoria: Musica
The Washington D.C. event included an intimate performance by Brooks of his songs and others that inspired his record-breaking career.
Por Billboard | 04/06/2026
Garth Brooks , who famously sang about “Friends in Low Places,” hit another career highlight on Wednesday (June 3) when the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) presented him with the artist of a lifetime award for being the only artist in history with 10 diamond albums (for equivalent sales of 10 million units each). Related RIAA Honors Salute Lauren Daigle, Senators Marsha Blackburn & Chris Coons, Gospel Execs: ‘Music Is This Bonding Agent in a Time of Division’ How Access Opera's John Burton Kickstarted Ye's Touring Comeback: 'He's Like the Michael Jordan of This Thing' Clive Davis Hospitalized in New York After Respiratory Issue Held at the RIAA headquarters in Washington, D.C., the event, which was sponsored by Billboard , also honored Disney Music Group president Ken Bunt , who was awarded the label executive of the year award and Representatives Nathaniel Moran (R-Texas) and Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.), who were jointly named the policymakers of the year for their work on legislation to give artists protections from AI deepfakes. With an intimate performance from Brooks, who played a handful of his own hits and songs by artists that have inspired him to continue breaking records, the event celebrated the power of music and the commitment creators, music industry leaders and legislators have to protecting the effort that goes into it. “As America begins to gather to celebrate its 250 th birthday, we recognize four amazing people tied together by a simple, profound and fundamentally American, idea — showing up and doing the work,” RIAA chairman and CEO Mitch Glazier said in opening remarks. Accepting the award in person, Congressman Moran applauded Congresswoman Dean as a “steady voice for creators” and partner, with whom he introduced the Transparency and Responsibility for Artificial Intelligence Networks (TRAIN) Act, which improves transparency into the copyrights used to train generative AI models. “Innovation built on integrity,” said Moran, who is an author of the TRAIN Act and has also led with Dean on the NO FAKES Act. Speaking to the musicians in the room, Moran said, “You will last, [because] the path forward is transparency, proper attribution, and respect for the creators who make this industry and this country the music capital of the world.” Related NO FAKES Act Reintroduced Again — This Time With Additional Support From Spotify and Getty Accepting her award by video, Dean said federal laws like the TRAIN and NO FAKES Acts are needed because the current patchwork of state regulations are not enough to protect the “privacy, dignity and intellectual property of every American.” Bunt was introduced by a video montage of artists including English singer and actress Freya Skye , rising star Hudson Stone, the Jonas Brothers and more thanking Bunt for his contribution to music and their careers. Visibly mov