Common Accepts SAG-AFTRA & SoundExchange’s Artist Impact Award: ‘Makes Me Feel Like I’ve Got to Do More’

Artist and social activist Common was presented with SAG-AFTRA and SoundExchange’s inaugural Artist Impact Award at The Luckman Club/Soho West Hollywood on Thursday afternoon (Sept.

The new award honors an artist whose work crosses creative boundaries.

24). Como descrito pelas duas organizações, o prêmio “honra um artista cujo trabalho ultrapassa fronteiras criativas. Reconhece contribuições nas áreas de música, cinema, televisão e mídia que moldaram a cultura, ampliaram a possibilidade artística e inspiraram novas formas de contar histórias.”.

Ahead of the award presentation, Common, SAG-AFTRA national executive director & chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland and SoundExchange president/CEO Michael Huppe spoke exclusively with Billboard about the genesis of the award and what it represents moving forward.

Adicionado Crabtree-Ireland, “Esta [parceria] exemplifica o que estamos tentando fazer aqui hoje: pegar um artista que cruzou essas diferentes fronteiras e, mais importante, que entregou uma visão tão verdadeira em sua música e ativismo.”.

I’m so glad that we came together to start this award process because I believe that when we acknowledge artists for that, it helps encourage other artists to do it.

And when other artists do it, it helps encourage our society to do it more. And we really need that now as much as we’ve ever needed it.”.

Andra Day, Rebecca Ferguson, Janelle Monáe and Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson served as the host committee for the intimate luncheon/presentation. Among the guests spotted celebrating Grammy, Oscar and Emmy winner Common were Universal Music Group general counsel and executive vp of business & legal affairs Jeffrey Harleston, veteran tour manager Tina Farris, Grammy-winning producer-songwriter No I.

D., Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Lisa Loeb, activist Shari Belafonte, DJ-producer D-Nice and actor Anthony Anderson.

Common também marcou o lançamento ontem (25 de setembro) do Jeffery Park, sua nova marca de vinho de edição limitada criada em parceria com o enólogo argentino Karim Mussi e a Gopuff.

The brand — named after a neighborhood park near Common’s childhood home on Chicago’s South Side — debuts with a 2024 pinot noir, which was served at the SAG-AFTRA and SoundExchange award luncheon.

Billboard is a part of PMX Global, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Media Corporation. © 2026 Billboard Media, LLC. All rights reserved.