Alicia Keys has signed with Creative Artists Agency (CAA) for representation in all areas. At the same time, the Songwriters of North America (SONA) has opened nominations for its 2026 Emerging Songwriter Award. Both announcements mark key developments in the music industry.
Alicia Keys joins CAA
CAA announced Keys’ signing earlier this week. The move ends her nearly 15-year relationship with WME.
Keys has sold an estimated 65 million records since releasing her debut album, Songs in A Minor, in 2001. She is also the inspiration behind the Broadway musical Hell’s Kitchen. The production features her music and lyrics and tells the story of her childhood in New York during the 1990s.
Hell’s Kitchen won two Tony Awards from 13 nominations. It also received the 2025 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theatre Album.
Beyond music, Keys is a founding member of She Is the Music. The nonprofit supports women pursuing careers in the music industry. She continues to be managed by Roc Nation.
SONA opens award nominations
SONA has also opened nominations for the 2026 Emerging Songwriter Award. YouTube Songwriters presents the award.
The honour recognises a SONA member who shows originality, strong songwriting skills and creative integrity.
Nominations close on Friday, August 14, 2026. Eligible songwriters must be SONA members. They must also have released at least three songs in the past two years and have at least three songs recorded by other artists.
Five finalists will be selected. The winner will be announced at the Annual SONA Awards on October 29, 2026, at the Skirball Cultural Centre in Los Angeles.
Finalists will receive invitations to YouTube writing camps and masterclasses. They will also take part in strategy sessions, mentorship opportunities and selected SONA performances.
“SONA has always been built on a simple idea: by Songwriters, for Songwriters. That’s what makes this award, created in partnership with YouTube Songwriters and voted on by SONA members, so meaningful. It’s Songwriters celebrating Songwriters, and recognising the incredible new voices shaping what comes next,” said Michelle Lewis, SONA Co-Founder and CEO of SONA and the SONA Foundation.
“It is incredibly exciting to watch this award continue to take shape now in its second year, further cementing YouTube Music and SONA’s shared commitment to championing songwriters at every step of their journey,” said Jenna Rubenstein, Head of Songwriter Relations for YouTube Music. “We are honoured to keep shining a light on the songwriting community’s immense talent, and it remains deeply meaningful that this award comes directly from fellow songwriters who intimately know the soul of this work.”
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