Guild of Music Supervisors Honors Raphael Saadiq and Robin Kaye at Career Awards
The Guild of Music Supervisors announced today that it will honor three-time Grammy winner Raphael Saddiq with its 2026 Icon Award and posthumously recognize Robin Kaye, the longtime music supervisor for American Idol, with its Legacy Award.
The awards will be presented during the 16th annual Guild of Music Supervisors Awards ceremony, scheduled for February 28 at the Wiltern in Los Angeles.
Saddiq, whose career has spanned decades, boasts 23 Grammy nominations from 1994 to the present, along with wins in 2003, 2023, and 2024. His influence on the modern R&B landscape began when he co-founded Tony! Toni! Toné! in the mid-1980s. His solo discography includes critically acclaimed albums such as Instant Vintage, The Way I See It, Stone Rollin’, and the recent Jimmy Lee. He also shared the Album of the Year Grammy last year for his production work on Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter.
Reflecting on the importance of music in storytelling, Saddiq stated, “Music plays such an important role in how stories are told on screen, and I have always believed in the power of music to deepen emotion and connect people to the story. To be recognized by a community that celebrates the important relationship between music and cinematic storytelling means a lot to me.”
Kaye, a former Vice President of the Guild of Music Supervisors, was a distinguished figure in the music supervision field. Her career began in record company and artist management roles before she transitioned to work for Waylon Jennings in Nashville. Kaye also served as Vice President of Artist Development and Broadcast Media at MTM Records and worked at MCA-Universal Records before co-founding SyncroniCity. The company initially represented various artists and labels, including Andrea Bocelli and Kenny Loggins, before focusing solely on music supervision for shows like American Idol, where Kaye contributed for over 15 years. Tragically, she and her husband, Thomas Deluca, were killed in July following an encounter with a burglar in their Encino home.
The Guild reflected on Kaye’s legacy, stating, “Robin was a valued board member and Vice President of the Guild of Music Supervisors, a respected pioneer of our music supervision and synch community, and a thoughtful friend and mentor to us all. Her passion for music and dedication to the craft will forever be remembered, and we look forward to honoring her with the Legacy Award.”
The Legacy Award recognizes a music supervisor who has made a substantial impact on the industry throughout their career.
