SoundExchange has given MC Lyte its Music Fairness Award.
The neighboring rights organization said on Wednesday (August 19) that the honor recognizes the artist’s advocacy for creators, including her push for passage of the American Music Fairness Act (AMFA)
The award recognizes her efforts to raise awareness, engage members of Congress, and urge passage of the bill, which would require terrestrial radio broadcasters to pay performance royalties to artists and rights holders.
“MC Lyte has spent her career breaking barriers, elevating artists, and using her voice to drive meaningful change,” said Michael Huppe, President and CEO of SoundExchange.
“We are proud to honor her with the SoundExchange Music Fairness Award in recognition of her enduring leadership and advocacy for the creators whose work powers our culture.”
In 2024, MC Lyte joined Darryl “DMC” McDaniels of RUN-DMC and Melle Mel to visit Capitol Hill and meet lawmakers about the American Music Fairness Act.
“MC Lyte has spent her career breaking barriers, elevating artists, and using her voice to drive meaningful change.”
Michael Huppe, SoundExchange
She returned to Capitol Hill this summer to press members of Congress again for the bill’s passage.
The American Music Fairness Act was reintroduced in the 119th Congress in February 2025 by Representatives Darrell Issa and Jerry Nadler, and by Senators Marsha Blackburn and Alex Padilla.
The bill was backed by more than 300 artists who wrote to Congressional leaders in February in support of the legislation.
SoundExchange President and CEO Michael Huppe testified on the bill before the Senate Judiciary Committee‘s intellectual property subcommittee in December 2025, alongside KISS co-founder Gene Simmons.
Huppe has argued that terrestrial broadcasters pay artists nothing for the songs they play, unlike digital and satellite services.
“I am deeply grateful to SoundExchange for this recognition and for its unwavering commitment to standing up for artists,” said MC Lyte.
“Advocacy has always been part of my purpose, and I believe that creators deserve to be respected, protected, and fairly compensated for the music and culture they bring to the world.
“I’m proud to stand with SoundExchange in the fight for music fairness and for a future where every artist’s work is valued.”
“Advocacy has always been part of my purpose, and I believe that creators deserve to be respected, protected, and fairly compensated for the music and culture they bring to the world.”
MC Lyte
MC Lyte is among the nearly 600,000 members who use SoundExchange to collect neighboring rights royalties worldwide, the organization said.
SoundExchange says it collects those royalties through more than 100 agreements with international organizations, covering 93% of the available global market.
MC Lyte was named to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame‘s 2026 class in its Early Influence category.
Her advocacy dates to the Stop the Violence movement in 1989, less than a year after her debut album, Lyte as a Rock.
She contributed to that project’s single, Self Destruction, alongside KRS-One, Kool Moe Dee, and Public Enemy‘s Chuck D and Flavor Flav.
The track debuted atop Billboard‘s then-new Hot Rap Singles chart.
According to SoundExchange, MC Lyte was the first female rapper to earn a gold single and the first female solo rapper nominated for a Grammy Award.
As the founder of the Hip Hop Sisters Foundation, MC Lyte works to build self-esteem and financial literacy for women and youth.
She is the author of the 2012 book Unstoppable: Igniting the Power Within to Achieve Your Greatest Potential and runs the Lyte Up Your Empire platform for developing artists.Music Business Worldwide