Beatselector Shop

James Auwarter is a Grammy Award winning sound engineer who started out as a musician, first on the trumpet and then as a rock guitarist/front man. While attending Stivers High School For the Arts in Dayton, Ohio, interning at ReFraze Recording Studio and finally graduating with a 96.31% GPA, and a degree in Recording Arts from Full Sail University (in Florida), Auwater’s career path was clearly in sight. Returning to the Midwest, and initially taken under the wing of Craig Bauer (owner of Hinge Studios), James began to make a name for himself in Chicago and quickly rose through the ranks. James is known for his diversity and working within practically every genre of music over the years. His ears are highly sought after by leading acts in the Rock, Jazz, Classical, Gospel, and Hip-hop communities, among others. A few of these notable clients have been: Kanye West, Yo-Yo Ma, Kirk Franklin, Kurt Elling, Adam Levine, Tom Higgenson (Plain White Tees), Lupe Fiasco, Hezekiah Walker, Rihanna, John Legend, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Saba, and Mavis Staples.

Previous

Blac Elvis: The Grammy-Winning Visionary Shaping Music and Innovation

Next

Leslie Brathwaite: Grammy Award Winning Sound Engineer

WIDGETS ON SIDE PANEL

Don’t Miss

JIVE Records-Mike Weiss & David Melhado

JIVE Records Returns as Standalone Imprint Under RCA

Shon Murdock

JIVE Records Returns as Standalone Imprint Under RCA, Led by Mike Weiss and David Melhado One of the most influential names in modern music is officially back. JIVE Records, the legendary label known for shaping hip-hop, R&B, and pop culture, has been relaunched as a standalone frontline imprint operating under Sony Music’s RCA Records. Steering […]

Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar Wins Every Grammy in His Category at the 2026 Grammys

Shon Murdock

The 2026 Grammy Awards belonged to Kendrick Lamar. Not symbolically. Not emotionally. Literally. Kendrick Lamar won every Grammy in every category in which he was nominated, delivering one of the most decisive and commanding nights the awards show has seen in years. Each announcement reinforced the same conclusion. This was not competition, this was confirmation. […]

Brandy

Brandy Honored With the Black Icon Music Award by the Recording Academy

Shon Murdock

On Sunday, February 1, 2026, the Recording Academy presented Brandy with the Black Icon Music Award, recognizing a legacy that has profoundly shaped the sound and direction of modern R&B and Black music culture.  The honor celebrates not only her longevity, but her undeniable influence as one of the most technically gifted and emotionally resonant […]

Suno

Suno, AI Music, and the New Reality of Ownership for Creators

bs-supera

As the calendar turned to the New Year, a major shift quietly—but significantly—reshaped the landscape of AI-generated music. For artists, producers, and composers experimenting with AI music platforms, especially tools like Suno, the rules of ownership have changed—and the implications are profound. The End of “You Own What You Prompt” Historically, one of the biggest […]

L.A. Reid

L.A. Reid and Drew Dixon Reach Confidential Settlement as Trial Was Set to Begin

Shon Murdock

As jury selection was about to get underway in New York, Grammy-winning music executive L.A. Reid and former record executive Drew Dixon reached a confidential settlement, bringing an end to a closely watched legal battle that has reverberated across the music industry. The agreement resolves Dixon’s lawsuit, which included allegations of sexual assault and claims […]

The Weeknd

The Weeknd Signs Deal With Lyric Capitol Group Worth $1B

Shon Murdock

Grammy-Winning Artist The Weeknd’s $1B Lyric Capital Deal Signals a New Era of Artist Power In an industry long defined by artists trading ownership for upfront cash, the multi-Grammy Award–winning The Weeknd has just rewritten the rules. Abel Tesfaye, a Grammy-winning global superstar, recently closed a groundbreaking partnership with Lyric Capital Group valued at approximately $1 billion, and […]