December 16, 2025 I Award
NAMM Names Billy Corgan as TEC Innovation Award Recipient
Billy Corgan
NAMM and The NAMM Technical Excellence & Creativity (TEC) Awards have selected Billy Corgan as the recipient of the 2025 TEC Innovation Award, which will be presented to him at the 41st annual NAMM TEC Awards on Jan. 22, 2026, during The NAMM Show in Anaheim, California.
The TEC Innovation Award recognizes visionary contributions that shape the future of music, sound, and creative production. Corgan is being honored for his transformative impact on modern, guitar-driven music and his forward-thinking approach to tone shaping and sonic architecture. From the explosive dynamics and layered opulence of Siamese Dream to the genre-blending ambition of Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, and his continued reinvention across The Smashing Pumpkins’ expansive catalog, including the most recent releases ATUM: A Rock Opera in Three Acts and Aghori Mhori Mei. His work has expanded the boundaries of modern rock and inspired generations of musicians, engineers, and creators.
“Billy’s fearless approach to production, imaginative pedal chains, analog exploration, intricate layering and boundary-breaking studio techniques have influenced countless creators,” said John Mlynczak, NAMM President and CEO. “His deep commitment to innovation and artistic evolution places him among the most distinctive and influential musical architects of the last three decades.”
Beyond his work with Grammy-award winning band, The Smashing Pumpkins, Corgan’s solo catalog includes four albums. In the studio, he has collaborated with a broad range of artists, including Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Rick Ocasek, Cheap Trick, Ray Davies, New Order, Marianne Faithfull, Scorpions, Korn, Phantogram, The Veronicas and Code Orange. He has also contributed music to film soundtracks such as Ransom, Stigmata, and Spun, and released his first poetry book, Blinking with Fists, in 2004, which went on to become a New York Times best seller.
Corgan’s creative reach extends into a variety of cultural spaces. A lifelong wrestling aficionado, he owns and serves as president of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). He also owns Madame ZuZu’s Teahouse in Highland Park, Illinois, where he often performs intimate surprise sets, and hosts the podcast “The Magnificent Others,” featuring conversations with artists, entrepreneurs and visionary leaders. He is also a staunch animal advocate, supporting no-kill shelters, such as Paws Chicago. Most recently, Corgan partnered with the Lyric Opera of Chicago for the world premiere of A Night of Mellon Collie and Infinite Sadness, a bold operatic reimagining of The Smashing Pumpkins’ landmark 1995 double album. The production featured Corgan performing alongside the world class opera artists, with sweeping new arrangements brought to life by the Lyric Opera Orchestra and Chorus for an immersive experience that fuses the emotional intensity of rock with the grandeur of opera.
Past recipients of the TEC Innovation Award include Paul McCartney, Joni Mitchell, RZA, Peter Frampton, Jackson Browne, Pete Townshend, Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, Brian Wilson, Jack White, and many more.
