The Amusement & Music Association of New York (AMOA-NY) hosted its Annual Gala last Monday evening, April 20th, at the prestigious Benjamin Steakhouse in New York City, drawing a full-capacity crowd of industry professionals for a night of celebration, recognition, and reflection.
Image Source: AMOA-NY
Guests enjoyed an elegant dinner featuring filet mignon, shell steak, and salmon before the evening’s awards program commenced, highlighting outstanding contributions across the industry.
The evening’s top honor, “Jukebox Artist of the Year” for 2026, was awarded to Grammy Award-winning recording artist and Oscar-nominated songwriter Melissa Manchester. With 25 Top 100 charted singles and a distinguished career spanning 30 albums, Manchester continues to maintain an active performance schedule and a lasting impact on the music industry.
As she accepted the award, an AMI Entertainment Curve Model jukebox played selections from her catalog, underscoring her enduring connection to the jukebox experience. In her remarks, Manchester reflected on her early memories of jukeboxes during family road trips and her deep appreciation for their role in music culture.
“When I was a kid, and my family would pile into our two-tone grey Chevrolet on our way to visit our favorite cousins in Maryland, driving through New Jersey was a major leg of the trip,” said Melissa as she reminisced. “So was stopping at the occasional diner where, for a quarter in the jukebox, I believe, you could choose three songs to play the likes of Elvis, The Beatles, The Ronettes … or Frank Sinatra or Eydie Gormé or Tony Bennett! Giants to serenade you while munching on a burger and fries. Heaven!”
She continued: “I’m happy and grateful to know that some of my songs have filled the air over the years through the genius of jukeboxes. Now I am grateful to both innovative jukebox producers, AMI Entertainment and TouchTunes.”
AMOA-NY President Ken Goldberg also presented the “Woman of the Year” for 2026 award to Britannie Betti, Business Development Manager and East Coast Regional Sales Director for Betson Industries, Inc. In his introduction, Goldberg praised Betti’s leadership and potential, noting that the industry would be “incredibly well-served” from more professionals following her example.
Accepting the honor, Betti emphasized the importance of community within the industry. “Tonight is not just about me, but about all of you in this room who have helped me get to where I am,” she said. She expressed gratitude to her family and colleagues, including Betson CEO Bob Geschine and company executives Kevin Fritz and Bob DiPipi, for their mentorship and support.
Image Source: AMOA-NY
“I love this industry because it has become family. We all grieve together, we all celebrate each other’s successes, we all care. We all live and breathe what we do, and we all push each other to be the best we can be. Thank you from the bottom of my heart and let’s hope they don’t say years from now, ‘she peaked at 39’!”
A surprise award, the Pace-O-Matic Integrity Award was presented by the company’s Chairman, Michael Pace. (After Mr. Pace presented the first award of its kind at the AMOA-NY Gala last year to Larry Hilimire, AMOA-NY requested Mr. Pace make this a tradition as part of the program.) He announced Danny Frank, AMOA-NY’s long-time Executive Director as the recipient.
In his address, Goldberg also spoke candidly about the challenges facing the industry. He emphasized the growing impact of legalized online sports betting, calling it a significant and escalating concern, and urged national leadership to take decisive action. He also addressed ongoing issues surrounding music copyright law, advocating for reform to ensure fair compensation and sustainable operations for small business operators.
“AMOA-NY continues to do what it must as one state organization among many, but we cannot carry these challenges alone,” Goldberg said.
The evening concluded with a renewed sense of unity and purpose among attendees. A souvenir video journal capturing highlights from the gala will be released in the coming weeks.
About Amusement and Music Owners Association of New York, Inc.
Amusement and Music Owners Association of New York, Inc. (AMOA-NY) was established in the 1940’s. AMOA-NY is an advocate for the refreshments and amusements industry. While AMOA-NY does not have a website, you can visit their national association, the Amusement and Music Owners Association, at this website: amoa.com.
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