The 2023 Billboard Women In Music Awards honors SZA, Lana Del Rey, Kim Petras, TWICE, Rosalía. In addition, Becky G., Doechii, Ivy Queen, and Lainey Wilson are set to receive awards. Most recipients will also perform.
Hosted by Abbott Elementary creator and Emmy-wining writer/actress Quinta Burnson, the event honors today’s most influential female trailblazers who are shaping the music landscape.
Get seat tickets to the the 2023 Billboard Women In Music Awards here.
2023 Billboard Women In Music Awards Honorees
SZA- “Woman of The Year”
After her record-breaking sophomore album, .SOS, topping the Billboard Hot 200 album chart for five (plus) weeks, there is no questioning her impact and — more importantly– her fan base. Noting the singer never wanted to release a follow-up to CTRL, SZA’s return is putting her at the top charts of every Billboard category.
Whether “Kill Bill” strikes again or chilling through “The Weekend,” SZA grabs headlines (not just for her bodacious BBL) and earns high-profile gigs like Saturday Night Live.
Recently, the R&B singer began her 16-date ‘SOS’ tour with Omar Apollo as the opening act. SZA is also rumored to release 10 additional tracks as apart of the deluxe version of SOS (release date TBA.)
Becky G- “Impact Award”
Who knew Becky G, the “Shower” Disney star, would become Latin music’s reigning princess and forever heartthrob? From chart-topping collaborations with other Latin powerhouses like Karol G, Natti Natasha, Bad Bunny, Anitta and TINI, Becky G made her name nearly unforgettable. Already highlighted previously as one of Billboard’s “21 under 21,” her success continues being a leady lady in entertainment.
Her pandemic podcast “En La Sala,” $10k is donated to a charity of her choosing every episode. One of her guests was Vice President Kamala Harris to speak about politics. Tresluce Beauty, her latest venture, is Becky’s very own beauty brand which celebrates and supports Latinx heritage and culture while maximizing high-impact artistry.
Doechii- “Rising Star Award”
The Florida rapper has been on everyone’s radar– and if she hasn’t, she is now. Other than scoring big-time notoriety on TikTok with “Persuasive,” its success earned her a SZA feature. Doechii also opened for the “Woman of the Year” recipient during her ‘Good Days’ tour.
Her “Girls” single broke through the SoundCloud universe and got the bold and unapologetic entertainer performing on the 2021 BET Hip-Hop Awards alongside Isaiah Rashad and Kal Bronx.
From featuring on Smino’s Luv 4 Rent to performing her own COLORS SHOW live, it is no wonder Doechii was listed as a 2022 Artist to Watch by Spotify.
Ivy Queen- “Icon Award”
The undisputed “Queen of Reggaetón” finally gets her flowers in 2023. Growing up in the underground world of Latin hip-hop, the Puerto Rican diva set many records since the late 90s. With nine studio albums, and four genre-bending Vendetta EPs, Ivy Queen reigns over many Latin pop genres including bachata, urban, salsa, and, of course, hip-hop.
Kim Petras “Chartbreaker Award”
Did you know Kim Petra got her first lick of fame opening for Troye Sivan during his ‘Bloom’ tour? Or Paris Hilton starred in her new music video “I Don’t Want It At All”? Well, the transgender MySpace alum is now a Grammy-winning queer icon with the No. 1 smash hit “Unholy” with Sam Smith. And, while she may be Problematique, there’s no denying that Kim Petras crafts bona fide woo-ah perfection!
Ranging from bubblegum pop classics of Era 1 and Charli XCX’s “Unlock It” with Jay Park to Turn Off The Light’s spooky European techno, it is one certified bop after another for Kim Petras. And, even though she met her Madonna, her music idol, already, the “Brrr” singer is just scratching the surface of her success.
Lainey Wilson “Rulebreaker Award”
Being a “rule breaker” just comes naturally to the six-time CMA Award nominee and ACM New Female of the Year 2022 winner. After dominating almost every “Artist To Watch” list, Lainey Wilson was crowned Billboard’s “Top New Country Artist of 2021,” and earned CMT’s “Breakout Artist of the Year” award for 2022.
However humble her Louisiana beginnings are, Nashville primed her into the most-buzzed-about country music entertainer. Her classic Bell Bottom Country sound and aesthetic garnered fans and eventually landed her her first No. 1 with her Platinum-Certified ACM Song of the Year “Things A Man Oughta Know,” nearly 10 years after leaving her small farming community in a camper trailer to chase her dreams.
However, her songwriting credits are just as prolific as her career, having co-writer credits on songs by artists like Luke Combs and Flatland Calvary. But, Wilson is keeping her next project lowkey to enjoy her acting debut on the hit series Yellowstone on November 13.
Lana Del Rey- “Visionary Award”
Just as it is: Lana Del Rey is nothing but a well-crafted persona from New Yorker Elizabeth Woolridge Grant. Lana, however, forever changed pop music today, coloring the “Party Rock Anthem” and “California Gurls” scene in something sadder, narrative-driven, real, and nostalgic.
Reintroducing sonic narratives crafted by storytellers is what Lana did. And Lana Del Rey is one of the greatest American storytellers ever seen– just ask Bruce Springsteen and Taylor Swift.
Even after being ruthlessly persecuted in the media early on into her career, people still wanted the “Sad Girl” formula. The problem is not everyone can paint nine distinct records for this “Sad Girl” to live in.
From the nihilistic hip-hop influence on Born To Die, Ultraviolence’s West Coast rock, to the jazzy trap and lonely Honeymoon, and retro-futuristic flower child atop Lust For Life— these are many faces of Lana. Lana soakes every visual, lyric, performance, editorial spread and merch in Americana references and intention.
Even her Grammy-nominated magnum opus Norman Fucking Rockwell! sets a new standard of artistry that not even Lana can recreate, but many will try any way.
Rosalía- “Producer of The Year” Award
In 2022, Rosalía released her landmark album MOTOMAMI, and the world of leather and motorcycles were never the same.
Rosalía singer wrote, performed, recorded and executive produced the album, which is unlike her previous catalog. The critically-acclaimed work mixes Arca’s industrial, experimental pop sound with mainstream Latin trap and reggaetón to create something entirely unique.
MOTOMAMI is a conceptual work “as a female figure that builds herself,” said Rosalía herself in an interview with Rolling Stone Spain. Recently, the Grammy-winning artist artist wrapped up her sold-out MOTOMAMI WORLD TOUR, a massive 46-show run across 15 countries.
Rosalía continues the experimental urban feeling with eight additional tracks on “MOTOMAMI+.”
TWICE- “Breakthrough Award”
Yes, in K-Pop there is BTS and BLACKPINK. But, the longstanding girl-group TWICE, is finally back in the international arena. Debuting seven years ago, the girl group has released five full-length albums, 10 EPs and a handful of compilations and reissues, garnering them a dominant fanbase in a number of Asian territories.
Although it is uncommon for a girl group to last this long, TWICE credits their longevity to their fans. “They are the reason for our existence as artists, and this year, thankfully, we have a lot of chances to meet our fans globally and domestically.”
However, their first fully English song, “The Feels,” charted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2021. Their second English single, “Moonlight Sunrise,” was released last month and met an equal reception.
However, that isn’t enough. TWICE member Chaeyoung says to Billboard, “My personal goal going forward is to top the Billboard [Hot 100].”
TWICE’s latest EP, Ready To Be, was just announced. Member Nayeon summarizes the project as an ambition to “grow up even more, further, as artists.”
