Coco Meyerhofer | Writer
March 10, 2022
On March 2, Billboard hosted their 15th annual Billboard Women in Music event in Los Angeles, celebrating and empowering the women working in the music industry. The event “recognizes music’s rising artists, creators, producers and executives for their contributions to the industry and their community (Billboard Women in Music),” hosting a girls-only event that focuses on changing the narrative and perception of women in the industry by honoring ten specific women each year who are a “Rising Star”, a “Trailblazer”, a “Powerhouse”, an “Impact”, a “Rule Breaker”, an “Icon”, a “Game Changer”, a “Chartbreaker”, the “Executive of the Year”, and, the big one, the “Woman of the Year”. Hosted by Ciara, the show honored women who were recognized by the Grammys, the Recording Academy, MTV, the American Music Awards, etc.
Winning the Rising Star award presented by Honda was Gabby Barrett, an American country singer who rose to fame through her popularity on American Idol. From her debut album Goldmine, she won two 2021 American Music Awards, three 2021 Billboard Music Awards, and one 2021 Academy of Country Music Award.
The Trailblazer Award was awarded to the ever-heartbreaking Phoebe Bridgers, mostly recognized for the hit song “Motion Sickness” on her second album Punisher.
“I am just so excited!” junior Genevieve Heal said. “I love Phoebe so much, and I am so proud and excited for her to be recognized by Billboard for this award, specifically because it’s Women in Music, which makes it even more meaningful and empowering for both her and myself as a woman.” Bridgers has most notably won three 2021 Libera Awards and one 2018 AIM Award
Taking home the Powerhouse Award was Doja Cat with her TikTok phenomenon “Say So”, riding off the wave of her eight 2022 Grammy nominations. She has also won a combined five American Music Awards, three 2020 MTV Video Awards, and one 2021 Billboard Music Award.
H.E.R. was honored with the Impact Award, which honors artists who use their platform in society to promote positive change. H.E.R., like Doja Cat, follows right behind with seven 2022 Grammy nominations, four total Grammy Awards, one 2020 Academy Award, and two total BET Awards.
Karol G, a powerhouse of a Colombian singer, was honored with the Rule Breaker Award, which honors women who use their music and platform to defy expectations. She has previously won one 2018 Latin Grammy Award, two 2020 Billboard Latin Music Awards, and one 2020 American Music Award.
The Icon Award, which celebrates iconic women in the music industry, was awarded to Bonnie Raitt, who has incorporated rock, folk, and country sounds into her blues music, inspiring others to defy boundaries. She has been awarded ten total Grammy Awards, a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Saweetie won the Game Changer award, which was presented to her by her mother. She has also been nominated for one 2022 Grammy, one 2021 BET Hip-Hop Award and one 2021 MTV Europe Music Award.
The Chartbreaker Award was awarded to Summer Walker, who simultaneously had 18 song from her recently released album, Still Over It, on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart,=. Walker has won two total Soul Train Music Awards, one 2020 Billboard Music Award, and one 2020 iHeartRadio Music Award.
Golnar Khosrowshahi, the founder and CEO of Reservoir Media, won the Executive of the Year Award.
And finally, the biggest award of the whole show, Woman of the Year, was unsurprisingly gifted to pop culture’s favorite new teen girl, Olivia Rodrigo, who completely rewrote the stigma against heartache. With less than a year behind her debut album’s—Sour—release, Rodrigo has seen seven 2022 Grammy nominations, three 2021 MTV Video Music Awards, one 2021 American Music Award, and Time’s Entertainer of the Year.
Leave a Reply