There’s no doubt that women dominated the music industry this past year. From headlining some of the highest-grossing tours to sweeping not just one but all of the coveted “big four” Grammy awards, their influence, creativity and talent continue to shape the musical landscape profoundly. In honor of Women’s History Month, Billboard hosted the annual Women in Music event at the YouTube Theater on March 6 to celebrate the women in the spotlight and behind the scenes who are progressively changing the industry and community. Despite the cold and pouring rain outside, the room radiated a collective warmth with passionate cheers from the attendees for the women awarded.
Throughout the evening, many of the most influential women in the music industry, including Kylie Minogue, Maren Morris and PinkPantheress, shared their joy as well as empowering stories from distinct perspectives in their respective acceptance speeches. Award-winning actor Tracee Ellis Ross and her infectiously funny spirit lightened up the room and kept people entertained as the main host of the event. During her opening monologue, Ross paid tribute and acknowledged all the women in the industry who make the music happen.
“There are a lot of different skill sets and expertise that play a part in bringing music to the masses—producing, managing, marketing, lawyering, distributing, touring, publishing and so much more,” Ross said. “Tonight is not just a celebration of the artists that we love but an opportunity to recognize trailblazers in Billboard’s 2024 top executives list.”
After her long-awaited win for best new artist at the Grammys just last month, Victoria Monét kicked off the show’s lineup of wonderful performers with her hit song “On My Mama.” The singer-songwriter was presented with the Rising Star Award by her mother and shared an affirmation about her artistic goals that is as poetic as her lyrics are.
“I love that it’s a Rising Star Award and not a Shooting Star Award because shooting stars are here and gone much too fast and I plan to be here for a while,” Monét said.
Another breathtaking performance of the night is from Powerhouse Award honoree Charli XCX who debuted an unreleased song “So I,” dedicated to the late SOPHIE. The lyrics, touching and heartbreaking at the same time, echoed the singer’s eternal love and respect for her friend and music collaborator. “Always on my mind (Every day, every night), Your star burns so bright.”
During her acceptance speech, she candidly talked about her experience as a woman in music. “Being a woman is so nuanced and complex all the time, let alone through the lens of a male-focused industry like the music industry […] It’s competitive and hard because the media does that to us, labels do that to us and the narrative around being a woman does that to us.”
The singer thanked Billboard for creating an event dedicated to women because of the opportunity to come together and not only celebrate their womanhood but also to celebrate that everyone is an incredible artist making music in different lanes, creating different sounds and putting their artistry first.
Billboard presented several Global Force Awards to artists from across the globe who were present to share their joint love for making music. Annalisa, Luísa Sonza and Sarah Geronimo received the Global Force Award to represent Italy, Brazil and the Philippines respectively.
The lively appearance of the K-pop girl group NewJeans also received a remarkable reception. The crowd went wild, some even waving the group’s official cheering lightsticks, and sang along when the quintet performed a mashup of their songs “Super Shy” and “ETA.” NewJeans received the Group of the Year Award and became the second K-pop act ever to be honored at the event, after TWICE in 2023 for Breakthrough Artist. Puerto Rican native Young Miko also received the Impact Award, recognizing her efforts in building community by creating positive change in the industry and beyond.
The biggest award of the night, the Billboard Woman of the Year Award, was honored to Karol G who also became the first Latina in history to be recognized with the title. Colombian actress Sofía Vergara presented her with the award. The Grammy-award winner’s performance of “Amagura (Salsa Version)” with an all-female band had the entire room on their feet dancing and singing along.
In the last speech of the night, Karol G addressed the crowd in Spanish, her mother tongue language, and received a standing ovation for her inspiring words about finding strength in being a woman.
“I wasn’t going to let being a woman be an obstacle or define my capabilities, it was going to be my motive and my reason,” she said. “Three fundamental things happened for me to be here tonight: I stopped trying to be perfect for everyone, ignored comments and justifications for my achievements, and understood that it was not the respect of others that I had to earn but respect for myself.”
The core sentiment of the Women in Music event is best summed up by Executive of the Year Michelle Jubelirer. Jubelirer, who was the first woman appointed as CEO of Capitol Music Group in its 80-year history, said she wholeheartedly believes that she relates to artists differently, has a stronger connection with colleagues and makes decisions that consider a wider range of factors because she is a woman.
“When it comes to expressing your emotions, passionately advocating for artists and staff, having empathy for fellow human beings,” Jubelirer said. “I say to every woman in this room that these are superpowers and don’t let anyone take them away from you.”