The Billboard Women in Music event is an annual event held by Billboard to honor influential female artists and executives in the music industry. This year’s event is shaping up to be an exciting one, with a star-studded lineup of talented women scheduled to take the stage. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at who you can expect to see performing at the 2023 Billboard Women in Music.
The Headliners
There are two big headlining performers for this year’s Billboard Women in Music: Mariah Carey and Mary J. Blige. Both are music icons who need little introduction. Mariah Carey, known as the “Songbird Supreme,” rose to fame in the 90s and became one of the best-selling music artists of all time. She has had an astonishing 18 #1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Mariah is set to receive the Billboard Icon Award this year. Meanwhile, Mary J. Blige is a giant of R&B and hip hop, releasing 13 studio albums over her decades-long career. She’s a recipient of nine Grammy awards and is considered the “Queen of Hip Hop Soul.” Having these two powerhouse performers headline the event demonstrates the caliber and impact of the honored women.
More Performers
In addition to the headliners, the lineup includes these diverse musical guests:
- Megan Thee Stallion – The rapper is a two-time Grammy winner and a previous Billboard Women in Music honoree. She’s known for hits like “Savage,” “Body,” and “WAP.”
- Doja Cat – The Grammy-winning “Kiss Me More” and “Say So” singer will bring her funky pop/R&B sound to the stage.
- Phoebe Bridgers – The Los Angeles-based indie rock singer-songwriter rose to fame with her critically praised 2020 album Punisher.
- Karol G – The Colombian reggaeton singer has become a dominant force in Latin music with hits like “Tusa” and “Bichota.”
- Saweetie – This multi-platinum artist has skyrocketed with viral hits like “Tap In” and “Best Friend.” She blends hip hop and pop.
As you can see, the roster has diversity across genres to appeal to varied musical tastes. Pop, hip hop, R&B, reggaeton, and indie rock will all be represented through these acclaimed performers.
Honorees
In addition to the performers, let’s highlight some of the women being honored at this year’s Billboard Women in Music:
- Taylor Swift – The pop megastar will receive the Woman of the Decade Award after dominating the charts and breaking countless records over the last ten years.
- Lizzo – The “About Damn Time” singer will be awarded the Powerhouse Award for her meteoric rise and impactful advocacy for body positivity.
- Lauryn Hill – The iconic R&B singer will be honored with the Impact Award for her groundbreaking, influential body of work across her solo and Fugees catalog.
- Rising Star Award – Latto, the rapper behind hits like “Big Energy” and “Wheelie” featuring 21 Savage, will take home this award that recognizes early career success and momentum.
Other honorees include Bonnie Raitt receiving the Icon Award and Kim Petras taking home the Trailblazer Award. It’s set to be a memorable night celebrating these music industry leaders.
Powerful Performances to Expect
Based on the stellar lineup of women performing and being honored, we can expect some powerful moments on the Billboard Women in Music stage. Here are a few predictions:
- Show-stopping vocal performances – With world-class vocalists like Mariah Carey and Mary J. Blige on the bill, you know it’s going to be a night of impressive singing skills on display.
- Badass collaborations – It wouldn’t be surprising to see artists join forces for special joint performances. Imagine Megan Thee Stallion and Latto rapping together, or Phoebe Bridgers dueting with Lauryn Hill.
- Messages of empowerment – Many of these women are outspoken feminists who use their music to spread messages of female strength. Expect stirring speeches about perseverance and uplifting other women.
- Nostalgic hits – Artists like Mariah and Mary J. have catalogs full of iconic smash hits that will get the crowd singing along and feeling the ’90s nostalgia.
- Chart-topping new music – With today’s top stars like Doja Cat and Saweetie performing, we’ll likely hear their current popular singles ruling the charts.
It’s sure to be an evening packed with strong female energy and plenty of standout live performances.
A Milestone Year for Women
This year’s Billboard Women in Music arrives during a milestone era for women in the music industry. The past several years have seen female artists rise to the top of popular music in a major way. For instance, take a look at this table highlighting women’s dominance on Billboard’s year-end Hot 100 chart:
| Year | Number of Songs by Women in Top 10 |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 9 |
| 2022 | 8 |
The upward trajectory is clear. Singles by female artists now consistently dominate the charts. Women also sweep the big four Grammy categories more frequently. Additionally, we’ve seen important milestones like Taylor Swift becoming the first female artist to win Album of the Year three times. Beyoncé is also now the most decorated Grammy artist ever, surpassing previous record holder Georg Solti.
In many ways, women running popular music is no longer a novelty but an accepted norm. Events like Billboard Women in Music provide a powerful platform to keep pushing for equality while uplifting the next generation of artists and executives. The progress reflects society’s increasing openness to the talents and contributions of women in music.
The Future Looks Bright
Predicting the future, the growing trend of women thriving in the music business seems likely to continue. The performers spotlighted at this year’s Billboard Women in Music give hope for a bright future. Artists like Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion, Karol G, and Latto show how diverse the sounds of popular music have become thanks in large part to barrier-breaking women. We can expect fresh new female voices across genres to continue rising up. Based on releases from acts like Muni Long, Tems, and Glorilla this past year, R&B and hip hop will keep leading the way.
Behind the scenes, record labels and publishing companies are prioritizing women in leadership roles more than ever before. Initiatives like the EQL Directory and She Is The Music aim to connect more women to career opportunities in the industry. Mentorship programs also help provide support networks. As attitudes shift to foster inclusivity, women will have greater access to the label deals, production jobs, and executive positions that allow them to shape the sound and business of music.
Thanks to technology, the barriers are lower than ever for creating music and building an audience independently too. This further opens the door for new female talent to emerge across social media platforms. Overall, the landscape seems primed for women to dictate popular music for years to come.
Conclusion
Billboard Women in Music 2022 promises to be a memorable celebration of the contemporary legends and rising stars defining popular music today. With headliners like Mariah Carey and Mary J. Blige setting the stage, along with honors for trailblazers from Taylor Swift to Lizzo, it’s set to be an inspirational night. Expect rousing speeches, huge hits of yesteryear, viral smashes of today, surprises, and female empowerment. Through the diversity of genres and honorees, the event captures how women currently have enormous influence over the sound and business of music. Judging by those set to perform and be recognized, the future remains bright for women continuing to shape popular culture and the industry. After the major milestones of recent years, women dominating music is clearly no passing trend but the new normal.