Music Powerhouses Honored at Billboard Women in Music

LOS ANGELES (March 29, 2025) – Tonight, Billboard hosted the Women in Music event celebrating the powerhouse artists, executives, and visionaries who are shaping the music industry today. Hosted by Emmy® nominee, Laverne Cox, the star-studded evening featured electric performances and inspiring speeches from some of the top women shaping the music industry today.

Show highlights from the 2025 Billboard Women in Music include:

• In her opening remarks, Laverne Cox said, “It's important to acknowledge how truly challenging these times are. For me, music allows me to release emotions I sometimes can't name. Music can be a catalyst for contemplation, protest, mourning, resurrection and unspeakable joy.”
• Doechii was honored as the 2025 Woman of the Year, presented to her by DJ Miss Milan and Jayda Love. In a powerful speech, she said, “In 2025, lack of inclusion and sexism are, unfortunately, still an issue in this industry. Which is why I'm grateful that we have Billboard Women in Music…And while I may be the one front and center who’s rapping, singing, and performing, I’m not doing this alone. There are brilliant, savvy women on my personal and label teams standing alongside me.”
• Meghan Trainor accepted the Hitmaker Award presented by Madison Beer, who lauded her for not just being a hitmaker, but also a “powerhouse songwriter, penning songs for some of the biggest names in music.” In her acceptance speech, she talked about the therapeutic power of music and songwriting and confided that she writes songs to combat insecurity.
• Tanner Adell presented “Emo Cowgirl” Megan Moroney with the Rulebreaker Award presented by Crown Royal ahead of an unforgettable performance of "Am I Okay." 
• GloRilla accepted the Powerhouse Award from Mickey Guyton, who celebrated her  dynamic voice, authenticity and “unique ability to combine femininity, toughness and optimism.”  
• Gracie Abrams delivered an emotional performance of her viral hit "I Love You, I’m Sorry" before receiving the Songwriter of the Year Award presented by Victoria Monét who called her both a prolific songwriter and talented performer. In her acceptance speech, Gracie said, “Songwriting is wild. It’s sometimes wildly embarrassing…It is our most private diary entries and our loudest clarion calls. It is our hiding place and, sometimes, our very salvation. I have been lucky to learn from and write with some of the most wonderful and talented people - The incomparable Ms Taylor Swift! I will never stop pinching myself and I will never stop thanking her for the gift of her pen which very much raised me.”
• Tyla, winner of the Impact Award presented by Bose, accepted her award from Becky G, who praised her for “bringing South African culture to the world. Tyla set the stage ablaze with a jaw-dropping performance of "Push to Start." Following her performance, she accepted the award and teased new music to come. In her acceptance speech she said, “You never know how something you say or do—a lyric, a performance—might ignite in someone else, and what they, in turn, will pass forward to another person. So I feel very lucky—for my fans, my Tygers, who have given me such an exciting life, allowing me to share and grow into all the different versions of myself as an artist and as a woman.”
• Summer Walker, who counts Erykah Badu as her mentor, safe space and even her doula when giving birth - presented the Icon Award to the music legend. 
• Muni Long delivered a stunning live performance of "Superpowers" before receiving the Rising Star Award presented by Honda Stage from Julia Michaels. 
• Tina Knowles received the Mother of the Year Award from Billboard Editor-in-Chief Hannah Karp, and remarked about the challenges and blessings of being a mother and thanked her daughters who allowed her to guide them and give “creative input.”
• JENNIE, recipient of the Global Force Award presented to her by Kali Uchis, was celebrated for her global impact on music and culture.
• Ángela Aguilar captivated the audience with an electrifying performance of "Cielito Lindo" before accepting the Breakthrough Award from Lauren Jauregui.
• Superstar K-pop girl group aespa received the Group of the Year Award presented by Suki Waterhouse, and later brought the house down with a high-energy performance of "Whiplash."
• Zara Larsson presented the Global Women of the Year Awards to ANNA (Italian rapper) and Charlotte Cardin (Canadian singer/songwriter), highlighting international excellence in music.

Additional attendees included Ari Lennox, Ashe, Ava Max, Bella Poarch, Heidi Montag, JoJo Siwa, Kandi Burruss, Keyshia Cole, Loren Gray, Madison Bailey, Queen Naija, Sophia Culpo, Tinashe, Victoria Justice and more.

“This year’s Billboard Women in Music honorees embody the bold and fearless voices shaping the future of music. It is an incredible honor to celebrate their achievements through an evening of performances and unforgettable moments that showcased their undeniable impact in the music industry,” said Hannah Karp, Editor-in-Chief of Billboard. “From groundbreaking newcomers to legendary icons, each artist brings a distinct voice, and passion that pushes boundaries and inspires the next generation.”

"The energy in the room tonight was nothing short of magnetic and inspiring, and we look forward to continuing to celebrate and uplift the women leading the Billboard charts for years to come,” added Dana Droppo, Chief Brand Officer of Billboard.

The show was streamed live via VIZIO WatchFree+ on VIZIO TVs and in the VIZIO mobile app. Viewers who missed the live show can watch the event by opening the WatchFree+ on demand app on their TV or for those who don’t have a VIZIO TV, anyone can download the free VIZIO mobile app to their mobile device, click on the WatchFree+ button in the bottom row menu, and tune into the Billboard Women in Music 2025 channel 1400. The channel and on demand collection gives viewers an inside look at the inspiring women artists shaping the music industry, featuring in-depth interviews, in-studio sessions with artists, episodic series, and more.

Billboard’s Woman of the Year Award has become one of the music industry’s highest honors. Previous artists named Woman of the Year include SZA, Olivia Rodrigo, Cardi B, Billie Eilish, Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez, Madonna, Lady Gaga, and Taylor Swift.

Sponsors for the 2025 Billboard Women in Music event include Bose, presenter of the Impact Award, Official Whisky Partner and presenter of the Rulebreaker Award Crown Royal, HarbourView Equity Partners, Honda Stage presenter of the Rising Star Award, and Sol de Janeiro, Exclusive Body Cream and Perfume Mist Partner. 

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MEDIA ASSETS

Press Kit (Sizzle Reel, Logos, Talent Graphics): HERE

This event is not affiliated with Women in Music, a non-profit organization committed to advancing equality, visibility and opportunities for women in the musical arts through education, support, empowerment and recognition. To support the work of Women in Music please visit https://www.womeninmusic.org/. 

ABOUT BILLBOARD 

Billboard is the ultimate barometer of success in music. Through its iconic charts, breaking news, thought leadership, multi-platform storytelling and world class events, Billboard tracks the world’s top musicians and the business that powers them. Since its origin in 1894, music leaders and fans across the world look to Billboard as the most trusted source for music information, spanning more than a dozen countries and published in 10 languages. The prestigious Billboard Music Awards are the only premium awards ceremony that recognize musicians for their undeniable achievements on the Billboard charts, using pure data to determine the winners, rather than relying on opaque committees or undisclosed voters to select the honorees giving fans maximum impact at each year's ceremony, as Billboard's chart data measures fans' engagement with their favorite music. Billboard’s other premium experiences range from the Billboard Power 100 to Billboard Women in Music, BillboardLatin Music Week, and Billboard Live, which connects the most impactful artists and industry leaders with fans from all cultures and corners of the globe.

ABOUT VIZIO 

Founded and headquartered in Orange County, California, our mission at VIZIO is to deliver immersive entertainment and compelling lifestyle enhancements that make our products the center of the connected home. We are driving the future of televisions through our integrated platform of cutting-edge Smart TVs and powerful operating system. We also offer a portfolio of innovative sound bars that deliver consumers an elevated audio experience. Our platform gives content providers more ways to distribute their content and advertisers more tools to connect with the right audience. 

ABOUT YOUTUBE THEATER

YouTube Theater is a 6,000-seat performance venue located at Hollywood Park, a near 300-acre sports and entertainment destination in Inglewood Calif., being developed by Los Angeles Rams Owner/Chairman E. Stanley Kroenke. The state-of-the-art theater is a 227,000 square foot, three-story indoor venue situated under the same roof canopy as SoFi Stadium and American Airlines Plaza. The venue can be configured to house three different crowd capacities, including intimate settings with minimum capacities of 3,400 and 4,400. Equipped with premium finishes throughout, the venue ranked among the Top 10 venues in the world for top-grossing concert and live event ticket sales in 2024, and was named 2025 West Coast Theater or Club of the Year by Billboard.  Opened in August 2021, YouTube Theater is equipped to host a variety of events, including concerts, awards shows, boxing, esports competitions, community gatherings, conferences and more.

ABOUT HARBOURVIEW EQUITY PARTNERS

HarbourView Equity Partners is an investment firm, founded by Sherrese Clarke Soares, focused on opportunities to support premium content across the entertainment, sports, and media markets. The firm seeks businesses or assets powered by IP and investment opportunities that aim to build enduring value and returns. HarbourView has been extremely active since launching in 2021, amassing roughly $1.45 billion* in regulatory assets under management including over 70+ music catalogs to date and investments in two media production companies, MACRO and Mucho Mas Media, both with a mission to center premium storytelling. The firm's distinctly diverse music portfolio features thousands of titles spanning numerous genres, eras, and artists, amounting to a diversified catalog of ~31,000+ songs across both master recordings and publishing income streams. The company is headquartered in Newark, NJ.

Regulatory AUM is as of 12/31/23; RAUM for private funds is calculated regardless of the nature of the gross assets under management. This includes any uncalled committed capital pursuant to an obligation to make a capital contribution to the fund.

ABOUT HONDA STAGE

Honda Stage is a music program that builds on the brand’s deep foundation of celebrating determined artists and their journeys while bringing unique music experiences to fans. Honda Stage offers exclusive, behind-the-scenes music content and inspirational stories from on-the-rise and fan-favorite artists, giving music fans access to the moments they love while celebrating the creativity and drive it takes to make it big.

ABOUT BOSE CORPORATION

Bose is world renowned for its premium audio solutions for the home, on the go, and in the car. Since its founding in 1964 by Dr. Amar Bose, the company has been dedicated to delivering amazing sound experiences through innovation. And its passionate employees — engineers, researchers, music fanatics, and dreamers — have remained committed to the belief that sound is the most powerful force on earth; its ability to transform, transport, and make us feel alive. For 60 years, this belief has driven us to create products that have become iconic, changing the way people listen to music.

ABOUT CROWN ROYAL
Crown Royal Canadian Whisky is the number-one selling Canadian whisky brand in the world and has a tradition as long and distinctive as its taste. Specially blended to commemorate a grand tour of Canada made by the King and Queen of Great Britain in 1939, Crown Royal's smooth and elegant flavor was an exceptionally generous gift fit for royalty. Its gift-worthy presentation reflects its regal origins – it is considered the epitome of Canadian whisky. For more information, visit crownroyal.com. Crown Royal encourages all consumers to please enjoy responsibly.

ABOUT DIAGEO NORTH AMERICA
Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Bulleit and Buchanan's whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Casamigos, DeLeon and Don Juliotequilas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Tanqueray and Guinness. Diageo is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (LSE: DGE) and their products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information about Diageo, their people, brands, and performance, visit www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo's global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice. Follow on Twitter and Instagram for news and information about Diageo North America: @Diageo_NA.

ABOUT GIRLS MAKE BEATS

Girls Make Beats (GMB) is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2012 by audio engineer Tiffany "Delilah" Miranda, focused on empowering girls aged 5-17 to explore tech ​fields of music production, DJing, and audio engineering. Through educational programming, GMB provides the skills and tools necessary for girls to thrive in the music industry; fostering collaboration and creating opportunities for young women to connect and grow in their careers.

ABOUT SOL DE JANEIRO 

Launched in 2015, SOL DE JANEIRO is a globally recognized, award-winning beauty brand, drawing inspiration from Brazil’s beauty rituals, warmth, and spirit. SOL DE JANEIRO delivers a sensory experience beloved by multi-generational consumers worldwide, with clinically proven results, transformative textures, and transportive fragrances. The brand has earned high-profile honors, including being named one of TIME100’s 2024 Most Influential Companies, Fast Company’s 2024 World's Most Innovative Companies, and WWD Beauty Inc’s Power Brands of 2024, underscoring its leadership in the beauty industry and outstanding workplace. Available at premium international retailers like Sephora and online at soldejaneiro.com, SOL DE JANEIRO is rooted in the belief that beauty is an attitude, not a standard.