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Trending on Billboard Stars like Peso Pluma, Carlos Vives, Xavi, Kapo, Goyo, Santos Bravos and more walked the Billboard Latin Music Awards 2025 red carpet ahead of the ceremony, airing Thursday night (Oct. 23) on Telemundo. Bad Bunny leads the list of finalists with 27 nods in categories including artist of the year, Global 200 […]
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The 2025 Billboard Latin Music Awards have begun, with the industry’s biggest stars gathering at the James L. Knight Center in Miami for a night of excitement and big performances.
Bad Bunny leads the list of finalists with 27 entries, a historic record, and already has one trophy secured: the Top Latin Artist of the 21st Century, for his unparalleled achievements on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums and Hot Latin Songs charts between the years 2000 and 2024. The Puerto Rican superstar is followed by Fuerza Regida with 15 mentions, and Rauw Alejandro with 14. Leading the female artists is Karol G with 10 mentions, matching those of rising regional Mexican artist Tito Double P who also has 10, while Peso Pluma is a nine-time finalist.
Other artists who will be honored with special awards this year include Italian superstar Laura Pausini, who will receive the Billboard Icon Award; Mexican star Peso Pluma, with the first Billboard Vanguard Award; and merengue icon Elvis Crespo, with the Billboard Hall of Fame Award.
This year the awards are being presented in 49 categories, spanning leading genres including Latin pop, tropical, Latin rhythm and regional Mexican. Finalists and winners reflect performance of new recordings on Billboard’s albums and songs charts for the period covering rankings dated Sept. 14, 2024 through the Sept. 6, 2025, charts. Determinations are based on key fan interactions with music, including streaming, album and digital song sales, radio airplay and touring, tracked by Billboard and its data partner, Luminate.
Hosted by Goyo and Javier Poza and broadcasted live from Miami’s James L. Knight Center on Telemundo, the 2025 Billboard Latin Music Awards can also be streamed live on the Telemundo app, Peacock and Telemundo Internacional across Latin America and the Caribbean.
See the complete list of winner below:
OVERALL ARTISTS CATEGORIES
Artist of the Year
Bad Bunny
Fuerza Regida
Peso Pluma
Rauw Alejandro
Tito Double P
Artist of the Year, New
Aleman
Clave Especial
FloyyMenor
Kapo
Netón Vega
Tour of the Year
Aventura
Chayanne
Luis Miguel
Rauw Alejandro
Shakira
Crossover Artist of the Year
Ayra Starr
benny blanco
Bruno Mars
ROSE
Rvssian
Ty Dolla $ign
Global 200 Latin Artist of the Year
Bad Bunny
Fuerza Regida
Karol G
Netón Vega
Tito Double P
SONGS CATEGORIES
Global 200 Latin Song of the Year
Bad Bunny, “Baile Inolvidable”
Bad Bunny, “DTMF”
Bad Bunny, “Nuevayol”
Karol G, “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido”
Óscar Maydon & Fuerza Regida, “Tu Boda”
Hot Latin Song of the Year
Bad Bunny, “Baile Inolvidable”
Bad Bunny, “DTMF”
Bad Bunny, “EOO”
Bad Bunny, “Nuevayol”
Óscar Maydon & Fuerza Regida, “Tu Boda”
Hot Latin Song of the Year, Vocal Event:
Fuerza Regida & Grupo Frontera, “Me Jalo”
Óscar Maydon & Fuerza Regida, “Tu Boda”
Rauw Alejandro & Bad Bunny, “Qué Pasaría…”
Rauw Alejandro & Romeo Santos, “Khe?”
Tito Double P & Peso Pluma, “Dos Días”
Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Male
Bad Bunny
Netón Vega
Peso Pluma
Rauw Alejandro
Tito Double P
Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Female
WINNER: Karol G
Selena Gomez
Shakira
Yailin La Más Viral
Young Miko
Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Duo or Group
Clave Especial
Fuerza Regida
Grupo Frontera
Julión Álvarez y Su Norteño Banda
The Marias
Hot Latin Songs Label of the Year
Double P
Interscope Capitol Labels Group
Rimas
Sony Music Latin
Warner Latina
Latin Airplay Song of the Year
Fuerza Regida & Grupo Frontera, “Me Jalo”
Karol G, “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido”
Natti Natasha, “Desde Hoy”
Rauw Alejandro & Romeo Santos, “Khe?”
Shakira, “Soltera”
Latin Airplay Label of the Year
Interscope Capitol Labels Group
Rimas
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Warner Latina
Sales Song of the Year
Bad Bunny, “Baile Inolvidable”
Bad Bunny, “DTMF”
Bad Bunny, “Nuevayol”
Karol G, “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido”
Xavi & Manuel Turizo, “En Privado”
Streaming Song of the Year
Bad Bunny, “Baile Inolvidable”
Bad Bunny, “DTMF”
Bad Bunny, “Nuevayol”
Karol G, “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido”
Óscar Maydon & Fuerza Regida, “Tu Boda”
ALBUM CATEGORIES
Top Latin Album of the Year
WINNER: Bad Bunny, Debí Tirar Más Fotos
Netón Vega, Mi Vida Mi Muerte
Peso Pluma, Éxodo
Rauw Alejandro, Cosa Nuestra
Tito Double P, Incómodo
Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Male
Bad Bunny
Junior H
Peso Pluma
Rauw Alejandro
Tito Double P
Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Female
Becky G
Cazzu
Kali Uchis
Karol G
Shakira
Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group
Aventura
Clave Especial
Fuerza Regida
Grupo Frontera
Julión Álvarez y Su Norteño Banda
Top Latin Albums Label of the Year
Double P
Interscope Capitol Labels Group
Rimas
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latin Entertainment
LATIN POP CATEGORIES
Latin Pop Artist of the Year, Solo
Danny Ocean
Enrique Iglesias
Kali Uchis
Luis Fonsi
Shakira
Latin Pop Artist of the Year, Duo or Group
Ha*Ash
Jesse & Joy
Maná
Morat
Sin Bandera
Latin Pop Song of the Year
Danny Ocean & Kapo, “Imagínate”
Maluma, “Cosas Pendientes”
Rauw Alejandro, “Carita Linda”
Selena Gomez, benny blanco & The Marias, “Ojos Tristes”
Shakira, “Soltera”
Latin Pop Airplay Label of the Year
AP Global
Interscope Capitol Labels Group
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Warner Latina
Top Latin Pop Album of the Year
Cazzu, Latinaje
Danny Ocean, Babylon Club
Kapo, Por Si Alguien Nos Escucha
Latin Mafia, Todos Los Días Todo El Día
Quevedo, Buenas Noches
Top Latin Pop Albums Label of the Year
Insterscope Capitol Labels Group
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Enterprises
Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Warner Latina
TROPICAL CATEGORIES
Tropical Artist of the Year, Solo
Elvis Crespo
Jerry Rivera
Marc Anthony
Prince Royce
Romeo Santos
Tropical Artist of the Year, Duo or Group
Aventura
Chino & Nacho
Grupo Niche
La Sonora Dinamita
Monchy & Alexandra
Tropical Song of the Year
Bad Bunny, “Baile Inolvidable”
Grupo Frontera & Romeo Santos, “Ángel”
Karol G, “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido”
Rauw Alejandro, “Tú Con Él”
Xavi & Manuel Turizo, “En Privado”
Tropical Airplay Label of the Year
Grupo Frontera
Insterscope Capitol Labels Group
Rimas
Sony Music Latin
Warner Latina
Top Tropical Album of the Year
Grupo Kual? Dinastía Pedraza, Los Reyes De La Cumbia Sonidera: En México
Los Hermanos Rosario, Grandes Éxitos
Natti Natasha, En Amargue
Prince Royce, Eterno
Rubby Pérez, Rubby Pérez ¡Grandes Éxitos!
Top Tropical Albums Label of the Year
Discos Fuentes
Sony Music Latin
The Orchard
Universal Music Enterprises
Universal Music Latin Entertainment
REGIONAL MEXICAN CATEGORIES
Regional Mexican Artist of the Year, Solo
Ivan Cornejo
Junior H
Netón Vega
Peso Pluma
Tito Double P
Regional Mexican Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
Clave Especial
Fuerza Regida
Grupo Frontera
Julión Álvarez y Su Norteño Banda
Los Tigres del Norte
Regional Mexican Song of the Year
Fuerza Regida & Grupo Frontera, “Me Jalo”
Fuerza Regida, “Por Esos Ojos”
Óscar Maydon & Fuerza Regida, “Tu Boda”
Peso Pluma & Netón Vega, “La Patrulla”
Tito Double P & Peso Pluma, “Dos Días”
Regional Mexican Airplay Label of the Year
Afinarte
Azteca
Socios
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Top Regional Mexican Album of the Year
Fuerza Regida, 111XPANTÍA
Ivan Cornejo, Mirada
Netón Vega, Mi Vida Mi Muerte
Peso Pluma, Éxodo
Tito Double P, Incómodo
Top Regional Mexican Albums Label of the Year
Double P Records
Interscope Capitol Labels Group
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Warner Latina
LATIN RHYTHM CATEGORIES
Latin Rhythm Artist of the Year, Solo
Bad Bunny
Feid
Kapo
Karol G
Rauw Alejandro
Latin Rhythm Artist of the Year, Duo or Group
Alexis & Fido
Baby Rasta & Gringo
J-King & Maximan
Jowell & Randy
Mambo Kingz
Latin Rhythm Song of the Year
Bad Bunny, “DTMF”
Bad Bunny, “EOO”
Bad Bunny, “Nuevayol”
Rauw Alejandro & Bad Bunny, “Qué Pasaría…”
Rauw Alejandro & Romeo Santos, “Khe?”
Latin Rhythm Airplay Label of the Year
Interscope Capitol Labels Group
Rimas
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Warner Latina
Top Latin Rhythm Album of the Year
Bad Bunny, Debí Tirar Más Fotos
FloyyMenor, El Comienzo
Karol G, Tropicoqueta
Omar Courtz, Primera Musa
Rauw Alejandro, Cosa Nuestra
Top Latin Rhythm Albums Label of the Year
Interscope Capitol Labels Group
Rimas
Sony Music Latin
UnitedMasters
Universal Music Latin Entertainment
WRITERS / PRODUCERS / PUBLISHERS CATEGORIES
Songwriter of the Year
Armenta
Bad Bunny
Jorsshh
Netón Vega
Roberto “La Paciencia”
Publisher of the Year
Downtown DMP Songs,BMI
Josa Publishing,BMI
Sony Latin Music Publishing,LLC,BMI
Street Mob Publishing,BMI
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp,BMI
Publishing Corporation of the Year
Downtown Music Publishing
Rimas Publishing
Sony Music Publishing
Universal Music
Warner Chappell Music
Producer of the Year
Ernesto “Neto” Fernández
JOP
MAG
Roberto “La Paciencia”
Tito Double P
Trending on Billboard The voters who determine the 2026 Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees have a tough choice ahead of them: narrowing a list of 13 strong candidates in the performing songwriter category down to their top three selections. (They also will be choosing three non-performing songwriters from an equally strong list of 14 contenders.) […]
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Now that Billboard’s R&B/hip-hop team has posted its Grammy predictions for four of the R&B categories in the 68th annual race — best R&B performance, best traditional R&B performance, best R&B song and best R&B album — it’s time to review the top prospects in the fifth and final category: best progressive R&B album.
Recent winners in the category include Lucky Daye (Table for Two, 2022), Steve Lacy (Gemini Rights, 2023) and SZA (SOS, 2024). Thanks to a tie, two winners took home the gramophone in 2025: longtime independent artist Avery Sunshine (So Glad to Know You) and the R&B/hip-hop super duo NxWorries comprised of Anderson .Paak and producer Knxwledge (Why Lawd?).
Formerly known as best urban contemporary album, the category was renamed best progressive R&B album in 2020. In recognizing “excellence in albums of progressive R&B vocal tracks,” per the Recording Academy’s definition, such entries are rooted in many of the elements comprising R&B but also embrace additional sounds including hip-hop, rap, pop, dance and electronic music. The rulebook further defines the category’s music as having “an emphasis on experimentation and innovation, often through unconventional song structures, dynamic production techniques and multi-genre influences that challenge traditional R&B conventions.”
Albums released between Aug. 31, 2024 and Aug. 30, 2025 fitting this category include familiar vets like Bilal (Adjust Brightness), Gallant (Zinc), Jessie Reyez (Paid in Memories), Kali Uchis (Sincerely) and Allen Stone (Mystery). A host of upstarts also waved the progressive banner in their own inimitable styles, such as SAILORR (From Florida’s Finest), Laila! (Gap Year), Jordan Adetunji (A Jaguar’s Dream) and Cautious Clay (The Hours: Morning).
In addition to those on-the-cusp contenders, there are others of note to consider. Chief among them is the group FLO (Access All Areas), KWN (With All Due Respect), Destin Conrad (Love on Digital), Fridayy (Some Days I’m Good, Some Days I’m Not), UMI (People Stories) and Kelela (In the Blue Light).
With such a cornucopia of projects to choose from, predicting the nods in this category isn’t an easy task. One scenario could have Kali Uchis, Destin Conrad, Fridayy and Jessie Reyez fighting for the last spot. Or perhaps there could be another surprise from left field a la Avery Sunshine at the 67th annual ceremony.
So which five albums will score nods for best progressive R&B album when the Recording Academy unveils its slate on Nov. 7? Check out Billboard’s predictions below.
PARTYNEXT DOOR & Drake, $ome $exy $ongs 4 U
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Janet Jackson has been delivering some of the slickest dance moves in the world for more than four decades — and she’s not slowing down anytime soon.
On Tuesday (Oct. 21), the Grammy-winning music icon received the Icon of the Year Award at The Gala of the Stars, an annual benefit supporting Dancers Against Cancer. Oscar, Emmy and Tony winner Liza Minnelli — a longtime friend of the Jackson family — presented the award in person, honoring the “What Have You Done for Me Lately” singer’s influence on music, dance and culture. This marked Minnelli’s first public appearance since the 2022 Academy Awards, where she presented best picture to Coda alongside Lady Gaga.
Between the British Museum Ball, reuniting with niece Paris Jackson at Paris Fashion Week, and gearing up for her final three live shows of the year, it’s been a busy few weeks for Ms. Jackson. Nonetheless, she carved out the time to accept an honor from a community to which she has greatly contributed over the course of her storied career.
“I love dance. I’ve always loved dance, and I remember, since I was five or six years old, always dancing with my brothers around the house. They were my first teachers and choreographers,” she reflected during her speech, according to The Hollywood Reporter. “I want to thank all of you guys for sharing your creativity, but not just that, for your friendship through all these years. Thank you so much. I want to thank my family for their entire support and love and for always encouraging me. I also want to sincerely thank everyone who’s been there for me throughout this entire journey, and I want to thank God for giving me life, allowing me to have a career and to continue to do what I love and still enjoy.”
To close out her speech, Jackson also made it clear that she will always keep dancing, saying “In a few — more than a few — months, maybe six or seven months, I’m going to be 60 years old. I have to tell you, I have no plans to stop dancing!”
She also reflected on the honor in an X post on Thursday (Oct. 23). “I never take moments like this for granted. Your mission is profoundly important, and thank you for giving our community a meaningful way to give back,” she wrote in part alongside photos of herself at the event, including a clip of her speech as well as a snapshot of herself with Minnelli. She also addressed the star, writing, “Dear Liza, receiving this award from an icon & friend like you means more than I can say. You have been an inspiration to me and to the world, and I am deeply touched. I love you.”
Marking her second icon award of 2025 — she received an equivalent honor at May’s Jennifer Lopez-hosted American Music Awards — Jackson has spent the year tearing through a 22-show run at Resorts World Theatre in Las Vegas for her latest concert residency. On Dec. 29, she will play her final show of the year at Yaamava’ Theater in Highland, Calif. Earlier this year, Jackson hit No. 92 on the Billboard Hot 100 with Cardi B’s “Principal,” making her just the third woman in Billboard history to reach that chart for a fifth consecutive calendar decade with new material.
Trending on Billboard The CMA Awards are less than a month away, and Lainey Wilson is getting ready. After cohosting last year with Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning, the nine-time CMA Awards winner will be the sole host for the 59th annual CMA Awards, slated for Nov. 19 on ABC. In a clip exclusive to […]
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Taylor Swift may be headed for a Songwriters Hall of Fame record. Swift, who received the Hal David Starlight Awards from the SHOF in 2010, is nominated for full membership in the organization. She would be the first person to graduate from the Starlight Award (which dates to 2004) to full membership status.
A songwriter with a notable catalog of songs qualifies for induction 20 years after the first commercial release of a song. Swift’s first single, “Tim McGraw,” was released in June 2006. The SHOF gala is typically held in June, so she just makes it.
The list of nominees also includes several people who have won Grammys for song of the year – Terry Britten and Graham Lyle (“What’s Love Got to Do With It”); Kenny Loggins (“What a Fool Believes,” a co-write with Michael McDonald); and Christopher “Tricky” Stewart (“Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It),” a co-write with Beyoncé, Terius “The-Dream” Nash and Thaddis Harrell).
The list includes several songwriters who have often collaborated with people who are already in the Hall: Walter Afanasieff (best known for his collaboration with 2022 inductee Mariah Carey); Andreas Carlsson (who cowrote Backstreet Boys’ megahit “I Want It That Way” with 2017 inductee Max Martin); Tom Snow (who has often collaborated with 2024 inductee Dean Pitchford); and Richard Carpenter (who cowrote many Carpenters hits with 2011 inductee John Bettis).
Several of the nominees have been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: LL Cool J (who received a 2021 award for musical excellence from the Rock Hall); David Byrne (whose band Talking Heads was inducted into the Rock Hall in 2002); Charlotte Caffey, Kathy Valentine and Jane M. Wiedlin (of Go-Go’s, who were inducted into the Rock Hall in 2021) and Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley (of KISS, who were inducted into the Rock Hall in 2014).
Other members of prominent groups, not already mentioned, on this year’s ballot include Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings (The Guess Who); Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell (America); and Harry Wayne Casey (KC and the Sunshine Band).
News of Simmons and Stanley’s inclusion comes days after the death of Ace Frehley, KISS’ original lead guitarist and founding member. Frehley, 74, died Oct. 16 in New Jersey.
The Songwriters Hall of Fame was established in 1969 to honor those creating the popular music. The 2026 inductees will be announced in early 2026. The Induction & Awards Gala is typically held in New York City in June.Eligible voting members will have until midnight ET on Dec. 4 to turn in ballots, with their choices of up to three nominees in each of the songwriter and performing songwriter categories.
The 2025 class consisted of George Clinton; Ashley Gorley; Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins; Mike Love; Tony Macaulay; Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald and Patrick Simmons of The Doobie Brothers and the late Bert Berns.
Here’s the full list of 2026 Songwriters Hall of Fame nominees. The songs listed as examples of the songwriter’s work were supplied by the SHOF.
Non-Performing Songwriters
Walter Afanasieff – “All I Want for Christmas Is You” * “My All” * “Hero” * “Love Will Survive” * “One Sweet Day”
Pete Bellotte – “Hot Stuff” * “I Feel Love” * “Love To Love You Baby” * “Heaven Knows” * “Push It to the Limit”
Andreas Carlsson – “I Want It That Way” * “Bye Bye Bye” * “It’s Gonna Be Me” * “That’s The Way It Is” * “Waking Up in Vegas”
Steve Kipner – “Physical” * “Hard Habit To Break” * “Genie in a Bottle” * “These Words” * “Breakeven”
Jeffrey LeVasseur p/k/a Jeffrey Steele – “What Hurts the Most” * “My Wish” * “Knee Deep” * “The Cowboy in Me” * “I’d Give Anything/She’d Give Anything”
Patrick Leonard – “Like a Prayer” * “Live To Tell” * “Nevermind” * “You Want It Darker” * “Yet Another Movie”
Terry Britten and Graham Lyle – “What’s Love Got To Do With It” * “We Don’t Need Another Hero” * “Typical Male” * “Devil Woman” * “I Should Have Known Better”
Bob McDill – “Everything That Glitters Is Not Gold” * “Good Ole Boys Like Me” * “Gone Country” * “Don’t Close Your Eyes” * “Song of the South”
Kenny Nolan – “Lady Marmalade” * “My Eyes Adored You” * “I Like Dreamin’” * “Masterpiece” * “Get Dancin’”
Martin Page – “We Built This City” * “These Dreams” * “King of Wishful Thinking” * “Faithful” * “Fallen Angel”
Vini Poncia – “Do I Love You” * “I Was Made for Lovin You” * “Oh My My” * “You Make Me Feel Like Dancing” * “Just Too Many People”
Tom Snow – “He’s So Shy” * “Let’s Hear it for the Boy” * “Dreaming of You” * “Don’t Know Much” * “After All”
Christopher “Tricky” Stewart – “Umbrella” * “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” * “Obsessed” * “Just Fine” * “Break My Soul”
Larry Weiss – “Rhinestone Cowboy” * “Bend Me Shape Me” * “Hi Ho Silver Lining” * “Your Baby Doesn’t Love You Anymore” * “Darling Take Me Back”
Performing Songwriters
Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell (America) – A Horse with No Name * Ventura Highway * Sister Golden Hair * I Need You* Tin Man
David Byrne – Once In A Lifetime * Psycho Killer * Burning Down The House * Naive Melody (This Must Be the Place) * Strange Overtones
Richard Carpenter – Goodbye To Love * Top Of The World * Yesterday Once More * Only Yesterday * Merry Christmas Darling
Harry Wayne Casey – Rock Your Baby * Get Down Tonight * That’s The Way (I Like It) * (Shake Shake Shake) Shake Your Booty * Please Don’t Go
Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings (The Guess Who) – These Eyes * Laughing * No Time * American Woman * No Sugar Tonight / New Mother Nature
Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley (KISS) – Rock and Roll All Nite * I Love It Loud * Calling Dr. Love * Shout It Out Loud * Christine 16
Kenny Loggins – Danny’s Song * Footloose * Celebrate Me Home * Return to Pooh Corner * What A Fool Believes
Sarah McLachlan – Angel * Sweet Surrender * I Will Remember You * Building A Mystery * Adia
Alecia B. Moore p/k/a P!nk – Glitter in the Air * Just Like A Pill * Raise Your Glass * So What * What About Us
Boz Scaggs – Lido Shuffle * Lowdown * We’re All Alone * Thanks To You * Look What You’ve Done To Me
James Todd Smith p/k/a LL Cool J – Mama Said Knock You Out * I Need Love * Around The Way Girl * Going Back To Cali * Illegal Search
Taylor Swift – All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version) * Blank Space * Anti-Hero * Love Story * The Last Great American Dynasty
Charlotte Caffey, Kathy Valentine and Jane M. Wiedlin (The Go-Go’s) – We Got The Beat * Our Lips Are Sealed * Vacation * Head Over Heels * This Town
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Swapmeet and 水中スピカ Suichu Spica are winners of the third annual Justin Cosby Music Prize, presented following their respective appearances at South by Southwest Sydney 2025.
Hailing from Adelaide, Swapmeet scoops the Justin Cosby best emerging artist honor, awarded to the local or international artist showing the most potential, a nod to their artistic merit and “export readiness.”
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“Since we announced Swapmeet on the lineup, the band attracted a significant amount of industry interest thanks to their quality songwriting and cohesive production,” explains SXSW Sydney head of music Claire Collins. “Throughout the week, they backed up the buzz with a compelling show, producing gorgeous indie anthems punctuated by a punk spirit. We can’t wait to see what they do next.”
Meanwhile, Kyoto, Japan math rock act 水中スピカ Suichu Spica collect the Justin Cosby best performance prize, recognition of an outstanding live effort at an official SXSW Sydney event.
Their “flawless live sets throughout the week were one of the true highlights of SXSW Sydney this year,” says SXSW Sydney music program manager Reg Harris. “Each show featuring a tight setlist filled with intricate guitar tapping, sparkling vocals, ever changing time signatures and cinematic crescendos.”
Also, Jamaica Moana is named as recipient of the Walk to Austin Award, presented for the first time in partnership with Johnnie Walker Black Ruby. As part of their victory spoils, the trailblazing Māori/Samoan rapper and songwriter will perform at SXSW 2026 in Austin, Texas.
A music industry panel selected Moana on the basis of exceptional creativity, originality and potential to connect with a global audience.
The Justin Cosby Music Prize is named in the memory of Inertia Music co-founder Justin Cosby, who died in June 2021.
The much-loved independent music executive was a regular attendee at SXSW and his meticulously-prepared spreadsheet planner was shared widely among the Australian industry professionals making the journey to Austin each year, notes SXSW Sydney organizers in a statement.
The judging panel comprises industry leaders from independent record labels, community radio, venues, festivals and local and international media.
The inaugural Justin Cosby Music Prize was awarded in 2023 to Otoboke Beaver (best performance) and Miss Kaninna (best emerging artist), and was last year presented to Voice of Baceprot and DEVAURA.
TEG produced the third-annual SXSW Sydney, which was presented Oct. 13 – 19 and featured a program heaving with 1,600 events and networking sessions, plus a music festival lineup with more than 300 performances.
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Bono and The Edge of U2 accepted the 2025 Woody Guthrie Prize on behalf of the band on Tuesday. The award was presented for embodying the legacy of the legendary folk singer. The event was held at Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa, Oklahoma – and marked the first time Bono and The Edge had been there since a U2 tour stop in 1981 to promote the band’s debut album, Boy.
The 2025 Woody Guthrie Prize celebration was hosted by the Woody Guthrie Center. Preceding the award presentation, Bono and The Edge participated in an onstage conversation about art and activism with producer and musician T Bone Burnett.
“Our favorite protest songs always had a sense of vision, something to aim for. … You don’t talk about the darkness, you make the light brighter,” The Edge said, adding: “I believe music can actually change the mood of the room and actually shift a culture.”
Bono credited Bob Dylan for leading U2 to Guthrie’s music. “Bob Dylan really did bring us to the place where the song was an instrument to open up worlds. And the world of Woody Guthrie, I wouldn’t have entered if not for Bob.”
Bono also alluded to the current challenges confronting America. “America is the greatest song still yet to be written. The poetry is there but it’s still being written… don’t imagine it will continue to be extraordinary on its own, that if you fell asleep and woke up in twenty years, the world would be fairer or freer. It won’t, that’s not the way it works.”
When speaking with Burnett about the songwriting process relative to protest songs, Bono said, “You can’t write a song to order.” He read lyrics to a song that is a work-in-progress, written about the killing of Palestinian activist Awdah Hathaleen in July by an Israeli settler.
Bono and The Edge surprised attendees with a six-song performance, including two songs in which they included snippets of Woody Guthrie songs (“Running to Stand Still” with a snippet of “Bound for Glory) and “Pride (In the Name of Love)” with a snippet of “Jesus Christ”). Other U2 songs in their set were “Mothers of the Disappeared,” “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” “One” and “Yahweh.”
Guthrie’s granddaughter Anna Canoni and Woody Guthrie Center director Cady Shaw also spoke at the event. “Woody and U2 have been aligned for decades,” Canoni said. “Whether it is protesting against war and violence, standing up for humanitarian rights, singing about greed, corruption and injustice.”
The event served as a fundraiser to support the Center’s educational programs, public concerts, exhibitions and the legacy of Woody Guthrie. The event was presented by the Harper House Music Foundation.
The Woody Guthrie Prize seeks to recognize artists who reflect Guthrie’s belief that music can be a force for social justice and change. Previous honorees include Tom Morello, Pete Seeger, Mavis Staples, Kris Kristofferson, John Mellencamp, Chuck D, Joan Baez, Bruce Springsteen and Pussy Riot, as well as groundbreaking TV producer Norman Lear.
Guthrie’s most famous song is “This Land Is Your Land,” which he wrote in February 1940 in response to what he felt was the overplaying of Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America” on the radio. Guthrie died in 1967 at age 55 from complications of Huntington’s disease. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as an early/musical influence in 1988 and received a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy in 2000.
U2, which also includes Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr., has won 22 Grammys, more than any other group or duo in history. Their Grammy collection includes two awards for album of the year, two for record of the year and two for song of the year. U2 was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2005 and were recently named Fellows of The Ivors Academy, the highest honor in British songwriting.
Trending on Billboard The Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, long recognized as one of the world’s top music institutions, proudly joined this year’s Billboard Latin Music Week as an official sponsor. Explore See latest videos, charts and news For nearly a century, the Frost School has played a pivotal role in […]
