Awards Archives

ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews, Allee Willis & More Honored With SONA Warrior Awards

October 30, 2023

ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews was among those honored on Sunday night, Oct. 29, at the 2023 Songwriters of North America (SONA) Warrior Awards gala in West Hollywood. The event was hosted by Grammy-nominated songwriters Bonnie McKee and Shane Stevens.

The other honorees were songwriter Justin Tranter; country artist and podcast host Rissi Palmer; and the late songwriter Allee Willis, who co-wrote the Friends theme, “I’ll Be There for You.” That song had added resonance on Sunday since Matthew Perry, one of the stars of that long-running sitcom, had died just the day before.

At the event, ASCAP chairman of the board and president Paul Williams and Grammy-winning songwriters and producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis lauded Matthews’ achievements. Hit songwriter MoZella performed the Miley Cyrus smash “Wrecking Ball.” (All are ASCAP members.) There were also video tributes to Matthews from Stephen Schwartz, NE-YO, Marcus Miller, Desmond Child, John Platt and Ashley Gorley, among others.

“To be recognized by SONA means the world to me,” Matthews said in accepting the honor. “I know that songwriters are the true musical warriors – unbelievably brave and remaining strong in the face of uncertainty every day as new technology challenges their livelihoods. Yet, songwriters are still able to remain vulnerable and go deep creatively, opening their hearts to write the music that we all love. I am constantly inspired by songwriters and it has been an honor of a lifetime to work for and alongside music creators.”

“As a friend of Beth’s, I know firsthand how tirelessly she works above and beyond her very very big job of running ASCAP,” said SONA founder and executive director Michelle Lewis. “I want everyone to know what I know and see what I see — that she is the ultimate warrior for creators.”

Tranter, a Grammy nominee for song of the year six years ago for co-writing the Julia Michaels hit “Issues,” has advocated for the LGBTQ+ community and worked with stars such as Selena Gomez, Britney Spears, Gwen Stefani, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber and many more.

In 2007, Palmer became the first African American woman in 20 years to reach Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. She achieved the feat with her single “Country Girl,” which was followed by two more hits, “Hold on to Me” and “No Air,” a cover of the Jordin Sparks/Chris Brown pop smash.

Willis won a Grammy in 1986 for best album of original score written for a motion picture or a television special for co-writing The Pointer Sisters’ hit “Neutron Dance” on the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack. Her most famous works are the Friends theme and Earth, Wind & Fire’s “September.” Willis was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2018. She died in 2019 at age 72.

How to Watch the 2024 Grammy Nominations Announcement Livestream

djfrosty

October 30, 2023

Thirteen past Grammy winners, ranging from Amy Grant to Kim Petras, will help announce the 66th Annual Grammy Award nominees in a livestream event on Nov. 10. The announcement will be accessible on live.Grammy.com and YouTube.
Other Grammy winners on board for the event include: Arooj Aftab, Vince Gill, Jimmy Jam, Jon Bon Jovi, Samara Joy, Muni Long, Cheryl Pawelski, Judith Sherman, St. Vincent, Jeff Tweedy and “Weird Al” Yankovic. They will be joined by CBS Mornings co-hosts Gayle King, Nate Burleson and Tony Dokoupil and Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr.

Joy was the surprise winner for best new artist last year. Jon Bon Jovi will be the 2024 MusiCares Person of the Year honoree.

The nominations event will kick off with a special presentation announcing the nominees in the general field and select other categories. There will be two changes in general field categories this year. There will be just eight nominations, down from 10 the last two years, for album, record and song of the year, plus best new artist, which have always comprised the general field. Also, two additional categories are being bumped up to the general field for the first time – producer of the year, non-classical and songwriter of the year, non-classical.

Video announcements of the nominees in the remaining categories will also be published on live.Grammy.com and YouTube while the event is underway. The full list of nominees will be published on Grammy.com immediately following the presentation.

Here’s the timeline for when these events will occur on Nov. 10. All times are approximate and subject to change.

10:45 a.m. ET / 7:45 a.m. PT: Grammy nominations pre-show

11 a.m. ET / 8 a.m. PT: Nominations livestream event

11:25 a.m. ET / 8:25 a.m. PT: Nominations livestream event ends: Full nominations list posted on Grammy.com

11:25 a.m. ET / 8:25 a.m. PT: Grammy nominations wrap-up show

Drake, Beyoncé & More Artists Who Are 2023 BBMAs Finalists in Multiple Genres (Full List)

djfrosty

October 27, 2023

The walls between genres are coming down. You can make a good case that no artist better exemplified that trend in the past year than Drake. The Canadian style-shifter is a finalist in three distinct genres in the 2023 Billboard Music Awards – rap, dance/electronic and R&B. (He is also a finalist in such categories […]

Zach Bryan, SZA & More 2023 Billboard Music Awards Finalists Competing With Themselves: Full List

djfrosty

October 26, 2023

It’s not easy to become a finalist for the Billboard Music Awards. There are only three to five finalists in each category, and there are dozens, and in some cases hundreds, of artists, singles and albums vying for those slots. So when an artist has two of the top five contenders in a category, they’re […]

Taylor Swift Leads Finalists for 2023 Billboard Music Awards: Full List

djfrosty

October 26, 2023

Taylor Swift is the top finalist for the 2023 Billboard Music Awards, which are set for Sunday, Nov. 19. Swift is a finalist in 20 categories. At next month’s show, Swift — who is already the top female BBMAs recipient of all time with 29 wins — could surpass Drake to become the top overall leader. Drake has won 34 BBMAs and is a finalist for 14 more this year.
Swift could also break Drake’s record for the most Billboard Music Awards won in one night. Drake received 13 awards at the show in 2017.

Morgan Wallen and SZA are runners-up, with 17 entries each; followed by The Weeknd (16); Drake and Zach Bryan (14); Luke Combs (10); 21 Savage, Metro Boomin and Miley Cyrus (nine each); Beyoncé and Rema (seven each); Bad Bunny and Peso Pluma (six each); and Ariana Grande, David Guetta, Eslabon Armado, KAROL G, NewJeans and Selena Gomez (five each).

The 2023 BBMAs will deliver a fresh awards show concept that will entertain fans with music and exclusive content, including winner celebrations, behind-the-scenes moments and performances created by the world’s biggest artists. In a first-of-its-kind collaboration, the BBMAs and Spotify ‘Fans First’ will bring fans up-close-and-personal with their favorite artists. Performances and awards will roll out across the BBMAs and Billboard social channels, as well as via BBMAs.watch on Sunday, Nov. 19. Billboard Music Awards performers will be revealed daily on BBMAs social channels, starting Monday, Nov. 6.

Bryan is this year’s leading first-time BBMA finalist. Additional first-time BBMA finalists include Bailey Zimmerman, Coi Leray, Fifty Fifty, Fuerza Regida, Grupo Frontera, Jelly Roll, Ice Spice, Metro Boomin, NewJeans, Peso Pluma and Oliver Anthony Music.

Nine new awards were unveiled this year, including four in the bourgeoning K-pop field – top global K-pop artist, top K-pop tour, top K-pop album and top global K-pop song – and two in the red-hot Afrobeats field — top Afrobeats artist and top Afrobeats song.

Several other award shows have added categories recognizing African music in the past year. Wizkid was the inaugural winner of favorite Afrobeats artist at the American Music Awards in November 2022. “Calm Down” by Rema & Selena Gomez was the inaugural winner of best Afrobeats at last month’s MTV Video Awards. The nominees for the inaugural Grammy Award for best African music performance will be revealed on Nov. 10.

The BBMAs are also adding new categories for top Hot 100 songwriter and top Hot 100 producer. Swift, her frequent collaborator Jack Antonoff and Bryan are among the finalists in both categories.

The show is also adding a new award for top rock duo/group. Last year, there were two rock categories: top rock artist (four groups or duos competed with Machine Gun Kelly) and top rock tour.

Country, rock and Latin are the only genres that have a category for top duos/groups. As a result, country and Latin have seven categories, one more than R&B and rap, which have six each. Those genres are followed by rock, which has five categories; K-pop (four); dance/electronic, Christian and gospel (three each); and Afrobeats (two).

The late Whitney Houston, who amassed 16 BBMA Awards – third-most among women, behind Taylor Swift and Adele – is a finalist for top gospel album for I Go to the Rock: The Gospel Music of Whitney Houston.

Several other all-time BBMA winners are finalists again this year. The Weeknd, who has amassed 20 BBMA Awards, has 16 entries this year; Beyoncé, who has 13 BBMAs, has seven; Bad Bunny, who has 10 BBMAs, the most among Latin artists, has six.

Kanye West/Ye, who has received 17 BBMAs, has one entry this year; Rihanna, who has received 12, has two.

Elton John, who has been turning out top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 longer than most of today’s pop fans have been alive, is a finalist in two categories this year—top rock touring artist and top dance/electronic song, for “Hold Me Closer,” a collab with Britney Spears.

Unique among music awards shows, winners are determined by performance metrics on the year-end Billboard charts, the music industry’s ultimate authority and data-driven measure of success. The eligibility dates for this year’s awards are aligned with Billboard’s year-end charts tracking period, which measures music consumption from the charts dated Nov. 19, 2022, through Oct. 21, 2023. (That corresponds to the tracking period of Nov. 4, 2022 through Oct. 12, 2023.)

The 2023 Billboard Music Awards is produced by Dick Clark Productions.

The 2023 Billboard Music Award is presented by Marriott Bonvoy, Marriott’s award-winning travel program and marketplace. One special BBMAs performance and two exclusive acceptance speeches will be hosted at extraordinary hotel brands within the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio. Additionally, Marriott Bonvoy will be providing a select group of fans access to attend five BBMAs performances via Marriott Bonvoy Moments. Be on the lookout for special access to the final performance, becoming available on Oct. 30.

Other sponsors include Lexus, who will be surprising one lucky fan with the ultimate VIP treatment. In addition to having the best seat in the house, they’ll Experience Amazing with a private ride in a luxury Lexus vehicle to the one-of-a-kind performance.

Follow the BBMAs on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, Threads and YouTube; join the conversation with the hashtag #BBMAs; and get the latest news and updates at BillboardMusicAwards.com and BBMAs.watch.

Here’s the complete list of 2023 Billboard Music Awards finalists. New categories are denoted by the word (NEW).

Top Artist

Drake

Luke Combs

Morgan Wallen

SZA

Taylor Swift

Alicia Keys, Swizz Beatz, Richard Roundtree & More to Be Honored at 2024 Gordon Parks Foundation Awards

djfrosty

October 25, 2023

Alicia Keys, Swizz Beatz, the late Richard Roundtree and more are set to be honored at the 2024 Gordon Parks Foundation Awards. The annual awards dinner and auction celebrating Parks’ legacy and continuing his commitment to advancing social justice will be held on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at Cipriani 42nd St. in New York City.
Keys and Kasseem Dean (aka Swizz Beatz) are set to receive the patrons of the arts award. The couple married in 2010 and have two children. Both are Grammy winners. Moreover, both have won for collaborations with Jay-Z. “Empire State of Mind,” Keys’ Billboard Hot 100-topping collab with Hova, won two Grammys in 2011. Jay-Z’s “On to the Next One,” on which Swizz Beatz was featured, won best rap duo/group performance that same year.

“We have co-chaired the Gordon Parks Foundation Awards Gala for a decade now — and we are deeply honored to be receiving the Gordon Parks Patrons of the Arts Award in 2024,” Keys and Dean said in a joint statement. “We truly appreciate the foundation’s work providing scholarships and fellowships to the next generation of students and artists whose creative work reflects and extends Gordon’s important legacy.”

The evening will also posthumously honor Roundtree, who starred in Parks’ groundbreaking 1971 film Shaft; mixed-media artist Mickalene Thomas; and civil rights activist and former chairwoman of the NAACP, Myrlie Evers-Williams, widow of civil rights activist Medgar Evers. Along with the honorees and the Gordon Parks Foundation Fellows (to be announced in early 2024), the evening will pay tribute to Roundtree, who died on Tuesday (Oct. 24) at age 81, and highlight the enduring cultural impact of Shaft on both film and music. This event had been in the planning stages for months when Roundtree died.

“We learned the sad news that Richard Roundtree passed away this week just as we were set to announce him as one of our 2024 Gordon Parks Foundation honorees,” Peter W. Kunhardt, Jr., executive director of The Gordon Parks Foundation, said in a statement. “Richard was a real cultural force and a supporter of the important work that the foundation does year-round. We look forward to celebrating his legacy and his iconic portrayal of Shaft in Parks’ 1971 film, along with our other esteemed honorees, at our awards dinner next year.”

“Earlier this year when Richard learned that he would be honored at the Gordon Parks Foundation Awards event he was thrilled,” said Patrick McMinn, Roundtree’s longtime manager. “Working with Gordon was a highpoint in his long career. He often spoke about the lasting influence Gordon had on him not only as an actor in Shaft but as a man. His family and I will be working closely with the foundation to plan a memorable tribute to him that evening.”

Shaft is best remembered for two things — Roundtree’s strong, confident, assertive portrayal of a Black man, which was groundbreaking at the time, and Isaac Hayes’ brilliant scoring work. Hayes’ funky yet classy “Theme From Shaft” spent two weeks atop the Hot 100 and received a Grammy nod for record of the year. It also won an Oscar for best original song, making Hayes the first Black songwriter to win in that category, and also the first African-American to win a non-acting award.

Hayes’ score for Shaft was also Oscar-nominated for best original score. The Shaft soundtrack reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and wound up with a Grammy nod for album of the year.

Hayes died in 2008 at age 65. Parks died in 2006 at age 93.

The gala will include a live auction of Parks’ photographs. Co-chairs for the 2024 Gordon Parks Foundation Awards Dinner & Auction are Kathryn and Kenneth Chenault; Agnes Gund; Judy and Leonard Lauder; Tonya and Spike Lee; Carol Sutton Lewis and William M. Lewis, Jr.; Crystal McCrary and Raymond McGuire; and Clara Wu Tsai and Joseph Tsai.

All proceeds from the evening will support year-round educational programming as well as the fellowships, prizes and scholarships provided by The Gordon Parks Foundation to the next generation of artists, writers and students whose work follows in Parks’ footsteps.

Tickets are available starting at $2,000. They can be purchased on the Gordon Parks Foundation website, or by contacting Buckley Hall Events at gpfgala@buckleyhallevents.com or 914-579-1000.

Lainey Wilson, Luke Bryan, Jelly Roll, Megan Moroney Among Initial Round of CMA Awards Performers

djfrosty

October 25, 2023

The two most-nominated artists at this year’s CMA Awards are also among this year’s initial round of performers.
Lainey Wilson, this year’s leading contender with nine nominations, and Jelly Roll, with five nominations, will both perform during the 57th annual CMA Awards, which airs live on Nov. 8 on ABC from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.

The star-studded lineup will also feature one of this year’s co-hosts, two-time CMA entertainer of the year winner Luke Bryan, as well as performances from Megan Moroney, Little Big Town, K. Michelle, Old Dominion, Carly Pearce, Chris Stapleton and newly-inducted Country Music Hall of Fame member Tanya Tucker.

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Though Jelly Roll is a first-time CMA Awards performer, he will have two performance slots during CMA Awards night, opening the show with his Billboard No. 1 Country Airplay hit “Need a Favor.” Later in the telecast, he will join forces with R&B performer K. Michelle to perform a tribute to The Judds, offering up the duo’s signature hit “Love Can Build a Bridge.” Jelly Roll, K. Michelle and The Fisk Jubilee Singers recorded a version of “Love Can Build a Bridge” as part of the upcoming The Judds tribute album (A Tribute to the Judds) is out on Oct. 27.

Wilson — who earned her first nomination in the coveted entertainer of the year category this year — will perform “Wildflowers and Wild Horses.”

Meanwhile, Bryan will celebrate his more than two dozen No. 1 Country Airplay chart-toppers, offering a medley of hits including “Play It Again” and “Country Girl (Shake It For Me).”

Three-time nominee Chris Stapleton will also pull double-duty as a performer this year, offering his new single, “White Horse,” and teaming with Carly Pearce (up for female vocalist and musical event of the year) to perform their duet “We Don’t Fight Anymore.”

Little Big Town will join Tucker for a performance of her debut 1972 hit “Delta Dawn.” Meanwhile, Old Dominion (who are up for vocal group and music video of the year) and Megan Moroney (up for new artist and song of the year) will perform their collaboration “Can’t Break Up Now,” featured on Old Dominion’s recent Memory Lane project.

The CMA Awards will be co-hosted by Bryan and NFL legend Peyton Manning. Additional performers and presenters will be revealed in the coming weeks.

CMT Bows New Franchise, ‘Smashing Glass: A Celebration of the Groundbreaking Women of Music’

djfrosty

October 25, 2023

CMT will salute pioneering women artists with CMT Smashing Glass: A Celebration of the Groundbreaking Women of Music, a new franchise that premieres Nov. 15.

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R&B legend Patti LaBelle and country icon Tanya Tucker are the first two recipients. They will be honored for breaking down barriers by artists they’ve inspired before each recipient will perform. The acts participating in the salutes will be announced shortly.

“We’re beyond excited to bring this electrifying and empowering new franchise to life by honoring iconic women who’ve fearlessly smashed glass ceilings and kicked in doors, holding them wide open for past, present and future generations,” said Margaret Comeaux, CMT’s senior vp of production, music & events and executive producer, in a statement. “Both Patti and Tanya deserve to be celebrated for continuing to set the industry gold standard with boundary-breaking crossover success, bold, uncompromising lives and careers, and creating timeless music and impact that remains as powerful and relevant as ever.”

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LaBelle, who began her career in the early 1960s, is best known for such hits as “Lady Marmalade” (with her group LaBelle), and as a solo artist with “You are My Friend,” “New Attitude” and “Stir It Up.” The multiple Grammy winner has also made her mark as an actress in such film and TV projects as A Soldier’s Story, A Different World and Out All Night.

Tucker, who was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame earlier this month, was still a teenager when she began topping the charts in the ‘70s with songs like “Delta Dawn” and ”Would You Lay With Me.” She experienced a career resurgence when her 2019 album, While I’m Livin’ won the Grammy for best country album.

Additionally, CMT Smashing Glass will posthumously pay tribute to a trio of women artists with “Moments of Respect” performances that will salute Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner and Sinead O’Connor: “Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, who forever altered the path for women with her legacy of demanding ‘R.E.S.P.E.C.T,’ the ‘Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Tina Turner, who empowered the world with her resilience, and Sinead O’Connor, who broke the traditional ‘pop star’ mold and used her life and music to illuminate the world’s burning issues,” added Patizia DiMaria, executive producer.

In addition to Comeaux and 21st Floor Productions’ DiMaria, the rest of the all-female production team includes director Lauren Quinn, who also serves as an executive producer with DiMaria and Michelle Mahoney. Jackie Barba and Heather D. Graffagnino are executives in charge of production, Leslie Fram is executive in charge of talent and Suzanne Bender is talent producer.

“CMT Smashing Glass is a grand finale to a landmark 2023 which we dedicated as our ‘Year of the Woman,’” said Fram, who is CMT’s senior vp of music and talent. “Kicking off in January with a milestone 10th anniversary of the Next Women of Country (NWOC) franchise, we celebrated female voices across all programming and events—from our women-led headliners at CMT Music Awards and ‘Equal Play’ honoree Shania Twain, to bi-monthly NWOC artist showcases and the greenlight of our CMT Defining series, we remain dedicated to ‘Equal Play’ and advocating for the trailblazers of the past, superstars of the present and the future voices in our format.”

Here Are the Presenters & Performers for the 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Ceremony: Full List

djfrosty

October 24, 2023

Stevie Nicks, Adam Levine, Carrie Underwood, Common, Ice-T, LL Cool J, Miguel, Queen Latifah and Sia have been added as presenters and performers for the 38th annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, set for Nov. 3 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
In 2019, Nicks became the first woman to be inducted into the Hall twice, after having first been inducted with Fleetwood Mac in 1998. In 2021, LL Cool J received the award for musical excellence.

Previously announced presenters and performers are Elton John (who will induct his longtime songwriting partner Bernie Taupin), Brandi Carlile, Chris Stapleton, Dave Matthews, H.E.R., New Edition, and St. Vincent.

This year’s inductees are Kate Bush, Sheryl Crow, Missy Elliott, George Michael, Willie Nelson, Rage Against the Machine and The Spinners, along with DJ Kool Herc and Link Wray for musical influence; Chaka Khan, Al Kooper and Taupin for musical excellence; and Don Cornelius for the Ahmet Ertegun Award (formerly known as the non-performers award).

The induction ceremony will be broadcast live coast-to-coast via Disney+ on Friday, Nov. 3 (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT) and will be available to stream following the ceremony. ABC will air a three-hour prime-time special, 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, featuring performance highlights and standout moments on Monday, Jan. 1 (8-11 p.m. ET), available the next day on Hulu and Disney+.

This year’s show will be produced and directed by Joel Gallen and Tenth Planet Productions. John Sykes, Joel Peresman and Joel Gallen are the executive producers.

Apple Music will livestream audio from the ceremony on Apple Music 1 on Friday, Nov. 3. A four-part audio series, Class of ‘23: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, will also be available on Apple Music and Apple Podcasts leading up to the ceremony. Episodes will be released at 8 a.m. PT on Monday, Oct. 30, through Thursday, Nov. 2. Follow @applemusic on Instagram, X, and TikTok for more content from the ceremony.

Here’s the full list of presenters and performers for the 2023 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony:

Adam LevineBrandi CarlileCarrie UnderwoodChris StapletonCommonDave MatthewsElton JohnH.E.R.Ice-TLL COOL JMiguelNew EditionQueen LatifahSiaStevie NicksSt. Vincent

Sheila E. to Perform at 2023 CARE Impact Awards

djfrosty

October 23, 2023

Sheila E. is set to perform at the sixth annual CARE Impact Awards, which are set for Wednesday, Nov. 8, at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in New York City. The percussionist is a four-time Grammy nominee. Broadcast journalists Al Roker and Deborah Roberts (a married couple since 1995) will host the event, which will help raise […]

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ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews, Allee Willis & More Honored With SONA Warrior Awards

How to Watch the 2024 Grammy Nominations Announcement Livestream

Drake, Beyoncé & More Artists Who Are 2023 BBMAs Finalists in Multiple Genres (Full List)

Zach Bryan, SZA & More 2023 Billboard Music Awards Finalists Competing With Themselves: Full List

Taylor Swift Leads Finalists for 2023 Billboard Music Awards: Full List

Alicia Keys, Swizz Beatz, Richard Roundtree & More to Be Honored at 2024 Gordon Parks Foundation Awards

Lainey Wilson, Luke Bryan, Jelly Roll, Megan Moroney Among Initial Round of CMA Awards Performers

CMT Bows New Franchise, ‘Smashing Glass: A Celebration of the Groundbreaking Women of Music’

Here Are the Presenters & Performers for the 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Ceremony: Full List

Sheila E. to Perform at 2023 CARE Impact Awards

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