Awards
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Ezra Collective’s Where I’m Meant to Be won the Mercury Prize on Thursday (Sept. 7), making the London jazz quintet the first jazz act to win that prestigious award. The Mercury Prize celebrates the best of British and Irish music across a range of contemporary music genres. This year’s ceremony was held at Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith, London.
Accepting the award, drummer Femi Koleoso said, “This is not just a result for Ezra Collective, or for UK jazz, but this is a special moment for every single organization across the country, ploughing efforts and time into young people playing music.”
Where I’m Meant to Be, Ezra Collective’s second studio album, was written and recorded in lockdown. But rather than reflect the isolation of the COVID-19 era, the album has been described by BBC as “a joyous celebration of community, positivity and friendship.”
The album was produced by the band and Riccardo Damian, and features a diverse roster of musicians, including Sampa the Great, Kojey Radical, Emeli Sandé and Nao, as well as filmmaker Steve McQueen.
Where I’m Meant to Be reached No. 24 on the Official U.K. Albums chart, a strong showing for a jazz album. On this side of the pond, it debuted and peaked at No. 15 on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz Albums chart.
The album was nominated for best jazz record at the 2022 Libera Awards. But it draws on several other genres, including grime, salsa and reggae.
Speaking to BBC News after being announced as winners, Koleoso explained: “We’re the shuffle generation of music, we listen to some Beethoven, and then 50 Cent comes on straight after, and then Little Simz comes on just after that. And that kind of influences the way we approach music. So, there are no rules. We love jazz, but at the same time we love salsa too, so why not try and get that in there?”
The other albums in contention for the top prize were Arctic Monkeys’ The Car, Fred again.’s Actual Life 3 (January 1 – September 9 2022), J Hus’ Beautiful and Brutal Yard, Jessie Ware’s That! Feels Good!, Jockstrap’s I Love You Jennifer B, Lankum’s False Lankum, Loyle Carner’s hugo, Olivia Dean’s Messy, RAYE’s My 21st Century Blues, Shygirl’s Nymph and Young Fathers’ Heavy Heavy.
Broadcaster Lauren Laverne hosted the ceremony, which featured live performances from nine of the shortlisted artists, including Jessie Ware and RAYE.
Last year’s Mercury Prize winner was London rapper Little Simz for her fourth album Sometimes I Might Be Introvert.
Ice Spice received the inaugural BMI Impact Award at the 2023 R&B/Hip-Hop Awards, which were held at LIV Nightclub in Miami Beach on Wednesday (Sept. 6). As previously announced, Lil Wayne received the BMI Icon Award.
The private event was hosted by BMI president/CEO Mike O’Neill and BMI vp of creative, Atlanta, Catherine Brewton.
Over the course of the ceremony, BMI also recognized the top producers and songwriters of 2022’s 35 most-performed R&B/hip-hop songs in the United States, leading up to song of the year, which went to “About Damn Time,” written by Ricky Reed and Blake Slatkin. Lizzo’s recording of the song topped the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks and won a Grammy for record of the year.
As one of 2023’s biggest breakout stars, Ice Spice has had four top 10 hits on the Hot 100 so far this year, thanks to collaborations with Taylor Swift, Pink Pantheress, Nicki Minaj and Aqua.
As a member of the BMI family for more than 20 years, Lil Wayne has amassed 53 BMI Awards, was named BMI Songwriter of the Year four times and now adds BMI Icon to his collection of accolades. R&B and hip-hop royalty paid tribute to Lil Wayne with performances of some of his most popular songs: Big Freedia opened with a medley, Bobby V followed with “Mrs. Officer,” NLE Choppa offered “A Milli” and Trombone Shorty played a set.
As the 2023 BMI Icon, Lil Wayne joins an elite group of music creators including Busta Rhymes, Janet Jackson, Patti LaBelle, Nile Rodgers, Snoop Dogg, The Jacksons, LA Reid, Babyface, Al Green, Isaac Hayes and James Brown.
Songwriter of the year was a three-way tie with Chris Brown (“Baddest,” “Come Through,” Under the Influence”), Doja Cat (“Get Into It (Yuh),” “Vegas,” “Woman”) and Tems (“Free Mind,” “Lift Me Up,” “Wait for U”) sharing the title; each wrote three of the previous year’s most-performed songs.
Hitmakers Tay Keith and Lil Yachty were each named producer of the year. Keith was honored for his work on hits such as “Jimmy Cooks” by Drake, “Rich Flex” by Drake and 21 Savage and “Hot Sh-t” by Cardi B featuring Kanye West and Lil Durk. Yachty was cited for “BackOutsideBoyz” and “Search & Rescue” by Drake as well as “Major Distribution” by Drake and 21 Savage.
ATL Jacob, Rob Bisel, Dougie F, Finatik N Zac, RiotUSA and Metro Boomin were also named top producers of the year.
Sony Music Publishing was named BMI’s R&B/hip-hop publisher of the year for representing 20 of the previous year’s most-performed songs including “About Damn Time,” “Break My Soul,” “Get Into It (Yuh)” and “First Class.”
In celebration of 50 years of hip-hop, BMI brought together multiple stars for performances representing key locations in the history of the genre. Ja Rule and Doug E. Fresh represented New York. Too Short dedicated his set to the West Coast. Ying Yang Twins represented Atlanta. Flo Milli introduced the Miami sounds of Trick Daddy and Trina. Additional performers included Mannie Fresh and Capella Grey.
To see a complete list of winners, visit https://www.bmi.com/randbhiphop2023.
Cardi B and 21 Savage are the leading nominees for the 2023 BET Hip Hop Awards with 12 nods each. The two stars are going head-to-head in seven categories – best collaboration, lyricist of the year, hip-hop artist of the year, hustler of the year, best hip-hop video, sweet 16: best featured verse and song of the year.
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Drake is next in line with nine nods. He is followed on the leaderboard by Burna Boy and DJ Khaled with seven nods each; J. Cole with six nods; Coi Leray, GloRilla and Jay-Z with five nods each; Lil Uzi Vert with four; and DaBaby, Kendrick Lamar, Latto, Lil Durk, Megan Thee Stallion and Metro Boomin with three nods each.
Five women rappers rank among the most nominated, with Cardi B followed by Leray, GloRilla, Latto and Megan Thee Stallion.
The show will tape in Atlanta on Tuesday, Oct. 3, and will premiere on BET one week later, on Tuesday, Oct. 10, at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
“This year’s BET Hip Hop Awards will mark the culmination of our yearlong celebration of hip-hop’s storied creation and the art form’s sonic and cultural expansion,” Connie Orlando, BET’s EVP specials, music programming & music strategy, said in a statement. “We are honored by this year’s roster of nominees as they continue to carry the creativity and diversity of hip hop into the future. We congratulate each nominee on their accomplishments as they take hip hop artistry to new heights.”
Orlando will oversee the annual show along with Jamal Noisette, BET’s vp, specials & music programming; Jesse Collins, CEO of Jesse Collins Entertainment; and Jeannae Rouzan–Clay and Dionne Harmon, top execs at Jesse Collins Entertainment.
BET promises that “the telecast will salute 50 years of hip-hop with not-to-be-missed moments and performances.”
Fans can start voting for DJ of the year, producer of the year, and best hip hop platform on Tuesday, Sept. 12, at noon ET on the BET website, where more information about the awards is also available.
Here’s the complete list of 2023 BET Hip Hop Awards nominees:
Hip-hop artist of the year
21 Savage
Burna Boy
Cardi B
Drake
Glorilla
J. Cole
Kendrick Lamar
Lil Uzi Vert
Song of the year
“All My Life,” Lil Durk feat. J. Cole
“God Did,” DJ Khaled feat. Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z , John Legend & Fridayy
“Just Wanna Rock,” Lil Uzi Vert
“Players,” Coi Leray
“Put It On Da Floor Again,” Latto feat. Cardi B
“Rich Flex,” Drake & 21 Savage
“Sittin’ On Top Of The World,” Burna Boy feat. 21 Savage
“Tomorrow 2,” GloRilla & Cardi B
Hip hop album of the year
Anyways, Life’s Great…, Glorilla
Coi, Coi Leray
God Did, DJ Khaled
Her Loss, Drake & 21 Savage
Heroes & Villains, Metro Boomin
Jackman, Jack Harlow
Pink Tape, Lil Uzi Vert
Traumazine, Megan Thee Stallion
Best hip-hop video
“Just Wanna Rock,” Lil Uzi Vert
“Players” (DJ Smallz 732 – Jersey Club Remix), Coi Leray
“Put It On Da Floor Again,” Latto feat. Cardi B
“Shake Sumn,” DaBaby
“Sittin’ On Top Of The World ,” Burna Boy feat. 21 Savage
“Spin Bout U,” Drake & 21 Savage
“Tomorrow 2,” Glorilla & Cardi B
Best collaboration
“All My Life,” Lil Durk feat. J. Cole
“God Did,” DJ Khaled feat. Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, John Legend & Fridayy
“Players” (DJ Saige Remix), Coi Leray feat. Busta Rhymes
“Princess Diana,” Ice Spice & Nicki Minaj
“Put It On Da Floor Again,” Latto feat. Cardi B
“Sittin’ On Top Of The World,” Burna Boy feat. 21 Savage
“Tomorrow 2,” Glorilla & Cardi B
Impact track
“30,” Nas
“All My Life,” Lil Durk Feat. J. Cole
“Anxiety,” Megan Thee Stallion
“Can’t Win for Nothing,” Symba
“Champions,” NLE Choppa
“God Did,” DJ Khaled feat. Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, John Legend & Fridayy
“Scientists & Engineers,” Killer Mike & André 3000 feat. Future & Eryn Allen Kane
“Therapy Pt. 2,” Robert Glasper feat. Mac Miller
Best duo or group
City Girls
DJ Drama & Jeezy
Drake & 21 Savage
Earthgang
Larry June & The Alchemist
Quavo & Takeoff
Rae Sremmurd
Best live performer
Burna Boy
Busta Rhymes
Cardi B
Coi Leray
Dababy
Drake
Kendrick Lamar
Megan Thee Stallion
Best breakthrough hip-hop artist
Armani White
Central Cee
Doechii
Finesse2tymes
Ice Spice
Kaliii
Lola Brooke
Sexyy Redd
Lyricist of the year
21 Savage
André 3000
Burna Boy
Cardi B
Conway The Machine
Drake
J. Cole
Kendrick Lamar
Producer of the year
Atl Jacob
DJ Khaled
Dr. Dre
Hit-Boy
Hitmaka
Kaytranada
London On Da Track
Metro Boomin
The Alchemist
Video director of the year
Anderson .Paak
Cole Bennett
Colin Tilley
DaBaby & Reel Goats
Dave Free & Kendrick Lamar
Dave Meyers
Travis Scott
DJ of the year
Chase B
D-Nice
DJ Cassidy
DJ Clark Kent
DJ Drama
DJ Jazzy Jeff
DJ Khaled
Kaytranada
Metro Boomin
Best hip-hop platform
AllHipHop
Caresha Please
Drink Champs
Hiphop Dx
Million Dollaz Worth Of Game
Rap Caviar
The Breakfast Club
The Joe Budden Podcast
XXL
Hustler of the year
21 Savage
50 Cent
Burna Boy
Cardi B
Caresha
DJ Khaled
Drake
Jay-Z
Sweet 16: best featured verse
21 Savage, “Creepin’” (Metro Boomin feat. The Weeknd & 21 Savage)
21 Savage, “Peaches & Eggplants” (Young Nudy feat. 21 Savage)
André 3000, “Scientists & Engineers” (Killer Mike & André 3000 feat. Future & Eryn Allen Kane)
Cardi B, “Tomorrow 2” (Glorilla & Cardi B)
Cardi B, “Put It On Da Floor Again” (Latto feat. Cardi B)
Drake, “Oh U Went” (Young Thug feat. Drake)
J. Cole, “All My Life” (Lil Durk feat. J. Cole)
Jay-Z, “God Did” (DJ Khaled feat. Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z , John Legend & Fridayy)
Best international flow
Aka (South Africa)
Black Sherif (Ghana)
Central Cee (UK)
Gazo (France)
J Hus (UK)
K.O (South Africa)
Major Rd (Brazil)
Ninho (France)
Sampa The Great (Zambia)
Tasha & Tracie (Brazil)
Olivia Rodrigo is set to perform at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards, live from Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., on Tuesday, Sept. 12 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
Rodrigo had a memorable night at the VMAs two years ago. She performed “Good 4 U” and won three awards, which enabled her to tie BTS and Lil Nas X for the most awards of the night. She won best new artist as well as two awards for “Drivers License” – song of the year and PUSH performance of the year.
Rodrigo has six VMA nominations this year – all for “Vampire,” which in July became her third single (following “Drivers License” and “Good 4 U”) to enter the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 1. “Vampire” is up for video of the year, song of the year, best pop, song of summer, best cinematography and best editing.
Rodrigo was precisely the kind of mainstream pop superstar booking this year’s VMAs needed. She and Doja Cat may be the Sept. 12 show’s best “gets” to date, in terms of serving the show’s target audience. The performer lineup also includes Anitta, Demi Lovato, Karol G, Kelsea Ballerini, Lil Wayne, Måneskin, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Shakira, Stray Kids and TOMORROW X TOGETHER. Though the show is almost upon us, MTV says additional performers are still to be announced.
Shakira will receive MTV’s Video Vanguard Award and perform live on the show for the first time since 2006. Diddy will accept the Global Icon Award and perform live on the show for the first time since 2005.
Rodrigo’s sophomore album, Guts, is set for release on Friday (Sept. 8), just four days before the VMAs. Her debut album, Sour, logged five weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in 2021.
Rodrigo, just 20, is the youngest artist in Hot 100 history to have three singles enter the chart at No. 1. She is also the first artist ever to debut atop the Hot 100 with the lead singles from two career-opening albums.
With the addition of social categories, Taylor Swift leads all nominees for the 2023 VMAs with 11 nods, followed by SZA (eight); BLACKPINK, Doja Cat, Miley Cyrus, Nicki Minaj and Rodrigo (six each); Kim Petras and Sam Smith (five each); and Beyoncé, Diddy, Drake, Ice Spice, Karol G, Metro Boomin, Shakira and TOMORROW X TOGETHER (four each).
General fan voting is now closed; voting remains open for social categories and best new artist.
Bruce Gillmer and Den of Thieves co-founder Jesse Ignjatovic are executive producers of the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards. Barb Bialkowski is co-executive producer. Alicia Portugal and Jackie Barba serve as executives in charge of production. Wendy Plaut is executive in charge of celebrity talent. Lisa Lauricella is music talent executive.
Lainey Wilson is the top nominee for the 2023 CMA Awards, with nine nods. Wilson was also the top nominee last year, with six nods. Wilson is the first artist in CMA history to top the nominations list in her first two appearances on the final ballot.
Moreover, Wilson is just the fourth artist in CMA history to land nine or more nominations in a single year. She follows Merle Haggard (nine nods in 1970), Alan Jackson (a record 10 nods in 2002) and Miranda Lambert (nine nods in both 2010 and 2014).
Wilson is the first artist in 13 years to land two nominations for single of the year in the same year. Wilson is nominated for “Heart Like a Truck” and as a featured artist on HARDY’s “wait in the truck.” Lambert was the last artist to land two nods in this category in one year; she was nominated in 2010 with both “The House That Built Me” and “White Liar.”
First-time nominee Jelly Roll landed five nominations, second only to Wilson for the most nods this year.
Luke Combs and HARDY each collected four nominations. Jordan Davis, Ashley McBryde, producer/mix engineer Joey Moi, songwriter/producer Jordan Schmidt, Chris Stapleton, Morgan Wallen and musician/producer Derek Wells each secured three nods.
Two women are nominated for entertainer of the year for the fourth consecutive year. Carrie Underwood and Wilson are nominated this year. Underwood and Lambert were both nominated in each of the last three years. This is the first time in CMA history that two women (or woman-led groups) have been nominated four years running.
The other entertainer of the year nominees are Combs, who won in that category the last two years; Stapleton, nominated for the seventh time; and Wallen, nominated for the second year in a row.
Women dominate the album of the year nominations for the second year in a row. Wilson, McBryde and Kelsea Ballerini are nominated in that marquee category this year. Wilson, Lambert and Maren Morris were nominated last year.
The other nominees in that category this year are Combs and Wallen.
Lambert landed her 17th nomination for female vocalist of the year, which puts her in a tie with Martina McBride for second place in that category; Reba McEntire leads with 18 nominations.
Little Big Town landed their 18th nomination for vocal group of the year; only Alabama has had more nods (21).
Brooks & Dunn was nominated for vocal duo of the year for a record-extending 24th time.
Three of the five song of the year nominees were written by gaggles of four or more songwriters, a change from past practices in country songwriting circles. A fourth was written by a three-member team. The only nominee written by a solitary songwriter was written 35 years ago: Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car,” nominated this year because of Combs’ smash cover version.
Chapman isn’t the only Black artist to receive a CMA nod this year in a high-profile category: The War and Treaty, consisting of married couple Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter, is nominated for vocal duo of the year for the first time.
Davis’ “Next Thing You Know” and “Wait in the truck” by HARDY featuring Wilson are this year’s only works to receive nominations for single, song and video of the year. “Fast Car” and “Heart Like a Truck” were both nominated for single and song of the year, but not music video of the year.
First-time CMA Awards nominees — besides the aforementioned Jelly Roll, Chapman and The War and Treaty — include Mason Allen, Trannie Anderson, Renee Blair, Michael H. Brauer, Katelyn Brown, Zach Bryan, Josh Ditty, David Fanning, Nicki Fletcher, Greylan James, Paul Jenkins, Gena Johnson, Chase McGill, Cameron Montgomery, Megan Moroney, Austin Nivarel, Eivind Nordland, John Osborne, Hunter Phelps, David Ray Stevens, Patrick Tohill, Alysa Vanderheym, Hailey Whitters, Ben Williams, Dallas Wilson and Charlie Worsham.
Fiddle player Jenee Fleenor, who has won musician of the year four years running, is nominated again this year. She faces steel guitarist Paul Franklin, who is nominated in the category for the 31st time; guitarist Derek Wells (his eighth time); guitarist Rob McNelley (his second); and multi-instrumentalist Charlie Worsham (his first).
Winners will be determined in a final round of voting by eligible voting CMA members. The third and final ballot will be emailed to CMA professional members on Monday, Oct. 2. Voting closes on Friday, Oct. 27. CMA Broadcast Awards winners will be determined by a final round of judging this month. Entries are judged by a panel of broadcast professionals, representing all market sizes and regions. Winners will be revealed in October and will be honored at the CMA Awards. All balloting is tabulated by Deloitte.
The 57th annual CMA Awards, hosted by Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning for the second year in a row, broadcasts live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville Wednesday, Nov. 8 (8–11 p.m./ET) on ABC. The show is a production of the Country Music Association. Robert Deaton is the executive producer.
The first CMA Awards Banquet and Show was held at Municipal Auditorium in Nashville in 1967. The following year, the CMA Awards was broadcast for the first time on NBC – making it the longest-running annual music awards program on network television. The CMA Awards have aired on ABC since 2006.
Here’s a complete list of the nominations for the 57th annual CMA Awards (listed in ballot category order):
Entertainer of the year
Luke Combs
Chris Stapleton
Carrie Underwood
Morgan Wallen
Lainey Wilson
Single of the year
Award goes to Artist(s), Producer(s) and Mix Engineer(s)
“Fast Car” – Luke Combs; Producers: Luke Combs, Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton; Mix Engineer: Chip Matthews
“Heart Like a Truck” – Lainey Wilson; Producer: Jay Joyce; Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce
“Need a Favor” – Jelly Roll; Producer: Austin Nivarel; Mix Engineer: Jeff Braun
“Next Thing You Know” – Jordan Davis; Producer: Paul DiGiovanni; Mix Engineer: Jim Cooley
“wait in the truck” – HARDY (feat. Lainey Wilson); Producers: HARDY, Joey Moi, Jordan Schmidt, Derek Wells; Mix Engineer: Joey Moi
Album of the year
Award goes to Artist, Producer(s) and Mix Engineer(s)
Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville – Ashley McBryde; Producers: John Osborne, John Peets; Mix Engineers: Gena Johnson, John Osborne
Bell Bottom Country – Lainey Wilson; Producer: Jay Joyce; Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce
Gettin’ Old – Luke Combs; Producers: Luke Combs, Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton; Mix Engineers: Michael H. Brauer, Jim Cooley, Chip Matthews
One Thing at a Time – Morgan Wallen; Producers: Jacob Durrett, Charlie Handsome, Joey Moi, Cameron Montgomery; Mix Engineers: Josh Ditty, Joey Moi, Eivind Nordland
Rolling Up the Welcome Mat – Kelsea Ballerini; Producers: Kelsea Ballerini, Alysa Vanderheym; Mix Engineers: Dan Grech-Marguerat, Alysa Vanderheym
Song of the year
Award goes to Songwriter(s)
“Fast Car”; Songwriter: Tracy Chapman
“Heart Like a Truck”; Songwriters: Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson, Lainey Wilson
“Next Thing You Know”; Songwriters: Jordan Davis, Greylan James, Chase McGill, Josh Osborne
“Tennessee Orange”; Songwriters: David Fanning, Paul Jenkins, Megan Moroney, Ben Williams
“wait in the truck”; Songwriters: Renee Blair, Michael Hardy, Hunter Phelps, Jordan Schmidt
Female vocalist of the year
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Ashley McBryde
Carly Pearce
Lainey Wilson
Male vocalist of the year
Luke Combs
Jelly Roll
Cody Johnson
Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen
Vocal group of the year
Lady A
Little Big Town
Midland
Old Dominion
Zac Brown Band
Vocal duo of the year
Brooks & Dunn
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Maddie & Tae
The War And Treaty
Musical event of the year
Award goes to Artists and Producer(s)
“Save Me” – Jelly Roll (with Lainey Wilson); Producers: Zach Crowell, David Ray Stevens
“She Had Me at Heads Carolina (Remix)” – Cole Swindell & Jo Dee Messina; Producer: Zach Crowell
“Thank God” – Kane Brown (with Katelyn Brown); Producer: Dann Huff
“wait in the truck” – HARDY (feat. Lainey Wilson); Producers: HARDY, Joey Moi, Jordan Schmidt, Derek Wells
“We Don’t Fight Anymore” – Carly Pearce (featuring Chris Stapleton); Producers: Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, Carly Pearce
Musician of the year
Jenee Fleenor
Paul Franklin
Rob McNelley
Derek Wells
Charlie Worsham
Music video of the year
Award goes to Artist(s) and Director(s)
“Light on in the Kitchen” – Ashley McBryde; Director: Reid Long
“Memory Lane” – Old Dominion; Directors: Mason Allen, Nicki Fletcher
“Need a Favor” – Jelly Roll; Director: Patrick Tohill
“Next Thing You Know” – Jordan Davis; Director: Running Bear
“wait in the truck” – HARDY (feat. Lainey Wilson); Director: Justin Clough
New artist of the year
Zach Bryan
Jelly Roll
Parker McCollum
Megan Moroney
Hailey Whitters
2023 CMA Broadcast Awards
Finalists for broadcast personality of the year (by market size):
Weekly National
“American Country Countdown” (Kix Brooks) – Cumulus/Westwood One
“Country Countdown USA” (Lon Helton) – Compass Media Networks
“Honky Tonkin’ with Tracy Lawrence” (Tracy Lawrence and Patrick Thomas) – Silverfish Media
“On The Horizon with Buzz Brainard” (Buzz Brainard) – SiriusXM
“Y’all Access with Kelly Sutton” (Kelly Sutton) – Firefly Media/Silverfish Media
Daily National
“Angie Ward” – iHeartMedia
“The Big D and Bubba Show” (Derek “Big D” Haskins, Sean “Bubba” Powell, Patrick Thomas, and Carsen Humphreville) – Silverfish Media
“Katie & Company” (Katie Neal) – Audacy
“Nights with Elaina” (Elaina Smith) – Westwood One
“The Sam Alex Show” (Sam Alex) – Sam Alex Productions, LLC
Major Market
“Chris Carr & Company” (Chris Carr, Kia Becht, and Sam Sansevere) – KEEY, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.
“Frito & Katy” (Tucker “Frito” Young and Katy Dempsey) – KCYY, San Antonio, Texas
“Hawkeye in the Morning with Hawkeye and Michelle” (“Hawkeye” Mark Louis Rybczyk and Michelle Rodriguez) – KSCS, Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas
“Josh, Rachael & Grunwald” (Josh Holleman, Rachael Hunter, and Steve Grunwald) – WYCD, Detroit, Mich.
“Scotty Kay” (Scotty Kay) – WUSN, Chicago, Ill.
Large Market
“The Big Dave Show” (“Big Dave” Chandler, Ashley Heiert, and Jason “Stattman” Statt) – WUBE, Cincinnati, Ohio
“The Morning Drive with Mike Kellar and Jenny Matthews” (Mike Kellar and Jenny Matthews) – KBEQ, Kansas City, Mo.
“Scott and Shannen” (Scott Dolphin and “Shannen O” Oesterreich) – WMIL, Milwaukee-Racine, Wis.
“Tim & Chelsea In The Morning” (Tim Leary and Chelsea Taylor) – WIRK, West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, Fla.
“The Wayne D Show” (“Wayne D” Danielson and Tay Hamilton) – WSIX, Nashville, Tenn.
Medium Market
“Cait & Bradley Morning Show” (Cait Fisher and Matt Bradley) – KWEN, Tulsa, Okla.
“Clay & Company” (Clay Moden, Rob Banks, and Kadie Daye) – WYRK, Buffalo-Niagara Falls, N.Y.
“Ellis and Bradley Show” (Bill Ellis and Beth Bradley) – WSSL, Greenville-Spartanburg, S.C.
“Mo & StyckMan” (Melissa “Mo” Wagner and Greg “StyckMan” Owens) – WUSY, Chattanooga, Tenn.
“Steve & Gina In The Morning” (Steve Lundy and Gina Melton) – KXKT, Omaha-Council Bluffs, Neb.-Iowa
Small Market
“The B100 Morning Show with Brittney Baily” (Brittney Baily) – WBYT, South Bend, Ind.
“The Eddie Foxx Show” (Eddie Foxx and Amanda Foxx) – WKSF, Asheville, N.C.
“Officer Don & DeAnn” (“Officer Don” Evans and DeAnn Stephens) – WBUL, Lexington-Fayette, Ky.
“Steve & Tiffany in the Morning” (Steve Waters and Tiffany Kay) – WFLS, Fredericksburg, Va.
“Steve, Ben and Nikki” (Steve Stroud, Ben Walker, and Nikki Thomas) – WXBQ, Johnson City-Kingsport-Bristol, Tenn.-Va.
Finalists for radio station of the year (by market size):
Major Market
KCYY – San Antonio, Texas
KEEY – Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minn.
KKBQ – Houston, Texas
KSCS – Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas
WXTU – Philadelphia, Pa.
Large Market
WIRK – West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, Fla.
WKDF – Nashville, Tenn.
WMIL – Milwaukee-Racine, Wis.
WUBE – Cincinnati, Ohio
WWKA – Orlando, Fla.
Medium Market
KUZZ – Bakersfield, Calif.
KXKT – Omaha-Council Bluffs, Neb.-Iowa
WGGY – Wilkes Barre-Scranton, Pa.
WPCV – Lakeland-Winter Haven, Fla.
WQMX – Akron, Ohio
Small Market
KCLR – Columbia, Mo.
WBYT – South Bend, Ind.
WKML – Fayetteville, N.C.
WXBQ – Johnson City-Kingsport-Bristol, Tenn.-Va.
WYCT – Pensacola, Fla.
Diane Warren has achieved fame and renown as a songwriter, but she is also a devoted animal welfare activist. Warren will receive the Sam Simon Award in honor of her animal activism on Oct. 14 at Last Chance for Animals’ annual fundraising gala at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif.
The Beverly Hilton is, of course, the site of the Golden Globes, where Warren has picked up two awards for best original song – for “You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me” from Burlesque (2010) and “Io sì (Seen)” from The Life Ahead (2020). Warren’s many other awards include a Grammy, a Primetime Emmy and an honorary Oscar.
Warren has written nine No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, among 32 top 10 hits. She was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2001. Her songs have appeared in more than 150 motion pictures. She has amassed 14 Oscar nominations for best original song, a total matched by only seven other songwriters in history.
Singer-songwriter and animal activist E.G. Daily is slated to receive the Celebrity Activist Award. Daily is an actress and voiceover artist, known as the voice of Babe the Pig, Buttercup in the Powerpuff Girls, Baby Mumbles in Happy Feet and Tommy Pickles in Rugrats.
Bobi Leonard, an entrepreneur, businesswoman and TV personality, will receive the Albert Schweitzer Award for her dedication to advocating for animals.
“We are thrilled to honor and celebrate these outstanding individuals who are deeply committed to advocating for animal rights and animal welfare causes,” Chris DeRose, founder and presidentof Last Chance for Animals (LCA), said in a statement.
This year’s celebration will feature red carpet arrivals, a cocktail reception, a vegan dinner, an awards program, live entertainment and dancing. For tickets and additional information, click here.
LCA is an international non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating animal exploitation through education, investigations, legislation, and public awareness campaigns. Since its formation in 1984, LCA has become one of the nation’s premier animal advocacy groups. For more information, visit lcanimal.org.
Lizzo has been on an awards tear in the past few years, winning four Grammys and a Primetime Emmy. She’ll just have to make room on her shelf for one more. The entertainer will be honored with the BMAC Quincy Jones Humanitarian Award at the Black Music Action Coalition’s 2023 BMAC Gala, which is set for Thursday, Sept. 21, at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Sylvia Rhone, chairwoman and CEO of Epic Records, will receive the BMAC Clarence Avant Trailblazer Award.
The third annual BMAC Gala will be hosted by entertainment/lifestyle specialist Kenny Burns. Previously announced honorees include Keke Palmer, Jermaine Dupri, music executive Jason Flom and TV producer Jesse Collins.
“The Black Music Action Coalition is proud to honor Lizzo and Sylvia Rhone at this year’s Gala, as they join a group of trailblazers who have made immense impact within the music industry and beyond,” Willie “Prophet” Stiggers, co-founder/chair Black Music Action Coalition, said in a statement. “We applaud their dedication to pushing boundaries, amplifying Black voices and crashing through those glass ceilings creating space for Black Women.”
Lizzo will receive the BMAC Quincy Jones Humanitarian Award in recognition of her philanthropic work and commitment to social justice. Past recipients of the award include Lil Baby, The Weeknd and H.E.R.
In 2020, Lizzo started her website Lizzolovesyou.com, where visitors have access to information, action items and ways to donate in support of marginalized communities and causes. Throughout the past four years, during her Annual Juneteenth Giveback, Lizzo has raised and donated over half a million dollars to 18 different organizations including Black Girls Smile, Save Our Sisters, The Bail Project and Reform Alliance. Following the recent overturn of Roe v. Wade, Lizzo donated $1 million to Planned Parenthood and the National Network of Abortion Funds to support access to reproductive health care. Lizzo has been a longtime advocate for inclusivity and uses her music to empower marginalized groups to promote diversity.
Rhone will be honored with the BMAC Clarence Avant Trailblazer Award – named after the legendary music executive who served on the BMAC advisory board. Avant’s death on Aug. 13 at age 92 brought tributes from former presidents Obama and Clinton as well as many music industry luminaries. Past recipients of this award include Jon “Big Jon” Platt and Ethiopia Habtemariam.
Rhone has served as chairwoman and CEO of Epic Records since 2019 and was the first woman to be named CEO of a major record label owned by a Fortune 500 company.
Here’s a complete list of this year’s other award winners:
BMAC Clarence Avant Trailblazer Award: Jermaine Dupri, Grammy-winning artist
BMAC Social Impact Award: Keke Palmer, Emmy-winning performer; Jesse Collins, Emmy-winning producer; Dr. Menna Demessie, SVP, Universal Music Group, and executive director, Task Force for Meaningful Change;
BMAC Change Agent Award: Jason Flom, co-founder and CEO of Lava for Good and Lava Media; rapper and activist Trae tha Truth
BMAC 365 Award: Tariq Cherif and Matt Zingler, Rolling Loud co-founders
Since Black Music Action Coalition’s inception in 2020, the organization has worked to address systemic racism within the music business and advocate on behalf of Black artists, songwriters, producers, managers, agents, executives, lawyers and other industry professionals.
The Black Music Action Coalition festivities will kick off on Sunday, Sept. 17 with BMAC x The Revels Group’s annual BLACK: Future. Now. Brunch. On Tuesday, Sept. 19, BMAC, along with the Save The Music Foundation and 1500 Sound Academy, will host a “Remixing the Industry: Creating Pathways for Students of Color” summit featuring BMAC’s “Prophet”; Cordae, Grammy-nominated rapper and BMAC Executive Leadership Council member; Aaron “Ace” Christian, Range Media Partners’ manager; and Dallas Martin, Atlantic Records EVP of A&R. The summit will provide students insight into having a career in entertainment today.
The 2023 BMAC Gala is produced by Primary Wave and Jesse Collins Entertainment and is presented by Live Nation with support from partners Apple Music, Google and Variety.
For more information regarding Black Music Action Coalition and the BMAC Gala, visit bmacoalition.org.
NAMM (the National Association of Music Merchants) will be the presenting sponsor of the 2024 She Rocks Awards, the Women’s International Music Network (the WiMN) announced on Wednesday (Sept. 6). Taking place on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024, the event will be held in the Ballroom at the Anaheim Convention Center during the NAMM show.
The She Rocks Awards has become a premier event during the NAMM Show, bringing together industry professionals, artists, fans, and the media to celebrate the contributions of women from across the music and audio industries. 2024 will mark the event’s 12th anniversary.
“We’ve always aligned the She Rocks Awards to happen during NAMM. Now we are delighted to have NAMM support us as a partner to encourage participation in this meaningful event,” Laura B. Whitmore, founder of the She Rocks Awards and the WiMN, said in a statement.
“Our partnership with the WiMN continues to elevate and promote the tremendous achievements by so many incredible women in the music industry,” said John Mlynczak, NAMM president and CEO. “The NAMM Show will continue to provide critical platforms such as the She Rock Awards to highlight and celebrate incredible women who shape our industry’s future. Along with Women of NAMM and the WiMN, we have great potential to grow our show on a yearly basis.”
This evening includes live music, awards and speeches, dinner, a silent auction, gift bags and more. Tickets are now on sale. This event is open to the public; however, a 2024 NAMM show badge is required to attend the She Rocks Awards. Find out more and purchase tickets at sherocksawards.com.
Past honorees of the She Rocks Awards include Go-Go’s, Dionne Warwick, Nancy Wilson, Lzzy Hale, Gloria Gaynor, Judy Collins, Linda Perry, Melissa Etheridge, Pat Benatar, The B-52s, Colbie Caillat, Sheila E, Chaka Khan, Noelle Scaggs (Fitzs & the Tantrums), Ronnie Spector, Orianthi and The Bangles.
The 2024 She Rocks Awards is sponsored by NAMM (presenting), Sweetwater, PRS Guitars, Positive Grid, Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp Foundation, Reverb.com, Fishman, Shure, Berklee Online, M.A.C Cosmetics, Exploration.io, 108 Rock Star Guitars, Roland, Taylor Guitars, Earthquaker Devices, dw Drums, Cuccio, DiGiCo, Seymour Duncan, Monster Energy, Guitar Girl Magazine, Music Connection, AXS TV and more. For information regarding She Rocks Awards sponsorship opportunities, contact info@thewimn.com
Learn more about the She Rocks Awards and get tickets at sherocksawards.com.
The 2024 NAMM Show will be held at the Anaheim Convention Center Jan. 25-28, 2024 with online registration at registration@namm.org.
Founded in 2012, the WiMN unites women who work within all facets of the music and audio industries. The organization produces and hosts events such as the WiMN She Rocks Showcase series, the She Rocks Awards, and a variety of workshops and panels throughout the year. For more information, visit www.TheWiMN.com.
NAMM is a not-for-profit association with a mission to strengthen the $17 billion music products industry. NAMM is comprised of 15,000 global member companies and individual professionals. For more information, visit www.namm.org.
After the anonymous artist Ghostwriter went viral with their A.I.-generated track “Heart on My Sleeve” — which mimics Drake and The Weeknd — earlier this year, representatives for the unknown act recently disclosed in an interview with The New York Times that they submitted the controversial song for next year’s Grammy awards.
Submitted for best rap song and song of the year, “Heart on My Sleeve” was eligible despite the use of A.I. technology on the record, Harvey Mason, jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, told The New York Times. “As far as the creative side, it’s absolutely eligible because it was written by a human,” he noted.
Billboard has reached out to Drake and The Weeknd for comment.
Last April, “Heart on My Sleeve” was pulled from streaming services after generating more than 600,000 plays on Spotify and 275,000 views on YouTube. Following the outrage, Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, TIDAL and Deezer yanked the song from their respective platforms. In a statement to Billboard, UMG denounced the track and usage of A.I. by saying the viral postings “demonstrate why platforms have a fundamental legal and ethical responsibility to prevent the use of their services in ways that harm artists.”
Mason told the paper that he sent Ghostwriter a direct message on social media after the song’s explosion and organized a virtual roundtable discussion with the Recording Academy to understand further the powers of A.I. Ghostwriter attended the meeting with a distorted voice, further hiding their identity.
“I knew right away as soon as I heard that record that it was going to be something that we had to grapple with from an Academy standpoint, but also from a music community and industry standpoint,” said Mason. “When you start seeing A.I. involved in something so creative and so cool, relevant and of-the-moment, it immediately starts you thinking, ‘OK, where is this going? How is this going to affect creativity? What’s the business implication for monetization?’”
The Recording Academy announced Artificial Intelligence “protocols” earlier this year. “Only human creators are eligible to be submitted for consideration for, nominated for, or win a Grammy Award,” the Academy stipulated. “A work that contains no human authorship is not eligible in any category. The Academy may disqualify any entry in a particular category if it determines, in the Academy’s sole discretion, that such entry does not incorporate meaningful and more than de minimis human authorship that is relevant to such category. {The Academy offered a definition of that term: “De minimis is defined as lacking significance or importance, so minor as to merit disregard.”
On Tuesday (Sept. 5), Ghostwriter returned with a new A.I.-generated song titled “Whiplash,” featuring vocals that sound like Travis Scott and 21 Savage. The record mimics both artists and pokes fun at Ghostwriter’s detractors with lines such as “Me and Writer raise a toast/ Trying to shadowban my boy but you can’t kill a ghost.”
Billboard has reached out to reps for Scott and Savage. Listen to the song below.
The 2023 MTV Video Music Awards are starting to take shape. The show will air live from Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., on Tuesday, Sept. 12, at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
Shakira and Sean “Diddy” Combs are slated to receive the top honorary awards: the Video Vanguard Award and the Global Icon Award, respectively. Both artists will also perform on the show for the first time in more than 15 years.
The VMAs’ host has yet to be named, but MTV announced Wednesday (Sept. 6) that Saweetie will host a 90-minute pre-show, with assists from Nessa, Dometi Pongo and Kevan Kenney. The pre-show airs live from 6:30 to 8 p.m. ET/PT on MTV, MTV2, CMT and Logo.
MTV also announced the first wave of presenters for the main show. More presenters and performers will be added to this list as they are announced.
Shakira will become the first South American artist to receive the Video Vanguard Award. Women have thoroughly dominated this category in recent years. Shakira follows Rihanna (2016), P!nk (2017), Jennifer Lopez (2018), Missy Elliott (2019) and Nicki Minaj (2022). There was no recipient in 2020-21. The last man to win the award was Kanye West in 2015.
Diddy is third recipient of the Global Icon Award, following Foo Fighters (2021) and Red Hot Chili Peppers (2022).
Diddy isn’t the only rapper who will perform on this year’s VMAs. Lil Wayne is also on the bill. And the show will include (yet another) 50th anniversary salute to hip-hop.
Six of the first 11 artists announced as performers on this year’s main show are from outside the U.S., which dramatizes how the music scene has become more global in recent years. Shakira and Karol G are both from Colombia; Stray Kids and TOMORROW X TOGETHER are both from South Korea; Anitta is from Brazil; Måneskin is from Italy.
This is a far more international cast than the inaugural VMAs in 1984, where there were five American performers (Madonna, Huey Lewis & the News, Tina Turner, ZZ Top and Ray Parker Jr.) and two Brits (Rod Stewart and David Bowie, the latter represented by a pre-taped performance from London).
American artists performing on the main show this year are Demi Lovato, Diddy, Doja Cat, Kelsea Ballerini and Lil Wayne. The date of the show, Sept. 12, happens to be Ballerini’s 30th birthday, which shows that the country star is a trouper.
Taylor Swift leads the 2023 VMA nominations with 11 nods, counting three she received on Friday (Sept. 1) in social categories. She is followed in the total nominations count by SZA (eight); BLACKPINK, Doja Cat, Miley Cyrus, Nicki Minaj, Olivia Rodrigo (six each); Kim Petras and Sam Smith (five each); and Beyoncé, Diddy, Drake, Ice Spice, Karol G, Metro Boomin, Shakira and TOMORROW X TOGETHER (five each).
Bruce Gillmer and Den of Thieves co-founder Jesse Ignjatovic are executive producers of the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards. Barb Bialkowski is co-executive producer. Alicia Portugal and Jackie Barba serve as executives in charge of production. Wendy Plaut is executive in charge of celebrity talent. Lisa Lauricella is music talent executive.
Performers
Anitta
Demi Lovato
Diddy (Global Icon Award recipient)
Doja Cat
Karol G
Kelsea Ballerini
Lil Wayne
Måneskin
Shakira (Video Vanguard Award recipient)
Stray Kids
TOMORROW X TOGETHER
Presenters
Bebe Rexha
Charli D’Amelio
Coco Jones
Dixie D’Amelio
Emily Ratajkowski
French Montana
GloRilla
Ice Spice
Jared Leto
Madelyn Cline
Rita Ora
Sabrina Carpenter
Performers: Extended Play Stage
Kaliii
Reneé Rapp
The Warning
Performers: Pre-Show
NLE Choppa
Sabrina Carpenter