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Awards

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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

Final nominees for the 57th CMA Awards will be announced Thursday at 8 a.m. ET. It’s been an exceptional year for country music, with artists like Morgan Wallen and Luke Combs dominating the pop and country charts. Newer acts like Zach Bryan and Oliver Anthony Music have seemingly come out of nowhere to top the charts […]

Calibre 50, Chiquis, El Alfa, Eladio Carrión, Justin Quiles, Los Ángeles Azules, Manuel Turizo, Marshmello, Myke Towers, Peso Pluma, Tini and Yandel are confirmed to perform at the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Awards, set to take place Thursday, Oct. 5.

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Billboard and Telemundo announced Tuesday (Sep. 5) the first round of performers who will take the stage at the Watsco Center in Coral Gables, Florida. The show will be broadcast live on Telemundo and simultaneously on the Spanish entertainment cable network Universo, on Peacock and on the Telemundo app. Throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, it will be available on Telemundo Internacional.

This year, Mexican music sensation Peso Pluma leads the list of finalists with 21 nods across 15 categories, including Artist of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Global 200 Latin Artist of the Year and Top Latin Album of the Year. His collaboration with Eslabon Armado, “Ella Baila Sola,” is up for six awards, including Hot Latin Song of the Year, Global 200 Latin Song of the Year and Sales Song of the Year. And his hit with Yng Lvcas, “La Bebe,” competes in five categories, including Hot Latin Song of the Year and Latin Rhythm Song of the Year.

Following Peso Pluma are Bad Bunny and Grupo Frontera with 15 nods each, including four together for their collab “un X100to,” while Karol G has 13, and Shakira and Fuerza Regida 12 each. See the complete list of finalists here.

As announced recently, Los Ángeles Azules will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Latin Billboard Music Awards 2023, while Ivy Queen will be recognized with the Icon Award.

As has been the case for more than 20 years, the Billboard Latin Music Awards coincide with Billboard’s annual Latin Music Week, the single largest and most important gathering of the Latin music industry, taking place Oct. 2-6. The event will feature panels, conversations and workshops at the Faena Forum and exclusive performances and fan experiences throughout the week in Miami. Shakira, Myke Towers, Vico C, Grupo Frontera, Peso Pluma, Nicki Nicole, RBD and many more are confirmed to participate.

Purchase tickets to the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Week here.

Sean “Diddy” Combs is set to receive the Global Icon Award and perform at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards, airing live from Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. on Tuesday, September 12 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
Diddy is third recipient of the Global Icon Award, following Foo Fighters (2021) and Red Hot Chili Peppers (2022). MTV got the idea for the award from MTV’s Europe Music Awards (EMAs).

This will mark Combs’ first performance on the show since 2005, when he did double duty as host and performer. Diddy led an orchestra into a performance featuring Snoop Dogg on stage and the late Notorious B.I.G.  on video.

Combs opened the VMAs in 1997 with a memorable tribute to Biggie, who had been shot to death just six months previously. Combs performed Big’s “Mo Money Mo Problems” with Ma$e, and then performed “I’ll Be Missing You” with Faith Evans, 112 and Sting, who wrote “Every Breath You Take,” the song on which “I’ll Be Missing You” was based. Combs returned to the VMAs stage in 2002 to perform a medley of “Bad Boy for Life,” “Pass the Courvoisier (Part 2)” and “I Need a Girl (Parts 1 & 2).” He was joined in that segment by Usher, Busta Rhymes and Pharrell.

 

Diddy is nominated for four competitive VMA awards this year – best collaboration for both “Gotta Move On” (featuring Bryson Tiller, Ashanti, Yung Miami) and Metro Boomin’s “Creepin’ (Remix),” on which he is featured along with The Weeknd and 21 Savage. “Gotta Move On” is also nominated for best rap; “Creepin’ (Remix)” is also nominated for best R&B.

In 1997, Diddy won a Moonman for best R&B video for “I’ll Be Missing You.” The following year, he won the Viewer’s Choice award for “It’s All About the Benjamins (Rock Remix)” (featuring The LOX, Lil’ Kim, The Notorious B.I.G. and Fuzzbubble).

Diddy’s VMAs performance comes just three days before he drops The Love Album: Off the Grid. The new album is Diddy’s first major album release since Last Train to Paris, a 2010 collab with Dirty Money.

In addition to hosting the 2005 VMAs from Miami, Diddy hosted the 2002 MTV Europe Music Awards 2002 from Barcelona, Spain.

Combs has had two No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 (No Way Out in 1997 and Press Play in 2006). He has amassed five No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 – “Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down” (featuring Ma$e), “I’ll Be Missing You (a collab with Faith Evans featuring 112), The Notorious B.I.G’s “Mo Money Mo Problems” (on which he was featured along with Ma$e), “Bump, Bump, Bump” (a collab with B2K) and “Shake Ya Tailfeather” (a collab with Murphy Lee).

Diddy isn’t the only rapper who will perform on this year’s VMAs. Lil Wayne is also on the bill. And there have been reports, not yet confirmed by MTV, that there will be (yet another) 50th anniversary salute to hip-hop.

The VMAs’ performer lineup also includes Doja Cat, whose sound incorporates hip-hop, as well as Anitta, Demi Lovato, Karol G, Kelsea Ballerini, Måneskin, Shakira, Stray Kids and TOMORROW X TOGETHER. Additional performers to be announced.

Shakira will receive MTV’s Video Vanguard Award and will perform live on the show for the first time since 2006. MTV has yet to announce the host of this year’s show. Last year’s show was co-hosted by LL Cool J, Nicki Minaj and Jack Harlow

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).

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.

Check out the Diddy Global Icon video preview below.

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Rema and Burna Boy each received three awards at the 2023 Headies Awards. The show, which celebrates Pan-African and Afrobeats talent, was held on Sunday (Sept. 3) at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center in Atlanta.
Rema won best male artist, digital artiste of the year and African artiste of the year. In addition, Selena Gomez, who teamed with Rema on the global hit “Calm Down,” won international artiste of the year, while Director K, who directed the music video for the “Calm Down” remix, won best music video.

Burna Boy took Afrobeats single of the year and song of the year, both for “Last Last” as well as best R&B single for “For My Hand,” featuring Ed Sheeran.

Three artists won two awards each — Odumodublvck, Asake, Victony & Tempoe.

The eligibility period for the awards was January 2022 to March 2023.

Actor and host Terrence J. Nigerian and actress Osas Ighodaro hosted the show, which was streamed live on YouTube (U.S.) and HipTV (Africa) Network.

Bayanni, Khaid, Guchi, Bloody Civilian, Odumodublvck and Eltee Skhillz competed for rookie of the year. The winner, Odumodublvck, will receive not only glory, but also also a solar-powered, two-bedroom, fully furnished house.

Sean “Love” Combs was previously announced as the recipient of the international artiste recognition award. He was not present at the show, but organizers say his plaque will be delivered.

The Headies Awards, originally called the Hip Hop World Awards, were established in 2006 by the Hip Hop World Magazine of Nigeria to recognize outstanding achievements in the Nigerian music industry.

This marked the show’s second year at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. It was held in Lagos or Nigeria every year from 2006 to 2021 (except 2017 and 2020, when there was no ceremony).

In the past year, three major, all-genre music awards shows have introduced Afrobeats or African music categories. The American Music Awards were the first major music awards show to add such a category. They added favorite Afrobeats artist at the show that aired Nov. 20, 2022. Wizkid was the inaugural winner, beating Burna Boy, CKay, Fireboy DML and Tems.

The MTV Video Music Awards added a new category this year — best Afrobeats. The front-runner is Rema & Gomez’s “Calm Down,” which is nominated in two other categories, best song and best collaboration.

The Grammys added a similar category, best African music performance, this year (for the awards that will be presented on Feb. 4, 2024). Grammy nominations will be announced on Nov. 10.

Here is the full list of winners for the 2023 Headies Awards. For more details, visit theheadies.com.

­Hall of Fame

WINNER: Youssou N’dour

Special Recognition

WINNER: Sound Sultan

International Artiste Recognition Award

WINNER: Sean “Love” Combs

International Artist of the Year

Drake

Future

WINNER: Selena Gomez

Don Toliver

Ed Sheeran

Album of the Year

Love, Damini – Burna Boy

WINNER: Mr Money With the Vibe – Asake

Rave And Roses – Rema

Boy Alone – Omah Lay

Outlaw – Victony

Timeless – Davido

Song of the Year

“Calm Down” – Rema

WINNER: “Last Last” – Burna Boy

“Ku Lo Sa” – Oxlade

“Buga” – Kizz Daniel & Tekno

“Finesse” – Pheelz Ft. Bnxn

“Sungba Remix” – Asake Ft. Burna Boy

Best Female Artiste

Tems

Simi

WINNER: Ayra Starr

Tiwa Savage

Best Male Artiste

Asake

WINNER: Rema

Kizz Daniel

Ruger

Omah Lay

Burna Boy

Rookie of the Year

Bayanni

Khaid

Guchi

Bloody Civilian

WINNER: Odumodublvck

Eltee Skhillz

Best Recording of the Year

“Alone” – Burna Boy

WINNER: “Soweto” – Victony & Tempoe

“I’m A Mess” – Omah Lay

“Ku Lo Sa” – Oxlade

“Stand Strong” – Davido Ft. Sunday Service Choir

“No Woman, No Cry” – Tems

Producer of the Year

Magicsticks – “Sungba Remix” (Asake)

P.Prime, Tmxo & Pheelz – “Electricty” (Pheelz Ft Davido)

Andre Vibez & London – “Calm Down” (Rema)

Tempoe – “Soweto” (Victony & Tempoe)

Kel-P – “Kpe Paso” (Wande Coal & Olamide)

WINNER: Rexxie – “Abracadabra” (Rexxie, Naira Marley, Skiibii & Wizkid)

Songwriter of the Year

WINNER: Simi Kosoko, Godsfavour Chidozie, Kosoko Adekunle, Marcel Akunwata – “Loyal” (Simi)

Stanley Didia, Adebajo Adebanjo – “I’m A Mess” (Omah Lay)

Tems, Ludwig Goransson, Robyn Rihanna Fenty, Ryan Coogler – “Lift Me Up” (Rihanna)

Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, Austin Jnr Iornongu Iwar, Peace Oredope, Ludwig Goransson – “Alone” (Burna Boy)

Daniel Benson “In My Mind” (Bnxn)

Fuayefika Maxwell – Earth Song (Wizard Chan)

Best R&B Single

WINNER: “For My Hand” – Burna Boy Ft. Ed Sheeran

“Mmadu” – Ckay

“Just 4 U” – Dami Oniru

“Red Wine” – Preye

“Hard To Find” – Chike – Ft. Flavour

“Loyal” – Simi Ft. Fave

Best Rap Single

“Hustle” – Reminisce

“Big Energy” – Ladipoe

“Back In Uni” – Blaqbonez

“Bando Diaries” – Psychoyp

WINNER: “Declan Rice” – Odumodublvck

“My Bro” – Jeriq Ft. Phyno

Best Alternative Song

WINNER: “Earth Song” – Wizard Chan

“Final Champion” – Cruel Santino

“The Traveller” – Basketmouth Ft The Cavemen

“In A Loop” – Boj Ft Moliy & Mellissa

“Game Changer” (Dike) – Flavour

“Tinko Tinko” – Obongjayar

Best Vocal Performance (Female)

Niniola – “Memories”

Simi –  “Loyal”

WINNER: Waje – “In Between“

Liya – “Adua Remix”

Preye – “Red Wine”

Dami Oniru – “Just 4 U”

Best Vocal Performance (Male)

Oxlade – “Ku Lo Sa”

Ric Hassani – “My Only Baby”

Magixx – “Love Don’t Cost A Dime”

Chike – “Spell Remix”

Praiz – “Reckless”

WINNER: Wande Coal – “Kpe Paso”

Best Music Video

Blaqbonez & Perliks – “Back In Uni” (Blaqbonez)

Tg Omori – “Pbuy” (Asake)

Director Pink– “Spell Remix” (Chike & Oxlade)

Tg Omori – “Bandana” (Fireboy & Asake)

Director K – “Common Person” (Burna Boy)

WINNER: Director K – “Calm Down” (Rema)

Best Collaboration

Asake Ft. Burna Boy – “Sungba Remix”

Bnxn Ft. Kizz Daniel & Seyi Vibez – “Gwagwalada”

Pheelz Ft. Bnxn – “Finesse”

WINNER: Spyro Ft. Tiwa Savage – “Who’s Your Guy Remix”

Pheelz Ft. Davido – “Electricity”

Wande Coal Ft. Olamide – “Kpe Paso”

Best Street-Hop Artiste

Rexxie Ft. Naira Marley & Skiibii – “Abracadabra”

WINNER: Seyi Vibez – “Chance (Na Ham)”

Asake – “Joha”

Zlatan Ft. Young Jonn – “Astalavista”

Poco Lee & Hotkid – “Otilo”

Mohbad – “Peace”

Afrobeats Single of the Year

WINNER: “Last Last” – Burna Boy

“Rush” – Ayra Starr

“Buga” – Kizz Daniel & Tekno

“Finesse” – Pheelz Ft Bnxn

“Who’s Your Guy?” – Spyro

“Asiwaju” – Ruger

Headies’ Viewers’ Choice

Ruger – “Asiwaju”

WINNER: Victony & Tempoe – “Soweto”

Fireboy Dml & Asake – “Bandana”

Ayra Star – “Rush”

Asake – “Terminator”

Mavins – “Overloading (Overdose)”

Crayon – “Ijo (Laba Laba)”

Oxlade – “Ku Lo Sa”

Kizz Daniel & Tekno – “Buga”

Pheelz & Davido – “Electricity”

Best West African Artiste of the Year

­Gyakie (Ghana)

WINNER: Black Sherif (Ghana)

The Therapist (Liberia)

Camidoh (Ghana)

Best East African Artiste of the Year

Zuchu

WINNER: Diamond Platinumz

Rayvanny

Eddy Kenzo

Hewan Gebreworld

Best North African Artiste of the Year

Marwa Loud – Morocco

Wegz – Egypt

WINNER: El Grande Toto – Morocco

Soolking – Algeria

Best Southern African Artiste of the Year

Aka (South Africa)

Nasty C – South Africa

Costa Titch – South Africa

Uncle Waffles – South Africa

WINNER: Focalistic – South Africa

Dj Tarico – Mozambique

Best Central African Artiste of the Year

Fally Ipupa – Democratic Republic of Congo

Gaz Mawete – Democratic Republic of Congo

Matias Damasio – Angola

Emma’a – Gabon

WINNER: Libianca – Cameroon

Best R&B Album

Home – Johnny Drille

WINNER: The Brother’s Keeper – Chike

Reckless – Praiz

Waje 2.0 – Waje

Matter of Time – Dami Oniru

To Be Honest (Tbh) – Simi

Best Alternative Album

Horoscopes – Basketmouth

WINNER: Gbagada Express – BOJ

Some Nights I Dream of Doors – Obongjayar

Subaru Boys: Final Heaven – Cruel Santino

Heart of the Heavenly Undeniable – Somadina

Native World – Native Sound System

Best Rap Album

Fly Talk Only – Payper Corleone

Palmwine Music Vol 3 – Show Dem Camp

WINNER: Young Preacher – Blaqbonez

Ypszn3 – Psychoyp

Teslim: The Energy Still Lives in Me – Vector

Billion Dollar Dream – Jeriq

Next Rated

Young Jonn

Seyi Vibez

WINNER: Asake

Victony

Spyro

African Artiste of the Year

WINNER: Rema (Nigeria)

Burna Boy (Nigeria)

Marwa Loud (Morocco)

Black Sherif (Ghana)

Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)

Lyricist on the Roll

Ladipoe – “Clowns”

Vector – “Clowns”

WINNER: Payper Corleone – “Fly Talk Only”

Alpha Ojini – “Vigilante Bop”

A-Q – “Family First”

Tec (Sdc) – “Live Life”

Best Inspirational Single

“Stand Strong” – Davido Ft Sunday Service Choir

“Jireh (My Provider)” – Limoblaze, Lecrae & Happi Music

“This Year” – Victor Thompson & Ehis ‘D’ Greatest

WINNER: “Eze Ebube” – Neon Adejo

“Tobechukwu” – Nathaniel Bassey And Mercy Chinwo

“I Get Backing” – Victoria Orenze

Digital Artiste of the Year

Burna Boy

Ayra Starr

WINNER: Rema

Omah Lay

Kizz Daniel

Asake