Awards
Page: 181
The 2023 Academy of Country Music Awards reports 87% year-over-year audience growth, as compared to 2022. The show also saw record increases in viewership and interactions across its owned-and-operated sites and social media platforms, as well as Harmony, Penske Media’s proprietary livestreaming platform.
The 2023 Academy of Country Music Awards was the No. 1 program across all social media platforms for TV and streaming on May 11 (excluding sports), according to Talkwalker, which monitors social content ratings.
This year’s ACM Awards amassed 60.6 million video views across the ACM’s official Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok from May 11 through May 22, marking a record increase of 94% in year-over-year social media views, per ListenFirst.
The Official ACM Awards Red Carpet Show garnered 3.2 million live and video-on-demand views in the first 24 hours on Harmony, which livestreams PMC’s portfolio of live entertainment shows and industry experiences across all of Penske Media’s owned and operated websites and PMC social media accounts.
As of June 2, there are more than 7.1 million views across all 18 full show performances on ACM Award performers’ YouTube channels since May 12.
Keith Urban, Ed Sheeran with Luke Combs, Lainey Wilson and Miranda Lambert all saw streaming increases of 200% or more following live performances on the ACM Awards stage.
Urban’s performance of his 2018 song “Texas Time” — in honor of the ACM Awards’ return to Texas — was followed by a 428% increase in total on-demand streams on the day following the show and consistent streams through the weekend post-show (+337%), according to data from Luminate.
Sheeran and Combs performed “Life Goes On” live together for the first time on the show. Following this performance, there was a 281% increase of total on-demand streams on the day following the show and consistent streams through the weekend (+210%), per Luminate.
Also according to data from Luminate, Wilson’s performance of “Grease” was followed by an increase in total on-demand streams on the day following the show (+221%) and saw an average increase of 206% through the weekend post-show.
Lambert’s “Carousel,” released in April 2022, saw a 209% increase in total on-demand streams on the day following the ACM Awards and consistent streams through the weekend post-show (+142%), per data from Luminate.
Also, Jelly Roll — who is the cover star of Billboard‘s latest issue — and Wilson performed a new duet version of “Save Me,” which landed at No. 4 on Country Digital Song Sales following the show.
58th ACM Awards co-host Dolly Parton’s “World on Fire,” the lead single from her highly anticipated rock album Rockstar, landed at No. 1 on the Rock Digital Song Sales chart as well as No. 3 on the Country Digital Song Sales chart.
Notes: For the day following the show, the percent change was measured from May 11 to May 12. For the weekend stats, a three-day average of May 12, May 13 and May 14 was compared to stats from May 11.
This marked the second year on Prime Video for the ACM Awards, which in 2022 became the first major awards show to stream live exclusively for a global audience. Co-hosted by Parton and Garth Brooks, the two-hour, commercial-free concert event streamed live for an international audience on May 11 across 240+ countries and territories exclusively on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch, from The Star in Frisco, Texas.
The show featured 18 performances from 24 artists, including Jason Aldean, Kane Brown, Combs, Jordan Davis, HARDY, Cody Johnson, Lambert, Parton, Jelly Roll, Urban, The War And Treaty, Wilson, and Bailey Zimmerman. Collaborations included Sheeran and Combs; Carly Pearce and Trisha Yearwood; Cole Swindell and Jo Dee Messina; and Ashley McBryde featuring Brandy Clark, Caylee Hammack, Pillbox Patti, and John Osborne.
The full rebroadcast is now available to watch on Prime Video, the Amazon Music App, and for free on Amazon Freevee.
The 58th Academy of Country Music Awards was produced by Dick Clark Productions, with Raj Kapoor, Barry Adelman, and Fonda Anita serving as executive producers, and Damon Whiteside serving as executive producer for the Academy of Country Music. Patrick Menton was co-executive producer.
The ACM Awards are produced by Dick Clark Productions. DCP is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a Penske Media Corporation (PMC) subsidiary and joint venture between PMC and Eldridge. PMC is the parent company of Billboard.
Brandon Lake, for King & Country, Lauren Daigle and MercyMe were among the evening’s big winners on Friday evening (June 2), when the K-LOVE Fan Awards aired on TBN, having previously been taped at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House on May 28.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Lake led this year’s winners, taking home three honors, including male artist. He also earned song of the year and worship song of the year, both for “Gratitude.”
Sibling duo for King & Country earned artist of the year, while Daigle took home female artist of the year, and MercyMe earned their first K-LOVE Fan Award, for group of the year.
The evening also featured an array of powerful performances, as Colton Dixon was joined by Gabby Barrett for their duet “Build a Boat.” A plethora of collaborations filled the evening, including MercyMe with David Leonard on “Then Christ Came,” Katy Nichole and Big Daddy Weave on “God Is in This Story,” Lake teamed with Benjamin William Hastings for “Gratitude,” while Mac Powell and Jason Crabb performed “New Creation.” Tasha Layton offered “How Far,” while Jon Reddick performed “I Believe It.”
In one of the evening’s most affecting moments, Blessing Offor had students from Nashville’s Covenant School join him for a performance of Offor’s “Brighter Days.” Steven Curtis Chapman, who was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2018, was honored for his lengthy history of enduring songs, as he was joined by Bart Millard, Matthew West and Mac Powell.
See the full list of K-LOVE Fan Awards winners for 2023 below:
Artist of the Yearfor KING & COUNTRY
Male artistBrandon Lake
Female artistLauren Daigle
Group of the yearMercyMe
Worship song of the yearBrandon Lake“Gratitude”
Song of the yearBrandon Lake“Gratitude”
Breakout single“Perfectly Loved”Rachael Lampa ft. TobyMac
Film & television impactThe ChosenSeason Three Finale
Book impactOn Our KneesPhil Wickham
Podcast impactUNASHAMEDPhil & Jase Robertson
Walt “Baby” Love, a 2022 inductee into the Radio Hall of Fame, will receive another honor in October as he’s one of eight individuals slated to be recognized by the Living Legends Foundation at its annual awards dinner and gala. Love will receive the Ray Harris Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s event.
Love has hosted three long-running radio programs — The Countdown with Walt “Baby” Love, Gospel Traxx and The Urban AC Countdown. For 21 years, Love worked at Radio & Records as its urban radio and music editor while simultaneously hosting his syndicated radio shows.
Nelson George, who likewise first made his mark in music trade journalism before broadening his focus, will also be honored. George, who wrote for Billboard in the 1980s before becoming a noted author and filmmaker, will receive the Media Icon Award.
The other honorees are Ed Lover, star of The Ed Lover Show with Monie Love (Jerry Boulding Radio Award); Lionel Ridenour, founder/CEO of Anchor Promotions (Music Executive Award); Tracey Jordan, partner of Lazin/Jordan Productions (Mike Bernardo Female Executive Award); Rocky Bucano, executive director of the Universal Hip Hop Museum (Hip Hop Visionary Award); Vernon Brown, Esq., founder of V. Brown & Company (Entertainment Advocate Award); and Shanti Das, former music executive and founder of Silence The Shame (A.D. Washington Chairman’s Award).
“This year is particularly special because, in addition to our annual awards ceremony, we are also celebrating 50 years of hip-hop,” said Living Legends Foundation chairman David C. Linton in a statement. “We are the first generation of music executives to help break and recognize hip-hop as a global music art form. Most of our board and advisory members were responsible for signing many of today’s hip-hop legends and icons to recording contracts and record label imprint deals, ultimately creating the phenomenon known to the world as ‘hip-hop culture.’ Additionally, for the past three to four decades, many of our board members have guided the careers of these legends and icons via management, marketing, radio promotions, publicity, sales, and A&R.”
This year’s awards dinner and gala will be held on Friday, Oct. 6 at Taglyan Cultural Complex, 1201 N. Vine Street, Hollywood. The red carpet and cocktail reception begin at 6:30 p.m. with the awards dinner starting at 7:30 p.m.
This year’s dinner chairs are Skip Dillard, brand manager and program director for Audacy’s WXBK/94.7, the Block, New York City; and Lady B, on-air personality at Classix 107.9 in Philadelphia.
Founded in 1991 and incorporated in 1992, the Living Legends Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt organization and has been funded primarily by corporate contributions and individual donations. The organization has expanded its mission to assist those who have served the music industry and who have what it calls “a confirmable need.”
Over the past 30 years, the foundation has honored more than 100 leaders in the areas of broadcasting, film, recorded music, media, publishing, radio, publicity and marketing.
For more information, visit the organization’s website.
A musical based on the classic 1959 Billy Wilder film Some Like It Hot was the top winner at the 67th Annual Drama Desk Awards, which were announced on Wednesday (May 31). The show — for which Mariah Carey is one of the producers — won eight awards, including outstanding musical and outstanding lyrics for […]
Laura Pausini has been named the Latin Recording Academy’s 2023 Person of the Year.
The Italian pop legend, one of the most celebrated performers in Latin music for the last 30 years, “will be honored for her career as a multifaceted, multi-lingual performer as well as for her continued commitment to supporting social justice causes that are close to her heart, including equality for women and LGBTQ+ people and world hunger,” according to an official statement released Wednesday (May 31) morning.
“Laura Pausini is one of the most talented and beloved artists of her generation whose commitment to advocacy and equal rights is exemplary,” said Manuel Abud, CEO of The Latin Recording Academy. “Throughout her more than three-decade career her extraordinary voice continually breaks down barriers across languages and genres, creating a special bond with audiences around the world.”
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Born in Faenza, Italy, Pausini started her music career at age 19, rising to fame in 1993 after winning the 43rd Sanremo Music Festival. Her records have sold more than 70 million copies worldwide, she has done nine world tours and landed three songs in the top 10 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart: “Las Cosas Que Vives,” “Víveme” and “Como Si No Nos Hubiéramos Amado” — all of them Spanish versions of songs she originally recorded in Italian.
“I am extremely honored to receive this incredible recognition from The Latin Recording Academy. To be named Person of the Year at this moment, when I am celebrating 30 years of my career, is something that I still cannot describe,” Pausini said in a statement. “The Spanish language has opened doors for me from a young age, it has made me feel at home, it has inspired me to move forward and to explore and live music without barriers or limits. To say today that I will receive this important recognition fills me with great pride, joy, strength to continue taking strong steps and to inspire the new generation of artists who lift the music they carry in their hearts on high.”
A Latin Grammy and Grammy winner, Pausini also shares a Golden Globe Award with Diane Warren for best original song, for “Io sì (Seen)” from the movie The Life Ahead, which was also nominated to an Oscar. Beyond music, she has been honored with the Starlite Humanitarian Award, the Global Gift Humanitarian Award, and was named Person of the Year by the Diversity Media Awards for her support of the LGBTQ+ community, among other recognitions.
Pausini will be celebrated at a special star-studded gala and tribute concert, where an array of artist and friends will perform renditions of her renowned repertoire. Details of the event, to be celebrated in November during the 2023 Latin Grammy week in Sevilla, Spain, will be announced at a later date.
The Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year honors musicians and their artistic achievements in the Latin music industry as well as their humanitarian efforts. Past honorees include Marco Antonio Solís (2022), Rubén Blades (2021), Juanes (2019), Maná (2018), Alejandro Sanz (2017), Marc Anthony (2016), Roberto Carlos (2015), Joan Manuel Serrat (2014), Miguel Bosé (2013), Caetano Veloso (2012), Shakira (2011), Plácido Domingo (2010), Juan Gabriel (2009), Gloria Estefan (2008), Juan Luis Guerra (2007), Ricky Martin (2006), José José (2005), Carlos Santana (2004), Gilberto Gil (2003), Vicente Fernández (2002), Julio Iglesias (2001) and Emilio Estefan (2000).
Flume, Confidence Man, Julia Jacklin, Daniel Johns and Vance Joy are among the high-profile nominees for the 2023 AIR Awards, set for Aug. 3 in Adelaide, South Australia. The coveted independent album of the year will be contested by former Silverchair frontman Johns (for FutureNever), Jacklin (Pre Pleasure), King Stingray (King Stingray), Laura Jean (Amateurs), and Northlane (Obsidian).Also in the running for honors are Cub Sport, Genesis Owusu, The Jungle Giants, Ball Park Music, Pnau & Troye Sivan, and The Wiggles, organizers the Australian Independent Record Labels Association (AIR) announced Wednesday (March 31). In a change from tradition, AIR this year adds two new industry categories, independent marketing team of the year and independent publicity team of the year, while the main business category — best independent label — will be selected from a shortlist that features ABC Music, Chapter Music, Domestic La La, Liberation and UNFD.This year’s edition will be held at the Freemasons Hall in the city of churches, through a long-term alliance with the South Australian government.“It is fantastic to be hosting the awards here in Adelaide – Australia’s only UNESCO City of Music – and I congratulate all of the nominees,” comments state minister for arts Andrea Michaels member of parliament.“It’s a wonderful opportunity to recognise the work the independent music industry does in providing talented and emerging artists and music businesses with a platform to share their art with a wider audience.”
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
The 17th annual AIR Awards will be bookended by the Indie-Con Australia conference, a gathering that focuses “on issues that are specifically relevant to the independent music sector,” organizers explain. Indie-Con is set for Aug. 2-4 at Mercury Cinema.See the full list of nominations here and below.
BEST INDEPENDENT BLUES AND ROOTS ALBUM OR EPBABY VELVET – Please Don’t Be In Love With Someone ElseDOPE LEMON – Rose Pink CadillacLITTLE QUIRKS – Call to UnknownsWILLIAM CRIGHTON – Water and DustZIGGY ALBERTS – Dancing In The Dark
BEST INDEPENDENT HIP HOP ALBUM OR EPALLDAY – Excuse MeDANTÉ KNOWS – Phase OneJESSWAR – LIFE’S SHORT, LIVE BIGKWEEN G – Sensible RebelYAWDOESITALL – LIFE I CHOSE
BEST INDEPENDENT COUNTRY ALBUM OR EPADAM BRAND – All or NothingANDY GOLLEDGE – Strength Of A QueenCASEY BARNES – Light It UpFREYA JOSEPHINE HOLLICK – The Real WorldLYN BOWTELL – Wiser
BEST INDEPENDENT JAZZ ALBUM OR EPBARNEY MCALL – Precious EnergyDONNY BENÉT – Le PianoJEREMY ROSE – Face to FaceMILDLIFE – Live From South Channel IslandSURPRISE CHEF – Education & Recreation
BEST INDEPENDENT CLASSICAL ALBUM OR EPENSEMBLE OFFSPRING – To Listen, To Sing – Ngarra-Burria: First Peoples ComposersMELBOURNE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA/BENJAMIN NORTHEY – Nigel Westlake: Blueback [Original Motion Picture Score]MIRUSIA – SongbirdTASMANIAN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA – NightlightWILLIAM BARTON/VERONIQUE SERRET – Heartland
BEST INDEPENDENT CHILDREN’S ALBUM OR EPEMILY WURRAMARA – Ayarra Emeba (Calm Songs)EMMA MEMMA – Emma MemmaPLAY SCHOOL – Very Jazzy Street PartyTEENY TINY STEVIES – How to Be CreativeTHE WIGGLES – ReWiggled
BEST INDEPENDENT DANCE, ELECTRONICA OR CLUB SINGLECUB SPORT – Always Got The LoveFLUME – Say Nothing feat. MAY-ALIME CORDIALE, IDRIS ELBA, FATBOY SLIM – Holiday Fatboy Slim RemixMEMPHIS LK – CoffeePNAU & TROYE SIVAN – You Know What I Need
BEST INDEPENDENT PUNK ALBUM OR EPBODY TYPE – Everything Is Dangerous But Nothing’s SurprisingHARD-ONS – Yummy!PRESS CLUB – Endless MotionTEEN JESUS AND THE JEAN TEASERS – Pretty Good For A Girl BandTHESE NEW SOUTH WHALES – TNSW
BEST INDEPENDENT HEAVY ALBUM OR EPCLAMM – CareNORTHLANE – ObsidianPARKWAY DRIVE – Darker StillTHORNHILL – HeroineYOURS TRULY – is this what i look like?
BEST INDEPENDENT DANCE OR ELECTRONICA ALBUM OR EPCONFIDENCE MAN – TILTFLUME – PalacesNINAJIRACHI – Second NatureTELENOVA – Stained Glass Love (Telenoir Versions)THE JUNGLE GIANTS – Love Signs Remixed
BEST INDEPENDENT ROCK ALBUM OR EPBALL PARK MUSIC – Weirder & WeirderCAMP COPE – Running with the HurricaneKING STINGRAY – King StingrayOCEAN ALLEY – Low Altitude LivingSLOWLY SLOWLY – Daisy Chain
BEST INDEPENDENT SOUL/RNB ALBUM OR EPASHLI – Only OneBECKAH AMANI – AprilFELIVAND – TiesWANDERERS – WANDERERSWINSTON SURFSHIRT – Panna Cotta
BEST INDEPENDENT POP ALBUM OR EPBIG SCARY – Me and YouDANIEL JOHNS – FutureNeverJEM CASSAR-DALEY – I Don’t Know Who To CallTELENOVA – Stained Glass LoveVANCE JOY – In Our Own Sweet Time
BREAKTHROUGH INDEPENDENT ARTIST OF THE YEAR – PRESENTED BY PPCAANDY GOLLEDGEJEM CASSAR-DALEYKING STINGRAYTEEN JESUS AND THE JEAN TEASERSWANDERERS
INDEPENDENT SONG OF THE YEARCUB SPORT – Always Got The LoveGENESIS OWUSU – Get InspiredJEN CLOHER – Mana TakatāpuiJULIA JACKLIN – I Was NeonKING STINGRAY – Camp Dog
INDEPENDENT ALBUM OF THE YEARDANIEL JOHNS – FutureNeverJULIA JACKLIN – PRE PLEASUREKING STINGRAY – King StingrayLAURA JEAN – AmateursNORTHLANE – Obsidian
INDEPENDENT MARKETING TEAM OF THE YEARABC MUSIC, THE ORCHARD – The Wiggles, ReWiggledCHUGG MUSIC, THE ANNEX – Lime Cordiale, Cordi ElbaDOMESTIC LA LA – Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers, Pretty Good For A Girl BandFUTURE CLASSIC – Flume, PalacesI OH YOU, MUSHROOM MARKETING – Confidence Man, TILT
INDEPENDENT PUBLICITY TEAM OF THE YEARGENNA ALEXOPOULOS – Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers, Pretty Good For A Girl BandMUSHROOM PUBLICITY – Confidence Man, TILTPOSITIVE FEEDBACK – Lime Cordiale, Cordi ElbaRPM, THE COMMS DEPARTMENT – The Wiggles, ReWiggledTHINKING LOUD – Genesis Owusu, Get Inspired
BEST INDEPENDENT LABELABC MUSICCHAPTER MUSICDOMESTIC LA LALIBERATIONUNFD
The U.K. organization Women in CTRL is the second recipient of IMPALA’s Changemaker award, it was announced on Tuesday (May 30). The not-for-profit organization, founded by Nadia Khan, seeks to advance gender equality in the music industry.
Women in CTRL encourages women and non-binary persons to find their strengths, develop their own personal brands and build the tools and confidence to become leaders. The organization runs creative growth programs, community workshops, mentoring, training, organizing events and more.
Women in CTRL also publishes research and reports, such as the “Seat at the Table” report looking at the representation of women, with an intersectional focus on Black women, in the boardroom of U.K. music trade bodies. They also released the “Women in Radio” report looking into the experiences of women in the radio industry to identify the barriers women face.
Women in CTRL has also partnered with AIM and Amazon Music to launch a new apprenticeship program, “Amplify,” which aims to improve access to music industry careers for women and non-binary people.
“It’s an honor for Women in CTRL to be chosen as the second recipient of the Changemaker award,” Khan said in a statement. “This recognition affirms our work, inspires us to continue and highlights the independent community’s collective determination and passion in driving positive change within the music industry. Women in CTRL firmly believe in the transformative power of sharing best practices and learning from the exceptional organizations that IMPALA champions.”
“Women in CTRL is an inspiration to all in the sector who seek to bring change,” Helen Smith, IMPALA’s executive chair, said in a statement. “It’s an honor to be able to showcase their work through our Changemaker Award.”
The Changemaker Award puts the spotlight on projects that champion DEI work (dubbed “equity, diversity and inclusion” in Britain). The recipient is selected yearly by IMPALA’s DEI task force. Launched in May 2022, the award highlights projects that have an impact on the independent music sector. It is presented yearly during European Diversity Month.
The POWER UP initiative was the inaugural recipient last year. Launched in January 2021, POWER UP provides mentoring, support and grants for 40 Black music creators and industry professionals.
IMPALA was established in 2000 and now represents nearly 6,000 independent music companies. IMPALA’s mission is to grow the independent music sector sustainably, return more value to artists, promote diversity and entrepreneurship, improve political access, inspire change and increase access to finance.
Shouse shuffles to an APRA AMCOS Billions Award for their “coming out of lockdown” anthem “Love Tonight.”
The Melbourne dance music duo is saluted for notching one billion streams of their song, an overnight sensation that was, in reality, five years in the making.
“Love Tonight” is the creation of Jack Madin and Ed Service, one a primary school teacher, the other an arts community manager, who were spotted performing the moody number in 2016 by OneLove head of A&R Ant Celestino. He documented the performance on video; in the cold light of day, Celestino knew it was a total banger.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Soon after, the track was recorded with a choir of local Melbourne friends and released in 2017 on the OneLove imprint Hell Beach.
The story took another turn when, in early 2017, OneLove struck a partnership deal for global digital distribution and label services with Ingrooves Music Group, an arrangement that cleared a path for “Love Tonight.”
“It was like an unhealthy obsession,” Celestino told this reporter on stage at 2022 Indie-Con. “We never stopped. I just thought the record was so good.”
The eight-minute original cut was spun off into a string of new remixes and edits, the track was serviced to radio, DJs and tastemakers in 2021, an underground swell bubbled away in European clubs, and when the doors finally burst open after the pandemic — a global hit.
The single went top 10 in over 20 countries including Germany, France, Greece, Netherlands, and Belgium. “Love Tonight” reached No. 18 on the Official U.K. Singles Chart, and No. 8 on the Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs.
According to APRA AMCOS, “Love Tonight” is certified diamond in France, triple platinum in Australia, double platinum in Belgium and Portugal, Platinum in Germany, Italy, New Zealand and Greece, and gold in Denmark, Spain, the U.K. and the U.S.
“Hearing the voices of our makeshift Melbourne choir resonate across crowds around the world will never get old,” comments Madin and Service on receiving their circular trophy. “We’re thrilled and stunned that our little moment of collective joy here in our home has made an impact on so many. They always sing along. We hope that this song inspires people to sing and create music with friends, family and their community. Music is magic!”
The 1,000,000,000 List takes into account streaming numbers from major services Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube, and is given to APRA AMCOS songwriter members and their publishers in recognition of a song surpassing one billion streams.
It’s said to be the first award of its kind to recognize a songwriter’s achievement. Other recipients include Tones And I (for “Dance Monkey”), 5 Seconds of Summer (“Youngblood”), Vance Joy (“Riptide”), Gotye (“Somebody That I Used to Know”), VASSY (“Bad”), Harry Michael and Tyron Hapi for Masked Wolf’s “Astronaut in the Ocean.”
Read more on the “Love Tonight” story here.
At the Oscars in February 1954 (see photo accompanying this list), Disney won four Oscars – best documentary feature (The Living Desert), best documentary short subject (The Alaskan Eskimo), best cartoon short subject (Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom) and best two-reel short subject (Bear Country). No one else had ever won more than two awards in one night.
On accepting his fourth award of the night, for Bear Country, Disney joked, “I’ve just gotta say one more word. It’s wonderful — but I think this is my year to retire.”
Happily, he did not retire. In the remaining 12+ years of his life, he opened Disneyland, launched an Emmy-winning TV series (initially called Walt Disney’s Disneyland) and co-produced the beloved film musical Mary Poppins.
Runners-up, with three Oscars in one night, are (listed chronologically): Billy Wilder (The Apartment, 1961), Marvin Hamlisch (The Way We Were, The Sting, 1974), Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather, Part II, 1975), James L. Brooks (Terms of Endearment, 1984), James Cameron (Titanic, 1998), Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh (The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, 2004), Ethan Cohen and Joel Coen (No Country for Old Men, 2008), Alejandro González Iñárritu (Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) 2015), Bong Joon-Ho (Parasite, 2020) and Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert (Everything Everywhere All at Once (2023).
Only nine women have received Grammy nominations for producer of the year, non-classical in the 49 years the Recording Academy has presented that award. Despite that tepid track record, you might want to bet on Brandi Carlile to be in the running when the nominations in that category are announced later this year. It will be the category’s 50th year.
Carlile produced Brandy Clark’s eponymous album, which was released May 19, and reteamed with Shooter Jennings to co-produce Tanya Tucker’s Sweet Western Sound, which is due June 2. That album is Tucker’s long-awaited follow-up to While I’m Livin’. Carlile and Jennings won Grammys as producers of While I’m Livin’, which was voted best country album.
No woman has been nominated for producer of the year, non-classical since Linda Perry five years ago. And no woman has ever won in the category, either on her own or as part of a collaboration.
The women who have been nominated for producer of the year, non-classical are Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman (of Prince & the Revolution, 1984); Janet Jackson (alongside Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, 1989); Mariah Carey (alongside Walter Afanasieff, 1991); Paula Cole (1997); Sheryl Crow (1998); Lauryn Hill (1998); Lauren Christy (of The Matrix, 2003); and Perry (2018).
It’s a very different story in the producer of the year, classical category. Three women have won in that category, which was introduced five years after producer of the year, non-classical. And one of those women, Judith Sherman, has won seven times, which puts her in a tie with David Frost, Steven Epstein and Robert Woods for the most wins by anyone in the category’s history. Joanna Nickrenz has won twice (once alongside Marc Aubort). Elaine Martone has won once.
Carlile has become a Grammy darling in recent years. She has won nine Grammys, including three at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in March. She produced her eponymous 2005 debut album, and co-produced her fourth album in 2012, but the rest of her studio albums have been produced by others.
Carlile moved into production for other artists with The Secret Sisters’ You Don’t Own Me Anymore (2017) and Saturn Return (2020). She co-produced both albums with Tim and Phil Hanseroth, with whom she also co-produced the 2017 Various Artists album Cover Stories. Carlile teamed with Dave Cobb to produce Lucius’ 2022 album Second Nature.
In an interview with Billboard’s Jessica Nicholson, Clark praised Carlile’s skills as a producer. “She pushed me a lot,” Clark said. “I’ve never been as challenged by a producer as I was by her.”
Clark noted Carlisle’s approach to narrowing down the songs that ultimately make up the album: “I gave her like 18-24 songs and asked her to pick about a dozen. I liked them all, but I was surprised by some of her choices. She told me, ‘I chose the songs that I thought sounded like you wrote them in your bedroom, and not in the writing room.’”
That’s the kind of sound advice that shows what a good producer can do.