Awards
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The laureates for the 2023 Polar Music Prize have been revealed. They are Chris Blackwell, who founded Island Records, one of the U.K.’s most successful independent labels; Angélique Kidjo, dubbed “Africa’s premier diva” by Time; and Arvo Pärt, who created the minimalist compositional style known as tintinnabuli, and is one of the most-performed classical composers in the world. All three will be honored in the presence of the Swedish Royal Family at a ceremony and banquet on May 23 at Stockholm’s Grand Hotel.
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The prestigious Polar Music Prize was created by Stig “Stikkan” Anderson, famed Swedish writer/producer/label owner/publisher and manager of ABBA, and first presented in 1992. This year’s laureates, who will all be in attendance, will each receive a cash prize of 600,00 Swedish kronor (approx. $58,000 U.S.).
Blackwell built an impressive roster of artists for Island, including Bob Marley, Cat Stevens, Roxy Music, Steve Winwood, Robert Palmer, Nick Drake, Melissa Etheridge, Tom Waits, Grace Jones, U2 and Marianne Faithfull. Kidjo relocated from her home country of Benin to Paris, where Blackwell heard her sing and signed her to Island. Her life of music and activism was praised by President Bill Clinton, who cited her “passionate call for freedom, dignity, and the rights of people.” Influenced by sacred music, including Gregorian chants, Pärt is known for his laconic, reduced compositions, with his style evolving from neo-classical in his early years to more avant-garde music.
Blackwell has a long history with Sweden, first traveling there in the late 1950s. In 1960, he met with Dag Haeggquist, a beloved figure in the Swedish music industry, who was running the independent Sonet label. “I really liked him,” Blackwell tells Billboard. “So when I was back in Jamaica, I did a record there and thought it sounded okay. I sent it to Dag to see if he might be interested in releasing it, and that’s what happened. It didn’t do well but I worked with Dag for many years after that.”
One of Blackwell’s most memorable times in Sweden was a visit on his 30th birthday in 1967, when he was in Gothenburg, on tour with Traffic. “A few people were smoking what they were not supposed to be smoking and everybody was shocked that I’d never smoked any weed before in my life. ‘You? Coming from Jamaica and you’ve never smoked any weed?’ And I said no. I never had – at that time.”
Kidjo also has many memories of Sweden, though one that stands out is laced with tragedy. “I was on tour and was supposed to play in Stockholm,” Kidjo recalls to Billboard. “The night before, I heard that a discotheque had burned down with all the kids in it.” (On Oct. 29, 1998, an arsonist burned down a discotheque in Gothenburg. There were 63 deaths and 213 people were injured). “I thought, ‘How are we going to do this concert?’ Everybody wanted to cancel, and I said, ‘No. Please, let’s do something. Let’s celebrate the spirit of those kids that are gone. Let’s help heal the wound.’ It was one of the most difficult things that you do as a performer, knowing that the youth [who died] were never going to be there anymore and thinking about the pain of the parents and the loss of the parents. I use music to be the art of healing, building bridges. Music has come to my rescue so many times that I ask myself sometimes, ‘If I was not a singer, how would I live in this world?’”
Kidjo is looking forward to seeing Blackwell for the first time since the pandemic began. “I couldn’t dream of a better person to share this with because he was the one who taught me what it is to be on a major label, to be humble, to keep grounded and focus on the music. The first 10 years of my career brought me to where I am today because Chris won’t lie to you. If it’s not good, Chris is going to tell you. When he would listen to my demos, he would call me right away and say, ‘I like this number and this number, but I didn’t like that.’ And he’s always right.”
The citation that will be read at the ceremony for Blackwell says, in part, “As a record producer and genuine music lover, Chris Blackwell has been one of the key figures in the development of popular music for half a century. When Island Records was founded in Jamaica in 1959, he began his mission to introduce the world to ska and reggae. In folk, rock and disco, he has invested in uncompromising artists and helped them become the best version of themselves. Never focusing on sales figures, but on the songs and albums as works of art, Chris Blackwell has expanded the world and abolished border controls between genres.”
Calling her “unique and unstoppable,” Kidjo’s citation reads, in part, “Angélique grew up in Cotonou, surrounded by the dynamic Beninese culture and listening to music from all over the world: soul, jazz, reggae, Afrobeat, pop, classical. When a communist dictatorship tried to silence her, she moved to Paris and became even more active. Angélique Kidjo invented the word batonga, a response to those who think girls don’t belong in schools, and runs the Batonga Foundation, which seeks out girls and provides them with education. Bono has said of her, ‘In Africa’s new morning, Angélique Kidjo is the warmth of the rising sun.’”
Pärt’s citation says he “has likened his music to white light. It is in the encounter with the prism of the listener’s soul that all colors become visible. Arvo Pärt has created the compositional style tintinnabuli, from the Latin word for ‘bell,’ in which the music moves according to a given structure. In 2006 and 2007, Arvo Pärt dedicated the performances of his works to the murdered Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya and other dissidents in Russia. Arvo Pärt’s courageously beautiful music creates depth in every sense.”
Marie Ledin, managing director of the Polar Music Prize, tells Billboard, “It was so great to be back last year staging the Polar Music Prize after two years away due to COVID. And this year I feel that the committee has again risen to the challenge of choosing three laureates that are so well-deserving. It’s a great privilege for the Polar Music Prize to be able to put these three remarkable talents in the spotlight and hopefully introduce new audiences to their music. I’m looking forward to a wonderful evening of great music at the ceremony in Stockholm on May 23.”
Blackwell, Kidjo and Pärt join a long list of laureates that includes Elton John, Ravi Shankar, Metallica, Ennio Morricone, Led Zeppelin, Renée Fleming, Paul McCartney, Grandmaster Flash, Pink Floyd, Peter Gabriel, Isaac Stern, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Sonny Rollins, Diane Warren, Gilberto Gil, B.B. King, Emmylou Harris, Yo-Yo Ma, Miriam Makeba, Björk, Wayne Shorter, Patti Smith, Dizzy Gillespie, Iggy Pop, the Kronos Quartet, Youssou N’Dour and Chuck Berry.
Monday night’s (March 27) iHeartRadio Music Awards celebrated the artists we hear most across the airwaves, with Lenny Kravitz hosting and performing.
Taylor Swift collected the Innovator Award and Pink won the Icon Award, but who else took home prizes?
Find the night’s big winners below:
Song of the year“About Damn Time”- LizzoWINNER: “Anti-Hero”- Taylor Swift“As It Was”- Harry Styles“Big Energy”- Latto“Enemy (from the series Arcane League of Legends)”- Imagine Dragons“First Class”- Jack Harlow“Ghost”- Justin Bieber“Heat Waves” – Glass Animals“Industry Baby” – Lil Nas X & Jack Harlow“Woman” – Doja Cat
Artist of the yearBeyoncéDoja CatDrakeDua LipaHarry StylesJack HarlowJustin BieberLizzoTaylor SwiftThe Weeknd
Best duo/group of the yearAJRBlack Eyed PeasBlackpinkGlass AnimalsWINNER: Imagine DragonsMåneskinOneRepublicParmaleeRed Hot Chili PeppersSilk Sonic
Best collaboration“Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home)”- Elle King & Miranda Lambert“Cold Heart”- Elton John & Dua Lipa“half of my hometown”- Kelsea Ballerini ft. Kenny Chesney“I Like You (A Happier Song)” – Post Malone ft. Doja Cat“Industry Baby” – Lil Nas X & Jack Harlow“One Right Now”- Post Malone & The Weeknd“Sweetest Pie” – Megan Thee Stallion & Dua Lipa“Unholy” – Sam Smith & Kim Petras“Wait For U” – Future ft. Drake & Tems“You Right” – Doja Cat ft. The Weeknd
Best new pop artistDove CameronGayleWINNER: JaxNicky YoureSteve Lacy
Country song of the year“Buy Dirt” – Jordan Davis ft. Luke Bryan“half of my hometown” – Kelsea Ballerini ft. Kenny ChesneyWINNER: “She Had Me At Heads Carolina” – Cole Swindell“The Kind of Love We Make” – Luke Combs“Wasted On You” – Morgan Wallen
Country artist of the yearCarrie UnderwoodJason AldeanKane BrownLuke CombsWINNER: Morgan Wallen
Best new country artistBailey ZimmermanWINNER: Cody JohnsonElle KingElvie ShanePriscilla Block
Afrobeats artist of the yearBurna BoyCKayFireboy DMLTemsWizkid
Hip-hop song of the year“F.N.F. (Let’s Go)”- Hitkidd & GloRilla“First Class” – Jack Harlow“Girls Want Girls” – Drake ft. Lil Baby“Super Gremlin”- Kodak Black“Wait For U” – Future ft. Drake & Tems
Hip-hop artist of the yearDrakeFutureKodak BlackLil BabyMoneybagg Yo
Best new hip-hop artistB-LoveeGloRillaLattoNardo WickSleazyWorld Go
R&B song of the year“Break My Soul” – Beyoncé“Free Mind” – Tems“Hrs And Hrs” – Muni Long“I Hate U”- SZA“Smokin Out The Window” – Silk Sonic
R&B artist of the year BlxstMuni LongSilk SonicSZAYung Bleu
Best new R&B artist BlastBrent FaiyazWINNER: Muni LongSteve LacyTems
Alternative song of the year“Black Summer”- Red Hot Chili Peppers“Edging”- Blink-182“Enemy (from the series Arcane League of Legends)”- Imagine Dragons“Heat Waves”- Glass Animals“Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)”- Kate Bush
Alternative artist of the yearImagine DragonsMåneskinRed Hot Chili Pepperstwenty one pilotsWeezer
Best new artist (alternative & rock)Beach WeatherBoyWithUkeWINNER: Giovannie and the Hired GunsTurnstileWet Leg
Rock song of the year“Black Summer”- Red Hot Chili Peppers“Patient Number 9”- Ozzy Osbourne ft. Jeff Beck“Planet Zero”- Shinedown“So Called Life”- Three Days Grace“Taking Me Back”- Jack White
Rock artist of the yearGhostWINNER: Papa RoachRed Hot Chili PeppersShinedownThree Days Grace
Dance song of the year“Cold Heart”- Elton John & Dua Lipa“Escape”- KX5, Kaskade, Deadmau5 ft. Hayla“Heaven Takes You Home”- Swedish House Mafia & Connie Constance“Hot In It”- Tiësto & Charli XCXWINNER: “I’m Good (Blue)”- David Guetta & Bebe Rexha
Dance artist of the yearWINNER: Anabel EnglundJoel CorrySofi TukkerSwedish House MafiaTiësto
Latin pop/reggaeton song of the year “El Incomprendido” – Farruko/ Víctor Cárdenas/ DJ AdoniWINNER: “MAMIII”- Becky G & Karol G“Me Porto Bonito”- Bad Bunny ft. Chencho Corleone“Moscow Mule” – Bad Bunny“Provenza”- Karol G
Latin pop/reggaeton artist of the year Bad BunnyDaddy YankeeFarrukoKarol GRauw Alejandro
Regional Mexican song of the year “Cada Quien”- Grupo Firme ft. Maluma“Cómo Te Olvido” – La Arrolladora Banda El Limón de René Camacho“Si Te Pudiera Mentir”- Calibre 50“Ya Solo Eres Mi Ex” – La Adictiva“Ya Supérame”- Grupo Firme
Regional Mexican artist of the yearCalibre 50Christian NodalEl FantasmaWINNER: Grupo FirmeLa Adictiva
Best new Latin artistBlessdKali UchisQuevedoRyan CastroVenesti
Best lyrics (socially voted category)“About Damn Time” – Lizzo“abcdefu” – Gayle“Anti-Hero” – Taylor Swift“Buy Dirt”- Jordan Davis ft. Luke Bryan“Glimpse Of Us”- Joji“Lift Me Up”- Rihanna “N95” – Kendrick Lamar“pushin P” – Gunna ft. Future, Young Thug“Super Freaky Girl” – Nicki Minaj “Wasted On You” – Morgan Wallen“We Don’t Talk About Bruno”- Lin-Manuel Miranda performed by the Cast of Encanto
Best music video (socially voted category)“Anti-Hero”- Taylor Swift “As It Was” – Harry Styles “Calm Down”- Rema & Selena Gomez“Don’t Be Shy”- Tiësto & Karol G “Don’t You Worry”- Black Eyed Peas, Shakira, David Guetta“Envovler” – Anitta “Left and Right”- Charlie Puth ft. Jung Kook of BTS“Pink Venom”- BLACKPINK “Tití Me Preguntó” – Bad Bunny “Yet To Come” – BTS
Best fan army (socially voted category)“Barbz”- Nicki Minaj “Beliebers”- Justin Bieber “BeyHive” – Beyoncé“Blinks”- Blackpink “BTSArmy”- BTS “Harries” – Harry Styles “Hotties”- Megan Thee Stallion “Louies”- Louis Tomlinson “RihannaNavy”- Rihanna “Rushers”- Big Time Rush “Selenators” – Selena Gomez “Swifties”- Taylor Swift
Social star award (socially voted category)Bailey ZimmermanCharli D’AmelioEm BeiholdGayleGloRillaJVKELauren Spencer-SmithYung Gravy
Favorite tour photographer (socially voted category)Bad Bunny – SiemprericDemi Lovato – Angelo KritikosDua Lipa – Elizabeth MirandaHalsey – YasiWINNER: Harry Styles – Lloyd WakefieldLouis Tomlinson – Joshua HallingLuke Combs – David BergmanMachine Gun Kelly – Sam CahillOlivia Rodrigo – DonslensPost Malone – Adam DeGrosstwenty one pilots – Ashley OsbornYUNGBLUD – Tom Pallant
TikTok bop of the year (socially voted category)“About Damn Time”- Lizzo “As It Was” – Harry Styles“Bad Habit” – Steve Lacy “Bejeweled”- Taylor Swift “Big Energy”- Latto “Cuff It”- Beyoncé“Envolver”- Anitta “Just Wanna Rock” – Lil Uzi Vert “Made You Look”- Meghan Trainor “Super Freaky Girl” – Nicki Minaj “Unholy”- Sam Smith & Kim Petras “World’s Smallest Violin”- AJR
Favorite documentary (socially voted category)Halftime – Jennifer Lopez Life in Pink – Machine Gun Kelly Love, Lizzo– Lizzo Niall Horan’s Homecoming: The Road to Mullingar With Lewis Capaldi – Niall Horan + Lewis Capaldi Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me – Selena Gomez Shania Twain: Not Just a Girl – Shania Twain Sheryl – Sheryl Crow Untrapped: The Story of Lil Baby – Lil Baby
Favorite tour style (socially voted category)Bad BunnyCarrie UnderwoodDua LipaElton JohnHarry StylesLady GagaLil Nas XLizzoMachine Gun KellyOlivia RodrigoRosalíaThe Weeknd
Favorite residency (socially voted category)“An Evening with Silk Sonic” – Silk Sonic“Enigma + Jazz & Piano” – Lady Gaga “Let’s Go!” – Shania Twain “Love In Las Vegas”- John Legend “Love On Tour” – Harry Styles “Play”- Katy Perry “Reflection: The Las Vegas Residency” – Carrie Underwood“Usher: My Way – The Las Vegas Residency” – Usher“Weekends with Adele” – Adele
Favorite use of a sample (socially voted category)Beyoncé’s “Summer Renaissance” – sampled Donna Summer’s “I Feel Love”Blackpink’s “Pink Venom” – sampled 50 Cent’s “P.I.M.P,” Rihanna’s “Pon de Replay,” andBiggie’s “Kick In The Door”Chlöe’s “Treat Me” – sampled Bubba Sparxxx & Ying Yang Twins’ “Ms. New Booty”David Guetta & Bebe Rexha’s “I’m Good (Blue)” – sampled Eiffel 65’s “Blue (Da Ba Dee)”DJ Khaled & Drake’s “Staying Alive” – sampled The Bee Gees’ “Stayin’ Alive”Doja Cat’s “Vegas” – sampled Shonka Dukureh’s “Hound Dog”Jack Harlow’s “First Class” – sampled Fergie’s “Glamorous”Latto’s “Big Energy” – sampled Mariah Carey’s “Fantasy”Lizzo’s “Break Up Twice” – sampled Lauryn Hill’s “Doo Wop (That Thing)”Nicki Minaj’s “Super Freaky Girl” – sampled Rick James’ “Super Freak”Taylor Swift’s “Question…?” – sampled Taylor Swift’s “Out of The Woods”Yung Gravy’s “Betty (Get Money)” – sampled Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up”
Most Played ArtistWINNER: Doja Cat
Country Album of the YearWINNER: Luke Combs, Growin’ Up
Taylor Swift took a brief break from her blockbuster The Eras Tour on Monday night (March 27), popping by Los Angeles’ Dolby Theater for the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards to accept the Innovator Award.
Phoebe Bridgers presented the award to her “Nothing New” collaborator, explaining how hearing a young Swift singing her own songs on country radio when she was growing up is what inspired her to become an autobiographical songwriter.
“I was listening to country radio one day with my mom and Taylor came on,” Bridgers said. “I heard a girl not much older than me singing a song she had written about her own life and the song was really good. As I grew up, so did Taylor, and so did her songs.
“Taylor has always told the truth,” Bridgers added. “She has always written songs about exactly where she is. I’m grateful to have grown up in a world with Taylor Swift in it. Or ‘The World (Taylor’s Version).’”
Before Swift took the stage, a video montage played of her famous friends and fans — including Selena Gomez (“She can represent what she’s walking through so well”) and Dolly Parton (“We wanna keep you around forever”) — singing Swift’s praises.
“Anyone who is part of that video, that video really blew my mind,” Swift said, before launching into her speech and marveling at being labeled an “Innovator.”
“I never a single time woke up in the morning and said, ‘You know what I’m gonna do today? I’m gonna innovate stuff,’” she said. “What I did do was make the right decisions for me. People want an example of something working before, but I think the coolest ideas, moves and choices are new ones, ones that set a new precedent. I’m so thankful because my fans have backed me up on things like switching genres or re-recording all my old music.
“The thing about these exciting nights and moments and especially this award, they’re shining a light on the choices I made that worked out, that turned out to be good ideas,” she added. “I want everyone to know — especially young people — that the hundreds and thousands of dumb ideas that I had led me to my good ideas. You have to give yourself permission to fail. I try as hard as I can not to fail because it’s embarrassing, but I give myself permission to.
“Make the right choices that make sense for you and someone one day might thing you’re innovative.”
The Eras Tour continues this weekend at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, where MUNA and GAYLE will open Friday night and beabadoobee and Gracie Adams open Saturday night. Bridgers will join The Eras Tour as a warm-up act starting with the Nashville dates in May.
On Monday (March 27), CMT revealed the six finalists for video of the year at their upcoming awards show, including Morgan Wallen, Blake Shelton and more.
Wallen’s visual for “You Proof” is nominated, while Shelton is competing with 2022’s “No Body.” The four other nominees rounding out the category include Carrie Underwood‘s “Hate My Heart” from her latest album Denim & Rhinestones, Cody Johnson‘s “Human,” HARDY‘s Lainey Wilson-assisted “Wait in the Truck” and Kane Brown‘s “Thank God” with his wife Katelyn Brown.
Voting in the video of the year category, which started with a crop of 16 videos, will continue through the weekend, with the top three nominees being announced Sunday (April 2) ahead of the show and the big winner revealed during the telecast on CBS.
Underwood’s inclusion in the top six continues her hot streak at the CMT Awards; the American Idol champ holds the record as the most-awarded artist in the show’s history, and she’s been up for video of the year for five consecutive years.
Shelton coming out on top would make it The Voice coach’s second win for video of the year after being crowned in 2018 for “I’ll Name the Dogs,” though the Browns would make history with a win as the first-ever husband and wife duo to take home the prize. (The Different Man singer also happens to be co-hosting the ceremony opposite Kelsea Ballerini.)
For HARDY, Wilson, Johnson or Wallen, a victory over the country veterans would bring a first-time win in the category. The latter currently holds the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 for the third consecutive week with his sprawling, 36-track album One Thing at a Time (chart dated April 1).
Ready for the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards? The March 27 event will see a whole host of celebrities and musicians at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre, attending as performers and making special appearances.
The 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards will include nine performances across a variety of genres, including a set from Lenny Kravitz — who doubles as the host for the ceremony — Kelly Clarkson, Keith Urban, Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, Latto, Muni Long, Cody Johnson and Coldplay, who will appear at the event live from its Music of the Spheres World Tour stop in Brazil.
P!nk will also take the stage one month following the release of her ninth studio album, Trustfall, which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. In addition to performing, the star will be honored as the ICON award recipient, which acknowledges her achievements spanning three decades. Taylor Swift, a 14-time iHeartRadio Music Award winner, will receive the Innovator award. Swift, who is not performing, is also up for seven awards, including the song of the year and artist of the year categories.
The 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards will also feature special appearances from Cher, Buffalo Bills’ Damar Hamlin, Donald Faison, H.E.R., Joel McHale, Jordan Davis, Nicole Scherzinger, Nikki Glaser, Phoebe Bridgers, TLC, Vella Lovell, Zach Braff and more. LL Cool J was previously announced to make a special appearance during the ceremony.
The iHeartRadio Music Awards will air on Fox on Monday, March 27, starting at 8 p.m. ET. Here are all the performers and special guests for the event:
Performers:
Lenny Kravitz
P!nk
Kelly Clarkson
Coldplay
Keith Urban
Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo
Muni Long
Cody Johnson
Latto
Special Appearances:
Cher
Phoebe Bridgers
TLC
Damar Hamlin
Nicole Scherzinger
Donald Faison
H.E.R.
Joel McHale
Jordan Davis
Nikki Glaser
Vella Lovell
Zach Braff
LL Cool J
Darius Rucker will team up with The Black Crowes for a world premiere collaboration of the band’s 1991 hit “She Talks to Angels” during the CMT Music Awards on April 2, airing live from Moody Center in Austin, Texas.
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Rucker, who is nominated in the CMT performance of the year category the upcoming awards show (for his rendition of “Let Her Cry” from CMT Storytellers), has earned nine No. 1 singles on Billboard‘s Country Airplay chart, while The Black Crowes have earned six No. 1 singles on Billboard‘s Mainstream Rock chart.
They are among the latest round of performers for the CMT Music Awards, with newly-announced performers also including Jelly Roll, Tyler Hubbard, and a collaboration from Wynonna Judd with Ashley McBryde.
Hitmaker Jelly Roll, who reigned atop Billboard‘s Emerging Artists chart for 25 weeks and is set to release his forthcoming album, Whitsitt Chapel on June 2, will perform his single “Need a Favor.” He earns his first CMT Music Awards nominations this year, with nods for male video of the year, breakthrough male video of the year, and CMT digital-first performance of the year.
A decade after Hubbard made his CMT Music Awards debut as part of Florida Georgia Line (performing “Cruise” at the 2013 ceremony, collaboration with Nelly), Hubbard will make his first solo awards performance, offering “Dancin’ in the Country.”
Wynonna will return to the CMT Music Awards stage, following her memorable final performance of “Love Can Build a Bridge” with her mother and the Judds bandmate, the late Naomi Judd. That performance is nominated for CMT performance of the year at this year’s ceremony.
These six new performers join previously announced performers Blake Shelton, Carly Pearce, Carrie Underwood, Cody Johnson, Kane Brown + Katelyn Brown, Keith Urban, Kelsea Ballerini and Lainey Wilson. Meanwhile, newcomers Avery Anna, Chapel Hart, Jackson Dean, Lily Rose, Megan Moroney and Nate Smith will perform from the Ram Trucks Side Stage.
The CMT Music Awards will air on the CBS Television Network and will stream live and on demand on Paramont+.
A2IM (The American Association of Independent Music, Inc.) announced the nominees for the 2023 Libera Awards on Wednesday (March 22), and Wet Leg leads the pack with six nominations.
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The British indie rock group, led by founders Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers, is fresh off their first two Grammy wins, taking home the awards for best alternative music performance and best alternative music album at the 2023 ceremony.
Sudan Archives, Allison Russell, Fontaines D.C. and Soul Glo all have three nominations each at the Libera Awards, which will take place at the historic Town Hall in New York City on June 15. The A2IM is a not-for-profit trade association that represents independent music recording owners and advocates for music owners on a policy level to ensure fair compensation for their work.
“Huge congratulations to all our talented and accomplished nominees for the 12th annual A2IM Libera Awards,” Dr. Richard James Burgess, president and CEO of A2IM, said in a press statement. “The A2IM Libera Awards is the world’s largest award show for the diverse universe of independent music and this year’s event will be the biggest and best to date.”
See the full list of nominations below, and buy tickets to the ceremony here.
Record of the Year
Alvvays – Blue Rev (Polyvinyl Record Co.)Dry Cleaning – Stumpwork (4AD)Plains – I Walked With You A Ways (ANTI-)Soul Glo – Diaspora Problems (Epitaph)The Smile – A Light for Attracting Attention (XL Recordings)Wet Leg – Wet Leg (Domino Recording Co.)
Label of the Year (5 or fewer employees)
Don Giovanni RecordsFire TalkInnovative LeisureOh Boy RecordsTopshelf Records
Label of the Year (6-14 employees)
Captured TracksCity SlangDaptone RecordsGlassnote RecordsSaddle CreekYep Roc Records
Label of the Year (15 or more employees)
ATO RecordsHopeless RecordsMerge RecordsNew West RecordsNinja TunePartisan RecordsSub Pop RecordsThird Man RecordsWarp Records
A2IM Humanitarian Award
Allison RussellBjörkHopeless RecordsKiller MikeMargo PriceTegan and Sara
Independent Champion
Aaron AxelsenBandcampFUGARedeyeSecretly DistributionTuneCore
Video of the Year presented by YouTube Music
Amanda Shires – Hawk For The Dove (ATO Records)Fontaines D.C. – Jackie Down The Line (Partisan Records)JayWood – Thank You (Captured Tracks)NoSo – Parasites (Partisan Records)Wet Leg – Ur Mum (Domino Recording Co.)Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Spitting Off the Edge of the World (Secretly Canadian)
Breakthrough Artist/Release
Allison Russell (Fantasy Records)Charlotte Sands (CS Records/Lakeside)Soul Glo (Epitaph)Sudan Archives (Stones Throw Records)The Linda Lindas (Epitaph)
Best Alternative Rock Record
Alvvays – Blue Rev (Polyvinyl Record Co.)Dry Cleaning – Stumpwork (4AD)Mitski – Laurel Hell (Dead Oceans)Nilüfer Yanya – Painless (ATO Records)Wet Leg – Wet Leg (Domino Recording Co.)
Best American Roots Record
49 Winchester – Fortune Favors the Bold (New West Records)Angel Olsen – Big Time (Jagjaguwar)Calexico – El Mirador (ANTI-)Charley Crockett – The Man From Waco (Son of Davy/Thirty Tigers)Kevin Morby – This Is A Photograph (Dead Oceans)Nikki Lane – Denim & Diamonds (New West Records)
Best Blues Record
Ben Harper – Bloodline Maintenance (Chrysalis)Delbert McClinton – Outdated Emotion (Hot Shot Records/Thirty Tigers)North Mississippi Allstars – Set Sail (New West Records)Shemekia Copeland – Done Come Too Far (Alligator Records)G. Love – Philadelphia Mississippi (Philadelphonic Records/Thirty Tigers)John Mayall – The Sun Is Shining Down (Forty Below Records)
Best Classical Record
Dawn Richard & Spencer Zahn – Pigments (Merge Records)Deru – We Will Live On (Friends of Friends)doeke – memorie (Nettwerk Music Group)James Heather – Invisible Forces (Ahead Of Our Time)Jonas Colstrup – At the Crest (!7K Records)Sean Shibe – Lost & Found (Pentatone)
Best Country Record
Colter Wall – Cypress Hills and the Big Country (La Honda Records/Thirty Tigers)Dolly Parton – Run, Rose, Run (Butterfly Records)Joshua Hedley – Neon Blue (New West Records)Lavender Country – Blackberry Rose (Don Giovanni Records)Margo Price – Change of Heart (Loma Vista Recordings)Plains – I Walked With You A Ways (ANTI-)Steve Earle and The Dukes – JERRY JEFF (New West Records)
Best Dance Record
Bicep – Water (Ninja Tune)Jungle – GOOD TIMES / PROBLEMZ (AWAL)Kelela – Happy Ending (Warp Records)Logic1000 – Can’t Stop Thinking About (Therapy/Because Music)Romy feat. Fred Again… – Strong (Young)Theo Parrish – DJ-Kicks (!K7 Records)
Best Electronic Record presented by Ingrooves
Bonobo – Fragments (Ninja Tune)Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul – Topical Dancer (DEEWEE/Because Music)Jockstrap – I Love You Jennifer B (Rough Trade Records)Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith – Let’s Turn It Into Sound (Ghostly International)ODESZA – The Last Goodbye (Ninja Tune/Foreign Family Collective)Shygirl – Nymph (Because Music)Sylvan Esso – No Rules Sandy (Loma Vista Recordings)
Best Folk Record
Aoife O’Donovan – Age of Apathy (Yep Roc Records)Big Thief – Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You (4AD)Christian Lee Hutson – Quitters (ANTI-)Julia Jacklin – PRE PLEASURE (Polyvinyl Record Co.)Skullcrusher – Quiet The Room (Secretly Canadian)
Best Global Record presented by Redeye Worldwide
Dungen – En Är För Mycket och Tusen Aldrig Nog (Mexican Summer)Ibibio Sound Machine – Electricity (Merge Records)Los Bitchos – Let the Festivities Begin! (City Slang)Mdou Moctar – Afrique Refait (Matador Records)Rodrigo y Gabriela – Weird Fishes/Arpeggi (ATO Records)Tinariwen – Kel Tinariwen (Wedge)Vieux Farka Touré et Khruangbin – Ali (Dead Oceans)
Best Heavy Record
Bad Omens – The Death of Peace of Mind (Sumerian Records)Beartooth – Riptide (Red Bull Records)black midi – Hellfire (Rough Trade Records)Russian Circles – Gnosis (Sargent House)Show Me The Body – Trouble The Water (Loma Vista Recordings)Soul Glo – Diaspora Problems (Epitaph)
Best Hip-Hop/Rap Record presented by Virgin Music
Danger Mouse & Black Thought – Cheat Codes (BMG)Denzel Curry – Melt My Eyez See My Future (Loma Vista Recordings)Kenny Beats – LOUIE (XL Recordings)Run The Jewels – RTJ CU4TRO (BMG)Saba – Few Good Things (Pivot Gang LLC)Sampa The Great – As Above, So Below (Loma Vista Recordings)
Best Jazz Record
Ezra Collective – Where I’m Meant To Be (Partisan Records)Kamasi Washington – The Garden Path (Young)Leland Whitty – Anyhow (Innovative Leisure)Sun Ra Arkestra – Living Sky (Omni Sound)Terri Lyne Carrington, Kris Davis, Linda May Han Oh, Nicholas Payton, Matthew Stevens – new STANDARDS Vol. 1 (Candid Records)
Best Latin Record
Adrian Quesada – Boleros Psicodélicos (ATO Records)Combo Chimbita – IRE (ANTI-)Eliane Elias – Quietude (Candid Records)Flora Purim – If You Will (STRUT Records)Helado Negro – Ya No Astoy Aquí (4AD)Sessa – Estrela Acesa (Mexican Summer)Silvana Estrada – Marchita (Glassnote Records)
Best Live/Livestream Act
Bartees Strange – Live at the Getty (4AD)Black Pumas – Colors Live at Abbey Road Studios (ATO Records)IDLES – Live on ‘From The Basement’ (Partisan Records)King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard – King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard at Red Rocks (KGLW)Low – Live (Sub Pop Records)Phoebe Bridgers – Glastonbury 2022 (Dead Oceans)Wet Leg – US 2022 tour (Domino Recording Co.)
Best Outlier Record
Animal Collective – Time Skiffs (Domino Recording Co.)Matisyahu – Matisyahu (Fallen Sparks Records/Thirty Tigers)Moor Mother – Jazz Codes (ANTI-)Nick Hakim – COMETA (ATO Records)NNAMDÏ – Please Have A Seat (Secretly Canadian/Sooper Records)yeule – Glitch Princess (Bayonet Records)
Best Pop Record
Björk – Fossora (One Little Independent/MRI)Let’s Eat Grandma – Two Ribbons (Transgressive Records)Lucius – Second Nature (Mom + Pop Music)MUNA – MUNA (Saddest Factory Records)NoSo – Stay Proud of Me (Partisan Records)Rina Sawayama – Hold The Girl (Dirty Hit)Tegan and Sara – Crybaby (Mom + Pop Music)
Best Punk Record
Big Joanie – Back Home (Kill Rock Stars)Special Interest – Endure (Rough Trade Records)The Linda Lindas – Growing Up (Epitaph)The Wonder Years – The Hum Goes On Forever (Hopeless Records)Wu-Lu – LOGGERHEAD (Warp Records)
Best R&B Record
Bettye LaVette – Let Me Down Easy: Bettye LaVette In Memphis Sun Records 70th / Remastered 2022 (Sun Label Group, LLC)Khruangbin & Leon Bridges – Texas Moon (Dead Oceans)Sudan Archives – Natural Brown Prom Queen (Stones Throw Records)Thee Sacred Souls – Thee Sacred Souls (Daptone Records)Yaya Bey – Remember Your North Star (Big Dada/Ninja Tune)
Best Re-Issue
Bon Iver – Bon Iver, 10th Anniversary Edition (Jagjaguwar)Fela Kuti – Fela with Ginger Baker Live! (Partisan Records)Karen Dalton – In My Own Time, 50th Anniversary Edition (Light In The Attic Records)Lou Reed – Words & Music, May 1965, Deluxe Edition (Light In The Attic Records)Nancy Sinatra – Nancy & Lee (Light In The Attic Records)Neko Case – Wild Creatures (ANTI-)Ray Charles – A Message From The People (Tangerine Records)
Best Remix
ACRAZE + Tiësto – Do It To It (Tiësto Mix) (Thrive Music)Bartees Strange – Wretched (keiyaA Remix) (4AD)Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul – Cliché (Soulwax Remix) (DEEWEE/Because Music)Clipping – Nothing Is Safe (remx) (Sub Pop Records)Hiatus Kaiyote – Get Sun (Georgia Anne Muldrow Remix) (Brainfeeder/Ninja Tune)Nilüfer Yanya – Midnight Sun (Sampha remix) (ATO Records)Wet Leg – Too Late Now (Soulwax Remix) (Domino Recording Co.)
Best Rock Record
Built to Spill – When The Wind Forgets Your Name (Sub Pop Records)Fontaines D.C. – Skinty Fia (Partisan Records)Jack White – Fear of the Dawn (Third Man Records)Soccer Mommy – Sometimes, Forever (Loma Vista Recordings)Spoon – Lucifer On The Sofa (Matador Records)
Best Short-Form Video
Belle And Sebastian – Scooter (Matador Records)Black Midi – Hellfire TikTok promotion (Rough Trade Records)Boy Harsher – The Runner (City Slang)Cigarettes After Sex – Pistol (Partisan Records)Kenny Beats – LOUIE 001 Instagram vignette series (XL Recordings)Toro y Moi – MAHAL TikTok series (Dead Oceans)
Best Singer-Songwriter Record
Aldous Harding – Warm Chris (4AD)Allison Russell Feat. Brandi Carlile – You’re Not Alone (Fantasy Records)Beth Orton – Weather Alive (Partisan Records)MJ Lenderman – Boat Songs (Dear Life Records)Weyes Blood – And in the Darkness, Hearts Aglow (Sub Pop Records)
Best Soul/Funk Record
Lee Fields – Sentimental Fool (Daptone Records)Ray Charles – Live In Stockholm 1972 (Tangerine Records)SERATONES – Love & Algorhythms (New West Records)St. Paul & The Broken Bones – The Alien Coast (ATO Records)Swamp Dogg – I Need A Job…So I Can Buy More Auto-Tune (Don Giovanni)
Best Spiritual Record
Brent Cobb – And Now, Let’s Turn to Page… (Ol’ Buddy Records/Thirty Tigers)Israel & New Breed – Worship Anywhere: Live from Camp NewBreed (District 11 Entertainment)Lecrae – Church Clothes 4 (Reach Records)Montell Fish – JAMIE (Lord’s Child)The Harlem Gospel Travelers – Look Up! (Colemine Records)
Self-Released Record of the Year
Echosmith – Cool Kids (our version) (Echosmith)Jessie Baylin – Jersey Girl (Missing Piece Record/The Orchard)Rita Wilson – Rita Wilson Now & Forever: Duets (Sing it Loud)Sarah Davachi – Two Sisters (Late Music)Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs – When the Lights Go (Nice Age)
Best Sync Usage
Angel Olsen – Go Home, Empire of Light Trailer (Jagjaguwar)Fela Kuti – Water No Get Enemy, Airbnb (Partisan Records)Lawrence – Don’t Lose Sight, Microsoft (Beautiful Mind / Lakeside)Sinéad O’Connor – Drink Before the War, Euphoria (Chrysalis Records)Stereolab – A Flower Called Nowhere, Atlanta (Warp Records)
Creative Packaging
Black Country, New Road – Ants From Up There, Deluxe (Ninja Tune)Jack White – 2022 Collectors’ Set (Third Man Records)Lou Reed – Words & Music, May 1965, Deluxe Edition (Light In The Attic Records)Mitski – Laurel Hell (Dead Oceans)My Morning Jacket – Circuital, Deluxe Edition (ATO Records)Sleep – Dopesmoker, Weedian High-Fi Edition (Third Man Records)
Marketing Genius
Fontaines D.C. – Skinty Fia (Partisan Records)Ghost – IMPERA (Loma Vista Recordings)Sudan Archives – Natural Brown Prom Queen (Stones Throw Records)Wet Leg – Wet Leg (Domino Recording Co.)Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Cool It Down (Secretly Canadian)
It was a night of firsts at the BMI Latin Awards, which took place March 21 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Los Angeles.
Mexico’s Ana Bárbara, the dynamic singer known as the Grupera Queen, became the first regional Mexican songwriter to ever receive a BMI Icon Award.
And Edgar Barrera, the prolific songwriter who seamlessly navigates between genres, was given the first ever Impact award for his remarkable presence and influence across the charts of many genres.
The evening — hosted by BMI President/CEO Mike O’Neill and BMI Vice President, Creative, Latin Jesus Gonzalez — was also evening of encores. Tainy won the contemporary songwriter of the year award for the second year in a row, and Horacio Palencia also repeated his regional Mexican songwriter of the year award, this time tying with Edgar Barrera. Sony Music Publishing, home to Tainy and Barrera, took home the contemporary Latin publisher of the year award, marking the seventh time in 10 years that it does so.
Universal Music Publishing Group won Regional Mexican publisher of the year, and the smash “Pepas” — performed by Farruko and written by Víctor Cardenas VIIC, IAMCHINO, Axel Quezada “Ghetto” and Keriel K4G Quiróz — was named contemporary Latin song of the year. “Jugaste y Sufrí” by Daniel Balderrama Espinoza won the Regional Mexican song of the year.
But the belle of the ball was undoubtedly Bárbara. The Mexican singer, resplendent in a shimmering dress with a pink feathered skirt, delivered a set of her own compositions, backed by a her band and ending with “Lo Busqué,” during which she accompanied herself on guitar. The performance was a reminder of just how prolific Bárbara has been in her 30-year career, placing 16 hits on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart and 14 on the Regional Mexican Airplay chart.
“Songwriting was something I didn’t always speak about,” Bárbara told Billboard earlier. “I was always shy about my songwriting, from the time I wrote [her first major hit] ‘Quise Olvidar,’ because composing wasn’t common among women. Now, I believe in all my songs, and I believe they’re all for me.”
Her inspirations, said Bárbara, were the greats of Mexican music, including José Alfredo Jiménez; Joan Sebastian and Marco Antonio Solís, who both mentored her; and Ana Gabriel, also a singer and composer.
Now, Gabriel is also inspiring a new generation, as evidenced by the opening number of the night, a tribute to her music performed by young Mexican singers Adriana Ríos, Alisun Solís, Angélica Gallegos and Lupita Infante.
Ready for the big show? The 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards, hosted by Lenny Kravitz, will air live from the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles on Monday (March 27) at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Fox.
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The awards show will feature appearances from Taylor Swift, Kelly Clarkson, Keith Urban, Latto, Coldplay, Pat Benatar, Neil Giraldo and more.
Harry Styles, Lizzo and Swift lead this year’s nominations race with eight nods each. Other nominees include SZA, Drake, Bad Bunny, Bebe Rexha, Doja Cat, Jack Harlow, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rihanna, Luke Bryan, The Weeknd, Anitta, Dua Lipa, Tiësto, Elle King, Elton John, Lil Nas X, Karol G, Kelsea Ballerini, Kenny Chesney, Kim Petras, Kodak Black, Bailey Zimmerman, Shania Twain, Swedish Mafia House, Post Malone and Morgan Wallen.
Performers include Clarkson, Kravitz, Keith Urban, Latto, Benatar and Giraldo, Muni Long, Cody Johnson, Coldplay and P!nk, who will receive the 2023 iHeartRadio Icon Award.
Swift will be on hand to receive the 2023 iHeart Innovate Award. The special honor is given out “only on occasion” and celebrates an artist that has “proven themselves to have impacted global pop culture throughout their career.”
“This is the one awards show that shares the hard-earned journeys to the top of the biggest artists and songs of the year with fans,” John Sykes, iHeartMedia’s president of entertainment enterprises, said in a statement. “It’s not a competition, rather a celebration of ‘best in class’ and viewers across America can watch it live on Fox.”
Keep reading for ways to watch and stream the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards.
How to Watch & Stream the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards
The 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards will premiere live at 8 p.m. ET on Fox while a taped-delayed edition will air for the West Coast at 8 p.m. PT.
Viewers who have access to Fox through cable, satellite, streaming or a good-old fashioned TV antenna, shouldn’t have much trouble watching the show on TV or streaming it online at Fox.com.
Those who don’t have live television can stream the 2023 iHeart Music Awards on platforms such as Sling, DirectTV Stream, Hulu+ Live TV, Fubo, and Vidgo (use ExpressVPN to stream internationally).
Sling is cheapest among the bunch at $20 (regular $40) for the first month while Direct TV Stream, Fubo and Vidgo offer free trials and affordable streaming plans starting at around $65-$75.
Hulu+ Live TV ($74.99) lets you stream over 75 live channels including Fox, NBC, ABC, MTV, CMT, BET, OWN, TLC, Food Network, ID, Vice, TNT and TruTV in addition to everything on Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN+.
Want to watch the show on the go? All of the aforementioned streamers are accessible from your smartphone, computer and other streaming devices.
The 2023 iHeartRadio Awards will also broadcast across iHeart Media radio stations and on the iHeart Radio app.
We’re just weeks away from the 2023 CMT Music Awards, and the jam-packed lineup of Ram Trucks Side Stage performers were announced on Tuesday (March 21). Avery Anna, Chapel Hart, Jackson Dean, Lily Rose, Megan Moroney and Nate Smith are all set for the Ram Trucks Side Stage, which will air during the ceremony on April 2.
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Avery Anna, Chapel Heart, Lily Rose and Megan Moroney have all been honored as CMT Next Women of Country members, with Moroney vying for her first CMT belt buckle this year, as her hit song “Tennessee Orange” is up for breakthrough female video of the year” and CMT digital first performance of the year.
Meanwhile, Dean and Smith are no strangers to the Billboard charts. Dean’s “Don’t Come Lookin’” peaked at No. 3 on the Country Airplay chart, while Smith topped the tally with “Whiskey on You.”
The fan-voted CMT Music Awards will air live on CBS on Sunday, April 2, from Moody Center in Austin, Texas. This marks the first time that the CMT Music Awards have been held in Austin, after being held in Nashville for decades. Voting for the 2023 CMT Music Awards is open at vote.cmt.com. Check out the full list of nominees here.
Blake Shelton, Carly Pearce, Carrie Underwood, Cody Johnson, Kane Brown with Katelyn Brown, Keith Urban, Kelsea Ballerini and Lainey Wilson are all set to perform during the annual awards show, which is hosted this year by Brown and Ballerini.