Billboard Music Awards
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Mexican star Peso Pluma is set to perform at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards, taking place Sunday, Nov. 19. The música Mexicana singer-songwriter will perform “Rubicón,” a corrido — powered by prickly guitars — from his chart-topping album Génesis. The performance will include a special guest appearance by boxing legend Mike Tyson, who is a […]
It’s no secret that awards show ratings on traditional TV platforms have been declining, even though fan engagement in the form of social media is up. Fans want the buzzy moments and maybe to find out who won, but they aren’t as inclined to sit for three or four hours and watch the show unfold in real time.
So producers are trying to come up with fresh approaches and figure out how to survive and thrive in this challenging environment. That’s one reason that the team behind the 2023 Billboard Music Awards have created a fresh format. Performances and awards will roll out across BBMAs and Billboard social channels, as well as via BBMAs.watch, on Sunday, Nov. 19.
In what is billed as a first-of-its-kind collaboration, the BBMAs and Spotify “Fans First” will bring fans up-close-and-personal with their favorite artists at performances and award celebrations taking place around the globe, in the midst of sold-out tours and in custom venues.
Nine new categories are being added this year, including four K-pop awards and two for Afrobeats, as well as top Hot 100 songwriter, top Hot 100 producer and top rock duo/group.
To find out more about the 2023 Billboard Music Awards Presented by Marriott Bonvoy, we quizzed two of the show’s producers, Maddy Mesevage, SVP, marketing for dick clark productions, and Alexi Mazareas, DCP’s VP, programming & development, to answer all the burning questions around the revamped awards show.
Do you agree with the premise that producers are trying to come up with fresh approaches and figure out how to survive and thrive in this challenging environment?
Mesevage: When conceptualizing a newly reimagined BBMAs, it was important for us to put the artists and fans first, leaning into the existing viewing habits of today’s audience to create an awards show that speaks to a new generation. Similar to how music consumption has shifted, with 85% of music consumed digitally, how fans engage with their favorite artists and view content has also shifted. So this year, the BBMAs is meeting fans everywhere they are, and everywhere they already consume music and content.
How has the creative community reacted to this new concept for the show? What are the main questions you’re getting from artists as they approach the new concept?
Mazareas: The new concept has resonated with both artist teams and the creative community as it allows an unprecedented amount of flexibility for an awards show performance. Not being restricted to a single stage or location, we are approaching each performance as a blank slate where we can collaborate with artists to create something totally unique, and bring on creative team members specifically curated to execute that vision. We’re partnering with best-in-class creative directors, world-renowned choreographers, and of course each artist’s creative team to make every one of these performances really special. Productions will take place all around the world from a variety of locations, each with their own vision and identity.
Are you telling top artists “Give us a four-minute performance and we’ll run it,” or is it more of a collaboration between the show and the artist?
Mazareas: This is a true collaboration between the artists, dick clark productions, and some amazing creative partners. We’ll collectively develop each concept, build a bespoke execution plan based on that vision, and then jump in together. The BBMAs team is heavily involved in all phases of the process, but our core goal is to facilitate the artist’s vision and help that vision come to life. Each production is completely unique.
The BBMAs used to be a three-hour show that aired from 8-11. Could someone who likes the traditional awards show format tune in to the show in that same way if they wanted?
Mesevage: Content will roll out directly to fans, including performances, exclusive interviews, and acceptance speeches across BBMAs and Billboard social channels; artists’ social platforms; BBMAs.watch, which takes viewers to a central curation page on Billboard.com; as well as Harmony, PMC’s proprietary live streaming platform, which saw record viewership for this year’s Streamy Awards at 15 million views and Billboard Women in Music with 57 million views.
Will there be a host or presenter to welcome the audience and make transitions and say “good night”?
Mazareas: Since this is such a non-traditional format, we are moving away from traditional host and presenter patterns. The goal is to really lean in to each unique performance and winner celebration that connects the artists and their biggest fans.
Will any of the performances be live? Will they all be new performances, recorded specifically for the show? Will any of them be pre-existing clips?
Mazareas: They will all be pre-recorded. All performances are exclusive to the BBMAs.
Will artists accept awards on the show or appear in some capacity even if they aren’t going to perform?
Mazareas: Yes, artists will accept awards, and with Spotify’s help, some will celebrate their winning moments with the fans who helped them reach the top of the charts.
In the absence of a live broadcast, will there be opportunities for spontaneous moments that often arise at awards shows?
Mesevage: We have created a scenario to give viewers an exciting new experience. We are leaning into the strengths of what this adapted format provides. We are not trying to re-create a live show environment. With that in mind, each taping lends itself to spontaneous moments and content that will feel truly unique to our 2023 BBMAs.
Another attraction of awards shows is that all your favorite stars are gathered into one place for one night. They watch each other rehearse and perform and cheer each other on. Will there be any of that?
Mazareas: Those are always great moments, but we are not focused on trying to replicate that element. We are leaning into the flexibility the new format allows to create completely original and unique performance, that prioritize both artist creativity and the fan experience.
With TV ratings, it’s very clear how many (or how few) people watched the show, but how will it be measured here?
Mesevage: We will measure the audience based on views and engagement across BBMAs content.
How else will you evaluate the success of the show?
Mesevage: Success for us is not solely how many views the content receives. What we are doing with the BBMAs is re-evaluating the value proposition for the talent involved and the fans that both watch BBMAs content and consume artist content and music. We are interested in bringing value to artists and to fans. For us, working through how we can continue to further hone in on those elements will create success in the short and long term. We are also looking at how thoughtfully and intentionally we can work with brand partners within this new model and are excited to be working with Spotify, Lexus and Marriott.
The show’s new November air date means that the eligibility period now syncs up with the year-end Billboard charts. Have you been getting a favorable response to that new timing?
Mesevage: Everyone has been supportive of the change, and we’re now uniquely positioned as the only year-end awards show that’s dedicated to celebrating the year’s best in music.
How does the Spotify partnership come into play? What creative involvement do they have in the show via their “Fans First” program?
Mesevage: The Spotify partnership allows us to identify fans who have consumed vast amounts of music over the past year of our performers and helped drive their favorite artists to the top spots on the Billboard charts. These fans will receive a “golden ticket,” granting them a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see their favorite artist up close, in an intimate setting.
The BBMAs is unique among music awards shows because winners are determined by year-end performance metrics on the Billboard charts, which are data-driven. Fans’ consumption habits are the driving force behind this data, so the partnership with Spotify is naturally synergistic because Spotify is where many fans consume music. Together, we’re able to unite artists with their biggest fans who have directly impacted their success on the charts through streaming.
Spotify’s Fans First program offers exclusive rewards and privileges like one-of-a-kind concerts, personal artist experiences, and more. Spotify has been a great collaborative partner in working with us to create memorable and fun experiences for these top fans.
Will there be a special effort to spotlight the nine new categories on the show, including four K-pop and two Afrobeats categories?
Mazareas: There will be special global moments in the show spotlighting some of the new categories, including a couple that K-pop fans will not want to miss.
How many awards will be presented on the show? How many will be otherwise revealed or announced on the show?
Mazareas: We plan to reveal all winners on the BBMAs in a variety of ways.
The walls between genres are coming down. You can make a good case that no artist better exemplified that trend in the past year than Drake. The Canadian style-shifter is a finalist in three distinct genres in the 2023 Billboard Music Awards – rap, dance/electronic and R&B. (He is also a finalist in such categories […]
It’s not easy to become a finalist for the Billboard Music Awards. There are only three to five finalists in each category, and there are dozens, and in some cases hundreds, of artists, singles and albums vying for those slots. So when an artist has two of the top five contenders in a category, they’re […]
The 2023 Billboard Music Awards are almost here — and the finalists have been revealed! Taylor Swift leads the list with entries in 20 categories as Morgan Wallen and SZA are tied for 17 entries each. Tetris KellyThe 2023 Billboard Music Awards are right around the corner and today we’re excited to reveal our list […]
Taylor Swift is the top finalist for the 2023 Billboard Music Awards, which are set for Sunday, Nov. 19. Swift is a finalist in 20 categories. At next month’s show, Swift — who is already the top female BBMAs recipient of all time with 29 wins — could surpass Drake to become the top overall leader. Drake has won 34 BBMAs and is a finalist for 14 more this year.
Swift could also break Drake’s record for the most Billboard Music Awards won in one night. Drake received 13 awards at the show in 2017.
Morgan Wallen and SZA are runners-up, with 17 entries each; followed by The Weeknd (16); Drake and Zach Bryan (14); Luke Combs (10); 21 Savage, Metro Boomin and Miley Cyrus (nine each); Beyoncé and Rema (seven each); Bad Bunny and Peso Pluma (six each); and Ariana Grande, David Guetta, Eslabon Armado, KAROL G, NewJeans and Selena Gomez (five each).
The 2023 BBMAs will deliver a fresh awards show concept that will entertain fans with music and exclusive content, including winner celebrations, behind-the-scenes moments and performances created by the world’s biggest artists. In a first-of-its-kind collaboration, the BBMAs and Spotify ‘Fans First’ will bring fans up-close-and-personal with their favorite artists. Performances and awards will roll out across the BBMAs and Billboard social channels, as well as via BBMAs.watch on Sunday, Nov. 19. Billboard Music Awards performers will be revealed daily on BBMAs social channels, starting Monday, Nov. 6.
Bryan is this year’s leading first-time BBMA finalist. Additional first-time BBMA finalists include Bailey Zimmerman, Coi Leray, Fifty Fifty, Fuerza Regida, Grupo Frontera, Jelly Roll, Ice Spice, Metro Boomin, NewJeans, Peso Pluma and Oliver Anthony Music.
Nine new awards were unveiled this year, including four in the bourgeoning K-pop field – top global K-pop artist, top K-pop tour, top K-pop album and top global K-pop song – and two in the red-hot Afrobeats field — top Afrobeats artist and top Afrobeats song.
Several other award shows have added categories recognizing African music in the past year. Wizkid was the inaugural winner of favorite Afrobeats artist at the American Music Awards in November 2022. “Calm Down” by Rema & Selena Gomez was the inaugural winner of best Afrobeats at last month’s MTV Video Awards. The nominees for the inaugural Grammy Award for best African music performance will be revealed on Nov. 10.
The BBMAs are also adding new categories for top Hot 100 songwriter and top Hot 100 producer. Swift, her frequent collaborator Jack Antonoff and Bryan are among the finalists in both categories.
The show is also adding a new award for top rock duo/group. Last year, there were two rock categories: top rock artist (four groups or duos competed with Machine Gun Kelly) and top rock tour.
Country, rock and Latin are the only genres that have a category for top duos/groups. As a result, country and Latin have seven categories, one more than R&B and rap, which have six each. Those genres are followed by rock, which has five categories; K-pop (four); dance/electronic, Christian and gospel (three each); and Afrobeats (two).
The late Whitney Houston, who amassed 16 BBMA Awards – third-most among women, behind Taylor Swift and Adele – is a finalist for top gospel album for I Go to the Rock: The Gospel Music of Whitney Houston.
Several other all-time BBMA winners are finalists again this year. The Weeknd, who has amassed 20 BBMA Awards, has 16 entries this year; Beyoncé, who has 13 BBMAs, has seven; Bad Bunny, who has 10 BBMAs, the most among Latin artists, has six.
Kanye West/Ye, who has received 17 BBMAs, has one entry this year; Rihanna, who has received 12, has two.
Elton John, who has been turning out top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 longer than most of today’s pop fans have been alive, is a finalist in two categories this year—top rock touring artist and top dance/electronic song, for “Hold Me Closer,” a collab with Britney Spears.
Unique among music awards shows, winners are determined by performance metrics on the year-end Billboard charts, the music industry’s ultimate authority and data-driven measure of success. The eligibility dates for this year’s awards are aligned with Billboard’s year-end charts tracking period, which measures music consumption from the charts dated Nov. 19, 2022, through Oct. 21, 2023. (That corresponds to the tracking period of Nov. 4, 2022 through Oct. 12, 2023.)
The 2023 Billboard Music Awards is produced by Dick Clark Productions.
The 2023 Billboard Music Award is presented by Marriott Bonvoy, Marriott’s award-winning travel program and marketplace. One special BBMAs performance and two exclusive acceptance speeches will be hosted at extraordinary hotel brands within the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio. Additionally, Marriott Bonvoy will be providing a select group of fans access to attend five BBMAs performances via Marriott Bonvoy Moments. Be on the lookout for special access to the final performance, becoming available on Oct. 30.
Other sponsors include Lexus, who will be surprising one lucky fan with the ultimate VIP treatment. In addition to having the best seat in the house, they’ll Experience Amazing with a private ride in a luxury Lexus vehicle to the one-of-a-kind performance.
Follow the BBMAs on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, Threads and YouTube; join the conversation with the hashtag #BBMAs; and get the latest news and updates at BillboardMusicAwards.com and BBMAs.watch.
Here’s the complete list of 2023 Billboard Music Awards finalists. New categories are denoted by the word (NEW).
Top Artist
Drake
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
SZA
Taylor Swift
Top New Artist
Bailey Zimmerman
Ice Spice
Jelly Roll
Peso Pluma
Zach Bryan
Top Male Artist
Drake
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
The Weeknd
Zach Bryan
Top Female Artist
Beyoncé
Miley Cyrus
Olivia Rodrigo
SZA
Taylor Swift
Top Duo/Group
Eslabon Armado
Fifty Fifty
Fuerza Regida
Grupo Frontera
Metallica
Top Billboard 200 Artist
Drake
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
SZA
Taylor Swift
Top Hot 100 Artist
Drake
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
SZA
Taylor Swift
Top Hot 100 Songwriter (NEW)
Ashley Gorley
Jack Antonoff
SZA
Taylor Swift
Zach Bryan
Top Hot 100 Producer (NEW)
Jack Antonoff
Joey Moi
Metro Boomin
Taylor Swift
Zach Bryan
Top Streaming Songs Artist
Drake
Morgan Wallen
SZA
Taylor Swift
Zach Bryan
Top Radio Songs Artist
Miley Cyrus
Morgan Wallen
SZA
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd
Top Song Sales Artist
Jason Aldean
Miley Cyrus
Morgan Wallen
Oliver Anthony Music
Taylor Swift
Top Billboard Global 200 Artist
Bad Bunny
Morgan Wallen
SZA
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd
Top Billboard Global (Excl. U.S.) Artist
Bad Bunny
Ed Sheeran
NewJeans
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd
Top R&B Artist
Beyoncé
Chris Brown
Rihanna
SZA
The Weeknd
Top R&B Male Artist
Chris Brown
Miguel
The Weeknd
Top R&B Female Artist
Beyoncé
Rihanna
SZA
Top R&B Touring Artist
Beyoncé
Bruno Mars
The Weeknd
Top Rap Artist
21 Savage
Drake
Lil Baby
Metro Boomin
Travis Scott
Top Rap Male Artist
21 Savage
Drake
Travis Scott
Top Rap Female Artist
Doja Cat
Ice Spice
Nicki Minaj
Top Rap Touring Artist
50 Cent
Drake
Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa
Top Country Artist
Bailey Zimmerman
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
Taylor Swift
Zach Bryan
Top Country Male Artist
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
Zach Bryan
Top Country Female Artist
Lainey Wilson
Megan Moroney
Taylor Swift
Top Country Duo/Group
Old Dominion
Parmalee
Zac Brown Band
Top Country Touring Artist
George Strait
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
Top Rock Artist
Jelly Roll
Noah Kahan
Stephen Sanchez
Steve Lacy
Zach Bryan
Top Rock Duo/Group (NEW)
Arctic Monkeys
Foo Fighters
Metallica
Top Rock Touring Artist
Coldplay
Depeche Mode
Elton John
Top Latin Artist
Bad Bunny
Eslabon Armado
Fuerza Regida
KAROL G
Peso Pluma
Top Latin Male Artist
Bad Bunny
Peso Pluma
Rauw Alejandro
Top Latin Female Artist
KAROL G
ROSALÍA
Shakira
Top Latin Duo/Group
Eslabon Armado
Fuerza Regida
Grupo Frontera
Top Latin Touring Artist
Daddy Yankee
Karol G
RBD
Top Global K-Pop Artist (NEW)
Jimin
NewJeans
Stray Kids
TOMORROW X TOGETHER
TWICE
Top K-Pop Touring Artist (NEW)
BLACKPINK
SUGA
TWICE
Top Afrobeats Artist (NEW)
Burna Boy
Libianca
Rema
Tems
Wizkid
Top Dance/Electronic Artist
Beyoncé
Calvin Harris
David Guetta
Drake
Tiësto
Top Christian Artist
Brandon Lake
Elevation Worship
for KING & COUNTRY
Lauren Daigle
Phil Wickham
Top Gospel Artist
CeCe Winans
Elevation Worship
Kanye West
Kirk Franklin
Maverick City Music
Top Billboard 200 Album
Drake & 21 Savage, Her Loss
Metro Boomin, HEROES & VILLAINS
Morgan Wallen, One Thing at a Time
SZA, SOS
Taylor Swift, Midnights
Top Soundtrack
Barbie: The Album
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – Music From and Inspired By
ELVIS
Metro Boomin Presents Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Soundtrack From and Inspired by the Motion Picture)
Top Gun: Maverick
Top R&B Album
Beyoncé, RENAISSANCE
Brent Faiyaz, WASTELAND
Drake, Honestly, Nevermind
Steve Lacy, Gemini Rights
SZA, SOS
Top Rap Album
Drake & 21 Savage, Her Loss
Future, I Never Liked You
Lil Baby, It’s Only Me
Metro Boomin, HEROES & VILLAINS
Travis Scott, UTOPIA
Top Country Album
Luke Combs, Gettin’ Old
Luke Combs, Growin’ Up
Morgan Wallen, One Thing at a Time
Taylor Swift, Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)
Zach Bryan, American Heartbreak
Top Rock Album
HARDY, the mockingbird & THE CROW
Jelly Roll, Whitsitt Chapel
Noah Kahan, Stick Season
Steve Lacy, Gemini Rights
Zach Bryan, American Heartbreak
Top Latin Album
Bad Bunny, Un Verano Sin Ti
Eslabon Armado, DESVELADO
Ivan Cornejo, Dañado
KAROL G, MAÑANA SERÁ BONITO
Peso Pluma, GÉNESIS
Top K-Pop Album (NEW)
Jimin, FACE
NewJeans, 2nd EP ‘Get Up’
Stray Kids, 5-STAR
TOMORROW X TOGETHER, The Name Chapter: TEMPTATION
TWICE, READY TO BE: 12th Mini Album
Top Dance/Electronic Album
Beyoncé, RENAISSANCE
Drake, Honestly, Nevermind
ILLENIUM, ILLENIUM
Kim Petras, Feed the Beast
Tiësto, DRIVE
Top Christian Album
Anne Wilson, My Jesus
Brandon Lake, House of Miracles
CAIN, Rise Up
Elevation Worship, LION
Lauren Daigle, Lauren Daigle
Top Gospel Album
Jonathan McReynolds, My Truth
Maverick City Music x Kirk Franklin, Kingdom Book One
Tye Tribbett, All Things New
Whitney Houston, I Go to the Rock: The Gospel Music of Whitney Houston
Zacardi Cortez, Imprint (Live in Memphis)
SONG AWARDS
Top Hot 100 Song
Metro Boomin, The Weeknd & 21 Savage, “Creepin’”
Miley Cyrus, “Flowers”
Morgan Wallen, “Last Night”
SZA, “Kill Bill”
Taylor Swift, “Anti-Hero”
Top Streaming Song
Miley Cyrus, “Flowers”
Morgan Wallen, “Last Night”
SZA, “Kill Bill”
Taylor Swift, “Anti-Hero”
Zach Bryan, “Something in the Orange”
Top Radio Song
Metro Boomin, The Weeknd & 21 Savage, “Creepin’”
Miley Cyrus, “Flowers”
Rema & Selena Gomez, “Calm Down”
Taylor Swift, “Anti-Hero”
The Weeknd & Ariana Grande “Die for You”
Top Selling Song
Jason Aldean, “Try That in a Small Town”
Jimin, ‘Like Crazy”
Miley Cyrus,“Flowers”
Oliver Anthony Music, “Rich Men North of Richmond”
Taylor Swift, “Anti-Hero”
Top Collaboration
David Guetta & Bebe Rexha, “I’m Good (Blue)”
Metro Boomin, The Weeknd & 21 Savage, “Creepin’”
Rema & Selena Gomez, “Calm Down”
Sam Smith & Kim Petras, “Unholy”
The Weeknd & Ariana Grande, “Die for You”
Top Billboard Global 200 Song
Miley Cyrus, “Flowers”
Rema & Selena Gomez, “Calm Down”
SZA, “Kill Bill”
Taylor Swift, “Anti-Hero”
The Weeknd & Ariana Grande, “Die for You”
Top Billboard Global (Excl. U.S.) Song
David Guetta & Bebe Rexha, “I’m Good (Blue)”
Harry Styles, “As It Was”
Miley Cyrus, “Flowers”
Rema & Selena Gomez, “Calm Down”
The Weeknd & Ariana Grande, “Die for You”
Top R&B Song
Metro Boomin, The Weeknd & 21 Savage, “Creepin’”
Miguel, “Sure Thing”
The Weeknd & Ariana Grande, “Die for You”
SZA, “Kill Bill”
SZA, “Snooze”
Top Rap Song
Coi Leray, “Players”
Drake & 21 Savage, “Rich Flex”
Gunna, “fukumean”
Lil Durk ft. J. Cole, “All My Life”
Toosii, “Favorite Song”
Top Country Song
Bailey Zimmerman, “Rock and a Hard Place”
Luke Combs, “Fast Car”
Morgan Wallen, “Last Night”
Morgan Wallen, “You Proof”
Zach Bryan, “Something in the Orange”
Top Rock Song
Jelly Roll, “Need A Favor”
Stephen Sanchez, “Until I Found You”
Steve Lacy, “Bad Habit”
Zach Bryan ft. Kacey Musgraves, “I Remember Everything”
Zach Bryan, “Something in the Orange”
Top Latin Song
Eslabon Armado x Peso Pluma, “Ella Baila Sola”
Fuerza Regida x Grupo Frontera, “Bebe Dame”
Grupo Frontera x Bad Bunny, “un x100to”
KAROL G & Shakira, “TQG”
Yng Lvcas x Peso Pluma, “La Bebe”
Top Global K-Pop Song (NEW)
Fifty Fifty, “Cupid”
Jimin, “Like Crazy”
Jungkook ft. Latto, “Seven”
NewJeans, “Ditto”
NewJeans, “OMG”
Top Afrobeats Song (NEW)
Ayra Starr, “Rush”
Libianca, “People”
Oxlade, “KU LO SA”
Rema & Selena Gomez, “Calm Down”
Victony, Rema, & Tempoe ft. Don Toliver, “Soweto”
Top Dance/Electronic Song
Bizarrap & Shakira, “Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53”
David Guetta, Anne-Marie & Coi Leray, “Baby Don’t Hurt Me”
David Guetta & Bebe Rexha, “I’m Good (Blue)”
Elton John & Britney Spears, “Hold Me Closer”
Tiësto ft. Tate McRae, “10:35”
Top Christian Song
Brandon Lake, “Gratitude”
Chris Tomlin, “Holy Forever”
for KING & COUNTRY with Jordin Sparks, “Love Me Like I Am”
Lauren Daigle, “Thank God I Do”
Phil Wickham, “This Is Our God”
Top Gospel Song
CeCe Winans, “Goodness of God”
Crowder & Dante Bowe ft. Maverick City Music, “God Really Loves Us”
Elevation Worship ft. Chandler Moore & Tiffany Hudson, “More Than Able”
Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin ft. Brandon Lake & Chandler Moore, “Fear is Not My Future”
Zacardi Cortez, “Lord Do It for Me (Live in Memphis)”
The ladies of XG are Billboard’s newest cover stars. In honor of the Hot 100’s 65th anniversary, Billboard staff has been pulling together a huge list of the top 500 best pop songs. The 2023 Billboard Music Awards, set for Sunday, Nov. 19, will include a first-of-its-kind collaboration with Spotify ‘Fans First.’ And more!
Tetris Kelly:South by Southwest Sydney headliners XG are on the cover of Billboard. Major Billboard Music Awards announcement incoming. Sebastian Yatra takes us Behind the Photo. We reveal Billboard’s Top Pop Songs of All Time. And we run down the top songs on TikTok this week.
Welcome to another episode of Billboard News. I’m Tetris Kelly. It’s Thursday, October 19th. And we’re starting this show off with our latest cover stars Japanese global pop artists XG.
Maya:Well, we’ve been inspired by a lot of groups but maybe TLC, Destiny’s Child and Spice Girls. The evolution of girl power.
Jurin:I think the fundamental haven’t changed.
Maya:It hasn’t changed I agree, I agree.
Jurin:I think defining yourself in a certain way.
Maya:Don’t limit yourself.
Jurin:Yeah not being bound by any boundaries or anything like that is what I believe is the fundamental aspect of girl power.Whenever I decide on an outfit, I always try to project the image I want to become. For today’s Billboard interview, I went with something a bit more mature and colorful and added a bit of playful touch.Destiny’s Child, TLC and Aaliyah. I love them. I love new challenges, and I like to set my mind to something and just get on with it. So I call myself Active Gal.Well for me personally it means having my own style and loving myself. I think that’s what girl power is.
Harvey:We all have very different personalities and things we really like. Each of us have to remember what we’re really into. Taking time to do what you like to do? I think we are doing that individually. I’m the same with COCONA and HINATA but I also try to draw pictures. I also like to read books and do other things that I really like.
Watch the full video above.
The 2023 Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs), set for Sunday, Nov. 19, will include a first-of-its-kind collaboration with Spotify ‘Fans First’ to bring fans up-close-and-personal with their favorite artists. The BBMAs will roll out performances and awards across BBMAs and Billboard social channels, as well as via BBMAs.watch, on that date. Performances and award celebrations will take place in global locations, in the midst of sold-out tours and in custom venues.
The goal is to deliver a fresh award show concept that will entertain fans with hours of music and exclusive content, including winner celebrations, behind-the-scenes moments and performances created by the world’s biggest artists.
In addition, the BBMAs and Spotify have teamed to identify fans who have consumed the most hours of music over the past year and helped drive their favorite artist to the top spots on the Billboard charts. These fans will receive a “golden ticket” granting them access to attend a performance curated by their favorite artist, expressly for the 2023 Billboard Music Awards. Fans First is Spotify’s program that offers exclusive rewards and privileges like one-of-a-kind concerts, personal artist experiences, merch drops and first-in-line presales to an artist’s most devoted Spotify listeners.
“We’ve heard the fans loud and clear, and we’re excited to meet them where they are, and everywhere they want to consume music and content,” Maddy Mesevage, SVP, marketing, Dick Clark Productions, said in a statement. “This year’s show is an epic celebration of the fans who propelled their favorite artists to the top of the Billboard charts. To thank them, we are thrilled to work with Spotify and the artists themselves to offer their most loyal fans an experience they’ll never forget.”
Unique among music award shows, Billboard Music Awards winners are determined by year-end performance metrics on the Billboard charts, the music industry’s ultimate authority and data-driven measure of success. The eligibility dates for this year’s awards are aligned with Billboard’s Year-End Charts tracking period, which measures music consumption from the charts dated Nov. 19, 2022 through Oct. 21, 2023.
The Billboard Music Awards aired on Fox from 1990-2006, always in December. After a four-year hiatus, the show returned in 2011. It aired on ABC from 2011-17, and on NBC from 2018-22. Throughout this period, it aired in May, except for the pandemic-delayed 2020 show, which aired in October.
This year’s show will be in the thick of awards season. The Nov. 19 show will occur nine days after the Grammy nominations are announced, and just a few weeks before final-round Grammy voting begins on Dec. 14.
Finalists – the show does not use the word “nominees,” because the finalists and recipients are data-driven – and performers will be announced in the coming weeks. The 2023 Billboard Music Awards is produced by Dick Clark Productions. Lexus and Marriott Bonvoy are partners of this year’s show.
Follow the BBMAs on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, Threads and YouTube, join the conversation with #BBMAs and get the latest news and updates at BillboardMusicAwards.com and billboard.com/bbma.