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Billboard’s 2023 Women in Music Awards took place on Wednesday (March 1) at Los Angeles’s YouTube Theater, honoring several powerhouse artists who made a significant impact on music over the past year. But hours before the awards show, Billboard aired a special pre-show that celebrated the successes of some of the most influential women in the industry at large.  

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The pre-show hosted by hip-hop legend Trina explored some of the most notable accomplishments ever made by star-studded women and featured interviews from some of the award recipients, who know how invaluable it is to have support On Your Side.

The Nationwide-sponsored event also included a roundtable segment featuring members of Billboard’s women editorial staff –– including executive director of R&B/Hip-Hop Gail Mitchell, music publishing reporter Kristin Robinson, executive editor for West Coast and Nashville Melinda Newman, director of Billboard dance Katie Bain, and senior editor Lyndsey Havens –– who spoke openly about their unique experiences as women in the music industry. 

Speaking about who has supported them over the past year, each staff member counted past and present coworkers as integral components of their support systems, offering encouragement and solidarity in a way only those who have faced similar challenges can.

“We have a group called Sister Friends,” said Mitchell. “And it’s women who were in the industry before me, another woman that came in right at the same time I did. So, we’ve helped each other along.”

Havens spoke specifically about Billboard, saying the company has seen her through several aspects of her career: “I think the women in this office are amazing. I started as an intern, so I really just feel like the women in this company are the ones that have been on my side this year, last year, all the years.”

As for who’s backed them throughout the course of their careers, each woman gave credit to their families, who cheered them on from the very beginning. 

“I remember in 5th grade when I’d decided I wanted to do this for a living, [my parents] got me an electric typewriter and were just incredibly supportive, and that has stayed with me my entire life,” Newman said. “There was never a doubt in my mind that I could do this.”

“My mom has also been there for me in that same way,” Robinson co-signed. “She always said, ‘I’m not worried about you. You’re gonna be OK.’”

The group also offered up ways to further support women –– and it’s advice that applies to every industry. 

“Hire women,” Bain said simply. “Just get women in the door, because I feel like when you open a door for a woman, she does the rest of the work herself.”

“You have to be very willing to say, ‘I’m gonna kick this door open and I’m gonna leave it way wider open than it was when I had to come through it,’” Mitchell said, “but I think there are a lot of women who do that, actually.”

Billboard is kicking off its 2023 Women in Music Awards with a special pre-show that will further celebrate the successes of some of the most influential women in the industry. 

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See latest videos, charts and news

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The pre-show will explore some of the most notable accomplishments ever made by star-studded women and will feature interviews from some of the award recipients, whom know how invaluable it is to have support on your side.

The pre-show will also see Billboard staff come together for a roundtable segment, where women editors and executives –– including executive director of R&B/Hip-Hop Gail Mitchell, music publishing reporter Kristin Robinson, executive editor for West Coast and Nasvhille Melinda Newman, director of Billboard dance Katie Bain, and senior editor Lyndsey Havens –– discuss their own experiences in the music industry. The Nationwide-sponsored event will see the editors go into detail about their proudest accomplishments as industry professionals, as well as the unique challenges they face in the field as women and who has been on their side through the best and the worst of it all.

Nationwide has long championed musicians with their On Your Side Soundtracks campaign. As part of the campaign, each featured artist puts their own spin on the brand’s famous jingle with an original song that perfectly encapsulates Nationwide’s commitment to protection and care. 

Viewers can tune in via livestream to Billboard’s Women in Music Awards pre-show on March 1 at 6 p.m. PT/3 p.m. PT on Billboard’s Twitter and YouTube channel.

The 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards will then stream live from Los Angeles’s YouTube Theater at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. Hosted by Emmy-winner Quinta Brunson, the awards show will highlight the impact made by women, specifically honoring SZA with the Woman of the Year Award, Becky G with the Impact Award, Rosalía with the inaugural Producer of the Year Award, Kim Petras with the Chartbreaker Award, Lana Del Rey with the Visionary Award, Doechii with the Rising Star Award, TWICE with the Breakthrough Award, Lainey Wilson with the Rulebreaker Award, Latto with the Powerhouse Award, and Ivy Queen with the Icon Award.