Billboard Women in Music is an annual awards event presented by Billboard magazine that honors women who have made significant contributions to the music industry as artists, executives, producers, songwriters, and professionals. Established in 2007 with Reba McEntire as the first Woman of the Year honoree, the event has grown into one of the most respected celebrations of female achievement in music.
At the 2026 ceremony on April 29 at the Hollywood Palladium, Teyana Taylor accepted the Visionary Award from Dionne Warwick. Taylor spoke about her transition from performer to director and the importance of women controlling their own creative output. The moment was one of the most discussed segments of the broadcast.
Past Winners by Category and Year
The Woman of the Year Award has been presented annually since 2007. Below is a reference table of Woman of the Year honorees from the last four ceremonies, along with selected category winners from each year.
| Year | Woman of the Year | Other Notable Honorees |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Huntrix (Ejae, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami) | Teyana Taylor (Visionary), Tate McRae (Hitmaker), Ella Langley (Powerhouse), Kehlani (Impact), Laufey (Innovator), Mariah the Scientist (Rising Star), Zara Larsson (Breakthrough), Thalia (Icon) |
| 2025 | Doechii | Erykah Badu (Icon), GloRilla (Powerhouse), Gracie Abrams (Songwriter of the Year), Meghan Trainor (Hitmaker), JENNIE (Global Force), Tyla (Impact), Muni Long (Rising Star), aespa (Group of the Year), Tina Knowles (Mother of the Year) |
| 2024 | Karol G | Charli XCX (Powerhouse), NewJeans (Group of the Year), Victoria Monet (Rising Star), Maren Morris (Hitmaker), Ice Spice (Hitmaker), Lupe De La Torre (Breakthrough), Kylie Minogue (Icon) |
| 2023 | SZA | Lana Del Rey (Visionary), Rosalia (Producer of the Year), Kim Petras (Chartbreaker), TWICE (Breakthrough), Lainey Wilson (Rulebreaker), Doechii (Rising Star), Becky G (Impact), Ivy Queen (Icon), Latto (Powerhouse) |
The 2026 ceremony marked the first time a group (Huntrix) was collectively honored as Woman of the Year. Karol G became the first Latina to receive the award in 2024. Doechii's 2025 selection came weeks after her Grammy win for Best Rap Album, making her only the third woman to win that Grammy category. SZA's 2023 honor coincided with her album SOS spending its 10th week at number one on the Billboard 200.
How Billboard Women in Music Works
The event originated from Billboard's Women in Music list, launched in 2005 as a magazine feature. The first Woman of the Year Award was given in 2007 to Reba McEntire at an event called "Top 20 Women in Music," held in conjunction with Lifetime. Every year since, Billboard has honored a female artist with the Woman of the Year Award. Taylor Swift is the only woman to receive it twice (2011 and 2014).
Honorees are selected by Billboard's editorial team based on chart performance, cultural impact, business achievements, and contributions to the industry. There is no public voting. The event features multiple award categories beyond Woman of the Year, including Hitmaker, Powerhouse, Innovator, Impact, Visionary, Icon, Rising Star, Breakthrough, Trailblazer, and Songwriter of the Year.
The 2026 ceremony took place on April 29 at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, hosted by Keke Palmer. The Woman of the Year Award went to Huntrix (the singing voices of Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami from the film "KPop Demon Hunters"), marking the first time a group was collectively honored. Other 2026 honorees included Teyana Taylor (Visionary Award), Tate McRae (Hitmaker Award), Ella Langley (Powerhouse Award), Kehlani (Impact Award), Laufey (Innovator Award), Mariah the Scientist (Rising Star Award), Zara Larsson (Breakthrough Award), and Thalia (Icon Award).
Since 2023, Billboard also runs Billboard Latin Women in Music as a separate ceremony. Rosalia was named Woman of the Year at the 2026 Latin ceremony.
Real-World Example
Doechii's selection as 2025 Woman of the Year illustrates how Billboard recognizes artists at the peak of their cultural moment. She won the award after her breakout mixtape "Alligator Bites Never Heal" earned critical acclaim and her single "Denial Is a River" went viral. The award coincided with her Grammy win for Best Rap Album, making her only the third woman to win that Grammy category. Following the honor, her streaming numbers increased significantly and she secured high-profile festival bookings. This shows how Billboard Women in Music recognition serves as a career accelerator. The award validates both commercial success and cultural influence, which translates into booking fees, brand partnerships, and media coverage.
At the 2025 ceremony on March 29 at the YouTube Theater in Inglewood, California, Doechii accepted the award from her collaborators DJ Miss Milan and Jayda Love. She opened by asking "Where's the swamp?" and reflected on receiving the Rising Star Award at the same event two years earlier. She described the event as "created out of necessity" and called herself "a fierce ally" to women across the industry. The 2025 ceremony was hosted by Laverne Cox and also honored Erykah Badu (Icon Award), aespa (Group of the Year), Gracie Abrams (Songwriter of the Year), JENNIE (Global Force), and Tyla (Impact Award), among others.
Karol G's 2024 acceptance speech was a landmark moment for the event. Presented by Sofia Vergara, Karol G became the first Latina to receive the Woman of the Year Award. She delivered most of her speech in Spanish, describing years of rejection for being a woman in music and her decision to "change the 'a woman can't do it' to 'look at this woman doing it.'" The 2024 ceremony took place on March 6 at the YouTube Theater.
At the 2026 ceremony, Zara Larsson received the Breakthrough Award and performed her song "Midnight Sun." Larsson noted that the award recognized years of work rather than a single breakout moment, saying "it's not a best new, it's a breakthrough." The 2026 ceremony also featured performances from EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami (performing "Golden" from KPop Demon Hunters), Kehlani, Laufey, and Thalia.
Why It Matters for Independent Artists
Billboard Women in Music is one of the few major industry events that specifically champions women across all roles in music, not just performers. The event recognizes songwriters, producers, executives, and industry professionals. For independent female artists, this means recognition is possible even without major label backing if your work demonstrates cultural impact and commercial achievement.
If you are an independent female artist, focus on building the metrics Billboard evaluates: chart performance, streaming growth, touring revenue, and cultural conversation. Use our Streaming Royalty Calculator to track your streaming milestones. Read our guide on how to monetize your fanbase in 2026 to build the commercial case for recognition. For artists interested in the business side, our article on how to become an A&R in the music industry covers pathways into industry leadership roles that Billboard also recognizes. Understanding music industry networking is essential, as Billboard's editorial team considers industry reputation and peer recognition when selecting honorees.
Related Awards and Resources
- Billboard Music Awards - Billboard's flagship data-driven awards
- Billboard Latin Music Awards - Latin music chart-based awards
- BET Awards - Celebrating Black entertainers including female artists
- Grammy Awards - Peer-voted awards including categories for female artists
- American Music Awards - Fan-voted awards across all genres
- MTV Video Music Awards - Video-focused awards with female artist categories
- How to Build a Long Career in Music - Longevity strategies for artists
- Complete Guide to Making Money as a Musician in 2026 - Revenue building for independent artists
- Official Billboard Women in Music - Latest honorees and event info
