Some of music’s biggest names and rising stars gathered to celebrate and support woman artists, executives, producers and creators who have made an impact in their communities and the music industry at Billboard’s annual Women In Music event on Wednesday (March 1) at the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles.
The star-studded event featured performances from Woman of the Year honoree SZA, Becky G (Impact Award), Doechii (Rising Star), Kim Petras (Chartbreaker), Lainey Wilson (Rulebreaker) and TWICE (Breakthrough Artist). On hand to present were Sabrina Carpenter, Dove Cameron, Chloe Bailey, Coi Leray and Wondagurl. There was also a surprise appearance by global superstar Bad Bunny, who was on hand to present Ivy Queen with the Icon Award.
This Women In Music Executive of the Year honoree was Sylvia Rhone, the CEO and chairwoman of Epic Records. During her speech, she gave a shout-out to her fellow honorees SZA and Rosalia, who received the inaugural Producer of the Year Award. “You changed the game for R&B music, and R&B music is where I come from, and we’re back!” Rhone said of the “Kill Bill” artist. “And Rosalia particularly because that’s a historic win to be producer of the year.”
During her own acceptance speech — which was unscripted — SZA shared her deep respect for the other women in the room. This could have been any of us,” she said.
This year’s ceremony was hosted by Emmy Award-winning actress and writer Quinta Brunson. Check out moments from the 2023 Billboard Women In Music event below.
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TWICE
Image Credit: Rich Polk/PMC TWICE accept the Breakthrough Award onstage at Billboard Women In Music held at YouTube Theater on March 1, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.
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Latto & Chlöe
Image Credit: Christopher Polk/PMC Latto and Chlöe at Billboard Women In Music event as Latto accepted the Powerhouse Award.
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Doechii
Image Credit: Christopher Polk/PMC Doechii performed “Crazy” and “Persuasive” at the 2023 Billboard Women In Music event.
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Becky G & Dove Cameron
Image Credit: Christopher Polk/PMC Becky G and Dove Cameron at Billboard Women In Music held at YouTube Theater on March 1, 2023 in Los Angeles.
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Lana Del Rey & Rosalía
Image Credit: Christopher Polk/PMC Lana Del Rey and Rosalía — both of whom were honored during the evening — posed together at Billboard Women In Music.
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Latto
Image Credit: Christopher Polk/PMC Latto performed “Lottery” and accepted the Powerhouse Award at Billboard Women In Music.
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Doechii
Image Credit: Christopher Polk/PMC Doechii accepted the Rising Star Award from her mother at the 2023 Billboard Women In Music event.
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Lana Del Rey
Image Credit: Rich Polk/PMC Lana Del Rey accepts the Visionary Award onstage at Billboard Women In Music held at YouTube Theater on March 1, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.
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Bad Bunny
Image Credit: Rich Polk/PMC Bad Bunny presented Ivy Queen with the Icon Award during his surprise appearance at the 2023 Billboard Women In Music event.
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Quinta Brunson
Image Credit: Christopher Polk/PMC Quinta Brunson hosted the 2023 Billboard Women In Music event.
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Kim Petras
Image Credit: Christopher Polk/PMC Kim Petras made a plea for body autonomy while accepting the Chartbreaker Award at the 2023 Billboard Women In Music event, where she also performed “Brrr.”
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Rosalía
Image Credit: Christopher Polk/PMC Rosalía marveled at the “chain” (a diamond necklace given to each honoree) while accepting the inaugural Producer of the Year Award at the 2023 Billboard Women In Music event.
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Olivia Rodrigo
Image Credit: Rich Polk/PMC Olivia Rodrigo presents the Visionary Award onstage at Billboard Women In Music held at YouTube Theater on March 1, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.
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Kim Petras
Image Credit: Rich Polk/PMC Kim Petras accepted the Chartbreaker Award from Wendy Goldstein onstage at Billboard Women In Music event.
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Sylvia Rhone
Image Credit: Rich Polk/PMC Sylvia Rhone accepts the Executive of the Year Award from Fatima Robinson onstage at Billboard Women In Music held at YouTube Theater on March 1, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.
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Lainey Wilson
Image Credit: Rich Polk/PMC Lainey Wilson performed “Heart Like a Truck” at the Billboard Women In Music event.
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Wendy Goldstein
Image Credit: Rich Polk/PMC Wendy Goldstein spoke onstage at the Billboard Women In Music event before presenting an award to Kim Petras.
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Kim Petras
Image Credit: Rich Polk/PMC Kim Petras performed “Brrr” at the Billboard Women In Music event.
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WondaGurl
Image Credit: Rich Polk/PMC WondaGurl spoke onstage at the Billboard Women In Music event.
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Piper Parabo & Lainey Wilson
Image Credit: Rich Polk/PMC Piper Parabo and Lainey Wilson posed together at the Billboard Women In Music event.
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Sabrina Carpenter & Lauren Spencer-Smith
Image Credit: Rich Polk/PMC Sabrina Carpenter, who presented TWICE with the Breakthrough Award, and Lauren Spencer-Smith struck a pose together at the Billboard Women In Music event.
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Chlöe
Image Credit: Christopher Polk/PMC Chlöe presented the Powerhouse Award to Latto at the Billboard Women In Music event.
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Ivy Queen
Image Credit: Rich Polk/PMC Ivy Queen accepted the Icon Award at the Billboard Women In Music event.
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TWICE
Image Credit: Christopher Polk/PMC TWICE at Billboard Women In Music held at YouTube Theater on March 1, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.
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Piper Parabo
Image Credit: Christopher Polk/PMC Piper Parabo at Billboard Women In Music event.
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Lainey Wilson
Image Credit: Christopher Polk/PMC Lainey Wilson accepted the Rulebreaker Award at the Billboard Women In Music event.
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Coi Leray
Image Credit: Christopher Polk/PMC Coi Leray presented the Woman of the Year Award to SZA at the Billboard Women In Music event.
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Becky G
Image Credit: Christopher Polk/PMC Becky G at Billboard Women In Music held at YouTube Theater on March 1, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.
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Sabrina Carpenter
Image Credit: Rich Polk/PMC Sabrina Carpenter presents the Breakthrough Award onstage at Billboard Women In Music held at YouTube Theater on March 1, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.
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Golnar Khosrowshahi
Image Credit: Rich Polk Golnar Khosrowshahi speaks onstage at Billboard Women In Music held at YouTube Theater on March 1, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.
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Becky G
Image Credit: Christopher Polk/PMC Becky G at Billboard Women In Music held at YouTube Theater on March 1, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.
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Chloe Pourmorady
Image Credit: Rich Polk/PMC Chloe Pourmorady performs onstage at Billboard Women In Music held at YouTube Theater on March 1, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.
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Lana Del Rey & Olivia Rodrigo
Image Credit: Michael Buckner/PMC Lana Del Rey and Olivia Rodrigo at Billboard Women In Music held at YouTube Theater on March 1, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.
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Latto & Chlöe
Image Credit: Michael Buckner/PMC Latto and Chlöe at Billboard Women In Music held at YouTube Theater on March 1, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.
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Ivy Queen & Bad Bunny
Image Credit: Michael Buckner/PMC Ivy Queen and Bad Bunny at Billboard Women In Music held at YouTube Theater on March 1, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.
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Kim Petras & Zara Larsson
Image Credit: Michael Buckner/PMC Kim Petras and Zara Larsson at Billboard Women In Music held at YouTube Theater on March 1, 2023 in Los Angeles.