Get an Inside Look at Billboard's Women in Music 2023

By Michael Calcano, Heran Mamo

Billboard‘s 2023 Women in Music Awards kicked off Women’s History Month on Wednesday evening (March 1) by bringing the best, brightest and baddest bosses in the music industry together.

This year’s extravaganza spread girl power and upbeat energy to every corner of the YouTube Theater at SoFi Stadium, from last year’s Woman of the Year recipient Olivia Rodrigo and this year’s Chartbreaker Award winner Kim Petras uniting with this year’s Breakthrough Award-winning act TWICE backstage to executives like Dina LaPolt, Mary Harrington and Angelique Jones showing off their fabulous pink suits at the cocktail reception.

SZA‘s mother and father watched their daughter and recent Billboard cover star receive the 2023 Woman of the Year honor, and they weren’t the only proud parents in the building. Doechii‘s mother introduced her daughter before giving her the Rising Star Award presented by Honda. Bad Bunny made a surprise appearance to present Ivy Queen with the Icon Award. Other honorees included Impact Award winner Becky G, Rulebreaker Award winner Lainey Wilson, Powerhouse Award Latto, Visionary Award winner Lana Del Rey and Rosalía, who received our inaugural Producer of the Year Award presented by Bose. Epic Records CEO/chairwoman Sylvia Rhone received the 2023 Executive of the Year Award. Meanwhile, Sabrina Carpenter, Dove Cameron, Chloe Bailey, Coi Leray and Wondagurl were on hand as presenters.

Petras, Wilson, Becky G, Doechii, TWICE and Latto with “Lottery” collaborator LU KALA also took to the stage to perform during this year’s ceremony, which was hosted by Emmy-winning Abbott Elementary actress and writer Quinta Brunson. Check out what was happening inside the 2023 Billboard Women in Music event below..

BILLBOARD: Get an Inside Look at Billboard's Women in Music 2023