Awards
Alicia Keys Added to 2021 VMAs Lineup as MTV Confirms There Will Be No Video Vanguard Award Again
Keys first performed on the show in 2001 when she delivered her breakthrough hit “Fallin’” (with an interpolation of Beethoven’s “Für Elise”). In 2007, she performed “No One”/”Freedom.” But there will be no video vanguard award on the VMAs for the second year in a row, MTV confirmed to Billboard on Thursday (Sept. 9). This is only the third time in VMA history that the show will go two or more years without presenting that award, which has sometimes been presented as the Michael Jackson video vanguard award or as a lifetime achievement award. There was no video vanguard award in 2004 to 2005 and again from 2007 to 2010. But there was a seven-year streak from 2013 to 2019 in which the video vanguard award presentation was a highlight of the show. The recipients in those years were Justin Ti...
Keb’ Mo’, The Mavericks, Fisk Jubilee Singers to Receive Lifetime Americana Honors
Singing group the Fisk Jubilee Singers, of Fisk University, were inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2000 and were awarded the National Medal of Arts in 2008. The original Fisk Jubilee Singers formed in 1871. Their music broke racial barriers both in the United States and abroad, while helping the group raise money for the school. The Mavericks formed in Miami in 1989. In the 1990s they earned Top 20 hits on Billboard‘s Country Airplay chart, including “O What a Thrill” (peaked at No. 18), “All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down” with Flaco Jimenez (No. 13) and “There Goes My Heart” (No. 20). In 2000, the group went on hiatus and lead singer Raul Malo released a series of solo albums. The group reunited in the 2010s and last year, they release...
From TLC to Taylor Swift, We Revisit Every Video of the Year Winner Ahead of 2021 MTV VMAs
Think you can remember the top winner from each year? Then listen to the podcast and play along below: Also on the show, we’re previewing this weekend’s VMAs, which will be hosted for the first time by Doja Cat, who will also perform. Other performers include Shawn Mendes, Kacey Musgraves, Olivia Rodrigo, Lil Nas X and more. Stick with Billboard.com this weekend for full coverage of the MTV VMAs. The Billboard Pop Shop Podcast is your one-stop shop for all things pop on Billboard‘s weekly charts. You can always count on a lively discussion about the latest pop news, fun chart stats and stories, new music, and guest interviews with music stars and folks from the world of pop. Casual pop fans and chart junkies can hear Billboard‘s deputy edito...
Annenberg Inclusion Initiative Takes Swipes at Recording Academy’s Diversity Efforts
The Recording Academy’s Women in the Mix initiative was launched in 2019 whereby 650 music professionals pledged to consider at least two women in the selection process every time a producer or engineer is hired. The goal was to increase abysmal representation by women in studios. The tweet would seem to reference a survey, open until Sept. 20, which is part of a broader partnership between the academy, Berklee College of Music Institute for Creative Entrepreneurship and Arizona State University, that launched in March with an analysis of gender representation within the 63rd Grammy Awards. The goal of the study is to help guide diversity, equity and inclusion objectives within the Recording Academy and the industry at large. The Annenberg Inclusive Initiative’s tweet appears to...
Masked Wolf’s ‘Astronaut In The Ocean’ Honored For Streaming Milestone
“Astronaut In The Ocean” impacted charts around the globe, hitting No. 6 on the Hot 100, No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Rap Songs and earning Chartbreaker status. The two creators were presented with trophies earlier in the week at the APRA AMCOS offices. “I went out to celebrate 20 million streams because to me that was a goal and achievement,” explains Masked Wolf in a statement. “It’s crazy what can happen when you never give up and truly believe in yourself. One billion streams later I’m still the same person but am so grateful for this moment.” Tyron Hapi produced and co-wrote the song. Its milestone, he explains, is “an incredible achievement and stepping stone for me. I appreciate everyone who listens and supports. Without my team this also wouldn’t hav...
CMA & ACM Respond to Bobby Bones’ Claims About ‘Manipulated’ Awards Show Voting
“For example, a Luke Combs song could be No. 1 for 10 weeks, but because of politics, the label will go, ‘Ah, let’s let somebody else get in that spot,’ and they’ll move Luke Combs to No. 2 and he’ll sit there for a few weeks. The same thing with like a Maren Morris.” Billboard reached out to several label representatives regarding Bones’ statements, though no labels would comment on Bones’ statements as of press time. On Tuesday (Aug. 31), Bones returned to TikTok to say he was “surprised at all the controversy” his comments were causing and to highlight a story from today’s Country Insider that featured some anonymous radio sources agreeing with Bones’ assessment, while others disagreed or said the issue was far more complicated. In a separate TikTok po...
New L.A. Radio/Record Promotion Hall of Fame Will Honor Local Trailblazers: ‘It’s About Time!’
A 20-member committee, led by board member Steve Resnik, is spearheading a list of candidates that will include Southern California radio trailblazers, personalities, programmers and executives in all formats; and local and national leaders in record promotion from the music industry. Inductees will be honored at an in-person event. Like Alexenburg, Resnik achieved considerable success in the record industry. He worked at A&M, ABC/Dunhill and United Artists/EMI. He started New Marketing/The Charts with former Billboard associate publisher Tom Noonan before moving on to The Gavin Report and Radio & Records. He is co-founder and partner of RAMP (Radio and Music Pros) industry magazine. Other board members include top radio personalities Rick Dees and Shadoe Stevens. Los Angeles radio...
As ACM Awards Move on to Fourth Broadcast Partner, How Do Other Music Awards Shows Compare?
The move will likely be closely watched by the entire industry. The Academy of Country Music announced last week that it is moving its ACM Awards to Amazon Prime Video next year. The show aired on one of the three legacy broadcast networks continuously for 50 years. The move will likely be closely watched by the entire industry. If the show holds its audience, and if top artists continue to support it, other awards shows may seriously consider streaming partners. If the show falters, other shows may be reticent about following suit. Amazon Prime Video will be the ACM Awards’ fourth broadcast partner, which is more than any other major music awards show. Let’s see how the other shows compare: You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a datin...
Academy of Country Music Sets New COVID-19 Protocols for ACM Honors & Party for a Cause
Carly Pearce is set to host this year’s ACM Honors, which will feature performances from Lauren Alaina, Chris Janson, Jamey Johnson, Ashley McBryde, Pearce herself, Keith Urban, Lee Ann Womack and more. This year’s Special Awards recipients will include Ken Burns’ Country Music documentary, producer RAC Clark, Luke Combs, Ross Copperman, Dan + Shay, Rascal Flatts, Joe Galante, Toby Keith, Lady A, Loretta Lynn, Gretchen Peters and the late Curly Putman. The ACM Honors ceremony will also celebrate the 55th ACM Awards Industry and Studio Recording Award winners, alongside the newly announced winners of the studio recording awards for the 56th ACM Awards, as well as songwriter of the year winner Hillary Lindsey. This year’s Party for a Cause performers include Lee Brice, Brett Eldredge, M...
Foo Fighters to Receive 2021 MTV VMAs Global Icon Award
The band is up for three awards this year for their single “Shame Shame,” which is nominated for best rock, best choreography, and best cinematography. Adapted from MTV’s European Music Video Awards (EMAs), the award is given to artists who have “left an indelible mark on the musical landscape and continues to influence, inspire and evolve,” according to an MTV statement. Past winners from the show’s European counterpart include Queen, Eminem, and the late Whitney Houston. Foo Fighters’ award comes just six weeks before the band is set to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with a ceremony on Oct. 30. The band has received 11 Grammys, while frontman Dave Grohl has five wins of ...
The Judds Are Just the 4th Act to Go From Winning CMA Horizon Award to Country Music Hall of Fame
Garth Brooks: The superstar who took country to a whole new level won the horizon award in 1990 and was voted into the Hall in 2012—just 22 years later. It really can’t be done much faster than that. He beat Alan Jackson, Kentucky Headhunters, Lorrie Morgan and Travis Tritt for the horizon award. (Tritt nabbed the horizon award the following year. CMA rules allow artists two tries at the award.) Randy Travis: The country and gospel singer won the horizon award in 1986 and was voted into the Hall in 2016—30 years later. He beat the Forester Sisters, Kathy Mattea, Dan Seals and Dwight Yoakam for the horizon award. Ricky Skaggs: The country and bluegrass musician won the horizon award in 1982 and was voted into the Hall in 2018—36 years later. He beat John Anderson, Rosanne Cash, David Frizze...
Maren Morris, Luke Combs and Dan + Shay Nominated for CMA International Awards
Nominees were also revealed in categories including the Jo Walker-Meador international award (which honors outstanding achievement by an individual supporting country music’s marketing development outside of the U.S.); the Wesley Rose international media achievement award; the international country broadcaster award; and the Jeff Walker global country artist award. This year, the CMA introduced a new category, the Rob Potts international live music advancement award, which recognizes an individual’s significant contributions to the live music industry through helping to build live audiences for country music outside the United States. The award is named after the late Australian manager, promoter and CMA Board member Potts, whose career spanned more than 30 years, paving the way for Austra...
