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Awards

Jessie Reyez Will Be Honoured with the Trailblazer Award at Billboard Canada Women in Music 2024

Globally successful singer, songwriter and champion of addressing systemic inequality, Jessie Reyez will accept the Trailblazer Award at the Billboard Canada Women in Music celebration on September 7 in Toronto.

Jessie Reyez

Jessie Reyez

Courtesy Photo

A true champion for positive change in music will be honoured at Billboard Canada Women in Music on September 7, 2024.

Jessie Reyez will accept the Trailblazer Award, an honour awarded to a female artist who acts as a music industry pioneer by using her platform to spotlight unheard voices and break ground for future generations of performers.


The Canadian singer straddles the worlds of hip-hop, R&B and pop and has proven to be a big star both on and off stage. She’s hit the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard Canadian Hot 100 multiple times, while also appearing on a number of other charts in genres including Latin, R&B and Dance. She’s collaborated and toured with artists from Billie Eilish to Eminem, Big Sean and Sam Smith. She’s been a hitmaker behind the scenes, too, penning songs for artists including Calvin Harris and Dua Lipa.

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On and offstage, Jessie Reyez has used her platform to speak up against systemic inequality – from lack of diversity on the staff of major labels to immigration issues to LGBTSQ+ rights. She’s spoken about the ways women are often taken advantage of in the music industry. Her music is resonating worldwide while acting as a catalyst for change.

Reyez was previously honoured with the Impact Award at Billboard Women in Music in 2020, accepting during the virtual ceremony while speaking about the ways she’s had to break through barriers as a woman in music.

“I’ve always said that being born a woman on this earth is like being born walking uphill,” she said. “There are so many burdens and bags that we carry and manage to do so with grace.”

Reyez is a true trailblazer in both Canada and beyond, giving back to her community in a variety of different ways. She’s an advocate of programs like The Remix Project, which supports underrepresented emerging artists, and a crucial voice on issues like mental health programs for artists.

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Previous winners of the Trailblazer Award include Phoebe Bridgers, Kesha and Janelle Monae. Reyez will accept the award at the first edition of Billboard Women in Music in Canada.

The ceremony will also include guest of honour Alanis Morissette, who will win the Icon Award. The star-studded event will celebrate previously announced honourees Allison Russell, LU Kala, The Beaches and more yet-to-be-announced.

The party takes place on September 7, 2024 at DPRTMNT in partnership with INK Entertainment. Tickets are now available here.

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Shhenseea, MOLIY, Skillibeng and Silent Addy
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Shhenseea, MOLIY, Skillibeng and Silent Addy

Awards

Here’s Why ‘Shake It to the Max’ Was Deemed Ineligible at the 2026 Grammys — And Why Its Label Calls the Decision ‘Devoid of Any Common Sense’

Representatives from the Recording Academy and gamma. CEO Larry Jackson comment on one of this year's most shocking Grammy snubs.

Few phrases define the year in music and culture like Moliy’s scintillating directive to “shake it to the max.” The Ghanaian singer’s sultry voice reverberated across the globe, blending her own Afropop inclinations with Jamaican dancehall-informed production, courtesy of Miami-based duo Silent Addy and Disco Neil. Originally released in December 2024, Moliy’s breakthrough global crossover hit ascended to world domination, peaking at No. 6 on the Global 200, thanks to a remix featuring dancehall superstars Shenseea and Skillibeng. Simply put, “Max” soundtracked a seismic moment in African and Caribbean music in 2025.

Given its blockbuster success, “Shake It to the Max” was widely expected to be a frontrunner in several categories at the 2026 Grammys. In fact, had the song earned a nomination for either best African music performance or best global music performance, many forecasters anticipated a victory. So, when “Shake It to the Max” failed to appear on the final list of 2026 Grammy nominees in any category earlier this month (Nov. 7), listeners across the world were left scratching their heads — none more than gamma. CEO Larry Jackson.

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