Blond:ish Will Receive the Innovator Award at Billboard Canada Women In Music 2026

Blond:ish has big-picture vision, both on and off the stage. On Nov. 24 at Billboard Canada Women In Music, she will be presented with an honour recognizing that impact: the Innovator Award. Tickets are available here.

Born Vivie-Ann Bakos, the Ontario-born DJ, producer and environmental activist has made her name as one of the world's most prolific and successful dance musicians right now. She's notably the first ever female resident DJ at clubbing insitution Pacha Ibiza, and recently soared to No. 1 on the Billboard Dance Airplay chart for her hit "Lovers On The Dancefloor."

She's also mixed at many of the biggest stages globally, including festivals like Coachella, Tomorrowland and Burning Man and she's collaborated with the industry's biggest names, producing an official remix of Taylor Swift's chart-topping single "Fortnight" and collaborating with Madonna on "Sorry."

Like the most important electronic music pioneers, Blond:Ish uses nightlife to build community as well as advocacy. Her non-profit organization Bye Bye Plastic Foundation is fervently dedicated to the elimination of single-use plastics in nightlife spaces, from Blond:ish's own shows to international clubs. Since 2020, it has recycled over 1 million plastic cups off dancefloors. Through its Eco-Rider program, a sustainability clause that encourages artists to ban single-use plastic from their rider requests, the organization has also stopped the circulation of over 325,000 plastic bottles and 425,000 cups, gaining support from over 1,500 artists.

In 2025 alone, the organization prevented the use of 12.7 tons of plastic across 55 venues and festivals and launched the updated Eco-Rider 2.0, a toolkit that expands the eco-friendly initiative's impact to travel, hospitality, and backstage operations.

Blond:ish's sustainable efforts have extended to her own releases, using biodegradable vinyl to press her album Never Walk Alone last year. She also launched an "energy token" titled $NRG to foster a deeper connection with her community, giving holders access to exclusive fan-centred experiences, guestlist and backstage access to Abracadabra events, unreleased music and more. She fosters a deep connection with her fans, which is evident through her livestreams and her concerts. It was also evident at Billboard Canada THE STAGE at NXNE this summer, where she previewed exclusive new music and took the time to meet and interact with each and every fan.

Blond:Ish will accept the Innovator Award at Billboard Canada Women In Music on Nov. 24 at Rebel in Toronto alongside some of the biggest names in global music. Recently announced honourees include the first-ever Global Woman of the Year, Cardi B, Global Visionary Summer Walker, Rising Star Chxrry, Global Hitmaker Bebe Rexha, Executive of the Year, Live Nation Canada’s Melissa Bubb-Clarke, and Impact Award Winner, MusiCounts/CARAS/The Juno Awards’ Kristy Fletcher.

Billboard Canada Women In Music 2026 takes place at Rebel in Toronto on Nov. 24. Tickets are available here.