Billboard Canada Women in Music 2024
In the Canadian music industry, women are making major impact. Not just on stage – where artists like Charlotte Cardin, Jessie Reyez, LU KALA, Allison Russell, Alanis Morissette, Jully Black and The Beaches are touring the world and filling theatres and arenas with their powerful performances and unique voices – but also behind-the-scenes, in meaningful positions throughout music. There are still many imbalances, but from label boardrooms to influential positions in radio, touring, festivals, artist funding and more, women and gender-diverse people are shaping music.
For more than a decade and a half, Billboard Women in Music has been commemorating trailblazing and inspiring women. This year, we are excited to bring it to Canada. With the first Billboard Canada Women in Music, we’re celebrating both the artists making waves on the global stage and people from all over the music business who make major moves and pave the way for future generations of women in music, ensuring their incredible work gets the recognition it deserves.
This year, we’re honouring 11 very deserving artists and executives with Billboard Canada Women in Music awards, starting with one of the most iconic and important musicians of the last three decades. We’re also putting a spotlight on the industry, gathering an impressive list of achievers and asking them for advice for future generations of women in music. Throughout the summer, we’ve also teamed with iHeartRadio Canada for a series of performances, interviews and panels with artists and executives – and you can find all of those videos here as well.
Because of the incredible contributions of women and gender-diverse individuals, Billboard Canada Women in Music is not only a celebration of women, but of Canadian music as a whole – and a vision for where it can go next.
Words by Richard Trapunski and Rosie Long Decter.
We'll celebrate Billboard Canada Women in Music with an unforgettable night of performances and words of wisdom on September 7 in Toronto. The event will feature Alanis Morissette, Charlotte Cardin, Jessie Reyez, LU KALA, Haviah Mighty, Hailey Benedict, Rêve, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, Tia Wood and many more. Tickets are available here.
Richard Trapunski
National Editor, Billboard Canada