FEATURE:
Sisters in the Spotlight
IN THIS PHOTO: Victoria Monét, Ari Lennox, Muni Long at the Billboard Women in Music 2025 held at the YouTube Theater on 29th March, 2025 in Los Angeles, California/PHOTO CREDIT: Christopher Polk
Highlighting the Women in Music Awards - and Going Beyond It
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I am returning…
IN THIS PHOTO: Doechii arrives at the Billboard Women in Music 2025/PHOTO CREDIT: Michael Buckner
once more to Doechii. Not to completely focus on her but, as she recently won the Woman of the Year award at the Billboard Women in Music Awards, it makes me think about the rest of the music industry and making this sort of thing more prominent. It is great that there are events like the Music in Women Awards. There is also Music Week’s Women in Music Awards. I guess it is a different sort of thing to what Billboard does, though it is great that there is recognition of women in music. However, it is crucial making them annual and ensuring that they are never cancelled. I am going to continue on this theme. However, this Billboard article celebrates Doechii walking away with a big prize and her calling for this type of award ceremony to remain and grow:
“Where’s the swamp? Do I have any fans in the house?” Doechii asked the audience inside YouTube Theater in Inglewood, Calif., to laughs and applause after an introduction from two of her collaborators, Jayda Love and DJ Miss Milan.
“I cannot believe it was just two years ago I stood on this stage right here and accepted the Billboard Rising Star Award. I had literally performed so hard I danced my shoes off and had to hop up to the mic,” she recalled of her performances of “Persuasive” and “Crazy,” smiling. “And here I am. That moment reflects how I approach my career – always go full out, always go hard and always be fab.”
Thanking her family, God and the many women on her team and at her label, Doechii noted the Woman of the Year honor was “a full-circle moment.”
She also talked about the importance of Billboard Women in Music as an annual industry event. “I stand here as a fierce ally,” the rapper said. “That word is a key reason there is a Billboard Women in Music.” The event, which began in 2007, came about because “women in the music business were tired of not getting their seats at the table or the credit they deserved,” she said. “This event was created out of a necessity. That word, necessity, is important. My mixtape, Alligator Bites Never Heal, was a space I created out of necessity. A space where I could feel seen, heard and connect with other people through experiences.”
The Swamp Princess noted that nearly two decades after Billboard Women in Music first started, a “lack of inclusion and sexism are still issues in this industry. And that’s a problem. Which is why I’m grateful we have Billboard Women in Music.
“This is our motherf–king night to rightfully come together to acknowledge each other, support each other and to celebrate,” she said. “We are the creators, we are the executives, we are the innovators who are just as central to this industry as the men. Clock it”.
Rather than make this a long feature, I thought it was interesting what Doechii had to say. It is true that women are as central to the industry as men. I think they are more important and influential at the moment. Rather than award ceremonies isolating other genders and it being against men, it is an overdue recognition of women and their contributions. Women coming together to celebrate one another is so important. I don’t know if there is anything like that for male artists. Maybe it would seem crass. It is true that there is still sexism throughout the industry. It should be an even playing field. However, it might take many years until we get there. I would like to see more inclusive awards shows in the U.S. and U.K. Billboard’s celebration is crucial, though there needs to be more when it comes to recognising women through the industry. Here in the U.K, there is not enough either that shines a light on women. The fact that an award show was created out of necessity. If the industry was more inclusive and supported women more – and gave them a bigger platform – then there would not be this urgency to create award ceremonies specifically for women. I know award ceremonies alone are not enough. They might not make that big an impact. However, what is clear is that Doechii’s words ring true. In 2025, how far has the music industry come when it comes to inclusion of women? Baby steps but not big leaps. I do hope that things change sooner rather than later. Award ceremonies for women mean that you can combine these incredible artists and figures throughout the industry. A night especially for them.
Looking ahead, the music industry need to react and transform. Even if there are improvements here and there, there does need to be more spotlight on women in music. They are the ones creating the best music consistently and are making the biggest moves. It is sad that it is a necessity to have awards shows for women. However, it does give them their dues. Even though there are incorrect and ridiculous articles like this from The Telegraph that posit the rise in misogyny in music is because of women and the language they use in songs, it is clear that the misogyny is male-driven. Women are not largely hating on other women and creating inequality and this toxicity. Yes, there are some songs where women are throwing shade on other women and there is this rivalry. However, if you look at every layer of the industry and the misogyny that has always existed, it is driven by and cultivated by men. ‘Negative language’ about women, as The Telegraph write, is not the same as misogyny. Also, there is not a huge amount of negative language in these songs. This report from last year shows how there is sexism and misogyny growing in every layer of the music industry. It is definitely not the case women are spearheading misogyny. It is very much not on them. It is on the wider industry to not judge women and to make sure they are given equality. From songwriting to festivals to many awards ceremonies, women are still in the minority and have to fight to be heard. The highest executive positions and in professional studios. Being including on smaller bills. Inequality around pay too. Women being invited to the table. There is still this huge issue that is not shifting fast. It takes me back to Doechii’s acceptance speech and her boosting women but also calling out sexism. Rather than women in music feeling fearful or isolated, there does need to be…
HEARD and happy.