Some of music’s biggest stars attended Billboard‘s annual Women in Music event on Thursday night (Dec. 6).
Pop star Ariana Grande was awarded with the night’s highest honor, “Woman Of The Year,” while SZA, Janelle Monae, Cyndi Lauper, Hayley Kiyoko, and Kacey Musgraves were awarded with subsequent prestigious honors.
VIBE got a chance to speak to some of the musicians in attendance on the carpet, including hip-hoppers Anderson .Paak and Tierra Whack, the Janelle Monae-cosigned St. Beauty, and Massah David, the co-founder of the creative agency, MVD Inc..
When prompted about some of their favorite bodies of work by female artists this year, a resounding amount of musicians stated Teyana Taylor’s K.T.S.E and Tierra Whack’s Whack World as some of their personal picks.
The 23-year-old MC and first-time Grammy nominee confirmed with VIBE she’s working on “something really special” with fellow Philadelphian and friend Meek Mill. She also stated that while the accolades for her work have been exciting, she’s more excited for society to stop gendering dope artists, especially in the hip-hop game.
“I hope that [labeling through gender] ends soon,” she said. “I know, technically, rap is a male-dominated industry, but, like, I’m better than all of ‘em! [laughs] It is what it is! I don’t even count gender or color, it’s just whoever’s got it.”
What are some members of the music industry looking forward to in 2019? More women in high-profile positions and more chances for women in general.
“Hopefully just having more opportunities for women in different spaces in music, whether it’s radio, behind-the-scenes, engineering, actually making the music,” said David. “I’m just hoping we get to see women in more executive roles.”
Watch our recap video above.
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