Alanis Morissette will be honoured with the Icon Award and Jessie Reyez will accept the Trailblazer Award at the first Billboard Canada Women in Music event, which takes place Sept. 7, 2024 at DPRTMNT in downtown Toronto. It’s the first expansion of Billboard Women in Music to Canada.
The Icon Award is given to a female artist of extraordinary accomplishment, who’s made historic contributions to the industry and artistry. It’s been given to Kylie Minogue, Jennifer Lopez, Shania Twain – and Morrissette herself, who first won the honour in 2019. Her 1995 album, Jagged Little Pill, was a juggernaut – vulnerable, confrontational, funny, and poetic in equal measures. With that album (now also a hit Broadway musical), she became the first artist to sell more than two million copies in Canada. She hasn’t slowed since then, with her 13 albums selling more than 75 million copies worldwide. She’s also a renowned speaker, activist, and wholeness advocate.
The Trailblazer Award is presented 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. Jessie Reyez speaks up against systemic inequality – from lack of diversity on the staff of major labels, to immigration issues, to 2SLGBTQIA+ rights. She’s an advocate of programs like The Remix Project, which supports under-represented emerging artists, and a voice on issues like mental health programs for musicians. Reyez has spoken, and written songs, about the ways women are often taken advantage of in the music industry. She was previously honoured with the Impact Award at Billboard Women in Music in 2020.
Reyez and Morissette will be celebrated alongside a previously-announced group of honourees, including The Beaches (Group of the Year), Allison Russell (Breakthrough Artist of the Year), and LU KALA – who’ll accept her Rising Star Award at the ceremony, and will grace the stage for a performance as well. Haviah Mighty will co-host the event, and also perform there, as will Charlotte Cardin, Jully Black, Rêve, and Tia Wood.
Tickets for Billboard Canada Women in Music are available here.