Adding more accolades to her already impressive career, Billie Eilish can now include Apple Music’s Artist of the Year for 2024 to her growing list of accomplishments. Notably, the nine-time Grammy Award winner was previously awarded the title in 2019 as the inaugural winner. Expressing her gratitude, Eilish praised the music streaming company for supporting her artistry and music throughout her career.
Artist Background of Billie Eilish
Besides the Artist of the Year award, Billie Eilish won her historic second Academy Award and two additional Grammys. Notably, her work on the Barbie film, in particular, gave her those two Grammy awards. Additionally, the singer released her highly-anticipated third album, Hit Me Hard and Soft, marking a significant shift in her career. The album made an immediate impact, taking Apple Music’s number one spot on the all-genre albums chart across 138 countries worldwide, solidifying its status as Eilish’s best work of her career.
Statement by Apple Music
Apple Music’s senior director of content and editorial, Rachel Newman, praised her remarkable evolution in a statement. For nearly a decade, Newman worked with the singer, stating she was a supporter of her work since she first heard Ocean Eyes. Moreover, she praised Eilish’s ability to grow courageously as an artist and connect with a wide audience in her own special way.
Additionally, Newman hailed the singer as “the voice of her generation” in an interview with USA TODAY. Interestingly, she called Eilish’s latest album, Hit Me Hard and Soft, the most beautiful of her career thus far. What’s more? The singer’s impressive achievements extend beyond music, including her culturally impactful song, What Was I Made For, and her work in the Barbie film. To add further, Newman noticed that Eilish achieved all this success at only 22 years old, highlighting her influence and talent.
Determining Artist of the Year
According to Newman, selecting Artist of the Year is a rigorous endeavor, lasting six months. Specifically, she and her team of eight to ten editorial members engage in serious debates to determine a winner. Although Eilish remained a contender from the beginning, Newman acknowledged the intensity of this year’s competition. Other women performers, including Beyonce and Taylor Swift, were favorites to win this award as well.
Apple Music honored previous artists, including the Weekend, Bad Bunny, and Lil Baby, with this award years before. What’s more? In 2023, Taylor Swift was awarded the title of Artist of the Year. To make informed decisions, Newman’s team looks at data from various sources, such as Apple Music, Shazam, and Billboard. Additionally, they consider each artist’s global impact. Besides these sources, Newman emphasizes that other data are vital in the selection process.
Why Billie Eilish Won
Ultimately, Apple Music would choose Billie Eilish as their 2024 Artist of the Year. To be precise, they stated the singer’s widespread impact across various platforms was a major factor in determining her win. Other factors included her chart success, awards, tour success, and role in Barbie. What sealed the deal, however, was Eilish’s ability to occupy cultural spaces across the entire spectrum solidified Apple Music’s decision.
To celebrate the achievement, Apple Music created a series of special events featuring the singer, with some live-streamed. Starting Thursday, they will feature Eilish on the cover of their popular playlist, Today’s Live. Pointedly, Newman noted Eilish’s artistic depth and authenticity as key factors of his success. She also discussed the singer’s growth into a confident and vibrant artist with a unique voice and unapologetic attitude, deeply resonating with audiences worldwide.
Final Thoughts
Apple Music’s Artist of the Year is significant as it recognizes artists’ outstanding contributions across the world. Not only that but the award gives recognition to the global impact artists made on the music landscape. In 2024, Apple Music honored the chart-topping artist to honor her achievements and introduce her to a broader audience. Serving as a benchmark of excellence and success, the award encourages artists to push beyond the boundaries of their artistry, reshape the music industry’s narrative, and continue to innovate and elevate.
