2023 was a year of rising stars, Latin domination and breaking the mold, and Billboard’s cover stories reflected just that.
The year of Billboard covers kicked off with Paramore, who had just reunited as a band to release its first album together in six years, This Is Why.
Over the course of the year, superstar rappers like Youngboy Never Broke Again, Lil Yachty, 50 Cent have graced the cover, as did rising rap sensation Ice Spice. Over on the dance front, Kaytranada posed for the Pride issue, while Kaskade and deadmau5 appeared on the SXSW issue.
It was also a big year for Latin couples, as both Lele Pons and Guaynaa as well as Rosalia and Rauw Alejandro showed their love for a Billboard cover story. Women also dominated the scene, as the 2023 Woman of the Year SZA and all of the Latin Women in Music honorees were featured on covers this year.
Billboard‘s Pride cover featured a special shoot featuring Maren Morris dressed as Willie Nelson, posing alongside drag supesrtars Sasha Colby, Eureka O’Hara, Landon Cider and Symone. Billboard also celebrated the Latin Power Players in September with a soul-baring interview from Shakira, and highlighted Japanese girl group XG in October.
Shakira opened up about what she’s looking forward to after a tumultuous few years. “The last time I released an album was six years ago,” she tells Billboard. “Now I can release music at a faster clip, although sometimes I think being a single mom and the rhythm of a pop star aren’t compatible. I have to put my kids to bed, go to the recording studio; everything is uphill. When you don’t have a husband who can stay home with the kids, it’s constant juggling because I like to be a present mom and I need to be there every moment with my children: take them to school, have breakfast with them, take them to play dates. And aside from that, I have to make money.”
XG, meanwhile, talked about their musical inspiration and what stands them apart.
“What makes us extraordinary,” Jurin says, “is that I feel we are able to break free from all these norms and borders that tend to bind us. By that same token, there is a bond between us that transcends a lot of types of challenges, and it’s really amazing to have that.”
See below for Billboard‘s 2023 magazine covers.
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