She is 22 and is symbolic of teenagers — outspoken, confrontational and angsty. No wonder Billie Eilish is Apple Music’s Artiste of the Year, which recognises the singer-songwriter’s impact. Here’s the cherry on the cake: She has also become the first person to earn Apple Music Artiste of the Year honours twice, having won the inaugural award in 2019.
Her perceptive political voice has always risen above the din to address issues bothering teenagers — body issues to climate change, democracy to the online life.
Following a historic second Academy Award win and Grammy Awards for her contribution to Greta Gerwig’s feature-length film Barbie, she released her third full-length album, Hit Me Hard and Soft, which soared to the top spot on Apple Music’s all-genre albums chart in 138 countries worldwide.
She never fails to make her presence felt. Eilish performed her hit Birds of a Feather while representing her hometown of Los Angeles at the closing ceremony of the summer games this August — and drove her biggest day ever for Shazam volume in the process. She has been nominated for seven more Grammy Awards and we will find out how she fares next year.
“From the moment we first heard Ocean Eyes nearly a decade ago, we’ve been fans and champions of Billie’s work,” said Rachel Newman, Apple Music’s senior director of content and editorial. “It’s always special when a young artist can connect with so many people so quickly. But what’s been truly remarkable about watching her evolve over the course of this last year isn’t just that her voice and artistry have continued to resonate so widely. It’s that she’s blossomed as bravely and honestly as she has — on her own terms, in her own way.”
What has the singer got to say? “Since day one, Apple Music has supported my music and artistry, and I am both honoured and humbled to receive this recognition as Artiste of the Year this many years into my career.” Listen to her entire catalogue in Spatial Audio on Apple Music.