LGBT artists and allies fill the lists
by Bradley Donalson
The time has come for Billboard’s Music Awards, and they have just released the finalists for 2015. While the categories range across the spectrum of music, peppered throughout the entire list are artists who are openly LGBT or allied advocates.
Topping the list is Taylor Swift with 14 entries in 13 categories. Swift made a name for herself as an LGBT ally in 2008 when she came out in support of Lawrence King, a 15-year-old student who was killed by a classmate for allegedly being gay. She’s made a splash in the music scene since her entrance in 2004, moving from country into pop and winning seven Grammys in the process. Following right behind her is Sam Smith with 13 nods. The openly gay artist thanked his ex-boyfriend for inspiring his record which netted him four Grammys this past year.
These two artists may top the charts of the most mentions this year, but they are joined by other LGBT and allied artists such as Pentatonix—an a cappella group featuring openly gay Texan Mitch Grassi—and the proudly bisexual Lady Gaga. Notable allies include names like Hozier, Katy Perry, Beyoncé, John Legend, Ariana Grande, and Garth Brooks. A full list of nominees can be found at www.billboard.com, but here’s a list of gay and gay-friendly icons being honored:
TOP ARTIST
Ariana Grande
Katy Perry
Sam Smith
Taylor Swift
TOP NEW ARTIST
Hozier
Sam Smith
TOP MALE ARTIST
Sam Smith
TOP FEMALE ARTIST
Ariana Grande
Katy Perry
Taylor Swift
TOP BILLBOARD 200 ARTIST
Pentatonix
Sam Smith
Taylor Swift
TOP HOT 100 ARTIST
Ariana Grande
Sam Smith
Taylor Swift
TOP DIGITAL SONGS ARTIST
Sam Smith
Taylor Swift
TOP RADIO SONGS ARTIST
John Legend
Sam Smith
Taylor Swift
TOP TOURING ARTIST
Lady Gaga
Katy Perry
TOP SOCIAL ARTIST
Ariana Grande
Taylor Swift
TOP STREAMING ARTIST
Ariana Grande
Taylor Swift
TOP R&B ARTIST
Beyoncé
John Legend
TOP ROCK ARTIST
Hozier
TOP BILLBOARD 200 ALBUM
Pentatonix, That’s Christmas to Me
Sam Smith, In the Lonely Hour
Taylor Swift, 1989
TOP SOUNDTRACK
Frozen
Into the Woods
TOP R&B ALBUM
Beyoncé, Beyoncé
John Legend, Love in the Future
TOP COUNTRY ALBUM
Garth Brooks, Man Against Machine
TOP ROCK ALBUM
Hozier, Hozier
TOP HOT 100 SONG
John Legend, “All of Me”
Sam Smith, “Stay with Me”
Taylor Swift, “Shake It Off”
TOP DIGITAL SONG
Sam Smith, “Stay with Me”
Taylor Swift, “Shake It Off”
Meghan Trainor, “All About That Bass”
TOP RADIO SONG
John Legend, “All of Me”
Sam Smith, “Stay with Me”
TOP STREAMING SONG (AUDIO)
Hozier, “Take Me to Church”
John Legend, “All of Me”
Sam Smith, “Stay with Me”
TOP STREAMING SONG (VIDEO)
Idina Menzel, “Let It Go”
Taylor Swift, “Blank Space”
Taylor Swift, “Shake It Off”
TOP R&B SONG
John Legend, “All of Me”
TOP ROCK SONG
Hozier, “Take Me to Church”
TOP DANCE/ELECTRONIC SONG
Disclosure feat. Sam Smith, “Latch”
Ariana Grande feat. Zedd, “Break Free”
BILLBOARD CHART ACHIEVEMENT AWARD PRESENTED BY SAMSUNG GALAXY (FAN-VOTED)
Taylor Swift
Comments