Beyoncé advocates for music innovation amid 2024 iHeartRadio speech
Beyoncé endorses innovation in music industry and honors previous music innovators at iHeartRadio Awards 2024
April 02, 2024
Queen B is riding the tide of success as she clinched her Innovator Prize at the iHeartRadio Award 2024.
So much so that she took the moment to implore others to be “more open to enjoying art”.
For those unversed, the award has been given by the legendary 25-time Grammy winner Stevie Wonder, and Beyoncé even showcased her gratitude for it all at the time by saying, “Whenever anyone asks me if there’s anyone that I could listen to for the rest of my life, it’s always you.”
Taking the stage, the 42-year-old singer sported a black leather suit with a matching cowboy hat, and took the opportunity to dedicate her award to all the innovators who have paved the way by defying “any labels placed upon them and dedicated their lives and their art to creating shifts.”
She listed Rosetta Tharpe, Tracy Chapman, Linda Martell, Prince, Wonder, Andre 3000, Tina Turner and Michael Jackson.
“Tonight you called me an innovator, and for that I'm very grateful," she said in her acceptance speech, because "Innovation starts with a dream. But then you have to execute that dream, and that road can be very bumpy.”
“Being an innovator is seeing what everyone believes is impossible. Being an innovator often means being criticized, which often will test your mental strength”, she added.
The YA YA singer also urged “all the record labels, every radio station, every awards show”, to be “more open to the joy and liberation”, more open to innovation and accepting art with “no preconceived notions.”
Concluding her speech, the 32-time Grammy winner gave a sweet shout-out to her husband Jay-Z, describing him as her ‘rock’ and ‘best friend’ before sending love to her children daughter and twins.
It is worth mentioning here that the Houston, Texas native announced a new LP during the Super Bowl and later released her single from the latest album, among which Texas Hold ‘Em that debuted at no 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart, making her the first Black female artist to ever reach the spot.
