Designing the Billboard Power Awards: A Collaboration Honoring Industry Leaders
2025 Billboard Power Series Trophy, designed by Bennett Awards
In 2025, Billboard, the world-renowned music publication, approached Bennett Awards for a new collaboration following the success of their previous partnership creating the custom Billboard Women in Music award. This time, Billboard needed a series of versatile awards for their Billboard Power events, a newly launched umbrella recognizing leaders across various music sectors. These awards would honor influential figures in fields like management, publishing, streaming, live music, and more, at events such as the Latin Power Players and R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players events.
Given Bennett Awards' previous success with the Women in Music trophy, Billboard turned to them again for their design expertise. The challenge was to create an award that would be both distinctive and adaptable across multiple ceremonies, each celebrating a different area of the music industry. With a fixed budget and tight timeline, the awards needed to be elegant, suitable for high-profile recipients, and cost-effective due to the large number of trophies required.
Development Process – Brief, Design, Feedback, and Challenges
Bennett’s design team began by diving into the specifics of the project. The team focused on creating a bold and versatile design that would work for all the different categories and events. The solution was to center the design around the iconic Billboard “b” logo, a simple yet powerful symbol that could be recognized across genres, while cementing Billboard’s branding.
A major requirement was that the award needed to be photographable and look impressive on stage, given the high-profile individuals being honored. The final design stood at 9 inches tall—tall enough to make a visual impact but light enough to be easily held in one hand, and hoisted by the elated recipients during acceptance speeches and press photos. The material selection also needed careful thought. While a gold-plated metal option was considered, it was deemed too costly given the large number of awards. Instead, the team opted for machined frosted acrylic. This material offered a slightly translucent finish that looked sleek and modern, and allowed for gold-fill engraving on the surface, maintaining the desired elegant look. The absence of a base kept the focus on the striking “b” shape and kept costs down.
Once the design was presented to Billboard, the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. The client quickly ordered a second round of awards after the first set arrived, affirming their satisfaction with the design.
The Final Product – A Trophy with Impact
The final Billboard Power Award is a stunning blend of modern design and functionality. Standing at 9 inches tall, the award features an extruded “b” shape inspired by the iconic Billboard logo. The frosted acrylic has a sleek, almost ethereal quality, subtly translucent but still providing a solid structure. Gold-fill engraving on the “b” and within the circle gives the award a touch of luxury without the need for full gold plating.
Each award is customizable with the event’s logo and engraving, making it versatile for the different Billboard Power events. This design is simple yet bold, easily adaptable to various genres, and perfect for these high-profile music industry events. The absence of a base makes the design feel clean and modern, focusing all attention on the award itself.
Impact – Recognition and Success
The Billboard Power Awards have already made a significant impact. Industry leaders like Cardi B, Weird Al Yankovic, and Wu-Tang Clan have received these awards, and the trophies have been a point of pride for recipients. The design has resonated well with both awardees and audiences, with many praising its striking look and modern feel.
Karen McCrea, the Project Manager from Bennett Awards noted, “This is the second award we’ve done with Billboard, and the process continues getting smoother. We’re excited for future events as we creatively collaborate with them more and more efficiently. I was really happy with how this project turned out, and I’m looking forward to working with them on their November event.”
Bennett has already been asked to create awards for the upcoming Billboard Latin Music Awards in November, further cementing their role as a trusted partner in Billboard’s award efforts.
Conclusion
The Billboard Power Awards are a testament to the power of thoughtful design and effective collaboration. Bennett Awards successfully created a trophy that not only met the client’s needs but also added a layer of prestige to the Billboard Power events. With their clean, modern design and versatile nature, these awards are poised to become a symbol of recognition and excellence across the music industry for years to come.
