Billboard Celebrates Katy Perry, Carly Rae Jepsen With Women in Music Issue

All eyes are on Katy Perry and Carly Rae Jepsen Friday as the duo are honored with Billboard’s coveted Woman of the Year and Rising Star of the Year awards, respectively. 

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"It's been such an impossibly wonderful year," Jepsen says, "and it just keeps getting better."

In a letter from Billboard editor Bill Werde, he describes the decision to select Perry as the cover subject of the annual Women in Music issue from THR's sister publication. Werde recalls how he felt when he left the theater after seeing Perry’s concert documentary, Part of Me, for the first time this summer.

“I left the movie theater inspired by that thought, and by Katy's strength, as did so many others around the country and the world. The staff discussed the Woman of the Year idea, and within a week or two we had reached out to her management,” he writes.

“Toughness and inspiration also abound on our Women in Music executive list. Now in its eighth year, Billboard's Women in Music report exists to inspire and to recognize the inspiration, achievements and talents within the ranks of female executives in the music business,” Werde adds. “The event began at a time when the boardrooms at entertainment and media companies were overwhelmingly male, and sadly, that time is still here. But it has been incredible to watch the contributions women are making to grow this business.”

The Women in Music issue is on newsstands now.

Perry and Jepsen are accepting their awards at Billboard’s Women in Music event in New York on Nov. 30. In an interview with Jon Stewart at the fete, Perry said: "I felt like my year was last year ... I thought my moment had passed.”

For complete coverage of Billboard’s Women in Music issue and event, click over to Billboard.com and Billboard.biz.