Chelsey Green Named to Billboard's 2026 Women in Music List

Chelsey Green Named to Billboard's 2026 Women in Music List The Berklee professor and chair of the Recording Academy Board of Trustees joins other high-profile women on this year's list, including Laufey BM '21.

May 14, 2026

By

Tara Bellucci

Image by Derrel Todd

In April, Billboard released its annual Women in Music list for 2026, celebrating groundbreaking artists and leaders whose work demonstrates bold vision, artistic excellence, and global influence across genres. Among this year's honorees were Dr. Chelsey Green, associate professor in the String Department.

In 2025, Dr. Green was named chair of the Recording Academy Board of Trustees, becoming the youngest person and the first Black woman to hold the position in the organization's 68-year history.

Green told Billboard that one of her proudest accomplishments was the creation of the Music Education and Professional Development Committee, which she described as a strategic step forward in supporting Recording Academy members through sustained professional growth and career development. At its core, she said, the work is about strengthening the ecosystem that supports music creators at every stage of their journey.

Dr. Green prepares our students to engage today's music industry with the excellence it demands and the humanity it needs, said David Wallace, chair of the String Department. Leading by example, Dr. Green inspires others to reimagine how their own artistry, advocacy, and service can make all the difference.

Other women named in this year's list include Elizabeth Matthews, CEO of ASCAP; Ally Pankiw, director and executive producer of Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery; Laufey BM '21, recipient of the Innovator Award; and Tate McRae, who was presented the Hitmaker Award by Career Jam 2026 special guest Victoria Mon t.

Green offered this advice to young women in the music industry: All sides of this music business are an artistic pursuit, whether you're onstage or behind the scenes. Be so in love with music, and so confident in your own artistic perspective, that your focus remains on sharpening your craft every single day.

Most importantly, protect your joy, she said. Don't let anyone disrupt your sense of purpose or diminish the light that brought you here in the first place.

Tara Bellucci is Berklees director of content strategy. She has been a writer, editor, and digital media consultant for over a decade.

Related Categories

News

Most Popular

Illustration by Michelle Parkos

Music Marketing: 5 Practical Strategies for Independent Artists Five ways help you build visibility, engage your audience, and grow your fanbase-including one trick to steal from Taylor Swift.

Latest

Students perform at beloved locations throughout Boston as part of Berklees free Summer in the City concert series.

Image by Johanna Snow

Berklee's Summer in the City Returns with Free Concerts Throughout Boston Area The series features Berklee students, faculty, and alumni performing at popular venues throughout Boston and beyond.

Jordan Rudess will perform at the Berklee Performance Center on June 4 as part of the inaugural AI Music Summit (AIMS).

Image by Jerry LoFaro

Berklee Announces Lineup for Inaugural AI Music Summit The three-day event puts musicians at the center of conversations around AI, creativity, ethics, and the future of the music industry, featuring performances by Rance, Jordan Rudess, L'Rain, and BT.

Boston Conservatory Executive Director Michael Shinn celebrates with honorary doctorate recipients Beth Morrison and Moses Pendleton.

Mike Spencer

Boston Conservatory at Berklee Honors Beth Morrison and Moses Pendleton at Commencement Ceremony This year's honorary doctorate recipients were recognized for their profound influences on the worlds of music, production, and dance.

Read All

Subscribe The latest sounds, stories, and ideas, sent to your inbox weekly.

LINK:	https://www.berklee.edu/berklee-now/news/chelsey-green-named-to-i-bill...
	See more stories from berklee

Most recent headlines