2023 was a year of rising stars, Latin domination and breaking the mold, and Billboard’s cover stories reflected just that.
The year of Billboard covers kicked off with Paramore, who had just reunited as a band to release its first album together in six years, This Is Why.
Over the course of the year, superstar rappers like Youngboy Never Broke Again, Lil Yachty, 50 Cent have graced the cover, as did rising rap sensation Ice Spice. Over on the dance front, Kaytranada posed for the Pride issue, while Kaskade and deadmau5 appeared on the SXSW issue.
It was also a big year for Latin couples, as both Lele Pons and Guaynaa as well as Rosalia and Rauw Alejandro showed their love for a Billboard cover story. Women also dominated the scene, as the 2023 Woman of the Year SZA and all of the Latin Women in Music honorees were featured on covers this year.
Billboard‘s Pride cover featured a special shoot featuring Maren Morris dressed as Willie Nelson, posing alongside drag supesrtars Sasha Colby, Eureka O’Hara, Landon Cider and Symone. Billboard also celebrated the Latin Power Players in September with a soul-baring interview from Shakira, and highlighted Japanese girl group XG in October.
Shakira opened up about what she’s looking forward to after a tumultuous few years. “The last time I released an album was six years ago,” she tells Billboard. “Now I can release music at a faster clip, although sometimes I think being a single mom and the rhythm of a pop star aren’t compatible. I have to put my kids to bed, go to the recording studio; everything is uphill. When you don’t have a husband who can stay home with the kids, it’s constant juggling because I like to be a present mom and I need to be there every moment with my children: take them to school, have breakfast with them, take them to play dates. And aside from that, I have to make money.”
See below for Billboard‘s 2023 magazine covers.
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Paramore
A reunited Paramore graced the first cover of the year on January 18, 2023.
Read the cover story: The Future of Paramore: Pop-Punk Heroes On Their Urgent New Album and Their ‘Surreal’ Next Chapter
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YoungBoy Never Broke Again
Youngboy Never Broke again shared the details of his rebirth for the February 4, 2023 issue.
Read the cover story: The Secret Life, House Arrest and Rebirth of Youngboy Never Broke Again
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50 Cent
50 Cent reminisced on his 20-year career for the February 9, 2023 issue.
Read the cover story: 50 Cent Pulls the Curtain Back on His Multimedia Empire
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Lele Pons & Guaynaa
Lele Pons and Guaynaa were couple goals on the February 14, 2023 cover.
Read the cover story: With a Wedding on the Horizon, Lele Pons and Guaynaa Are Marrying Their Music, Too
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Lil Yachty
Lil Yachy discussed his skyrocketing career for the March 11, 2023 cover.
Read the cover story: Lil Yachty On His Big Rock Pivot: ‘F-ck Any of the Albums I Dropped Before This One’
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Feid
FEID shared his journey to solo stardom for the March 11, 2023 issue.
Read the cover story: Meet Feid, The Songwriter to the Latin Stars Finding His Solo Spotlight
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Kx5
Kaskade and deadmau5 came together as Kx5 for the March 11, 2023 issue.
Read the cover story: Why Kaskade and deadmau5 Formed Kx5, Dance Music’s Most In-Demand Odd Couple
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SZA
SZA was named Billboard Woman of the Year on February 25, 2023.
Read the cover story: Billboard Woman of the Year SZA on Making Chart History and Preparing to ‘Pop Ass and Cry and Give Theater’ On Tour
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Nyla XO
Nyla XO was the 2023 Samsung NXT winner for the March 16, 2023 cover.
Read the cover story: How Nyla XO Used Her ‘DIY Queen’ Skills to Win the Samsung NXT 2.0 Competition, And Finally Take Center Stage
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Rosalía & Rauw Alejandro
Roalia and Rauw Alejandro made us all jealous of their love on the steamy April 1, 2023 cover.
Read the cover story: Rosalía & Rauw Alejandro Reveal All On Why They’re Creative & Romantic Soulmates
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Luke Combs
Luke Combs shared his journey to new country frontiers on the April 1, 2023 cover.
Read the cover story: How Luke Combs Is Taking Country Music to New Global Frontiers
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Bang Si-hyuk
HYBE’s Chairman Bang Si-hyuk gave a lesson in K-pop for the April 22, 2023 issue.
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Mujeres Latinas En La Musica
The Latin Women in Music dominated the April 25, 2023 cover.
Read the cover story: Women Are Breaking Barriers in Latin Music. But, Why Is it Taking so Long?
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Ice Spice
Ice Spice shared her journey to becoming “the People’s Princess of rap” for the May 13, 2023 issue.
Read the cover story: The New ‘Princess’ of Rap: How Ice Spice Exploded Into Stardom
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Jelly Roll
Jelly Roll shared how he overcame obstacles to get to his big wins for the June 3, 2023 cover.
Read the cover story: From Prison to No. 1: Nashville Rising Star Jelly Roll Proves That ‘Losers Can Win’
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Maren Morris
Marn Morris posed alongside drag supesrtars Sasha Colby, Eureka O’Hara, Landon Cider and Symone on the June 10, 2023 cover.
Read the cover story: As Drag Bans Proliferate, Maren Morris Goes Deep With Drag’s Biggest Stars on Why The Show Must Go On
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Kaytranada
Kaytranada talked the future of dance music for the June 10, 2023 issue.
Read the cover story: Go DJ: Why Everyone Wants to Work With Kaytranada
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Portugal. The Man
Portugal. The Man got candid about the tough road following their breakthrough hit.
Read the cover story here.
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Fuerza Regida
Fuerza Regida talk Mexican-American pride and fueling an explosion of música Mexicana in the U.S.
Read the cover story here.
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Peso Pluma
Peso Pluma, the 24-year-old fueling Mexican music’s global explosion, covered the July 15, 2023 issue.
Read the cover story here.
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Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne celebrated the 50th anniversary of hip-hop in the Aug. 5, 2023 issue.
Read the cover story here.
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Nas
Nas spoke with Billboard about orchestrating the 50th anniversary celebration of hip-hop in the Aug. 5, 2023 issue.
Read the cover story here.
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Larry Jackson
Larry Jackson talked about putting $1 billion to work for Black culture in the Aug. 5, 2023 issue of Billboard.
Read the cover story here.
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JKBX
JKBX is bringing the song catalog market to fans. Will people buy in?
Read the cover story here. -
RBD
The return of RBD — Latin’s biggest pop group breaks its 15-year silence.
Read the cover story here.
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Diddy
Diddy talks handing over publishing rights and his “total truth.”
Read the cover story here. -
Shakira
Shakira talks turning breakup pain into pop music gold in the Sept. 23, 2023 issue.
Read the cover story here.
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Metro Boomin
Metro Boomin unmasked: The hip-hop heavyweight flexes his Spider-Verse superpowers in the Oct. 7, 2023 issue.
Read the cover story here.
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Ghostwriter
Ghostwriter, the mastermind behind the fake Drake song, speaks for the first time.
Read the cover story here. -
Manuel Turizo
Meet Manuel Turizo, Latin’s genre-bending star.
Read the cover story here.
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XG
Can XG make “X-pop” the next K-pop?
Read the cover story here.
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Tate McRae explains how her “ballsy, obnoxious” alter ego fueled her breakout year in the Nov. 18, 2023, issue.
Read the cover story here.
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Morgan Wallen reflects on his enormous 2023 — and learning “how much my words matter” — in the Dec. 9, 2023, issue.
Read the cover story here.
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Karol G on her huge 2023 — and wanting more for 2024 — in the Dec. 9, 2023 issue.
Read the cover story here.
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The 2023 Grammy voter guide is Billboard’s Dec. 16, 2023 cover.
Read about how Grammy recognition changes a career here.