On Tuesday (June 9), Billboard honored this year’s Indie Power Players during an event held at the Cutting Room in midtown Manhattan, celebrating many of the independent music industry’s top artists and music executives.
Billboard co-chief content officers Jason Lipshutz and Leila Cobo kicked off the evening, highlighting how indie music’s market sector has continued to expand over recent years.
“Many of the world’s biggest artists are signed to indie labels,” Cobo said. “Some of them are here in the house. And, more importantly, what you do is really fueling creativity and musicianship at a very essential and existential time for music.”
Zena White, COO of Partisan Records, accepted the award for Executive of the Year, which was presented to her by Femi Koleoso, the drummer and leader of British jazz group Ezra Collective. The group has had two top 10 hits on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz Albums chart with 2019’s You Can’t Steal My Joy and 2024’s Dance No Ones Watching. Partisan is also the label home to Geese, Cigarettes After Sex, Blondshell and Interpol, among many others.
“Your belief and support is allowing us to scale and genuinely compete with established players with much bigger pockets than us,” White said in her acceptance speech. “Art is not a luxury. It’s necessary for us to connect with and understand one another, as well as ourselves. It can be a balm, an escape and in some cases, even a lifesaver.”
Read the full recap of Billboard’s Indie Power Players event here.
Zena White and Femi Koleoso
Image Credit: John Nacion
Zena White and Femi Koleoso accept the Executive Of The Year Award onstage at the Billboard Indie Power Players 2026 held at The Cutting Room NYC on June 09, 2026 in New York, New York.
Brad Navin
Image Credit: John Nacion
Brad Navin speaks onstage at the Billboard Indie Power Players 2026 held at The Cutting Room NYC on June 09, 2026 in New York, New York.
Jason Lipshutz and Leila Cobo
Image Credit: John Nacion
Jason Lipshutz and Leila Cobo at the Billboard Indie Power Players 2026 held at The Cutting Room NYC on June 09, 2026 in New York, New York.
Rubén Blades
Image Credit: John Nacion
Rubén Blades accepts the Icon Artist Award onstage at the Billboard Indie Power Players 2026 held at The Cutting Room NYC on June 09, 2026 in New York, New York.
Executives from The Orchard
Image Credit: John Nacion
Executives from The Orchard at the Billboard Indie Power Players 2026 held at The Cutting Room NYC on June 09, 2026 in New York, New York.
Molly Neuman
Image Credit: John Nacion
Molly Neuman speaks onstage at the Billboard Indie Power Players 2026 held at The Cutting Room NYC on June 09, 2026 in New York, New York.
Nat Pastor, Pieter van Rijn and J.T. Myers
Image Credit: John Nacion
Nat Pastor, Pieter van Rijn and J.T. Myers at the Billboard Indie Power Players 2026 held at The Cutting Room NYC on June 09, 2026 in New York, New York.
RAYE
Image Credit: John Nacion
RAYE at the Billboard Indie Power Players 2026 held at The Cutting Room NYC on June 09, 2026 in New York, New York.
Richard Gottehrer
Image Credit: John Nacion
Richard Gottehrer accepts the Lifetime Award onstage at the Billboard Indie Power Players 2026 held at The Cutting Room NYC on June 09, 2026 in New York, New York.
Executives from Virgin Music Group and Downtown Music Group
Image Credit: John Nacion
Executives from Virgin Music Group and Downtown Music Group at the Billboard Indie Power Players 2026 held at The Cutting Room NYC on June 09, 2026 in New York, New York.
Rubén Blades
Image Credit: John Nacion
Rubén Blades at the Billboard Indie Power Players 2026 held at The Cutting Room NYC on June 09, 2026 in New York, New York.
Alex Silverstein, Gregory Hirschhorn and Az Cohen
Image Credit: John Nacion
Alex Silverstein, Gregory Hirschhorn and Az Cohen at the Billboard Indie Power Players 2026 held at The Cutting Room NYC on June 09, 2026 in New York, New York.
RAYE
Image Credit: John Nacion
RAYE accepts the Indie Spirit Award onstage at the Billboard Indie Power Players 2026 held at The Cutting Room NYC on June 09, 2026 in New York, New York.
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