Carly Rae Jepsen has been named Billboard’s “Rising Star” for 2012 following a year of dizzying success for the “Call Me Maybe” singer-songwriter. The Rising Star Award acknowledges Jepsen’s breakout year and will be presented at the Billboard Women in Music event, presented by Nikon 1, on November 30 in New York City.
The artist will join Katy Perry, Billboard’s Woman of the Year, at the event.
“As a singer-songwriter having grown up listening to and being influenced by countless female artists, I am truly honored to be recognized by Billboard with this award,” Jepsen says in a statement. “I hope to inspire others through my music the way those artists have inspired me.”
Jepsen began the year as a virtual unknown outside of her native Canada, but after Justin Bieber raved about “Call Me Maybe” on Twitter, she was soon signed with Scooter Braun’s Schoolboy Records and Interscope Records.
The catchy single swamped pop radio and spent nine weeks at No 1 on the Hot 100, a record-breaking run for a Canadian artist. It has sold more than 10 million singles worldwide and became a viral sensation as countless fans, including Bieber and Cookie Monster, created homemade music videos of the song. It was subsequently named Billboard’s 2012 Song of the Summer.
But this was no Summer fling for Jepsen, whose follow up platinum single, “Good Time”, with Owl City, climbed to No 3 on the Pop Songs chart and No 8 on the Hot 100. Her album ‘Kiss’, which includes songs written or co-written by Jepsen, debuted on the Billboard 200 at No 6 when it was released last month, and her new single “This Kiss” is also climbing the charts.
In being named Billboard’s Rising Star, Jepsen follows in the footsteps of Nicki Minaj (2011), Jazmine Sullivan (2010), Lady Gaga (2009), and Colbie Caillat, who in 2008 was the first artist ever to be given this honour.
“Carly Rae Jepsen’s infectious debut single has become nothing short of a pop culture phenomenon, leading to unprecedented viral fanfare,” says Billboard Editorial Director, Bill Werde. “Few artists have achieved this level of success this early in a career. We are thrilled to honour her extraordinary US debut, and we look forward to seeing where she goes next.”
Billboard’s annual Women in Music Event, now in its seventh year, celebrates the most powerful and talented women in the music business, coinciding with the publication of Billboard’s Women in Music Power Players list. This year’s event will be taking place on Friday, Nov 30 at Capitale in New York City. Previous honorees include Taylor Swift, Fergie and Beyonce.
