Chelsey Green Named to Billboard’s 2026 Women in Music List
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 Monét.
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 Berklee's director of content strategy. She has been a writer, editor, and digital media consultant for over a decade.
