Since our inception in 2020, InMusic has invited fans to vote annually for their favorite artists, songs, and albums across multiple genres. The 2024 InMusic Awards celebrated the massive success of Ariana Grande, who was voted by our community as the winner in six categories, including the major honors: Artist of the Year, Song of the Year (“We Can’t Be Friends”), and Album of the Year (Eternal Sunshine). Notably, this isn’t the first time the 31-year-old singer has claimed the title of Artist of the Year. In 2020, Ariana Grande made history as the first-ever winner of this coveted accolade. The following year, in 2021, Olivia Rodrigo earned the title, while Taylor Swift dominated for two consecutive years in 2022 and 2023. In 2025, Tate McRae claimed the throne. Now, it’s the perfect moment to reflect on the journeys of these four incredible artists and explore the success that led them to be crowned InMusic’s Artist of the Year.
Related
2020: Ariana Grande
The year 2020 was a transformative period for the world, marked by the global COVID-19 pandemic that confined millions to their homes. Despite the challenges, the music industry found ways to adapt, with artists continuing to create and share their work, offering solace during uncertain times. Ariana Grande, in particular, shone brightly as one of the year’s standout stars. In January, she kicked off the decade with a breathtaking performance at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards, delivering a medley of “Imagine,” “My Favorite Things,” “7 Rings,” and “Thank U, Next.” By May, Ariana had joined forces with Justin Bieber for the heartfelt single “Stuck with U,” which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Later that month, she collaborated with Lady Gaga on the smash hit “Rain on Me,” the second single from Gaga’s Chromatica album. The song became a global sensation, topping the Hot 100 and earning the duo a Grammy for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards. Ariana ended the year with the release of her sixth studio album, Positions, a project that showcased her evolution with tracks like the title song and the playful “34+35.” This remarkable series of accomplishments earned her the honor of being named the first-ever InMusic Artist of the Year, cementing her status as a defining voice of the era.
2021: Olivia Rodrigo
In January 2021, Olivia Rodrigo burst onto the music scene with her debut single, “Drivers License,” taking the industry by storm. The song became an instant cultural phenomenon, dominating charts worldwide and breaking numerous streaming records. For the then-teenager, it was just the start of what would become a truly groundbreaking year. Following the success of “Drivers License,” Olivia released two more chart-topping hits: “Deja Vu” and “Good 4 U,” the latter debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. These singles cemented her status as a breakout artist and set the stage for the release of her debut studio album, Sour, in May. The album was an extraordinary success, earning widespread critical acclaim for its raw and heartfelt exploration of themes such as heartbreak, identity, and the turbulence of youth. Sour debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and held the top spot for five weeks—an achievement unmatched by any other female artist in 2021. Olivia’s meteoric rise and cultural impact were nothing short of historic. Her debut year not only solidified her place in the music industry but also earned her the title of InMusic Artist of the Year, making her the youngest recipient of the award to date.
2022: Taylor Swift
In 2022, Taylor Swift further cemented her legacy as a dominant force in the music industry. On October 21, she unveiled her highly anticipated tenth studio album, Midnights, which achieved staggering success. Within just eight weeks, the album had amassed over 6 million album-equivalent units worldwide, with 3 million in the United States alone. This milestone made Swift the only artist in history to have five albums debut with over 1 million units in their first week. The release of Midnights also saw Swift shattering countless records. One of her most groundbreaking achievements was becoming the first artist ever to claim the entire top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart simultaneously—a historic feat that underscored her unparalleled influence. Remarkably, she would replicate this achievement two years later with her album The Tortured Poets Department. Taylor’s monumental year culminated with fans voting her as InMusic Artist of the Year, a testament to her enduring impact and connection with her audience.
2023: Taylor Swift
Riding the wave of the incredible success she was experiencing, Taylor embarked on the monumental Eras Tour in March 2023. A celebration of her career, the tour’s impact was nothing short of extraordinary. Comprising 150 shows across five continents, the tour became the highest-grossing concert tour in history, with earnings surpassing $2.6 billion and attendance exceeding 11 million fans. Additionally, her concert film, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, grossed over $250 million, becoming the highest-grossing concert film to date. Beyond its undeniable impact on the music industry, the Eras Tour became a cultural phenomenon, generating unique enthusiasm and a sense of happiness among fans for each show. Despite not having released new music in 2023, Taylor Swift was the most-streamed artist of the year, and her unparalleled success earned her a second InMusic Award for Artist of the Year, making her the first to win two years in a row.
2024: Ariana Grande
In 2024, Ariana Grande returned not only to the music scene but also to the big screen. The pop superstar kicked things off with her critically acclaimed seventh album Eternal Sunshine, which spawned hit singles such as the chart-topping “Yes, And?” and “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love).” In recognition of her sensational career, fans chose her as the InMusic Woman of the Century earlier that year. In addition to her musical success, Grande made her major motion picture debut as Glinda in the film adaptation of the musical Wicked, released in November 2024. The film was both a critical and commercial success, grossing over $700 million worldwide and becoming the highest-grossing musical adaptation film of all time. Ariana’s performance earned her nominations for supporting actress categories at the Golden Globe Awards and Critics’ Choice Awards, making her a strong contender for the Oscars. Likely the biggest year of her career culminated with the InMusic Award for Artist of the Year, three years after her first win.
2025: Tate McRae
2025 was a breakout and career-defining year for Tate McRae. At 22 years old, the Canadian singer-songwriter-dancer achieved massive milestones in charts, and touring. The year launched with her eagerly awaited third studio album, So Close to What, released on February 21, 2025, via RCA Records. It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, her first chart-topping album, and made her the first artist (and first woman) in 2025 to simultaneously hold a No. 1 album and No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100. The album spawned several hit singles, including “Sports car,” “It’s ok, I’m ok,” “2 hands,” and “Revolving door.” A deluxe edition, So Close to What???, arrived later, featuring the top-five Hot 100 single “Tit for Tat.” In 2025, she also contributed to the F1 soundtrack with the viral hit “Just Keep Watching.”
Supporting the album, McRae launched her inaugural full arena tour, the Miss Possessive Tour. The global run covered South America, Europe, the UK, and North America with about 83 dates.
She shone in high-profile appearances, including a standout “Revolving door/Sports car” performance at the 2025 MTV VMAs. The So Close To What era concluded with her first Grammy nominations.
Fan recognition peaked with the InMusic Awards 2025, where our community voted her Artist of the Year and Album of the Year for So Close to What. Leading nominations with 10 nods, she secured three wins overall, including Best Country Song for her Morgan Wallen collab “What I Want.” Notably, she continued a streak of female Artist of the Year winners, joining Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift, and Olivia Rodrigo.
Leave a Reply