Solange Named Webby Awards’ Artist Of The Year

Amy Harris/Invision/AP

Solange Named Webby Awards’ Artist Of The Year

Amy Harris/Invision/AP

The Webby Awards announced their annual roundup of online excellence, and as Variety reports, several musicians are among the honorees. Topping the bill is Solange, who was named Artist Of The Year “in celebration of her remarkable use of the Internet as a force for promoting community and diversity.” The Webbys site further explains:

Not only is Solange one of the greatest artists of our time, but she’s also a true artist of the online generation. Solange has demonstrated her digital prowess in myriad ways, most notably with the website Saint Heron — her collaborative platform and online store for artists. Saint Heron is an unparalleled celebration of cultural diversity and the evolution of music; and it’s through this platform that Solange has provided a completely new and unique space for collaboration between artists, as well as a large audience for creative expressions by artists of color. Of course, Saint Heron is a natural extension for Solange, who regularly uses her Twitter account of nearly 3 million followers to celebrate diversity, and to promote racial and social justice. For her unique understanding of the power of the collaborative nature of the Internet, it’s our privilege to honor Solange as the 2017 Artist of the Year.

Lady Gaga won two Webbys for her performance in collaboration with Intel, Coldplay won for their “Up&Up” video, and a film and video award went to a Rick And Morty video mashup of Kendrick Lamar’s “Swimming Pools (Drank).” You can read the full list of winners at the Webbys site, though ironically their interface is somewhat difficult to navigate.

Joel McHale will host an in-person awards ceremony at Cipriani Wall Street on 5/15; on the morning of 5/16, highlights from the event will be viewable at webbyawards.com, including five-word speeches from the winners.

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