Billboard gave out its Executive of the Year honor and it went to one of the coolest “badasses” in the music business: Bozoma Saint John of Apple Music
As the head of global consumer marketing for iTunes and Apple Music, Saint John has been at the helm of some of Apple Music’s stellar campaigns, and Billboard made sure to recognize her for this during their Women In Music awards ceremony Friday.
“I’d really like to accept this award for the sistahs,” she said, from her mother, to her sisters, her friends and “the sistahs at Apple who boldly defy the Silicon Valley stereotype every day to be heard.”
Saint John has been in charge of some of Apple’s buzziest campaigns like Taylor Swift’s workout wipeout to Drake and Future’s “Jumpman”, Drake’s similar version to Swift’s “Bad Blood” and the amazing Mary J. Blige, Kerry Washington and Taraji P. Henson Emmy night ads that were directed by Ava DuVernay —all of which have become social media sensations in their own right.
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Saint John first entered the marketing and advertising world through Spike Lee’s firm, Spike DDB. From there she moved to Pepsi, where she quickly worked her way up the ladder to becoming head of music and entertainment for the company–helming the decades-long relationship with Beyoncé that eventually led her to performing at the 2013 Super Bowl half-time show.
Now at Apple Music, Saint John continues to change the game. Her advice to those in the room listening to her acceptance speech for the award: “People might tell you that you have to wait your turn, but I’m here to tell you to say no. We’re knocking these dudes out of the way to make room for you.”
Congrats! And you can watch Saint John’s fabulousness in her very own Apple Music ad with James Corden.
