Dr Isabel Villanueva’s inclusion is testament to a career in which she has successfully combined academic work with professional activity in the music industry. Billboard’s recognition highlights “Villanueva’s critical, innovative and contemporary vision, having built strong bridges between higher education, cultural creation and the global professional ecosystem.”
Since 2024, Isabel Villanueva has served as director general of BIME, one of the leading international music industry events in Europe and Latin America. In an interview at UIC Barcelona following her recognition as Executive Honouree, the dean expressed her intention to ensure that “the music industry benefits from collaboration with academics and that universities engage in the study of music in areas that have, until now, been led exclusively by the sector.” For this reason, the University launched the 1st International Research Conference on Creative Industries, a pioneering academic event held as part of BIME and aimed at researchers, associations, entrepreneurs and representatives from the music industry.
Billboard Women in Music
Billboard Women in Music, organised by the historic magazine Billboard, is regarded as one of the most important distinctions in the global music industry. Each year, the awards honour artists, creators, executives and leaders who are reshaping music through innovation, strategy and cultural impact. The “Latin” category was created in 2023 “in response to a rapidly expanding Latin music industry that crosses borders and continents”, according to Billboard. In Villanueva’s case, her honour comes in the category of influential industry executives. The singer Rosalía was named Woman of the Year in the 2026 edition’s Latin Women category.
Billboard will hold the main gala on 29 April in Los Angeles, in a ceremony that will bring together the most influential figures from the international music scene. The event will be a large-scale production, with live performances, special tributes and the presence of leading figures from the global entertainment industry. The gala recognises not only artistic talent but also the strategic leadership driving the sector’s evolution.
Isabel Villanueva Benito’s award underscores her position as a key figure in bridging the gap between academia and the music industry. The teacher and researcher has collaborated with some of the world's foremost musical enterprises, developing artistic and musical projects for Universal Music, Sony and The Orchard, among others. As dean of the Faculty of Communication Sciences, she leads UIC Barcelona’s commitment to a professionally oriented curriculum that incorporates emerging technologies and places a clear emphasis on the cultural and creative industries.
