The GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Breakthrough Music Artist is an annual award honoring musicians who use songs, music videos and live performances to accelerate LGBTQ acceptance. The artists may be LGBTQ or allies. Artists are eligible who have released a full-length or EP-length album, or single sold through a major retail or online music store. In addition to the music itself, media interviews, public statements and other information may be considered when selecting nominees and award recipients. It is one of several categories of the GLAAD Media Awards presented by GLAAD, a US non-governmental media monitoring organization founded in 1985 (formerly called the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) at ceremonies in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco between March and June.
The category was first presented at the 32nd GLAAD Media Awards in 2021 and is a companion to the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Music Artist. The inaugural recipient of the award was rapper Chika for her EP Industry Games. In the first two years of the category, artists were nominated for a specific album/EP however, as of the 34th GLAAD Media Awards, artists are instead nominated for their work as a whole.
For a music artist to be eligible, they must have achieved a breakthrough in the music industry by releasing an album or extended play during the eligibility period, and have it be sold in a major record shop or digital music store. The artist must also, through their music and live performances, have made a "significant impact on LGBTQ visibility and acceptance", with interviews and public statements also being taken into consideration. Artists nominated for Outstanding Breakthrough Music Artist cannot be nominated for Outstanding Music Artist in the same year.
Since its inception, the award has been given to 5 music artists. At the 36th GLAAD Media Awards in 2025, the award was given to Durand Bernarr.
Winners and nominees + Table key Indicates the winner
2020s + Award year Artist Album Label 2021(32nd) Chika Industry Games Warner Arca Kick I XL Fletcher The S(ex) Tapes Capitol Keiynan Lonsdale Rainbow Boy Kidd Kenn Child's Play Island Orville Peck Show Pony Columbia / Sub Pop Phoebe Bridgers Punisher Dead Oceans Rina Sawayama Sawayama Dirty Hit / Avex Trax Trixie Mattel Barbara Producer Entertainment Group / ATO Victoria Monét Jaguar Tribe 2022(33rd) Lily Rose Stronger Than I Amrowspan="20" Arlo Parks Collapsed in Sunbeams Asiahn The Interlude Girl in Red If I Could Make It Go Quiet Jake Wesley Rogers Pluto Japanese Breakfast Jubilee Joy Oladokun In Defense of My Own Happiness Lauren Jauregui Prelude Lucy Dacus Home Video Vincint There Will Be Tears 2023(34th) Dove Cameron Brooke Eden Doechii Dreamer Isioma Ethel Cain Isaac Dunbar Jordy Omar Apollo Reneé Rapp Steve Lacy2024(35th) David Archuleta Archie MusicChappell RoanAtlantic Records / Island RecordsFancy HagoodFancy Hagood EnterprisesG FlipFuture ClassicIce Spice10K Projects / Capitol RecordsInikoColumbia RecordsJade LeMacArtista RecordsThe Scarlet OperaPerta / Silent RecordsSlayyyterFADER LabelUMIKeep Cool / RCA2025(36th)Durand Bernarr DSing RecordsBeabadoobeeDirty HitThe Blessed MadonnaMajor Recordings / Warner RecordGigi PerezGigi Perez PS / IslandThe Last Dinner PartyIsland RecordsMedium BuildIsland RecordsMichaela JaéTribeDisciplesRemi WolfIsland RecordsVillano AntillanoLa Buena Fortuna MusicYoung MikoWave Music Group / Capitol Records2026(37th) Katseye rowspan="10" AmaaraeChris HousmanDestin ConradEliFrankie GrandeGuitarricadelafuenteShygirlSnow WifeWet Leg
References