Every November, the esteemed American publication The Wall Street Journal honors people who “are changing the world and how we live in it” through the “Innovator Awards.” This year, in the 12th edition of the tribute, the newspaper named Brazilian Anitta as the “Music Innovator” and one of the “eight revolutionaries whose ideas offer a blueprint for a better future.”
The WSJ justified its choice:
“Like Cher and Madonna before her, Brazilian pop star Anitta is a diva whose fame does not depend solely on her talents.
She draws attention with her opinions, sexuality, and political views. She is also a workhorse. Changing the sound of pop music in her homeland, Brazil, was only possible through a relentless schedule of performances and a dizzying artistic output. A solid career in America is the cornerstone on her path to becoming a Latin superstar. ‘I only compete with myself,’ she says.
With the release of her trilingual album this year and the hit ‘Envolver,’ Anitta has invaded the North American market and expanded her reach far beyond Brazil. Now singing in five different languages, making hits around the world, she has collaborated with Madonna, Snoop Dogg, and Missy Elliott and has over 63 million followers on Instagram.
Anitta recalls the skepticism of the local industry regarding her global plans. ‘They said, “Well, you can try to become international, but that’s impossible. No one has ever succeeded; the last person was Carmen Miranda.” “Impossible? That word just makes me want to move forward,” she says,’ the newspaper highlighted in its special edition.