GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Music Artist
The GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Music Artist is an annual award that honors music artists who are either openly queer or allies and have used their music to increase acceptance of the LGBT community. It is one of several categories of the annual GLAAD Media Awards, which are presented by GLAAD—an American non-governmental media monitoring organization—at ceremonies held primarily in New York City and Los Angeles between March and May.
GLAAD first recognized music at the 2nd GLAAD Media Awards in 1991, with Two Nice Girls winning an award. The following year, Phranc was recognized as Outstanding Recording Artist, while John Corigliano's "Symphony No. 1" won Outstanding Music Composition; the only instance this award was given. In 1993, Garth Brooks' "We Shall Be Free" won Outstanding Music Song, while Elton John's "The Last Song" won Outstanding Music Video. The 6th GLAAD Media Awards in 1996 marked the only instance where three music-related awards were given, with Outstanding Music Album being presented for the first time to Disappear Fear's self-titled album. Starting with the 11th GLAAD Media Awards in 2000, Outstanding Music Album was the sole music-related category recognized by GLAAD, with the award going to Indigo Girls' Come On Now Social. At the 15th GLAAD Media Awards in 2004, the category was retitled to its current name, with the award going to Rufus Wainwright for his album Want One. To date there has only been one tie, with Adam Lambert and Frank Ocean winning the award at the 24th GLAAD Media Awards in 2013 for Trespassing and Channel Orange, respectively.
For a music artist to be eligible, they must have released 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 use their music and live performances to "accelerate LGBTQ acceptance", with interviews and public statements also being taken into consideration. At one point, the award could only be given to artists that were openly LGBT, but this criterion was revised starting with the 30th GLAAD Media Awards in 2019 so that LGBT allies can also be eligible. Moreover, while the award was at one point given to openly queer artists regardless of whether their music included LGBT themes, in 2019 this was changed so that artists had to use their music to "accelerate LGBTQ acceptance".
Since its inception, the award has been given to 29 music artists and groups. With four wins out of six nominations, Rufus Wainwright is the most-awarded artist in this category, followed by Melissa Etheridge, who has three awards out of nine nominations. Scissor Sisters is the band with the most wins, having received three wins from four nominations. With four nominations, Brandi Carlile is the music artist that has been nominated the most often without a win. At the 35th GLAAD Media Awards in 2024, the award was given to Reneé Rapp for her album Snow Angel.
Winners and nominees
2000s
2010s
2020s
Multiple wins and nominations
The following individuals received two or more Outstanding Music Artist awards:| Wins | Music Artist | Nominations |
| 4 | Rufus Wainwright | 6 |
| 3 | Melissa Etheridge | 9 |
| 3 | Scissor Sisters | 4 |
| 3 | k.d. lang | 3 |
| 2 | Lady Gaga | 5 |
| 2 | Indigo Girls | 4 |
| 2 | Tegan and Sara | 3 |
| 2 | Lil Nas X | 2 |
The following individuals received four or more Outstanding Music Artist awards:
| Nominations | Music Artist |
| 9 | Melissa Etheridge |
| 6 | Rufus Wainwright |
| 5 | Lady Gaga |
| 5 | Adam Lambert |
| 4 | Brandi Carlile |
| 4 | Scissor Sisters |
| 4 | Meshell Ndegeocello |
| 4 | Indigo Girls |
| 4 | Elton John |