Venu Holding Corporation, the visionary owner, operator and builder of upscale live music venues and premium hospitality destinations, and Billboard has announced that GRAMMY-nominated, Billboard Hot 100-topping singer-songwriter, Khalid, has been awarded Billboard’s inaugural ‘Disruptor Award’ presented by VENU. Known for his genre fluidity and hits like ‘Young Dumb & Broke’, ‘Location’, and ‘Better’, Khalid was honored with the newly minted award at Billboard’s Live Music Summit by VENU’s Founder, Chairman, and CEO, J.W. Roth at a grand award ceremony the evening of November 3rd, 2025, in Los Angeles, CA.

The Billboard Disruptor Award, powered by VENU, recognizes artists and visionaries breaking molds and moving the music industry forward. It honors those bold enough to take risks and defy expectations, whose fearless creativity continues to push the music industry forward. As VENU redefines the live entertainment experience, creating destinations rooted in premium, fan-first design, the award pays tribute to those who dare to think differently and challenge the norm. It stands as a reflection of Founder J.W. Roth’s bold vision to transform live entertainment for both fans and artists, the guiding force behind VENU’s mission.

“Khalid isn’t just an artist. He’s an architect of what music can be when you ignore boundaries. He moves effortlessly between sounds, styles, and collaborations, creating something that is entirely his own,” said J.W. Roth, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of VENU. “That kind of fearless creativity is what drives Khalid and VENU, where we believe that artists deserve a platform instead of just a stage and that fans should be part of the journey from the start. That’s what the Disruptor Award is about: the courage to reimagine what’s possible. Khalid embodies that vision, and VENU is proud to celebrate him as we reshape the future of live entertainment together.”

Khalid recently releases his fourth studio album titled “after the sun goes down” through RCA Records on October 10th of this year. The singer-songwriter rose to fame when he was 17 and has multiple songs in Spotify’s Billions Club. His ability to adapt to different sounds and genres has landed him on a diverse number of Billboard charts across Adult Contemporary, Latin, Rock & Alternative, Rap, and Dance and his collaborations with global stars like Ed Sheeran, Marshmello, Halsey, and Billie Eilish further showcase his creative versatility.

The Billboard Disruptor Award, presented by VENU, builds on a series of strategic collaborations with major brands that share VENU’s fan-founded, fan-owned, and artist-inspired vision. Among these are partnerships with NFL Hall of Famer and EIGHT Beer Founder, Troy Aikman, Aramark Sports + Entertainment, Ford Dealerships, Boingo, Tixr, Ryan LLC, Primary Wave, and recent announced VENU shareholder, Dierks Bentley.