Tag: Billboard Music Awards

  • Travis Scott, Morgan Wallen hit Billboard Music Awards stage

    By Associated Press

    Travis Scott and Morgan Wallen made controversial returns on the Billboard Music Awards stage on Sunday, while Mary J. Blige was honored for her musical excellence.

    Wallen performed in his first major awards show after he was caught on camera more than a year ago using a racial slur. After not receiving a verbal introduction, the country star sat alongside his four-piece band and performed “Don’t Think Jesus” then his chart-topping “Wasted on You,” a single from his popular project “Dangerous: The Double Album.”

    Shortly after his performance, rapper Pusha T presented Wallen with the top country artist award.

    “I want to say, ‘Thank God.’ And thank my fans. I got the best damn fans,” said Wallen, who acknowledged his mother for accompanying him as his date to show. He also thanked for Billboard for inviting him. He did not mention last year’s incident, which once found the disgraced singer rebuked by the music industry.

    “Thank you to my little boy,” he continued. “You inspire me every single day.”

    Scott made his first televised performance since a massive crowd surge killed 10 people and injured thousands at his Astroworld Festival in Houston in November last year. The rapper performed his single “Mafia” in an icy, polar-themed set with heavily censored lyrics.

    Mary J. Blige received the Icon Award for being an influential music maker. The singer, known as the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul, was presented the award by Janet Jackson and escorted on stage by Sean “Diddy” Combs – who emceed the show, which was broadcasted live on NBC from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

    Blige said she was in a “dream right now” after she received the honor. She spoke about the journey of becoming an icon not being an easy feat during her stellar career.

    “I’ve been on this journey for a long time, one that didn’t always look the way you see me now, one that is filled with a lot of heartache and pain,” she said. “But God helped me to channel those experiences and emotions in my music, which is where I started in music.”

    Blige was honored through a video montage with appearances from Queen Latifah, Gabrielle Union and Taraji P. Henson. Previous award recipients include Prince, Steve Wonder, Mariah Carey, Neil Diamond, Jennifer Lopez, Garth Brooks, Pink, Celine Dion and Janet Jackson.

    “I was ghetto fabulous and I still am,” said Blige, whose Dr. Dre-produced single “Family Affair” topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 2001 and had four No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200. “So ghetto and so fabulous and people were threatened by that. Now, everybody wants to be ghetto fabulous.”

    Maxwell paid homage to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” in a performance that celebrated the 40th anniversary of the King of Pop’s 1982 album. The singer took the stage with sparkling black gloves and a jacket before he performed the heartfelt jam “The Lady in My Life.”

    Combs honored activist Tamika Mallory with the Revolt Black Excellence Award. He applauded Mallory’s efforts as an organizer of the Women’s March in 2017, being an advocate for gun control and supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement.

    “You fight for us on the front lines, and we just have to pay so much respect for you, queen,” Combs said before calling her “fearless.”

    After hearing Combs’ gracious remarks, Mallory was almost moved to tears. She then took the opportunity to bring up the deadly mass shooting Saturday that left 10 dead in Buffalo, New York.

    The white gunman was arrested on a murder charge after the supermarket attack, in what police called a hate crime, where most of the victims were Black.

    “While they arrested the person who did the killing, they haven’t arrested the hate,” Mallory said. “They haven’t arrested the harm and the pain. And if you are not doing anything at this time, you’re actually doing something by being silent. I ask you tonight: Get involved, fight for justice.”

    Earlier, Drake was named top artist, male artist, rap artist, rap male artist and rap album for “Certified Lover Boy.” The rapper extended his record as the most decorated winner in the history of the awards show with 34 wins.

    Olivia Rodrigo and Kanye West, known as Ye, took home the most awards with six during a non-televised ceremony. Rodrigo was awarded best new artist.

    Ye made his mark in the faith-based categories – again: The rapper won top Christian artist for the first time, but he claimed top gospel artist and gospel song for a third year in a row. He also received top gospel album for the second time.

    The Kid LAROI became a first-time winner, taking home five wins for his song “Stay” with Justin Bieber – whose Billboard Music Awards win count rose to 26.

    Doja Cat came away with four awards. She won top R&B artist and R&B female artist for the second consecutive year, along with top R&B album and female artist.

    Taylor Swift – who has the second most-ever award show wins with 29 – won four awards. Bad Bunny received two wins while R&B duo Silk Sonic, comprised of Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak, won their first-ever award for top R&B song for “Leave the Door Open.”

    Becky G, who released the album “Esquemas” on Friday, performed her hit song “MAMIII,” which topped the Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart. Ed Sheeran delivered a remote performance from Northern Ireland, where he is on tour.

    Other acts who took the stage include Miranda Lambert, Meghan Thee Stallion and Grammy Awards darlings Silk Sonic.

    Nominees are determined by Billboard chart rankings and winners are selected based on several criteria, including their album and digital song sales, airplay and streaming success and touring.

  • Morgan Wallen banned from 2021 American Music Awards despite two nominations

    By ANI

    WASHINGTON: Country music star Morgan Wallen was banned from attending the 2021 American Music Awards despite being nominated for two awards at the ceremony.

    “Morgan Wallen is a nominee this year based on charting. As his conduct does not align with our core values, we will not be including him on the show in any capacity (performing, presenting, accepting),” read a statement attributed to MRC Live & Alternative, which is producing the show, reported Variety.

    The statement went on to suggest that they’re leaving the door half-open, but still aren’t satisfied with the statements the country superstar made since he was caught saying the N-word on video in March.

    “We plan to evaluate his progress in doing meaningful work as an ally to the Black community and will consider his participation in future shows,” the statement said.

    It also offered an explanation of why the AMAs as an awards show with nominations based on data and not qualitative judgments, did not feel there was any way to leave Wallen out of his rightfully earned nominations.

    “Unique among awards shows, American Music Awards (AMA) nominees are determined by performance on the Billboard Charts and are not chosen by a voting committee or membership organization. AMA nominees are based on key fan interactions with music (including streaming, album sales, song sales, radio airplay, social engagement), tracked by Billboard and its data partner MRC Data,” the statement read.

    But, it also noted, “The AMA winners are voted entirely by fans” — which leaves the door wide open for a pair of Wallen wins, since he has the most popular album of the year so far in any genre, and its massive success has been unaffected by the shame heaped on him by large swaths of the music industry.

    Almost needless to say, the two categories for which Wallen is up — favourite country album and favourite male country artist — are highly likely to be presented on-air.

    The AMAs’ decision marks a seeming sweep of Wallen being barred from awards shows this year. He was ruled ineligible at the Academy of Country Music Awards in the spring and CMT Music Awards in the summer.

    The Country Music Association issued a split decision and said he could contend in categories that would go both to him and his collaborators, but the organisation still said he would not be invited to next month’s CMAs. In any case, he’s up for album of the year there.

    At the Billboard Music Awards in May, which are data-driven from start to finish, Wallen won three awards out of the six he was nominated for, after also being banned there.

    The Grammys, meanwhile, has accepted all his submitted records for the first ballot. There’s been no indication from producers about whether he would be invited to the show if he makes the final run of nominees.

    Wallen has been easing back into performing and public life since doing an interview on ‘Good Morning America’ in July for which both he and anchor Michael Strahan were widely panned for insufficiently addressing his follow-up from the incident and racism in country music generally. 

  • Priyanka, Nick Jonas appear at Billboard Music Awards

    By Express News Service
    Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas made their red carpet appearance at the Billboard Music Awards on Sunday night. While Nick performed and hosted the ceremony, Priyanka was one of the presenters at the awards. 

    As per reports, Nick is recovering from a cracked rib injury and Priyanka stepped in to help him and agreed to be a presenter at the BBMAs.

    WATCH | The Weeknd, BTS, Pink bag big wins at Billboard Music Awards, catch best moments here

    Priyanka shared a picture of Nick hugging her at the awards. She wrote, “Husband appreciation post. Not even a cracked rib can stop this force of nature. So proud of you baby. With everything you do! Your work ethic, your pursuit of excellence! You inspire me everyday! Crushed it today! I love you so much!” Priyanka’s latest release was the Netflix film, The White Tiger. She’ll next be seen in Matrix 4 (untitled) alongside Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss.

  • WATCH | The Weeknd, BTS, Pink bag big wins at Billboard Music Awards, catch best moments here

    By PTI
    LOS ANGELES: The Weeknd’s ode to lost love “Blinding Lights” did wonders for the singer as he topped 10 of the 16 categories he was nominated in at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards (BBMA), which also saw Korean pop sensation BTS expand their global reign with four wins.

    The Weeknd took home the night’s biggest award of top artist over fellow nominees Drake, Juice WRLD, Pop Smoke, and Taylor Swift.

    The singer also won the top male artist, top hot 100 artist, top radio songs artist, top R&B artist, top R&B male artist, top R&B album (for After Hours), top hot 100 song, top radio song and top R&B song.

    The Weeknd thanked his parents and fans, promising them that he does not take the success “for granted”.

    In the winners’ list, The Weeknd was followed by the late Pop Smoke with five trophies, and BTS and Bad Bunny with four awards each.

    CONGRATS @theweeknd “Blinding Lights” for taking home the for Top Hot 100 Song Presented by @rockstarenergy. #BBMAs #RockstarEnergy #paidpartner pic.twitter.com/02dCbeR7iT
    — Billboard Music Awards (@BBMAs) May 24, 2021

    Pop Smoke’s posthumous wins included top Billboard 200 album, top new artist, top rap artist, top rap male artist and top rap album.

    Pop Smoke, whose real name was Bashar Barakah Jackson, was only 20 years old when he was killed in February last year.

    His mother, Audrey Jackson, received the awards on his behalf and remembered him in a moving speech.

    “Thanks to all the fans for respecting his life and the spirit of my son. He created music for children who have to sleep four in the room, children who need to understand how to graduate and go to school every day to be proud of their mother.

    “He did this, so the 14-year-old didn’t have to kill to prove who they were,” she said referring to the unidentified teen charged with her son’s murder.

    The ceremony took place in front of a fully vaccinated, fully masked live audience in the plaza outside Los Angeles’s Microsoft Theatre.

    I started this last week by taking a brutal tumble on a bike fracturing my rib and ended it hosting the @bbmas with my incredible wife by my side who helped me every step of the way to recover and feel my best. I love you @priyankachopra. pic.twitter.com/DrogMP0nZR
    — NICK JONɅS (@nickjonas) May 24, 2021

    The winners entered the stage via enclosed backstage area to accept their awards.

    Korean pop sensation BTS, who joined the ceremony virtually from Seoul, South Korea, emerged winners in all the four categories they were nominated in.

    The hit septet, comprising RM, V, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, and Jungkook, took home the award for top selling song for their first English single “Dynamite” and lit the up the BBMA’s stage with their debut performance on “Butter”, their second English single.

    The group also won awards for top duo/group, top song sales artist and the fan-voted top social artist at the Sunday night ceremony here.

    BTS, whose full name is Bangtan Sonyeondan (Bulletproof Boy Scouts) or Beyond The Scene, their English branding, also received the top social artist award, for the fifth consecutive year.

    BTS’s world debut performance of ‘Butter’ at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards was ELECTRIC!!! #BBMAs#ButterLiveDebut #BillboardTNT @BTS_twtpic.twitter.com/1PgiEwt4cq
    — BTS UK ARMY UNITE (@BTSUKUNITE) May 24, 2021

    “Top social artist for the fifth consecutive time. Thank you ARMY and BBMAs for such an incredible title,” J-Hope said in a video shared by the Billboard Music Awards Twitter handle.

    R&B artiste Drake received the artist of the decade award for his triumphs in the 2010s.

    Drake was joined by his son Adonis, mother Sandi Graham, father Dennis Graham and several friends as he accepted the honour.

    “I rarely celebrate anything. And just for anyone watching this that’s wondering how this happened, that’s really the answer: being so unsure how you’re getting it done that you just kind of keep going in the hopes of figuring out the formula.

    “I just know that I’ve spent an incalculable amount of hours trying to analyze all the things I did wrong, but tonight for once I’m sure as hell we did something right,” he said.

    ARTIST. OF. THE DECADE. #DrakeDecade #BBMAs@Drake pic.twitter.com/fgMFt1OpIZ
    — Billboard Music Awards (@BBMAs) May 24, 2021

    The singer was also up for top artist, top male artist, top billboard 200 artist, top hot 100 artist, top streaming song (“Life Is Good”), and top rap artist.

    He won the trophy for top streaming songs artist.

    Drake remains the most awarded BBMAs honouree of all time.

    The ceremony, hosted by singer-actor Nick Jonas, saw some performances that took place live at the venue, including those by Twenty One Pilots, AJR, Glass Animals and DJ Khaled with H.E.R. and Migos.

    Singer Pink’s medley of old and new songs, a Doja Cat/SZA duet, BTS’ ‘Butter’ performance and Alicia Keys’ medley of songs from her 20-year-old debut album were recorded.

    Apart from the top honours, most of the awards were presented off-camera.

    we love you, @pink !!! #BBMAs #IconPINK pic.twitter.com/YpICEdGtH3
    — Billboard Music Awards (@BBMAs) May 24, 2021

    Honestly everything about her is beyond perfect #PriyankaChopra #BBMAs pic.twitter.com/8Y1rWK0tzM
    — Fendi (@being_Fendi) May 24, 2021

    About last night Swipe for some looks from the #BBMAs Comment your fave look below pic.twitter.com/wVaTEF7nUa
    — boohoo (@boohoo) May 24, 2021

  • The Weeknd dominates 2021 Billboard Music Awards, here’s the complete list of winners

    By ANI
    WASHINGTON: The Billboard Music Awards celebrated yet another iteration of its beloved show on Sunday, with American singer-songwriter The Weeknd dominating the ceremony with 10 awards, including the climactic top artist trophy, followed by the late Pop Smoke with five, and BTS and Bad Bunny with four apiece.

    According to E! News, the finalists were chosen based on their performance on Billboard charts as well as music sales, streaming platform statistics, radio airplay, and social engagement.

    The Weeknd, while accepting one of the several awards on camera earlier in the evening promised a change of stylistic pace to come in his future album and performance cycles. He said, “The after hours are done and the dawn is coming.”

    At another point, he made a joke after beginning with a slight show-of-religiosity fake-out, “I’d like to thank God… that I don’t have to wear that red suit anymore.”

    Last year, Post Malone took home the most awards with nine out of his 16 nominations. This year, Pink was announced as the Billboard Icon award, Trae tha Truth as the Change Maker winner and Drake continued his historic winning streak, as he accepted the Artist of the Decade Award.

    While receiving the award he was joined on stage by his son Adonis, his mother and father, and his closest friends to celebrate. Currently, the Canadian rapper holds the title for most Billboard Music Awards wins with 27, and was nominated for an impressive seven more tonight.

    The evening featured a star-studded lineup of presenters including Cynthia Erivo, Chelsea Handler, Dixie D’Amelio, Gabrielle Union, Lena Waithe, Leslie Odom Jr. and more.

    Meanwhile, Pink was honoured with the Icon Award, and her daughter Willow made a stunning cameo during her performance. Check out the complete list of winners:

    Top Artist: The Weeknd

    Top New Artist: Pop Smoke

    Top Male Artist: The Weeknd

    Top Female Artist: Taylor Swift

    Top Duo/Group: BTS

    Top Billboard 200 Artist: Taylor Swift

    Top Hot 100 Artist: The Weeknd

    Top Streaming Songs Artist: Drake

    Top Song Sales Artist: BTS

    Top Radio Songs Artist: The Weeknd

    Top Social Artist (Fan Voted): BTS

    Top R&B Artist: The Weeknd

    Top R&B Male Artist: The Weeknd

    Top R&B Female Artist: Doja Cat

    Top Rap Artist: Pop Smoke

    Top Rap Male Artist: Pop Smoke

    Top Rap Female Artist: Megan Thee Stallion

    Top Country Artist: Morgan Wallen

    Top Country Male Artist: Morgan Wallen

    Top Country Female Artist: Gabby Barrett

    Top Country Duo/Group: Florida Georgia Line

    Top Rock Artist: Machine Gun Kelly

    Top Latin Artist: Bad Bunny

    Top Latin Male Artist [New Category]: Bad Bunny

    Top Latin Female Artist [New Category]: Karol G

    Top Latin Duo/Group [New Category]: Eslabon Armado

    Top Dance/Electronic Artist: Lady Gaga

    Top Christian Artist: Elevation Worship

    Top Gospel Artist: Kanye West

    Top Billboard 200 Album: Pop Smoke ‘Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon’

    Top R&B Album: The Weeknd ‘After Hours’

    Top Rap Album: Pop Smoke ‘Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon’

    Top Country Album: Morgan Wallen ‘Dangerous: The Double Album’

    Top Rock Album: Machine Gun Kelly ‘Tickets to My Downfall’

    Top Latin Album: Bad Bunny ‘YHLQMDLG’

    Top Dance/Electronic Album: Lady Gaga ‘Chromatica’

    Top Christian Album: Carrie Underwood ‘My Gift’

    Top Gospel Album: Maverick City Music ‘Maverick City Vol. 3 Part 1’

    Top Rap Album: Pop Smoke ‘Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon’

    Top Country Album: Morgan Wallen ‘Dangerous: The Double Album’

    Top Rock Album: Machine Gun Kelly ‘Tickets to My Downfall’

    Top Latin Album: Bad Bunny ‘YHLQMDLG’

    Top Dance/Electronic Album: Lady Gaga ‘Chromatica’

    Top Christian Album: Carrie Underwood ‘My Gift’

    Top Gospel Album: Maverick City Music ‘Maverick City Vol. 3 Part 1’

    Top Hot 100 Song Presented by Rockstar: The Weeknd ‘Blinding Lights’

    Top Streaming Song: DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch ‘ROCKSTAR’

    Top Selling Song: BTS ‘Dynamite’

    Top Radio Song: The Weeknd ‘Blinding Lights’

    Top Collaboration (Fan Voted): Gabby Barrett ft. Charlie Puth ‘I Hope’

    Top R&B Song: The Weeknd ‘Blinding Lights’

    Top Rap Song: DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch ‘ROCKSTAR’

    Top Country Song: Gabby Barrett ‘I Hope’

    Top Rock Song: AJR ‘Bang!’

    Top Latin Song: Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez ‘Dakiti’

    Top Dance/Electronic Song: SAINt JHN ‘Roses (Imanbek Remix)’

    Top Christian Song: Elevation Worship ft. Brandon Lake ‘Graves Into Gardens’

    Top Gospel Song: Kanye West ft. Travis Scott ‘Wash Us In The Blood’

    The 2021 Billboard Music Awards took place in front of a fully vaccinated, fully masked live audience in the plaza outside L.A.’s Microsoft Theatre, with winners emerging from an enclosed backstage area to accept their awards with their backs to the crowd.

    As per People magazine, this year’s awards show was based on chart data from March 21, 2020, through April 3, 2021, with winners based on “key fan interactions with music,” including song sales, streaming and social engagement.

    Meanwhile, the top social artist and top collaboration categories were fan-voted. The 2021 Billboard Music Awards aired live on NBC. 

  • BTS shine at 2021 Billboard Music Awards with four wins, ‘Butter’ performance

    By PTI
    LOS ANGELES: Koran pop sensation BTS won big at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards by taking home trophies in all the four categories they were nominated in.

    The hit septet, comprising RM, V, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, and Jungkook, took home the award for top selling song for their first English single ‘Dynamite’ and lit the up the BBMA’s stage with their debut performance on “Butter”, their second English single.

    The group also won awards for top duo/group, top song sales artist and the fan-voted top social artist at the Sunday night ceremony here.

    “Dynamite” was nominated alongside Gabby Barrett and Charlie Puth’s “I Hope,” Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s “WAP,” The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” and Megan Thee Stallion’s “Savage” featuring Beyonce, in the top selling song category.

    “It’s really an honour to be a winner of such a significant title…We want to share some fresh energy with everyone with Dynamite,”BTS leader RM said from Seoul.

    In the top duo/group category, BTS registered their career’s second win.

    They were up against American rock band AC/DC, indie pop trio AJR, American country music duo Dan + Shay and pop-rock band Maroon5.

    “Dynamite”, their first Billboard Hot 100 No 1 hit, helped BTS also win their maiden top song sales artist award, beating out music industry big wigs like Justin Bieber, Megan Thee Stallion, Morgan Wallen and The Weeknd.

    The BBMA ceremony was aired live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, but the group joined virtually from Seoul, South Korea.

    The group, whose full name is Bangtan Sonyeondan (Bulletproof Boy Scouts) or Beyond The Scene, their English branding, also received the top social artist award, for the fifth consecutive year.

    Fellow K-pop bands BLACKPINK and Seventeen, pop star Ariana Grande and Filipino boy band SB19 were the co-nominees.

    “Top social artist for the fifth consecutive time. Thank you ARMY and BBMAs for such an incredible title,” J-Hope said in a video shared by the Billboard Music Awards Twitter handle.

    The performance on “Butter”, BTS’s summer song, was a looked forward event at the BBMAs for fans around the globe and the group was also excited about it.

    In a recent interview with PTI, BTS had said that it was a special feeling to return to the BBMAs with “Butter” after having such a memorable run at the charts last year for “Dynamite”.

    “One of the most memorable moments last year was when we got our first number one song on the Billboard’s Hot 100 chart.

    So it’s an honour to perform ‘Butter’ for the first time at the awards show that bears such a special meaning for us,” Suga had told PTI.

    The BBMAs were hosted by singer-actor Nick Jonas.

  • Drake, Pink, The Weeknd win big at Billboard Music Awards

    By Associated Press
    NEW YORK: It was a family affair at the Billboard Music Awards: Pink twirled in the air in a powerful performance with her daughter, and Drake was named artist of the decade, accepting the honor alongside his 3-year-old son.

    Drake, who extended his record as the most decorated winner in the history of the awards show to 29 wins Sunday, was surrounded by family and friends who presented him with the Artist of the Decade Award. He walked onstage outside the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles with his son Adonis holding his hand.

    “I wanna dedicate this award to my friends, to my longtime collaborators … to my beautiful family, and to you,” he said, looking to Adonis and picking him up to kiss him.

    Drake placed his first song on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2009, and since has logged the most songs ever on the chart, with 232 entrees. He’s also logged a record 45 Top 10 hits on the Hot 100 and a record 22 No. 1s on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop songs chart.

    He was also named top streaming songs artist Sunday.

    Pink received the Icon Award and was joined onstage by her 9-year-old daughter — showing off their powerful gymnastic skills as they spun in the air in a jaw-dropping performance. Known for her signature aerial and acrobatic moves, Pink was matched by Willow Sage Hart as “Cover Me In Sunshine” played in the background, Pink’s song featuring vocals from her daughter.

    “Willow, you nailed it,” Pink said after the performance. “I love what I do and I love the people that I get to do it with, and we’re pretty good at what we do, but it wouldn’t matter if no one came to see us and play with us. So all you guys out there … thank you for coming out!”

    Pink’s performance was one of several pre-taped moments at the awards show, which aired on NBC and was hosted by Nick Jonas. Live performances were held outdoors, in front of feverish audience members wearing masks.

    The Weeknd was on hand to accept the most wins of the night — 10. He walked into the show with 16 nominations, winning honors like top artist, top male artist, top Hot 100 song for “Blinding Lights” and top R&B album for “After Hours.”

    “I wanna take this opportunity to thank you, my parents,” he said. “I am the man I am today because of you. And thank you to my fans, of course. I do not take this for granted.”

    The late rapper Pop Smoke was also a big winner: He posthumously earned five honors, including top new artist and top rap artist, while his debut — “Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon” — won top rap album and top Billboard 200 album, which his mother accepted onstage.

    “Thank you to the fans for honoring the life and spirit of my son, so much that he continues to manifest as if he was still here in flesh,” Audrey Jackson said.

    Another late rapper was also honored during the show. Before presenting top rap song to DaBaby, Swizz Beatz dedicated a moment to those who have recently died in hip-hop, including his close friend and collaborator DMX. And Houston rapper and activist Trae Tha Truth, who earned the Change Maker Award, ended his speech with a powerful sentence: “We still gon’ need justice for Breonna Taylor.”

    Other winners Sunday included Bad Bunny and BTS, who both won four awards and also performed. Breakthrough country singer Gabby Barrett won three awards, including top female country artist and top country song for the hit “I Hope.” The song’s remix featuring Charlie Puth won top collaboration.

    “Oh my gosh. Thank y’all so much. This means so much to me,” Barrett said as she broke into tears. “I’ve been performing for 10 years really hard. …We’ve worked so hard to get here.”

    Another country star also won big Sunday though he wasn’t allowed to participate in the show.

    Morgan Wallen, who was caught on camera using a racial slur earlier this year, won three honors, including top country artist and top country album for “Dangerous: The Double Album,” which has had major success on the pop and country music charts despite his fallen moment.

    Wallen was nominated for six awards, and Billboard Awards producer dick clark productions said it couldn’t prevent Wallen from earning nominations, or winning, because finalists are based on album and digital sales, streaming, radio airplay and social engagement. The producers did ban Wallen from performing or attending the show.

    The Billboard Awards kicked off with a collaborative performance by DJ Khaled, H.E.R. and Migos, who brought the concert vibe back to life a year after live shows were in the dark because of the pandemic. Doja Cat and SZA — accompanied by futuristically dressed background dancers — sang their big hit “Kiss Me More” inside the venue, where the seats were empty. Alicia Keys, celebrating the 20th anniversary of her groundbreaking debut “songs in A minor,” sang songs from the album including the hit “Fallin’.” The performance was introduced by former first lady Michelle Obama.

    Other performers included Karol G, twenty one pilots, Duran Duran, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Jonas Brothers and Glass Animals.

    Stars like Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga and Kanye West won honors at the show though they didn’t attend. Machine Gun Kelly, who started in rap but has had recent success on the rock charts, won top rock artist and top rock album.

    “I released my first mixtape 15 years ago and this is the first big stage I’ve ever been invited to accept an award on,” he said, kissing his actor-girlfriend Megan Fox before walking to the stage.

    “To the box that society keeps trying to put me, you need stronger material because you can’t keep me in it,” he proclaimed.

  • Nick Jonas opens up about Billboard Music Awards, says pandemic offered chance ‘to think outside the box’

    By ANI
    WASHINGTON: Singer-actor Nick Jonas, who is set to host the Billboard Music Awards 2021, opened up about the upcoming ceremony. The star shared that he and the producers have turned the challenges raised by the COVID-19 pandemic into an opportunity to create a unique awards show.

    Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter about the ceremony, Nick said, “Because of some of the obstacles that are just naturally there because of COVID and other things, we’ve had to think outside the box and we view this as an opportunity to bring a really unique show to the table.”

    He added, “We’re working closely with the production, the design team, the producers to build a show that feels really different, feels special, that we can look back on in 10 years and go, ‘Wow what an amazing moment in time that was.’”

    Nick added that the ceremony will feature 500-600 people in the audience — which, it should be noted, is seemingly one of the largest audiences for a Hollywood awards show amid the pandemic thus far that features regular folks.

    ALSO READ | COVID-19 relief​: Priyanka Chopra, Nick Jonas raise their fundraising target to USD 3 million

    The Golden Globes audience was filled with healthcare workers, while the Grammys and Oscars kept invitations to industry folks.

    But Nick said that NBC and the producers at Dick Clark Productions are taking every precaution to ensure safety. He added that it is a welcome return to things starting to feel “normal” again.

    “I think as performers, we thrive on the interaction with the crowd and not having that for a year and a half has been tough,” he said.

    For his part, Nick said he has been involved with the BBMAs over the years as a presenter, performer and nominee and it took about “two seconds” for him to say yes after he was asked to host.

    “I’ve always loved this show because it really is just a celebration of a great year in music, and in my opinion it’s artist-centric, which is great,” he said.

    Nick added, “I’m just thrilled to be part of a show that is going to be unique because of the COVID part of it all and the precautions and I think that’s going to make it even more special.”

    ALSO READ | Nick Jonas says he cracked a rib in biking accident, ‘feeling okay’

    The ‘Sucker’ hitmaker was tight-lipped about the specifics but added that everyone involved will be working right up to airtime to put together what he hopes will be a memorable telecast.

    “I can’t give away too many surprises. This is all about keeping the mystique alive. But we want to bring a great show to the fans, both as a host, the other performers and artists who’ll be there,” he said.

    That includes Nick himself taking the stage with his brothers, Joe and Kevin Jonas, aka the Jonas Brothers, along with Marshmello, who released a single together, ‘Leave Before You Love Me’, on Thursday.

    Other performers will include AJR, Alicia Keys, Bad Bunny, BTS, DJ Khaled ft. H.E.R. and Migos, Duran Duran, Glass Animals, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis with Sounds of Blackness featuring Ann Nesby, Karol G, The Weeknd and Twenty One Pilots.

    In addition, Pink will perform and receive the ICON Award, Drake will receive the Artist of the Decade Award, and Trae Tha Truth will receive the Change Maker Award.

    For his part, Nick is looking forward to seeing the performers.

    “I think everyone is looking forward to seeing The Weeknd perform. It’ll be nice to see him on an awards how stage,” Nick said of the singer, who was snubbed at this year’s Grammys and has said he’ll boycott future Grammy shows until the Recording Academy overhauls what he calls its “corrupt” voting process.

    Heading into the show, The Weeknd leads all finalists with 16 nods. The finalists and winners are based on key fan interactions with music, including audio and video streaming, album and digital song sales, radio airplay and social engagement, tracked by Billboard and its data partners, including MRC Data and Next Big Sound.

    Presenters scheduled to appear include Cynthia Erivo, Chelsea Handler, Dixie D’Amelio, Gabrielle Union, Henry Golding, Kathryn Hahn, Kelsea Ballerini, Lena Waithe, Leslie Odom, Jr., Lil Rel Howery, Padma Lakshmi, Renee Elise Goldsberry, Swizz Beatz and Tina Knowles-Lawson.

    The BBMAs will broadcast live on Sunday from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on NBC. 

  • Drake to receive Artist of the Decade honour at Billboard Music Awards

    By PTI
    LOS ANGELES: Canadian rapper and singer Drake will be honoured with Artist of the Decade Award at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards.

    The announcement was made by NBC and Dick Clark Productions in a statement posted on the official website of Billboard Music Awards (BBMA) on Tuesday.

    Drake holds the record for the most Billboard Music Awards with 27, reaching this record after taking home 12 awards in 2019.

    Over the past decade he’s also broke several Billboard chart records, including having nine Number One albums and 33 top 10 songs on the Hot 100.

    Drake is also up for seven awards at the 2021 ceremony, including the top artist trophy.

    The organisers had recently announced that singer Pink will receive the Icon Award, honouring record-breaking artists and their impact on music.

    Singer-actor Nick Jonas will host the 2021 edition of the Billboard Music Awards, which are scheduled to take place on May 23.

    The Weeknd, who is leading the nominations with 16 nods, is among the performers announced for the ceremony.

  • Singer Pink to receive Icon Award at Billboard Music Awards

    By PTI
    LOS ANGELES: Singer Pink will be honoured with the Icon Award at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs).

    The award aims to recognise artists who have achieved success on the Billboard charts and left an indelible impact on music.

    Pink joins previous honourees that include Neil Diamond, Stevie Wonder, Prince, Jennifer Lopez, Celine Dion, Cher, Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey and Garth Brooks.

    “As a little girl, I always dreamed about being a singer and sharing my love of music with the world,” the 41-year-old singer, who is the youngest recipient to date, said in a statement.

    “Years later, to receive the Billboard Music Awards Icon Award is hard to fathom! I feel so honoured to join the ranks of music idols like Cher, Garth Brooks, Janet Jackson and Stevie Wonder.

    It’s a true ‘pinch me’ moment and I feel humbled and blessed,” she added.

    Singer-actor Nick Jonas will host the 2021 edition of the Billboard Music Awards, which are scheduled to take place on May 23.

    The nominations for the awards were recently announced by Dick Clark Productions and the NBC.

    Singer-songwriter The Weeknd is leading the nominations with 16 nods, followed by DaBaby (11), the late Pop Smoke (10), and country singer Gabby Barrett (nine).

    Contenders for the Top Artist award are Taylor Swift, the Weeknd, Drake, Juice WRLD and Pop Smoke.