Seven months after the last awards, Billboard Music Awards returned for its 2021 edition on May 23. Hosted by Nick Jonas, the awards were broadcast live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Aired on NBC, the show saw some notable performances including BTS' debut of their second English single, ‘Butter’ and Doja Cat and SZA’s opening act with their famous track ‘Kiss Me More,’ among others. We even witnessed a performance from Alicia Keys as she celebrated the 20th anniversary of her album ‘Songs in A Minor's debut, after a heartening tribute from Michelle Obama.
While this year, Pink was announced as the Icon, Drake as the Artist of the Decade and Trae Tha Truth as the Change Maker, it was The Weeknd who swept the awards with 10 wins (including the top artist). One of the biggest critics Grammys’, the singer took centre stage at the BBMAs. Last year, he called out the music awards when he didn’t receive any nomination for its 2021 show. This was even though he had the year’s biggest song ‘Blinding Lights’ and a multi-platinum, the multi-hit album ‘After Hours’. According to Billboard’s official website, however, with his recent wins, the singer is now in fifth place on the all-time BBMA winners list, behind Drake (29), Taylor Swift (25), Justin Bieber (21) and Garth Brooks (20).
While in other award shows committees determine the nominees, the Billboard Awards’ finalists are announced basis ‘key fan interactions with music, including album and digital song sales, streaming, radio airplay, and social engagement,’ which is tracked by Billboard and its data partners, including MRC Data. This year’s nominees for the 51 categories are based on a period of March 21, 2020, to April 3, 2021.
Check out the complete list of winners:
Top Artist
The Weeknd (WINNER)
Drake
Juice WRLD
Pop Smoke
Taylor Swift
Top New Artist
Pop Smoke (WINNER)
Gabby Barrett
Doja Cat
Jack Harlow
Rod Wave
Top Male Artist
The Weeknd (WINNER)
Drake
Juice WRLD
Lil Baby
Pop Smoke
Top Female Artist
Taylor Swift (WINNER)
Billie Eilish
Ariana Grande
Dua Lipa
Megan Thee Stallion
Top Duo/Group
BTS (WINNER)
AC/DC
AJR
Dan + Shay
Maroon 5
Top Billboard 200 Artist
Taylor Swift (WINNER)
Drake
Juice WRLD
Pop Smoke
Post Malone
Top Hot 100 Artist
The Weeknd (WINNER)
DaBaby
Drake
Dua Lipa
Pop Smoke
Top Streaming Songs Artist
Drake (WINNER)
DaBaby
Lil Baby
Pop Smoke
The Weeknd
Top Song Sales Artist
BTS (WINNER)
Justin Bieber
Megan Thee Stallion
Morgan Wallen
The Weeknd
Top Radio Songs Artist
The Weeknd (WINNER)
Justin Bieber
Lewis Capaldi
Dua Lipa
Harry Styles
Top Social Artist (Fan Voted)
BTS (WINNER)
BLACKPINK
Ariana Grande
SB19
Seventeen
Top R&B Artist
The Weeknd (WINNER)
Jhené Aiko
Justin Bieber
Chris Brown
Doja Cat
Top R&B Male Artist
The Weeknd (WINNER)
Justin Bieber
Chris Brown
Top R&B Female Artist
Doja Cat (WINNER)
Jhené Aiko
SZA
Top Rap Artist
Pop Smoke (WINNER)
DaBaby
Drake
Juice WRLD
Lil Baby
Top Rap Male Artist
Pop Smoke (WINNER)
Juice WRLD
Lil Baby
Top Rap Female Artist
Megan Thee Stallion (WINNER)
Cardi B
Saweetie
Top Country Artist
Morgan Wallen (WINNER)
Gabby Barrett
Kane Brown
Luke Combs
Chris Stapleton
Top Country Male Artist
Morgan Wallen (WINNER)
Luke Combs
Chris Stapleton
Top Country Female Artist
Gabby Barrett (WINNER)
Maren Morris
Carrie Underwood
Top Country Duo/Group
Florida Georgia Line (WINNER)
Dan + Shay
Maddie & Tae
Top Rock Artist
Machine Gun Kelly (WINNER)
AC/DC
AJR
Five Finger Death Punch
twenty one pilots
Top Latin Artist
Bad Bunny (WINNER)
Anuel AA
J Balvin
Maluma
Ozuna
Top Latin Male Artist
Bad Bunny (WINNER)
J Balvin
Ozuna
Top Latin Female Artist
Karol G (WINNER)
Becky G
Rosalía
Top Latin Duo/Group
Eslabón Armado (WINNER)
Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga
Los Dos Carnales
Top Dance/Electronic Artist
Lady Gaga (WINNER)
The Chainsmokers
Kygo
Marshmello
Surf Mesa
Top Christian Artist
Elevation Worship (WINNER)
Casting Crowns
for KING & COUNTRY
Carrie Underwood
Zach Williams
Top Gospel Artist
Kanye West (WINNER)
Kirk Franklin
Koryn Hawthorne
Tasha Cobbs Leonard
Maverick City Music
Top Billboard 200 Album
Pop Smoke Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon (WINNER)
Juice WRLD Legends Never Die
Lil Baby My Turn
Taylor Swift folklore
The Weeknd After Hours
Top R&B Album
The Weeknd After Hours (WINNER)
Jhené Aiko Chilombo
Chris Brown & Young Thug Slime & B
Doja Cat Hot Pink
Kehlani It Was Good Until It Wasn’t
Top Rap Album
Pop Smoke Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon (WINNER)
DaBaby Blame It On the Baby
Juice WRLD Legends Never Die
Lil Baby My Turn
Lil Uzi Vert Eternal Atake
Top Country Album
Morgan Wallen Dangerous: The Double Album (WINNER)
Gabby Barrett Goldmine
Sam Hunt Southside
Chris Stapleton Starting Over
Carrie Underwood My Gift
Top Rock Album
Machine Gun Kelly Tickets to My Downfall (WINNER)
AC/DC Power Up
Miley Cyrus Plastic Hearts
Glass Animals Dreamland
Bruce Springsteen Letter to You
Top Latin Album
Bad Bunny YHLQMDLG (WINNER)
Anuel AA Emmanuel
Bad Bunny El Último Tour Del Mundo
Bad Bunny Las que no iban a salir
J Balvin Colores
Top Dance/Electronic Album
Lady Gaga Chromatica (WINNER)
DJ Snake Carte Blanche
Gryffin Gravity
Kygo Golden Hour
Kylie Minogue Disco
Top Christian Album
Carrie Underwood My Gift (WINNER)
Bethel Music Peace
Elevation Worship Grave Into Gardens
We The Kingdom Holy Water
Zach Williams Rescue Story
Top Gospel Album
Maverick City Music Maverick City Vol. 3 Part 1 (WINNER)
Koryn Hawthorne I AM
Tasha Cobbs Leonard Royalty: Live at the Ryman
Maverick City Music Maverick City Vol. 3 Part 2
Kierra Sheard Kierra
Top Hot 100 Song Presented by Rockstar
The Weeknd “Blinding Lights” (WINNER)
24kGoldn ft. iann dior “Mood”
Gabby Barrett ft. Charlie Puth “I Hope”
Chris Brown & Young Thug “Go Crazy”
DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch “ROCKSTAR”
Top Streaming Song
DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch “ROCKSTAR” (WINNER)
Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion “WAP”
Future ft. Drake “Life Is Good”
Jack Harlow ft. DaBaby, Tory Lanez, & Lil Wayne “WHATS POPPIN”
The Weeknd “Blinding Lights”
Top Selling Song
BTS “Dynamite” (WINNER)
The Weeknd “Blinding Lights”
Gabby Barrett ft. Charlie Puth “I Hope”
Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion “WAP”
Megan Thee Stallion “Savage”
Top Radio Song
Gabby Barrett ft. Charlie Puth “I Hope” (WINNER)
Chris Brown & Young Thug “Go Crazy”
Dua Lipa “Don’t Start Now”
Harry Styles “Adore You”
The Weeknd “Blinding Lights”
Top Collaboration (Fan Voted)
Gabby Barrett ft. Charlie Puth “I Hope” (WINNER)
24kGoldn ft. iann dior “Mood”
Chris Brown & Young Thug “Go Crazy”
DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch “ROCKSTAR”
Jack Harlow ft. DaBaby, Tory Lanez, & Lil Wayne “WHATS POPPIN”
Top R&B Song
The Weeknd “Blinding Lights” (WINNER)
Jhené Aiko ft. H.E.R. “B.S.”
Justin Bieber ft. Quavo “Intentions”
Chris Brown & Young Thug “Go Crazy”
Doja Cat “Say So”
Top Rap Song
DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch “ROCKSTAR” (WINNER)
24kGoldn ft. iann dior “Mood”
Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion “WAP”
Jack Harlow ft. DaBaby, Tory Lanez, & Lil Wayne “WHATS POPPIN”
Megan Thee Stallion “Savage”
Top Country Song
Gabby Barrett “I Hope” (WINNER)
Jason Aldean “Got What I Got”
Lee Brice “One of Them Girls”
Morgan Wallen “Chasin’ You”
Morgan Wallen “More Than My Hometown”
Top Rock Song
AJR “Bang!” (WINNER)
All Time Low ft. blackbear “Monsters”
Glass Animals “Heat Waves”
Machine Gun Kelly ft. blackbear “my ex’s best friend”
twenty one pilots “Level of Concern”
Top Latin Song
Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez “Dákiti” (WINNER)
Bad Bunny “Yo Perreo Sola”
Black Eyed Peas & J Balvin “RITMO (Bad Boys For Life)”
Maluma & The Weeknd “Hawái”
Ozuna x Karol G x Myke Towers “Caramelo”
Top Dance/Electronic Song
SAINt JHN “Roses (Imanbek Remix)” (WINNER)
Lady Gaga “Stupid Love”
Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande “Rain on Me”
Surf Mesa ft. Emilee “ily (i love you baby)”
Topic & A7S “Breaking Me”
Top Christian Song
Elevation Worship ft. Brandon Lake “Graves Into Gardens” (WINNER)
for KING & COUNTRY, Kirk Franklin & Tori Kelly “TOGETHER”
Kari Jobe, Cody Carnes, & Elevation Worship “The Blessing (Live)”
Tauren Wells ft. Jenn Johnson “Famous For (I Believe)”
Zach Williams & Dolly Parton “There Was Jesus”
Top Gospel Song
Kanye West ft. Travis Scott “Wash Us In The Blood” (WINNER)
Koryn Hawthorne “Speak To Me”
Jonathan McReynolds & Mali Music “Movin’ On”
Marvin Sapp “Thank You For It All”
Tye Tribbett “We Gon’ Be Alright”
The award show was jam-packed, while adhrering to the pandemic rules, and witnessed A-list performers including The Weeknd, BTS, Bad Bunny, Doja Cat and SZA, twenty-one pilots, DJ Khaled with H.E.R. and Migos, Karol G, Alicia Keys, Duran Duran, Jonas Brothers with Marshmello, and Pink.
We enjoyed the function even though it was early morning for us, we hope you did too!
