LOS ANGELES (CNS) - It was a big day for The Weeknd, who was named top artist at the Billboard Music Awards.
The Weeknd had carried a leading 16 nominations into the show and had already won seven awards by the time the off-air winners were announced Sunday. The Weeknd won top male artist, top radio songs artist, top R&B artist, top R&B male artist, top R&B album, top radio song and top R&B song.
He made headlines earlier this year when -- despite being considered a heavy favorite -- he was completely ignored by the Recording Academy and received no Grammy nominations. But he's exacting some revenge with the Billboard Music Awards, which will be presented at the Microsoft Theater in downtown Los Angeles in a ceremony hosted by Nick Jonas.
The Weeknd's 16 nominations easily led all artists, with DaBaby a distant second with 11 nods, Pop Smoke with 10 and Gabby Barrett with nine.
Pop Smoke, who was fatally shot at age 20 in the Hollywood Hills in February 2020, was named top new artist, top rap artist and top male rap artist at today's Billboard Music Awards, while his “Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon'' won top rap album.
The Weeknd and Pop Smoke were both nominated for top artist, along with Drake, Juice WRLD and Taylor Swift. The nomination for Juice WRLD is also posthumous. He died from a drug-related seizure at age 21 in December 2019.
The Weeknd, Pop Smoke, Juice WRLD, Drake and Lil Baby were all nominated for top male artist. Swift won for top female artist, beating out Billie Eilish, Ariana Grande, Dua Lipa and Megan Thee Stallion.
The awards are based on the chart period of March 21, 2020, through April 3, 2021. Nominees and winners are chosen “based on key fan interactions with music, including album and digital song sales, streaming, radio airplay and social engagement.''
Country singer Morgan Wallen, who has been under fire and largely shunned by the music industry after being caught on camera using racial epithets, had multiple nominations in country categories and won for top country album, top country artist, top country male artist. The nominations prompted Dick Clark Productions, which sponsors the awards, to issue a statement noting the nominations were based on “charting.''
“As his recent conduct does not align with our core values, we will not be including him on the show in any capacity -- performing, presenting, accepting,'' according to the company. “It is heartening and encouraging to hear that Morgan is taking steps in his anti-racist journey and starting to do some meaningful work. We plan to evaluate his progress and will consider his participation in future shows.''
The Weeknd will be among those performing at the event, along with Pink, Alicia Keys, Bad Bunny, BTS, AJR, DJ Khaled with H.E.R. and Migos, Duran Duran, twenty one pilots, Glass Animals, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis with Sounds of Blackness and Ann Nesby, Karol G, Doja Kat and SZA.
Pink will also receive the “Icon Award,'' which honors artists “who have achieved excellence on the Billboard charts and have made an indelible mark on music itself.'' Drake will receive the “Artist of the Decade'' award, which is based on “activity on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart and the Billboard 200 albums tally, as well as social media data and touring revenue from Billboard Boxscore'' over the past decade. Rapper/activist Trae Tha Truth will receive the Billboard “Change Maker Award,'' which “honors the artist or group that speaks truth to power through their music, celebrity and community.''
Here is a complete list of nominees, with winners noted:
ARTIST AWARDS
Top Artist
Drake
Juice WRLD
Pop Smoke
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd (winner)
Top New Artist
Gabby Barrett
Doja Cat
Jack Harlow
Pop Smoke (winner)
Rod Wave
Top Male Artist
Drake
Juice WRLD
Lil Baby
Pop Smoke
The Weeknd (winner)
Top Female Artist
Billie Eilish
Ariana Grande
Dua Lipa
Megan Thee Stallion
Taylor Swift (winner)
Top Duo/Group
AC/DC
AJR
BTS (winner)
Dan + Shay
Maroon 5
Top Billboard 200 Artist
Drake
Juice WRLD
Pop Smoke
Post Malone
Taylor Swift (winner)
Top Hot 100 Artist
DaBaby
Drake
Dua Lipa
Pop Smoke
The Weeknd (winner)
Top Streaming Songs Artist
DaBaby
Drake (winner)
Lil Baby
Pop Smoke
The Weeknd
Top Song Sales Artist
Justin Bieber
BTS (winner)
Megan Thee Stallion
Morgan Wallen
The Weeknd
Top Radio Songs Artist
Justin Bieber
Lewis Capaldi
Dua Lipa
Harry Styles
The Weeknd (winner)
Top Social Artist (Fan Voted)
BLACKPINK
BTS (winner)
Ariana Grande
SB19
Seventeen
Top R&B Artist
Jhene Aiko
Justin Bieber
Chris Brown
Doja Cat
The Weeknd (winner)
Top R&B Male Artist
Justin Bieber
Chris Brown
The Weeknd (winner)
Top R&B Female Artist
Jhene Aiko
Doja Cat (winner)
SZA
Top Rap Artist
DaBaby
Drake
Juice WRLD
Lil Baby
Pop Smoke (winner)
Top Rap Male Artist
Juice WRLD
Lil Baby
Pop Smoke (winner)
Top Rap Female Artist
Cardi B
Megan Thee Stallion (winner)
Saweetie
Top Country Artist
Gabby Barrett
Kane Brown
Luke Combs
Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen (winner)
Top Country Male Artist
Luke Combs
Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen (winner)
Top Country Female Artist
Gabby Barrett (winner)
Maren Morris
Carrie Underwood
Top Country Duo/Group
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line (winner)
Maddie & Tae
Top Rock Artist
AC/DC
AJR
Five Finger Death Punch
Machine Gun Kelly (winner)
twenty one pilots
Top Latin Artist
Anuel AA
Bad Bunny (winner)
J Balvin
Maluma
Ozuna
Top Latin Male Artist
Bad Bunny (winner)
J Balvin
Ozuna
Top Latin Female Artist
Becky G
Karol G (winner)
Rosalia
Top Latin Duo/Group
Banda MS de Sergio Lizarraga
Eslabon Armado (winner)
Los Dos Carnales
Top Dance/Electronic Artist
The Chainsmokers
Kygo
Lady Gaga (winner)
Marshmello
Surf Mesa
Top Christian Artist
Casting Crowns
Elevation Worship (winner)
for KING & COUNTRY
Carrie Underwood
Zach Williams
Top Gospel Artist
Kirk Franklin
Koryn Hawthorne
Tasha Cobbs Leonard
Maverick City Music
Kanye West (winner)
ALBUM AWARDS
Top Billboard 200 Album
Juice WRLD, “Legends Never Die''
Lil Baby, “My Turn''
Pop Smoke, “Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon'' (winner)
Taylor Swift, “folklore''
The Weeknd, “After Hours''
Top R&B Album
Jhene Aiko, “Chilombo''
Chris Brown & Young Thug, “Slime & B''
Doja Cat, “Hot Pink''
Kehlani, “It Was Good Until It Wasn't''
The Weeknd, “After Hours'' (winner)
Top Rap Album
DaBaby, “BLAME IT ON BABY''
Juice WRLD, “Legends Never Die''
Lil Baby, “My Turn''
Lil Uzi Vert, “Eternal Atake''
Pop Smoke, “Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon'' (winner)
Top Country Album
Gabby Barrett, “Goldmine''
Sam Hunt, “SOUTHSIDE''
Chris Stapleton, “Starting Over''
Carrie Underwood, “My Gift''
Morgan Wallen, “Dangerous: The Double Album'' (winner)
Top Rock Album
AC/DC, “Power Up''
Miley Cyrus, “Plastic Hearts''
Glass Animals, “Dreamland''
Machine Gun Kelly, “Tickets to My Downfall'' (winner)
Bruce Springsteen, “Letter to You''
Top Latin Album
Anuel AA, “Emmanuel''
Bad Bunny, “El Ultimo Tour Del Mundo''
Bad Bunny, “Las que no iban a salir''
Bad Bunny, “YHLQMDLG'' (winner)
J Balvin, “Colores''
Top Dance/Electronic Album
DJ Snake, “Carte Blanche''
Gryffin, “Gravity''
Kygo, “Golden Hour''
Lady Gaga, “Chromatica'' (winner)
Kylie Minogue, “Disco''
Top Christian Album
Bethel Music, “Peace''
Elevation Worship, “Grave Into Gardens''
Carrie Underwood, “My Gift'' (winner)
We The Kingdom, “Holy Water''
Zach Williams, “Rescue Story''
Top Gospel Album
Koryn Hawthorne, “I AM''
Tasha Cobbs Leonard, “Royalty: Live at the Ryman''
Maverick City Music, “Maverick City Vol. 3 Part 1'' (winner)
Maverick City Music, “Maverick City Vol. 3 Part 2''
Kierra Sheard, “Kierra''
SONG AWARDS
Top Hot 100 Song Presented by Rockstar
24kGoldn ft. iann dior, “Mood''
Gabby Barrett ft. Charlie Puth, “I Hope''
Chris Brown & Young Thug, “Go Crazy''
DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch, “ROCKSTAR''
The Weeknd, “Blinding Lights'' (winner)
Top Streaming Song
Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion, “WAP''
DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch, “ROCKSTAR'' (winner)
Future ft. Drake, “Life Is Good''
Jack Harlow ft. DaBaby, Tory Lanez, & Lil Wayne, “WHATS POPPIN''
The Weeknd, “Blinding Lights''
Top Selling Song
Gabby Barrett ft. Charlie Puth, “I Hope''
BTS, “Dynamite'' (winner)
Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion, “WAP''
Megan Thee Stallion, “Savage''
The Weeknd, “Blinding Lights''
Top Radio Song
Gabby Barrett ft. Charlie Puth, “I Hope''
Chris Brown & Young Thug, “Go Crazy''
Dua Lipa, “Don't Start Now''
Harry Styles, “Adore You''
The Weeknd, “Blinding Lights'' (winner)
Top Collaboration (Fan Voted)
24kGoldn ft. iann dior, “Mood''
Gabby Barrett ft. Charlie Puth, “I Hope'' (winner)
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
Jhene Aiko ft. H.E.R., “B.S.''
Justin Bieber ft. Quavo, “Intentions''
Chris Brown & Young Thug, “Go Crazy''
Doja Cat, “Say So''
The Weeknd, “Blinding Lights'' (winner)
Top Rap Song
24kGoldn ft. iann dior, “Mood''
Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion, “WAP''
DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch, “ROCKSTAR'' (winner)
Jack Harlow ft. DaBaby, Tory Lanez, & Lil Wayne, “WHATS POPPIN''
Megan Thee Stallion, “Savage''
Top Country Song
Jason Aldean, “Got What I Got''
Gabby Barrett, “I Hope'' (winner)
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, “Yo Perreo Sola''
Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez, “Dakiti'' (winner)
Black Eyed Peas & J Balvin, “RITMO (Bad Boys For Life)''
Maluma & The Weeknd, “Hawai''
Ozuna x Karol G x Myke Towers, “Caramelo''
Top Dance/Electronic Song
Lady Gaga, “Stupid Love''
Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande, “Rain on Me''
SAINt JHN, “Roses (Imanbek Remix)'' (winner)
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
Koryn Hawthorne, “Speak To Me''
Jonathan McReynolds & Mali Music, “Movin'' On''
Marvin Sapp, “Thank You For It All''
Tye Tribbett, “We Gon' Be Alright''
Kanye West ft. Travis Scott, “Wash Us In The Blood'' (winner)
Photo: Getty Images
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