Season 19
The Billboard Music Awards is an American annual music awards ceremony sponsored by Billboard magazine honouring winners based on Billboard's year-end music charts, which are based on Nielsen data for sales, downloads and airplay. Awards were given for the top album/artist/single in every genre.
The awards debuted in 1990 and were held annually on Fox until 2006, after which the awards were cancelled due to contractual disputes. They resumed again in 2011 on new network ABC.
The Billboard Music Awards aired for the first time in South Africa on DStv's Channel O on Wednesday 29 June 2011, at 20h30, beginning with the 2011 awards.
The 2012 Billboard Awards - the 19th edition - aired live for the first time in Africa on Channel O on Monday 21 May 2012, at 02h00, followed by a rebroadcast on DStv's Vuzu channel at 20h30. The ceremony was three hours long.
2012 Awards
Hosted by Julie Bowen and Ty Burrell - who play the uptight mom and goofball dad on the hit comedy Modern Family - the duo had plenty of star power to wrangle during the broadcast, with Usher, Justin Bieber, CeeLo Green, LMFAO, Nelly Furtado, Kelly Clarkson, Linkin Park, Carrie Underwood, LMFAO, The Wanted and Chris Brown appearing as performers.
Adele, LMFAO, Rihanna, Lady Gaga and Lil Wayne led the finalists for the 2012 Billboard Music Awards. Adele took the lead as a finalist in 18 award categories, while LMFAO was a finalist in 17 categories.
Rihanna landed in 13 categories this year, after leading the pack with 18 category appearances in 2011. Lady Gaga and Lil Wayne each snagged a spot in 10 categories.
The awards reflect Billboard's chart rankings based on key fan interactions with music, including album sales and downloads, track downloads, radio airplay and touring as well as streaming and social interactions on Facebook, Twitter, Vevo, Youtube, Spotify and other popular online destinations for music.
These measurements are tracked year-round by Billboard and its data partners, including Nielsen Entertainment and Next Big Sound. The awards were based on the reporting period 1 March 2011 through to 29 February 2012.
Top artists were recognised in a variety of genres, including R&B, Rap, Pop, Country, Rock, Latin and Alternative.
The awards show took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
2012 Winners
Top Artist
Adele
Lady Gaga
Lil Wayne
Katy Perry
Rihanna
Top New Artist
Bad Meets Evil
Big Sean
Foster The People
Scotty McCreery
Wiz Khalifa
Top Male Artist
Justin Bieber
Chris Brown
Drake
Lil Wayne
Bruno Mars
Top Female Artist
Adele
Lady Gaga
Nicki Minaj
Katy Perry
Rihanna
Top Duo/Group
The Black Eyed Peas
Coldplay
Lady Antebellum
LMFAO
Maroon 5
Top Billboard 200 Artist
Adele
Justin Bieber
Michael Buble
Lady Gaga
Lil Wayne
Top Hot 100 Artist
Adele
LMFAO
Bruno Mars
Katy Perry
Rihanna
Top Digital Songs Artist
Adele
LMFAO
Bruno Mars
Katy Perry
Rihanna
Top Radio Songs Artist
Adele
Katy Perry
Bruno Mars
Nicki Minaj
Rihanna
Top Touring Artist
Bon Jovi
Taylor Swift
Take That
U2
Roger Waters
Top Social Artist
Justin Bieber
Eminem
Lady Gaga
Rihanna
Shakira
Top Streaming Artist
Lil Wayne
LMFAO
Nicki Minaj
Bruno Mars
Rihanna
Top Digital Media Artist
Adele
Justin Bieber
Lady Gaga
Lil Wayne
Rihanna
Top Pop Artist
Adele
Lady Gaga
LMFAO
Katy Perry
Rihanna
Top R&B Artist
Beyonce
Chris Brown
Cee Lo Green
Miguel
Rihanna
Top Rap Artist
Drake
Lil Wayne
LMFAO
Nicki Minaj
Wiz Khalifa
Top Country Artist
Jason Aldean
Zac Brown Band
Lady Antebellum
Blake Shelton
Taylor Swift
Top Rock Artist
The Black Keys
Coldplay
Foster The People
Foo Fighters
Mumford & Sons
Top Alternative Artist
The Black Keys
Coldplay
Foster The People
Foo Fighters
Mumford & Sons
Top Latin Artist
Mana
Pitbull
Prince Royce
Romeo Santos
Shakira
Top Dance Artist
David Guetta
Lady Gaga
LMFAO
Rihanna
Britney Spears
Top Christian Artist
Casting Crowns
MercyMe
Skillet
Laura Story
Chris Tomlin
Top Billboard 200 Album
Adele "21"
Michael Buble "Christmas"
Drake "Take Care"
Lady Gaga "Born This Way"
Lil Wayne "Tha Carter IV"
Top Pop Album
Adele "19"
Adele "21"
Michael Buble "Christmas"
Lady Gaga "Born This Way"
Justin Bieber "Under The Mistletoe"
Top R&B Album
Beyonce "4"
Mary J. Blige "My Life II…The Journey Continues (Act 1)"
Chris Brown "F.A.M.E."
Jennifer Hudson "I Remember Me"
Rihanna "Talk That Talk"
Top Rap Album
Bad Meets Evil "Hell: The Sequel"
Drake "Take Care"
Jay Z & Kanye West "Watch The Throne"
Lil Wayne "Tha Carter IV"
LMFAO "Sorry For Party Rocking"
Top Country Album
Jason Aldean "My Kinda Party"
The Band Perry "The Band Perry"
Luke Bryan "Tailgates & Tanlines"
Lady Antebellum "We Own The Night"
Scotty McCreery "Clear As Day"
Top Rock Album
Coldplay "Mylo Xyloto"
Foo Fighters "Wasting Light"
Foster The People "Torches"
Mumford & Sons "Sigh No More"
Nickelback "Here And Now"
Top Alternative Album
Coldplay "Mylo Xyloto"
Foo Fighters "Wasting Light"
Foster The People "Torches"
Mumford & Sons "Sigh No More"
Nickelback "Here And Now"
Top Latin Album
Camila "Dejarte De Amar"
Cristian Castro "Viva El Principe"
Mana "Drama Y Luz"
Prince Royce "Prince Royce"
Romeo Santos "Formula: Vol. 1"
Top Dance Album
David Guetta "Nothing But The Beat"
Lady Gaga "Born This Way"
Lady Gaga "The Fame"
LMFAO "Sorry For Party Rocking"
Skrillex "Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites"
Top Christian Album
Casting Crowns "Come To The Well"
Casting Crowns "Until The Whole World Hears"
Skillet "Awake"
Laura Story "Blessings"
Various Artists "Wow Hits 2012"
Top Hot 100 Song
Adele "Rolling in the Deep"
LMFAO Feat. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock "Party Rock Anthem"
Maroon 5 Featuring Christina Aguilera "Moves Like Jagger"
Katy Perry Feat. Kanye West "E.T."
Pitbull Feat. Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer "Give Me Everything"
Top Digital Song
Adele "Rolling in the Deep"
LMFAO Feat. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock "Party Rock Anthem"
LMFAO "Sexy And I Know It"
Maroon 5 Featuring Christina Aguilera "Moves Like Jagger"
Katy Perry Feat. Kanye West "E.T."
Top Radio Song
Adele "Rolling in the Deep"
LMFAO Feat. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock "Party Rock Anthem"
Maroon 5 Featuring Christina Aguilera "Moves Like Jagger"
Pitbull Feat. Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer "Give Me Everything"
Rihanna Feat. Calvin Harris "We Found Love"
Top Streaming Song (Audio)
Adele "Rolling in the Deep"
David Guetta Feat. Usher "Without You"
Lil Wayne "How To Love"
LMFAO Feat. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock "Party Rock Anthem"
Nicki Minaj "Super Bass"
Top Streaming Song (Video)
Adele "Someone Like You"
LMFAO Feat. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock "Party Rock Anthem"
LMFAO "Sexy And I Know It"
Bruno Mars "The Lazy Song"
Nicki Minaj "Super Bass"
Top Pop Song
Adele "Rolling in the Deep"
LMFAO Feat. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock "Party Rock Anthem"
LMFAO "Sexy And I Know It"
Maroon 5 Featuring Christina Aguilera "Moves Like Jagger"
Katy Perry Feat. Kanye West "E.T."
Top R&B Song
Chris Brown "She Ain't You"
Cee Lo Green "Fk You (Forget You)"
Jeremih Feat. 50 Cent "Down On Me"
Miguel "Sure Thing"
Kelly Rowland Feat. Lil Wayne "Motivation"
Top Rap Song
Flo Rida "Good Feeling"
LMFAO Feat. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock "Party Rock Anthem"
LMFAO "Sexy And I Know It"
Nicki Minaj "Super Bass"
Pitbull Feat. Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer "Give Me Everything"
Top Country Song
Jason Aldean "Dirt Road Anthem"
Luke Bryan "Country Girl (Shake It For Me)"
Eli Young Band "Crazy Girl"
Lady Antebellum "Just A Kiss"
Blake Shelton "Honey Bee"
Top Rock Song
Adele "Rolling In The Deep"
Adele "Someone Like You"
Coldplay "Paradise"
Foo Fighters "Walk"
Foster The People "Pumped Up Kicks"
Top Alternative Song
Adele "Rolling In The Deep"
AWOLNATION "Sail"
Coldplay "Paradise"
Foster The People "Pumped Up Kicks"
Mumford & Sons "The Cave"
Top Latin Song
Don Omar & Lucenzo "Danza Kuduro"
Don Omar "Taboo"
Pitbull "Bon Bon"
Prince Royce "Corazon Sin Cara"
Romeo Santos Feat. Usher "Promise"
Top Dance Song
Dev "In The Dark"
David Guetta Feat. Usher "Without You"
LMFAO Feat. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock "Party Rock Anthem"
LMFAO "Sexy And I Know It"
Britney Spears "Til The World Ends"
Top Christian Song
Casting Crowns "Glorious Day (Living He Loved Me)"
Jamie Grace Feat. TobyMac "Hold Me"
Mandisa "Stronger"
Laura Story "Blessings"
Matthew West "Strong Enough"
Millenium Award
Whitney Houston
Icon Award
Stevie Wonder
About the Awards
The Billboard Music Awards honour winners based on Billboard's year-end music charts, which are based on Nielsen data for sales, downloads and airplay. Awards are given for the top album/artist/single in every genre.
Since 1992, the awards also give out a Billboard Century Award - the magazine's highest honour for creative achievement and named for Billboard's centennial in 1994. The award was renamed the Icon Award in 2011.