Season 20
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 2013 Billboard Awards - the 20th edition - aired live on Channel O on Monday 20 May 2013, at 02h00, followed by a rebroadcast later that night at 20h30. The ceremony was three hours long.
2013 Awards
The 2013 Billboard Awards were screened live exclusively on Channel O, ensuring African music fans were the first to see the stunning array of once-off live performances that marked this year's event.
Alongside the star-studded list of nominees, Lil' Wayne, Taylor Swift, Nicki Minaj, Bruno Mars, Miguel, Justin Bieber, Pitbull, Christina Aguilera, Selena Gomez, the Band Perry, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Chris Brown, Ed Sheeran, Akon, Ne-Yo, David Guetta and Icona Pop performed at the Las Vegas' MGM Grand Garden Arena for this highlight event of the global music awards calendar.
The awards were hosted by 30 Rock alum Tracy Morgan and also featured Prince, who was honoured with the Billboard Icon Award and performed at the event.
Taylor Swift, fun. and Maroon 5 led the finalists for the 2013 Billboard Music Awards. While all three artists were finalists in an impressive 11 categories this year, Swift and Maroon 5 also vyed for the coveted Top Artist prize at this year's ceremony, with Swift taking the honour.
Rihanna was another big nominee. Following her 18 category nominations in 2011 and 13 in 2012, she earned nominations in 10 categories this year, including the fiercely competitive Top Artist category.
This year also saw the addition of several EDM categories, reflecting the popularity of Electronic Dance Music over the past year. David Guetta, Skrillex, Swedish House Mafia and deadmau5 competed for the Top EDM Album prize.
Top EDM Song finalists included Baauer's "Harlem Shake," Calvin Harris' "Feel So Close" and Swedish House Mafia's "Don't You Worry Child" (feat. John Martin), respectively.
Madonna, meanwhile, was honoured with the Top Touring Artist Award for the success of her sold-out, 88-date MDNA Tour, which was 2012's top-grossing tour ($305-million).
Bieber, Swift and Mars also vyed for the Milestone Award, a fan-driven honour that was presented by Cee Lo Green. This new award celebrated the ingenuity of the hit-makers of 2012 – and saw music fans have their say.
Billboard Music Awards finalists were based on key fan interactions with music, including album and digital singles sales, radio airplay, touring, streaming and social interactions on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, VEVO, Spotify and other popular online destinations for music.
2013 Winners
Top Artist
Justin Bieber
Maroon 5
Rihanna
Taylor Swift
One Direction
Top Hot 100 Song
Fun., "Some Nights"
Gotye feat. Kimbra, "Somebody That I Used to Know"
Carly Rae Jepsen, "Call Me Maybe"
Maroon 5, "One More Night"
Maroon 5 feat. Wiz Khalifa, "Payphone"
Top Billboard 200 Album
Adele, "21 "
Mumford & Sons, "Babel"
Taylor Swift, "Red"
One Direction, "Up All Night"
One Direction, "Take Me Home"
Top Duo/Group
Coldplay
Fun.
Maroon 5
Mumford & Sons
One Direction
Top New Artist
Gotye
Carly Rae Jepsen
Psy
One Direction
The Lumineers
Top Touring Artist
Coldplay
Lady Gaga
Madonna
Bruce Springsteen
Roger Waters
Top Male Artist
Jason Aldean
Justin Bieber
Drake
Flo Rida
Bruno Mars
Top Female Artist
Adele
Carly Rae Jepsen
Nicki Minaj
Rihanna
Taylor Swift
Top Hot 100 Artist
Flo Rida
Fun.
Maroon 5
Rihanna
Taylor Swift
Top Billboard 200 Artist
Adele
Justin Bieber
Mumford & Sons
One Direction
Taylor Swift
Top Digital Songs Artist
Flo Rida
Fun.
Carly Rae Jepsen
Maroon 5
Taylor Swift
Top Radio Songs Artist
Flo Rida
Fun.
Maroon 5
Nicki Minaj
Rihanna
Top Social Artist
Justin Bieber
One Direction
Katy Perry
Rihanna
Taylor Swift
Top Streaming Artist
Baauer
Drake
Nicki Minaj
Psy
Rihanna
Top Pop Artist
Adele
Justin Bieber
Maroon 5
Bruno Mars
One Direction
Top R&B Artist
Chris Brown
Alicia Keys
Ne-Yo
Rihanna
Usher
Top Rap Artist
Drake
Flo Rida
Nicki Minaj
Pitbull
Psy
Top Country Artist
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Hunter Hayes
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood
Top Rock Artist
Coldplay
Fun.
Gotye
Mumford & Sons
Bruce Springsteen
Top Latin Artist
Don Omar
Prince Royce
Jenni Rivera
Shakira
Romeo Santos
Top Dance Artist
David Guetta
Calvin Harris
Madonna
Skrillex
Swedish House Mafia
Top EDM Artist
David Guetta
Deadmau5
Calvin Harris
Skrillex
Swedish House Mafia
Top Christian Artist
Casting Crowns
MercyMe
Matt Redman
tobyMac
Chris Tomlin
Top Pop Album
Adele, "21"
Maroon 5, "Overexposed"
One Direction, "Take Me Home"
One Direction, "Up All Night"
Justin Bieber, "Believe"
Top R&B Album
Chris Brown, "Fortune"
Alicia Keys, "Girl on Fire"
Frank Ocean, "Channel Orange"
Rihanna, "Unapologetic"
Usher, "Looking 4 Myself"
Top Rap Album
2 Chainz, "Based on a T.R.U. Story"
Kendrick Lamar, "Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City"
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, "The Heist"
Nicki Minaj, "Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded"
Rick Ross, "God Forgives, I Don't"
Top Country Album
Jason Aldean, "Night Train"
Luke Bryan, "Tailgates & Tanlines"
Lionel Richie, "Tuskegee"
Taylor Swift, "Red"
Carrie Underwood, "Blown Away"
Top Rock Album
Fun., "Some Nights"
The Lumineers, "The Lumineers"
Mumford & Sons, "Babel"
Of Monsters and Men, "My Head is an Animal"
Phillip Phillips, "The World From The Side Of The Moon"
Top Latin Album
Prince Royce, "Phase II"
Jenni Rivera, "Joyas Prestadas: Banda"
Jenni Rivera, "Joyas Prestadas: Pop"
Jenni Rivera, "La Misma Gran Senora"
Romeo Santos, "Formula, Vol. 1"
Top Dance Album
David Guetta, "Nothing But the Beat"
Deadmau5, ">Album Title Goes Here<"
LMFAO, "Sorry for Party Rocking"
Madonna, "MDNA"
Skrillex, "Bangarang"
Top EDM Album
David Guetta, "Nothign But the Beat"
Deadmau5, ">Album Title Goes Here<"
Skrillex, "Bangarang"
Skrillex, "Scary Monsters & Nice Sprites"
Swedish House Mafia, "Until Now"
Top Christian Album
Casting Crowns, "Come to the Well"
Lecrae, "Gravity"
MercyMe, "The Hurt & the Healer"
tobyMac, "Eye On It"
Various Artists, "Wow Hits 2013"
Top Digital Song
Fun. feat. Janelle Monae, "We Are Young"
Gotye feat. Kimbra, "Somebody That I Used to Know"
Carly Rae Jepsen, "Call Me Maybe"
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Wanz, "Thrift Shop"
Maroon 5 feat. Wiz Khalifa, "Payphone"
Top Radio Song
Gotye feat. Kimbra, "Somebody That I Used to Know"
Carly Rae Jepsen, "Call Me Maybe"
Maroon 5, "One More Night"
Maroon 5 feat. Wiz Khalifa, "Payphone"
Bruno Mars, "Locked Out of Heaven"
Top Streaming Song (Audio)
Fun., "Some Nights"
Fun. feat. Janelle Monae, "We Are Young"
Gotye feat. Kimbra, "Somebody That I Used to Know"
Ellie Goulding, "Lights"
Carly Rae Jepsen, "Call Me Maybe"
Top Streaming Song (Video)
Fun. feat. Janelle Monae, "We Are Young"
Carly Rae Jepsen, "Call Me Maybe"
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Wanz, "Thrift Shop"
Psy, "Gangnam Style"
Taylor Swift, "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together"
Top Pop Song
Ellie Goulding, "Lights"
Carly Rae Jepsen, "Call Me Maybe"
Maroon 5, "One More Night"
Maroon 5 feat. Wiz Khalifa, "Payphone"
Bruno Mars, "Locked Out of Heaven"
Top R&B Song
Alicia Keys feat. Nicki Minaj, "Girl on Fire"
Miguel, "Adorn"
Frank Ocean, "Thinkin Bout You"
Rihanna, "Diamonds"
Trey Songz, "Heart Attack"
Top Rap Song
Flo Rida feat. Sia, "Wild One"
Flo Rida, "Whistle"
Kanye West, Big Sean, Pusha T, 2 Chainz, "Mercy"
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Wanz, "Thrift Shop"
Psy, "Gangnam Style"
Top Country Song
Luke Bryan, "Drunk on You"
Eric Church, "Springsteen"
Florida Georgia Line, "Cruise"
Hunter Hayes, "Wanted"
Taylor Swift, "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together"
Top Rock Song
Fun., "Some Nights"
Fun. feat. Janelle Monae, "We Are Young"
Gotye feat. Kimbra, "Somebody That I Used to Know"
The Lumineers, "Ho Hey"
Phillip Phillips, "Home"
Top Latin Song
Juan Magan feat. Pitbull & El Cata, "Bailando por el Mundo"
Don Omar feat. Natty Natasha, "Dutty Love"
Don Omar, "Hasta Que Salga El Sol"
Michel Telo, "Ai Se Eu Te Pego"
Wisin & Yandel feat. Chris Brown & T-Pain, "Algo Me Gusta De Ti"
Top Dance Song
Baauer, "Harlem Shake"
David Guetta feat. Sia, "Titanium"
Nicki Minaj, "Starships"
Psy, "Gangnam Style"
Rihanna, "Where Have You Been"
Top EDM Song
Baauer, "Harlem Shake"
David Guetta feat. Sio, "Titanium"
Calvin Harris, "Feel So Close"
Calvin Harris feat. Florence Welch, "Sweet Nothing"
Swedish Mafia House feat. John Martin, "Don't You Worry Child"
Top Christian Song
Big Daddy Weave, "Redeemed"
Building 429, "Where I Belong"
Newsboys, "God's Not Dead (Like a Lion)"
Matt Redman, "10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)"
tobyMac, "Me Without You"
Icon Award
Prince
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.
Billboard has served the entertainment business since 1894.
Beginning as a weekly for the billposting and advertising business, Billboard and its popular music charts have evolved into the primary source of information on trends and innovation in music, serving music fans, artists, top executives, tour promoters, publishers, radio programmers, lawyers, retailers, digital entrepreneurs and many others.