BTS snags Artist of the Year at American Music Awards; Taylor Swift breaks her own record
- The South Korean superstars were crowned artist of the year beating Taylor Swift, Drake and The Weeknd, and are the first Asian band to win the coveted prize
- Swift won pop album “evermore” and now has 34 AMA wins
The South Korean boy band swept the AMAs with three wins including the coveted artist of the year award. Photo: ReutersBTS had a major night at the American Music Awards.
The boy band from Korea ended the show performing their AMA-winning hit Butter and won every award they were nominated for: Favorite pop duo or group (for the third time in a row); favorite pop song and the coveted artist of the year award (for the first time).
Accepting the best artist award, 27-year-old RM called “this whole thing is a miracle. Seriously, we will never take this for granted.”
“Four years ago, we had given this first-time-ever TV live performance at this stage AMAs for DNA. We were so excited and nervous at the time. It’s been a long and amazing ride since then, but nobody could have ever bet on the odds of us standing here receiving this award. Except for the ARMY. Seven boys from Korea, united by a love for music, met the love and support from all the ARMY all over the world.”
Ahead of the televised show, taking place Sunday night at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles, a slew of awards were announced earlier in the day.
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Taylor Swift broke her own record when she won favorite female pop artist for the seventh time and topped her previous record for most AMA wins of all time. Swift also won for best pop album evermore during the show and now has 34 AMA trophies.
Also winning three awards each were Doja Cat and Megan Thee Stallion. Ed Sheeran won favorite male pop artist while Drake and Megan Thee Stallion won favorite male and female hip-hop artists.
AMA nominees are selected based on fan interactions with music (including streaming, album sales, song sales, radio airplay, social engagement) that are tracked by Billboard and its data partner MRC Data, according to the organization. Winners are determined by fan voting.
Here are some of the 2021 AMA nominees and winners:
New Artist of the Year
• Winner: Olivia Rodrigo
• 24kGoldn
• Giveon
• Masked Wolf
• The Kid LAROI
Artist of the Year
• Winner: BTS
• Ariana Grande
• Drake
• Taylor Swift
• Olivia Rodrigo
• The Weeknd
Collaboration of the year
• Winner: Kiss Me More – Doja Cat ft. SZA
• DÁKITI – Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez
• Go Crazy – Chris Brown & Young Thug
• Mood – 24kGoldn ft. iann dior
• Peaches – Justin Bieber ft. Daniel Caesar & Giveon
Favorite trending song
• Winner: Body – Megan Thee Stallion
• Beggin’ – Måneskin
• Buss It – Erica Banks
• drivers license – Olivia Rodrigo
• Adderall (Corvette Corvette) – Popp Hunna
Favorite music video
• Winner: MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name) – Lil Nas X
• Up – Cardi B
• Leave The Door Open – Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak)
• drivers license – Olivia Rodrigo
• Save Your Tears – The Weeknd
Favorite male pop artist
• Winner: Ed Sheeran
• Drake
• Justin Bieber
• Lil Nas X
• The Weeknd
Favorite female pop artist
• Winner: Taylor Swift
• Doja Cat
• Dua Lipa
• Olivia Rodrigo
• Ariana Grande
Favorite pop duo or group
• Winner: BTS
• AJR
• Glass Animals
• Maroon 5
• Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak)
Favorite pop album
• Winner: evermore – Taylor Swift
• Future Nostalgia – Dua Lipa
• sour – Olivia Rodrigo
• positions – Ariana Grande
• F--- LOVE – The Kid LAROI
Favorite pop song
• Winner: Butter – BTS
• Kiss Me More – Doja Cat ft. SZA
• Levitating – Dua Lipa
• drivers license – Olivia Rodrigo
• Save Your Tears (Remix) – The Weeknd & Ariana Grande
Favorite male hip-hop artist
• Winner: Drake
• Lil Baby
• Moneybagg Yo
• Polo G
• Pop Smoke
Favorite female hip-hop artist
• Winner: Megan Thee Stallion
• Coi Leray
• Erica Banks
• Cardi B
• Saweetie
Favorite hip-hop album
• Winner: Good News – Megan Thee Stallion
• Legends Never Die – Juice WRLD
• Certified Lover Boy – Drake
• Shoot For The Stars Aim For The Moon – Pop Smoke
• SoulFly – Rod Wave
Favorite hip-hop song
• Winner: Up – Cardi B
• Lemonade – Internet Money ft. Gunna, Don Toliver & NAV
• Calling My Phone – Lil Tjay ft. 6LACK
• RAPSTAR – Polo G
• What You Know Bout Love – Pop Smoke
Favorite male R&B artist
• Winner: The Weeknd
• Giveon
• Tank
• Chris Brown
• Usher
Favorite female R&B artist
• Winner: Doja Cat
• H.E.R.
• Jazmine Sullivan
• Jhené Aiko
• SZA
Favorite R&B Album
• Winner: Planet Her – Doja Cat
• When It’s All Said And Done... Take Time – Giveon
• Back of My Mind – H.E.R.
• Heaux Tales – Jazmine Sullivan
• Missunderstood – Queen Naija
Favorite R&B song
• Winner: Leave The Door Open – Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak)
• Go Crazy – Chris Brown & Young Thug
• Heartbreak Anniversary – Giveon
• Damage – H.E.R.
• Pick Up Your Feelings – Jazmine Sullivan
Favorite rock artist
• Winner: Machine Gun Kelly
• All Time Low
• Foo Fighters
• Glass Animals
• AJR