Season 18
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 ceremony was three hours long.
2011 Awards
The 2011 awards show took place on 22 May, 2011 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada and are the first-ever African showing of this industry event.
Rihanna kicks off the action with a sultry performance of "S&M" and a sizzling hot, unannounced Britney Spears duet. The Barbados-born singer later received the Female Artist of the Year award from none other than Justin Bieber, saying "Justin gave me my award... I'm so cool."
Bieber was another star of the show, raking in Billboard.com's first-ever Fan Favorite Award after receiving the lion's share of a massive 1.6 million votes.
The Canadian superstar was also named Top New Artist, Top Social Artist, Top Streaming Artist, Top Digital Media Artist, Top Pop Album and Top Streaming Song (video). He was joined by Eminem in receiving a leading six awards.
But it is the live performances and star-studded presenter gallery (including Selena Gomez, Kylie Minogue, Trey Songz, Scott Weiland, and Taylor Swift) that turn this year's Billboard Music Awards into the must-see event it undoubtedly is.
A duet between Far East Movement and Snoop Dogg is one of the show's highlights along with a collaboration between Mary J. Blige and Lil Wayne.
Other performances come from Black Eyed Peas, Keith Urban, Taio Cruz, Cee Lo Green, Lady Antebellum, Nicki Minaj, Ke$ha, Pitbull and OneRepublic.
Beyoncé received a star-studded tribute given to the singer along with the Billboard Millennium Award for her career achievements and influence in the music industry, from her role as the front woman of Destiny's Child to her three-chart-topping solo albums.
Beyoncé's all-star tribute came from a host of luminaries including America's First Lady Michelle Obama; singing legend Barbra Streisand; pop star Lady Gaga; U2 front man Bono; and Stevie Wonder.
The 46 award categories are based on measures provided by Billboard's data partners including sales data from Nielsen SoundScan, radio airplay monitored by Nielsen BDS, streaming data measured by Tubemogul and Nielsen BDS, social media consumption gauged by Next Big Sound and tour grosses tracked by Billboard Boxscore.
2011 Winners
Top Artist
Justin Bieber
Eminem
Lady Gaga
Rihanna
Taylor Swift
Top New Artist
Ke$ha
Bruno Mars
Nicki Minaj
Taio Cruz
Justin Bieber
Top Hot 100 Song
"Dynamite" - Taio Cruz
"Love the Way You Lie" - Eminem ft. Rihanna
"Just the Way You Are" - Bruno Mars
"California Gurls" - Katy Perry ft. Snoop Dogg
"OMG" - Usher ft. will.i.am
Top Billboard 200 Album
My World 2.0 - Justin Bieber
The Gift - Susan Boyle
Need You Now - Lady Antebellum
Speak Now - Taylor Swift
Recovery - Eminem
Top Album Artist
My World 2.0 - Justin Bieber
The Gift - Susan Boyle
Need You Now - Lady Antebellum
Recovery - Eminem
Speak Now - Taylor Swift
Top Touring Artist
Bon Jovi - Bon Jovi Live
Michael Bublé - Crazy Love Tour
Lady Gaga - The Monster Ball Tour
U2 - U2 360° Tour
Roger Waters - The Wall Live
Top Duo/Group
The Black Eyed Peas
Bon Jovi
Lady Antebellum
Linkin Park
U2
Top Country Album
My Kinda Party - Jason Aldean
Need You Now - Lady Antebellum
The Incredible Machine - Sugarland
Speak Now - Taylor Swift
The Foundation - Zac Brown Band
Top Rap Album
Thank Me Later - Drake
Recovery - Eminem
Pink Friday - Nicki Minaj
I Am Not a Human Being - Lil Wayne
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy - Kanye West
Top Rock Album
Brothers - The Black Keys
To the Sea - Jack Johnson
Born Free - Kid Rock
A Thousand Suns - Linkin Park
Sigh No More - Mumford & Sons
Top Social Artist
Akon
Justin Bieber
Eminem
Lady Gaga
Rihanna
Top Digital Song
"Airplanes" - B.o.B ft. Hayley Williams
"Dynamite" - Taio Cruz
"Love the Way You Lie" - Eminem ft. Rihanna
"Just the Way You Are" - Bruno Mars
"California Gurls" - Katy Perry ft. Snoop Dogg
Top Radio Song
"Dynamite" - Taio Cruz
"Love the Way You Lie" - Eminem ft. Rihanna
"Just the Way You Are" - Bruno Mars
"DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love" - Usher ft. Pitbull
"OMG" - Usher ft. will.i.am
Top Streaming Song (Audio)
"Dynamite" - Taio Cruz
"Love the Way You Lie" - Eminem ft. Rihanna
"Need You Now" - Lady Antebellum
"Just the Way You Are" - Bruno Mars
"Just a Dream" - Nelly
Top Streaming Song (Video)
"Baby" - Justin Bieber ft. Ludacris
"Not Afraid" - Eminem
"Love the Way You Lie" - Eminem ft. Rihanna
"Bad Romance" - Lady Gaga
"Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" - Shakira ft. Freshlyground
Top Billboard 200 Artist
Justin Bieber
Susan Boyle
Eminem
Lady Antebellum
Taylor Swift
Top Hot 100 Artist
Ke$ha
Bruno Mars
Katy Perry
Rihanna
Usher
Top Digital Songs Artist
Eminem
Ke$ha
Bruno Mars
Katy Perry
Rihanna
Top Radio Songs Artist
Drake
Bruno Mars
Katy Perry
Rihanna
Usher
Top Streaming Artist
Justin Bieber
Eminem
Lady Gaga
Rihanna
Shakira
Top Digital Media Artist
Akon
Justin Bieber
Eminem
Lady Gaga
Rihanna
Top Male Artist
Drake
Eminem
Bruno Mars
Usher
Justin Bieber
Top Female Artist
Ke$ha
Lady Gaga
Katy Perry
Rihanna
Taylor Swift
Top Pop Artist
Justin Bieber
The Black Eyes Peas
Ke$ha
Lady Gaga
Katy Perry
Top R&B Artist
Alicia Keys
Monica
Rihanna
Trey Songz
Usher
Top Rap Artist
Drake
Eminem
Lil Wayne
Ludacris
Nicki Minaj
Top Country Artist
Jason Aldean
Kenny Chesney
Lady Antebellum
Taylor Swift
Zac Brown Band
Top Rock Artist
Kings of Leon
Linkin Park
Mumford & Sons
Muse
Train
Top Alternative Artist
The Black Keys
Kings of Leon
Linkin Park
Mumford & Sons
Muse
Top Latin Artist
Enrique Iglesias
Pitbull
Prince Royce
Shakira
Wisin & Yandel
Top Dance Artist
The Black Eyed Peas
David Guetta
Lady Gaga
La Roux
Rihanna
Top Christian Artist
Casting Crowns
MercyMe
Skillet
tobyMac
Chris Tomlin
Top Pop Song
"Dynamite" - Taio Cruz
"Just the Way You Are" - Bruno Mars
"California Gurls" - Katy Perry ft. Snoop Dogg
"Firework" - Katy Perry
"Teenage Dream" - Katy Perry
Top R&B Song
"Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)" - Alicia Keys
"What's My Name?" - Rihanna ft. Drake
"Bottoms Up" - Trey Songz ft. Nicki Minaj
"OMG" - Usher ft. will.i.am
"There Goes My Baby" - Usher
Top Rap Song
"Airplanes" - B.o.B ft. Hayley Williams
"Nothin' on You" - B.o.B ft. Bruno Mars
"Love the Way You Lie" - Eminem ft. Rihanna
"Like a G6" - Far East Movement ft. The Cataracs and Dev
"Just a Dream" - Nelly
Top Country Song
"If I Die Young" - The Band Perry
"Need You Now" - Lady Antebellum
"The House That Built Me" - Miranda Lambert
"Stuck Like Glue" - Sugarland
"Mine" - Taylor Swift
Top Rock Song
"Lay Me Down" - The Dirty Heads ft. Rome
"Dog Days Are Over" - Florence + the Machine
"Little Lion Man" - Mumford & Sons
"Animal" - Neon Trees
"Hey, Soul Sister" - Train
Top Alternative Song
"Dog Days Are Over" - Florence + the Machine
"Waiting for the End" - Linkin Park
"The Cave" - Mumford & Sons
"Little Lion Man" - Mumford & Sons
"Animal" - Neon Trees
Top Latin Song
"Cuando Me Enamoro" - Enrique Iglesias ft. Juan Luis Guerra
"Bon, Bon - Pitbull
"Gypsy" - Shakira
"Loca" - Shakira ft. El Cata
"Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" - Shakira ft. Freshlyground
Top Dance Song
"Bad Romance" - Lady Gaga
"Telephone" - Lady Gaga ft. Beyoncé
"Bulletproof - La Roux
"Stereo Love" - Edward Maya ft. Vika Jigulina
"We Speak No Americano" - Yolanda Be Cool & DCUP
Top Christian Song
"Live Like We're Dying - Kris Allen
"All of Creation" - MercyMe
"Lead Me" - Sanctus Real
"Get Back Up" - tobyMac
"Our God" - Chris Tomlin
Top Pop Album
My World 2.0 - Justin Bieber
The E.N.D. - The Black Eyed Peas
Animal - Ke$ha
The Fame - Lady Gaga
Teenage Dream - Katy Perry
Top R&B Album
Still Standing - Monica
Loud - Rihanna
Soldier of Love - Sade
Passion, Pain & Pleasure - Trey Songz
Raymond v. Raymond - Usher
Top Alternative Album
Brothers - The Black Keys
To the Sea - Jack Johnson
Come Around Sundown - Kings of Leon
A Thousand Suns - Linkin Park
Sigh No More - Mumford & Sons
Top Latin Album
Iconos - Marc Anthony
Dejarte de Amar - Camila
Euphoria - Enrique Iglesias
Prince Royce - Prince Royce
Sale el Sol - Shakira
Top Dance/Electronic Album
Tron Legacy Soundtrack - Daft Punk
The Fame - Lady Gaga
The Fame Monster - Lady Gaga
The Remix - Lady Gaga
Ocean Eyes - Owl City
Top Christian Album
The Generous Mr. Lovewell - MercyMe
Awake - Skillet
Tonight - tobyMac
And If Our God Is for Us... - Chris Tomlin
WOW Hits 2011 - Various Artists
Millenium Award
Beyonce
Icon Award
Neil Diamond
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.