The Billboard Music Awards is an award show that honors outstanding chart performances for the past year. The award is given on by Billboard Magazine. The first Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs) were held in 1990, and was continued as an annual event until 2006. It was then restarted in 2011.
The 2017 Billboard Music Awards were held on May 21, 2017, for the 6th annual year. The award show took place in Las Vegas, at T-Mobile Arena, and was hosted by Vanessa Hudgens and Ludacris.
The list of nominees was announced on April 10, 2017. A few of the categories along with their nominees and winners were:
Top Artist:
Drake — WINNER
Adele
Beyonce
Justin Bieber
The Chainsmokers
Ariana Grande
Shawn Mendes
Rihanna
Twenty One Pilots
The Weeknd
Top New Artist:
Zayn — WINNER
Alessia Cara
Desiigner
Lil Uzi Vert
Lukas Graham
Top Male Artist:
Drake — WINNER
Justin Bieber
Future
Shawn Mendes
The Weeknd
Top Female Artist:
Beyonce — WINNER
Adele
Ariana Grande
Rihanna
Sia
Every year, Billboard has many artists, both old, new, and up and coming, preform at the event. This year’s show included 19 different performances from 19 different artists. Some of the acts that were included: Miley Cyrus – who performed her new single “Malibu,” Drake who performed “Gyalchester” from his album More Life, Halsey, Sam Hunt, Ed Sheeran, Julia Michaels, The Chainsmokers, Camila Cabello, and many more.
Billboard gave out a total of 42 wards at this year’s event, and rapper Drake claimed 13 of those, for his album More Life, breaking the previous record of 12 awards held by Adele for her album 21 in 2011. According to Billboard Magazine’s official website, winners are chosen on fan interactions, and the winning artist depends on many factors such as album and digital song sales, streaming, radio play, touring, and social engagement.