award shows, Billboard Music Awards, Dick Clark Productions, Ed Sheeran, Kendrick Lamar, music, NBC, TV
May 20, 2018
by Carla Hay
With six prizes each, Ed Sheeran and Kendrick Lamar were the biggest winners at the 2018 Billboard Music Awards, which were presented May 20 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Sheeran won the awards for Top Artist, Top Male Artist, Top Hot 100 Artist, Top Song Sales Artist, Top Radio Songs Artist, and Top Radio Song (for “Shape of You”). Lamar received the prizes for Top Streaming Songs Artist, Top Billboard 200 Album (for “DAMN.”), Top Hot 100 Song (for “HUMBLE.”), and he won most of the awards in the rap categories. The show was hosted by Kelly Clarkson, who is a judge on NBC’s “The Voice.” Clarkson began the show with an emotional plea to end gun violence: “Instead of doing a moment of silence, why don’t we do a moment of action? Why don’t we do a moment of change? Why don’t we change what’s happening? Because it’s horrible!”
Sheeran, who is on tour, did not attend the show, since he was performing in Ireland, but he did give a pre-recorded acceptance speech that was shown after he was named Top Artist. Lamar also was not at the ceremony.
Bruno Mars won five awards (mostly in the R&B categories), while the collaboration of Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee and Justin Beiber on the smash hit single “Despacito” also garnered them five Billboard Music Awards.
Other winners of multiple awards included Taylor Swift, Camila Cabello, Imagine Dragons, the Chainsmokers, Chris Stapleton, Ozuna and Tasha Cobbs Leonard. Sheeran, Lamar and Mars went into the ceremony with the most nominations: 15 each.
Janet Jackson received the 2018 Billboard Music Awards ICON Award and performed for the first time on television in nine years. In her acceptance speech, Jackson referred to God several times as being the origin of everything that is good. Other performers on the show included BTS, Clarkson, Ariana Grande, John Legend, Sheeran (who performed via satellite) and Dua Lipa. Several artists teamed up for their Billboard Music Awards performances, including Christina Aguilera featuring Demi Lovato, Camila Cabello and Pharrell Williams, Khalid & Normani, Jennifer Lopez featuring DJ Khaled, Macklemore and Kesha, Salt-N-Pepa featuring En Vogue, Shawn Mendes & Khalid and Zedd, Maren Morris and Grey.
Presenters included Mars, Hailey Baldwin, Tyra Banks, Alison Brie, The Chainsmokers, Ciara, Andy Cohen, Simon Cowell, Darren Criss, Halsey, Tip “T.I.” Harris, Justin Hartley, Chrissy Metz, Nick Jonas, DJ Mustard, Chloe Kim, Mila Kunis, Padma Lakshmi, Des Linden, Julia Michaels, French Montana, Ne-Yo, Derek Hough, Jenna Dewan, Bebe Rexha, Evan Ross, Ashlee Simpson Ross, Grace VanderWaal and Rebel Wilson.
The Billboard Music Awards nominees are based on key fan interactions with music, including album and digital song sales, streaming, radio airplay, touring and social engagement, tracked by Billboard and its data partners, including Nielsen Music and Next Big Sound. The finalists and award winners are determined using data reflecting a 12-month tracking period. (Exceptions are the Billboard Chart Achievement Award and the Social Award, which are voted for online by fans.)The awards are based on the reporting period of April 8, 2017 through March 31, 2018.
The 2018 Billboard Music Awards were produced by dick clark productions. Allen Shapiro, Mike Mahan, Mark Bracco, Barry Adelman and Robert Deaton were executive producers.
Here are the nominees and winners of the 2018 Billboard Music Awards:
*=winners
ARTIST AWARDS
Top Artist:
Drake
Kendrick Lamar
Bruno Mars
Ed Sheeran*
Taylor Swift
Top New Artist:
21 Savage
Camila Cabello
Cardi B
Khalid*
Kodak Black
Billboard Chart Achievement Award (voted for by fans):
Camila Cabello*
Cardi B
Drake
Sam Hunt
Ed Sheeran
Top Male Artist:
Drake
Kendrick Lamar
Bruno Mars
Post Malone
Ed Sheeran*
Top Female Artist:
Camila Cabello
Cardi B
Halsey
Demi Lovato
Taylor Swift*
Top Duo/Group:
The Chainsmokers
Coldplay
Imagine Dragons*
Migos
U2
Top Billboard 200 Artist:
Drake*
Kendrick Lamar
Ed Sheeran
Chris Stapleton
Taylor Swift
Top Hot 100 Artist:
Imagine Dragons
Kendrick Lamar
Bruno Mars
Post Malone
Ed Sheeran*
Top Streaming Songs Artist:
Cardi B
Drake
Kendrick Lamar*
Post Malone
Ed Sheeran
Top Song Sales Artist:
Imagine Dragons
Kendrick Lamar
Bruno Mars
Post Malone
Ed Sheeran*
Top Radio Songs Artist:
Halsey
Imagine Dragons
Bruno Mars
Charlie Puth
Ed Sheeran*
Top Social Artist (voted for by fans):
Justin Bieber
BTS*
Ariana Grande
Demi Lovato
Shawn Mendes
Top Touring Artist:
Coldplay
Guns N’ Roses
Bruno Mars
Ed Sheeran
U2*
Top R&B Artist:
Chris Brown
Khalid
Bruno Mars*
SZA
The Weeknd
Top R&B Male Artist:
Khalid
Bruno Mars*
The Weeknd
Top R&B Female Artist:
Beyoncé
Rihanna
SZA*
Top R&B Tour:
Bruno Mars*
Lionel Richie
The Weeknd
Top Rap Artist:
Drake
Kendrick Lamar*
Lil Uzi Vert
Migos
Post Malone
Top Rap Male Artist:
Drake
Kendrick Lamar*
Post Malone
Top Rap Female Artist:
Bhad Bhabie
Cardi B*
Nicki Minaj
Top Rap Tour:
J. Cole
JAY-Z*
Kendrick Lamar
Top Country Artist:
Kane Brown
Luke Combs
Sam Hunt
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton*
Top Country Male Artist:
Sam Hunt
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton*
Top Country Female Artist:
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Maren Morris*
Top Country Duo/Group Artist:
Florida Georgia Line*
Old Dominion
Zac Brown Band
Top Country Tour:
Luke Bryan*
Florida Georgia Line
Tim McGraw & Faith Hill
Top Rock Artist:
Imagine Dragons*
Linkin Park
Portugal. The Man
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
twenty one pilots
Top Rock Tour:
Coldplay
Guns N’ Roses
U2*
Top Latin Artist:
J Balvin
Daddy Yankee
Luis Fonsi
Ozuna*
Romeo Santos
Top Dance/Electronic Artist:
The Chainsmokers*
Calvin Harris
Kygo
Marshmello
ODESZA
Top Christian Artist:
Elevation Worship
Hillsong UNITED
Hillsong Worship
MercyMe*
Zach Williams
Top Gospel Artist:
Anthony Brown & group therAPy
Travis Greene
J.J. Hairston & Youthful Praise
Tasha Cobbs Leonard*
Tamela Mann
ALBUM AWARDS
Top Billboard 200 Album:
Drake “More Life”
Kendrick Lamar “DAMN.”*
Post Malone “Stoney”
Ed Sheeran “÷ (Divide)”
Taylor Swift “reputation”
Top Selling Album:
Kendrick Lamar “DAMN.”
P!nk “Beautiful Trauma”
Ed Sheeran “÷ (Divide)”
Chris Stapleton “From A Room: Volume 1”
Taylor Swift “reputation”*
Top Soundtrack:
“Black Panther”
“The Fate of the Furious: The Album”
“The Greatest Showman”
“Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2: Awesome Mix Vol. 2”
“Moana”*
Top R&B Album:
Khalid “American Teen”
Bruno Mars “24K Magic”*
SZA “Ctrl”
The Weeknd “Starboy”
XXXTENTACION “17”
Top Rap Album:
Drake “More Life”
Kendrick Lamar “DAMN.”*
Lil Uzi Vert “Luv Is Rage 2”
Migos “Culture”
Post Malone “Stoney”
Top Country Album:
Kane Brown “Kane Brown”
Luke Combs “This One’s For You”
Thomas Rhett “Life Changes”
Chris Stapleton “From A Room: Volume 1”*
Brett Young “Brett Young”
Top Rock Album:
Imagine Dragons “Evolve”*
Linkin Park “One More Light”
Panic! At The Disco “Death Of A Bachelor”
Portugal. The Man “Woodstock”
U2 “Songs of Experience”
Top Latin Album:
Nicky Jam “Fénix”
Christian Nodal “Me Dejé Llevar”
Ozuna “Odisea”*
Romeo Santos “Golden”
Shakira “El Dorado”
Top Dance/Electronic Album:
Avicii “AVĪCI (01)”
The Chainsmokers “Memories…Do Not Open”*
Calvin Harris “Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1”
Kygo “Stargazing”
ODESZA “A Moment Apart”
Top Christian Album:
Elevation Worship “There Is A Cloud”
Hillsong UNITED “Wonder”
Hillsong Worship “Let There Be Light”
Alan Jackson “Precious Memories Collection”*
MercyMe “Lifer”
Top Gospel Album:
Anthony Brown & group therAPy “A Long Way From Sunday”
Travis Greene “Crossover: Live From Music City”
J.J. Hairston & Youthful Praise “You Deserve It”
Tasha Cobbs Leonard “Heart. Passion. Pursuit.”*
Marvin Sapp “Close”
SONG AWARDS
Top Hot 100 Song:
Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber “Despacito”
Kendrick Lamar “HUMBLE.”*
Bruno Mars “That’s What I Like”
Post Malone ft. 21 Savage “Rockstar”
Ed Sheeran “Shape Of You”
Top Streaming Song (Audio):
Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber “Despacito”*
Kendrick Lamar “HUMBLE.”
Lil Uzi Vert “XO TOUR Llif3”
Post Malone ft. 21 Savage “Rockstar”
Post Malone ft. Quavo “Congratulations”
Top Streaming Song (Video):
Cardi B “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)”
Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber “Despacito”*
Lil Pump “Gucci Gang”
Bruno Mars “That’s What I Like”
Ed Sheeran “Shape of You”
Top Selling Song:
Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber “Despacito”*
Sam Hunt “Body Like A Back Road”
Imagine Dragons “Believer”
Imagine Dragons “Thunder”
Ed Sheeran “Perfect”
Top Radio Song:
The Chainsmokers & Coldplay “Something Just Like This”
Imagine Dragons “Believer”
Bruno Mars “That’s What I Like”
Charlie Puth “Attention”
Ed Sheeran “Shape of You”*
Top Collaboration:
Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug “Havana”
The Chainsmokers & Coldplay “Something Just Like This”
Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber “Despacito”*
French Montana ft. Swae Lee “Unforgettable”
Post Malone ft. 21 Savage “Rockstar”
Top R&B Song:
Childish Gambino “Redbone”
DJ Khaled ft. Rihanna & Bryson Tiller “Wild Thoughts”
Khalid “Young Dumb & Broke”
Bruno Mars “That’s What I Like”*
Bruno Mars ft. Cardi B “Finesse”
Top Rap Song:
Cardi B “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)”
DJ Khaled ft. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance The Rapper & Lil Wayne “I’m the One”
French Montana ft. Swae Lee “Unforgettable”
Kendrick Lamar “HUMBLE.”
Post Malone ft. 21 Savage “Rockstar”*
Top Country Song:
Kane Brown ft. Lauren Alaina “What Ifs”
Sam Hunt “Body Like A Back Road”*
Dustin Lynch “Small Town Boy”
Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line “Meant To Be”
Brett Young “In Case You Didn’t Know”
Top Rock Song:
Imagine Dragons “Believer”*
Imagine Dragons “Thunder”
Linkin Park ft. Kiiara “Heavy”
Portugal. The Man “Feel It Still”
The Revivalists “Wish I Knew You”
Top Latin Song:
J Balvin & Willy William ft. Beyoncé “Mi Gente”
Becky G ft. Bad Bunny “Mayores”
Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber “Despacito”*
Maluma “Felices Los 4”
Wisin ft. Ozuna “Escápate Conmigo”
Top Dance/Electronic Song:
The Chainsmokers & Coldplay “Something Just Like This”*
Clean Bandit ft. Sean Paul & Anne-Marie “Rockabye”
Cheat Codes ft. Demi Lovato “No Promises”
Kygo & Selena Gomez “It Ain’t Me”
Zedd & Alessia Cara “Stay”
Top Christian Song:
Elevation Worship “O Come To The Altar”
Hillsong Worship “What A Beautiful Name”*
Lecrae ft. Tori Kelly “I’ll Find You”
MercyMe “Even If”
Zach Williams “Old Church Choir”
Top Gospel Song:
Anthony Brown & group therAPy “Trust In You”
J.J. Hairston & Youthful Praise “You Deserve It”*
Travis Greene “You Waited”
Tamela Mann “Change Me”
Charlie Wilson “I’m Blessed”
