The Billboard Music Awards are honors given out annually by Billboard, a publication covering the music business and a music popularity chart. The Billboard Music Awards show has been held annually since 1990, with the exception of the years 2007 through 2010. The event was previously staged in December, but has been held in May since returning in 2011. On October 19, 2023, it was announced that the award ceremony will be reformatted as a digital-only show and move from broadcast television to its website and Billboards social media pages, starting with the 2023 edition on November 19, but in 2024, the show aired on Fox.
Awards process
Unlike other awards, such as the Grammy Award, which determine nominations as a result of the highest votes received by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, the Billboard Music Awards finalists are based on album and digital songs sales, streaming, radio airplay, touring, and social engagement. These measurements are tracked year-round by Billboard and its data partners, including MRC Data and Next Big Sound. The 2018 awards were based on the reporting period of April 8, 2017 through March 31, 2018. Awards are given for the top album, artist and single in a number of different music genres.
Awards
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! width=60 | Year
! width=60 | Order
! width=120 | Date
! width=210 | Venue
! width=120 | City
! Host(s)
! TV network
!
|-
| 1990
| 1
| December 10
| rowspan="2" | Barker Hangar
| rowspan="2" |Santa Monica
| Paul Shaffer & Morris Day with Jerome Benton
| rowspan="17"| Fox
|
|-
| 1991
| 2
| December 9
|Paul Shaffer
|
|-
| 1992
| 3
| December 8
| rowspan="3"| Universal Amphitheater
| rowspan="3" |Los Angeles
| rowspan="2" | Phil Collins
|
|-
| 1993
| 4
| December 8
|
|-
| 1994
| 5
| December 7
| Dennis Miller and Heather Locklear
|
|-
| 1995
| 6
| December 6
| New York Coliseum
|New York City
| Jon Stewart
|
|-
| 1996
| 7
| December 4
| Hard Rock Hotel
| rowspan="11" |Las Vegas
| Chris Rock
|
|-
| 1997
| 8
| December 8
| rowspan="10"| MGM Grand Garden Arena
| David Spade
|
|-
| 1998
| 9
| December 7
| Kathy Griffin and Andy Dick
|
|-
| 1999
| 10
| December 8
| Kathy Griffin and Adam Carolla
|
|-
| 2000
| 11
| December 5
| Kathy Griffin and NSYNC
|
|-
| 2001
| 12
| December 4
| Bernie Mac
|
|-
| 2002
| 13
| December 9
| Cedric the Entertainer
|
|-
| 2003
| 14
| December 10
| Ryan Seacrest with Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson
|
|-
| 2004
| 15
| December 8
| Ryan Seacrest
|
|-
| 2005
| 16
| December 6
| LL Cool J
|
|-
| 2006
| 17
| December 4
| —
|
|-
| colspan="9"
|-
| 2011
| 18
| May 22
| rowspan="5" | MGM Grand Garden Arena
| rowspan="9" |Las Vegas
| Ken Jeong
| rowspan="7"| ABC
|
|-
| 2012
| 19
| May 20
| Julie Bowen and Ty Burrell
|
|-
| 2013
| 20
| May 19
| Tracy Morgan
|
|-
| 2014
| 21
| May 18
| Ludacris
|
|-
| 2015
| 22
| May 17
| Ludacris and Chrissy Teigen
|
|-
| 2016
| 23
| May 22
| rowspan="2"| T-Mobile Arena
| Ludacris and Ciara
|
|-
| 2017
| 24
| May 21
| Ludacris and Vanessa Hudgens
|
|-
| 2018
| 25
| May 20
| rowspan="2" | MGM Grand Garden Arena
| rowspan="3" | Kelly Clarkson
| rowspan="5"| NBC
|
|-
| 2019
| 26
| May 1
|
|-
| 2020
| 27
| October 14
| Dolby Theatre
| rowspan="2" |Los Angeles
|
|-
| 2021
| 28
| May 23
| Microsoft Theater
| Nick Jonas
|
|-
| 2022
| 29
| May 15
| MGM Grand Garden Arena
| Las Vegas
| Sean "Diddy" Combs
|
|-
| 2023
| 30
| November 19
|
|
|
|
|
|-
| 2024
| 31
| December 12
|
|
| Michelle Buteau
| Fox
|
|}
Categories
From 1990 to 2006, the show had the same categories and category names every year. In 2011, for the first time, all of the awards were renamed to "Top [award title]". The "of the year" portion of each category title no longer exists, and many of the awards have been further renamed. Other awards, including both "crossover" awards (No. 1 Classical Crossover Artist and No. 1 Classical Crossover Album) were discontinued. As of 2024, there are three fan-voted categories.
Current categories
The general categories are Top Artist, Top Billboard 200 Album, Top Hot 100 Song and Top New Artist. These categories highlighted in each award and other categories are divided by genre.
General
- Top Artist
- Top New Artist
- Top Male Artist
- Top Female Artist
- Top Duo/Group
- Top Billboard 200 Artist
- Top Billboard 200 Album
- Top Hot 100 Artist
- Top Hot 100 Song
- Top Hot 100 Songwriter
- Top Hot 100 Producer
- Top Billboard Global 200 Artist
- Top Billboard Global (Excluding U.S.) Artist
- Top Billboard Global 200 Song
- Top Billboard Global (Excluding U.S.) Song
- Top Touring Artist
- Top Song Sales Artist (since 2016)
- Top Selling Album (since 2018)
- Top Selling Song (since 2016)
- Top Radio Songs Artist
- Top Radio Song
- Top Streaming Songs Artist
- Top Streaming Song (Audio)
- Top Streaming Song (Video)
R&B
- Top R&B Artist
- Top R&B Male Artist (since 2018)
- Top R&B Female Artist (since 2018)
- Top R&B Album
- Top R&B Song
- Top R&B Tour (since 2017)
Rap
- Top Rap Artist
- Top Rap Male Artist (since 2018)
- Top Rap Female Artist (since 2018)
- Top Rap Album
- Top Rap Song
- Top Rap Tour (since 2017)
Country
- Top Country Artist
- Top Country Male Artist (since 2018)
- Top Country Female Artist (since 2018)
- Top Country Duo/Group Artist (since 2018)
- Top Country Album
- Top Country Song
- Top Country Tour (since 2017)
Rock
- Top Rock Artist
- Top Rock Album
- Top Rock Song
- Top Rock Tour (since 2017)
Latin
- Top Latin Artist
- Top Latin Male Artist (since 2021)
- Top Latin Female Artist (since 2021)
- Top Latin Duo/Group (since 2021)
- Top Latin Album
- Top Latin Song
- Top Latin Touring Artist (since 2022)
K-Pop
- Top Global K-Pop Artist (since 2023)
- Top Global K-Pop Song (since 2023)
- Top K-Pop Album (since 2023)
- Top K-Pop Touring Artist (since 2023)
Dance/Electronic
- Top Dance/Electronic Artist (since 2014)
- Top Dance/Electronic Album (since 2014)
- Top Dance/Electronic Song (since 2014)
Christian
- Top Christian Artist
- Top Christian Album
- Top Christian Song
Gospel
- Top Gospel Artist (since 2016)
- Top Gospel Album (since 2016)
- Top Gospel Song (since 2016)
Others genres
- Top Soundtrack (1993, 1998, 2000, 2006, 2015 – present)
- Top Social Artist (fan-voted)
- Billboard Chart Achievement (since 2015, fan-voted)
- Top Collaboration (since 2017, fan-voted)
Retired categories (1990–2022)
- Top Alternative Album
- Top Alternative Artist
- Top Alternative Song
- Top Classical Crossover Artist
- Top Classical Crossover Album
- Top Country Collaboration (2017)
- Top Dance Artist (until 2013)
- Top Dance Album (until 2013)
- Top Dance Song (until 2013)
- Top Digital Media Artist (until 2012)
- Top Digital Songs Artist (until 2015)
- Top Digital Song (until 2015)
- Top EDM Artist (until 2013)
- Top EDM Album (until 2013)
- Top EDM Song (until 2013)
- Top Independent Artists
- Top Independent Album
- Top Modern Rock Artist
- Top Modern Rock Track
- Top New Male Artist
- Top New Female Artist
- Top New Group/Band
- Top New Song
- Top Pop Song (until 2013)
- Top Pop Album (until 2013)
- Top Pop Artist (until 2013)
- Top Pop Punk Artist
- Top R&B Collaboration (2017)
- Top Rap Collaboration (2017)
- Top Rhythmic Top 40 Title
- Top Selling Single
- Top Soundtrack Single of the Year
- Milestone Award (2013, 2014)
Special awards
Artist Achievement Award
- 1993: Rod Stewart
- 1994: Whitney Houston
- 1995: Janet Jackson
- 1996: Madonna
- 1997: Garth Brooks
- 1999: Aerosmith
- 2001: Janet Jackson
- 2002: Cher
- 2004: Destiny's Child
- 2005: Kanye West
Artist of the Decade Award
- 1980s: Madonna
- 1990s: Mariah Carey
- 2000s: Eminem
- 2010s: Drake
Millennium Award
- 2011: Beyoncé
- 2012: Whitney Houston <small>(award accepted by her daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown)</small>
- 2016: Britney Spears
Century Award
- 1992: George Harrison
- 1993: Buddy Guy
- 1994: Billy Joel
- 1995: Joni Mitchell
- 1996: Carlos Santana
- 1997: Chet Atkins
- 1998: James Taylor
- 1999: Emmylou Harris
- 2000: Randy Newman
- 2001: John Mellencamp
- 2002: Annie Lennox
- 2003: Sting
- 2004: Stevie Wonder
- 2005: Tom Petty
- 2006: Tony Bennett
Icon Award
- 2011: Neil Diamond
- 2012: Stevie Wonder
- 2013: Prince
- 2014: Jennifer Lopez
- 2016: Celine Dion
- 2017: Cher
- 2018: Janet Jackson
- 2019: Mariah Carey
- 2020: Garth Brooks
- 2021: P!nk
- 2022: Mary J. Blige
Spotlight Award
- In 2012, Katy Perry was honored with Billboard<nowiki>'</nowiki>s second Spotlight award for being the second and first female artist in music history to have five consecutive number ones singles on Billboard Hot 100 from one album.
Change Maker Award
- 2020: Killer Mike
- 2021: Trae tha Truth
- 2022: Mari Copeny
Other special awards
- 1992: Special Award commemorating the 10th Anniversary of Thriller: Michael Jackson
- 1992: No. 1 World Album for Dangerous and No. 1 World Single for "Black or White": Michael Jackson
- 1993: Special Award for the first single with most weeks at No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 (14 weeks for "I Will Always Love You"): Whitney Houston
- 1996: Special Award for most weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 (16 weeks for "One Sweet Day"): Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men
- 1997: Special Award honoring "Candle In the Wind 1997" as the all-time best selling single: Elton John and Bernie Taupin
- 1998: Special Award for the most No. 1s ever by a female artist (13): Mariah Carey
- 2000: Special Award for biggest one-week sales ever of an album: No Strings Attached, NSYNC
- 2000: Special Award for biggest one-week sales of an album ever by a female artist, Oops!... I Did It Again, Britney Spears
- 2002: Special Award for 1982 album Thriller, which spent more weeks at No. 1 (37) than any other album in the history of the Billboard 200: Michael Jackson
- 2003: Special Award for Most weeks at No. 1: Beyoncé (17 weeks with "Crazy in Love" featuring Jay-Z and "Baby Boy" featuring Sean Paul)
Most wins
The record for most Billboard Music Awards won by an artist is held by Taylor Swift, earning 49 awards. The record for most Billboard Music Awards won by a group is held by BTS who have won 12 awards.
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Rank
! Artist
! Number of awards
|-
|1
|align="left" | Taylor Swift
|49
|-
|2
| align="left" |Drake
|41
|-
|3
| align="left" |Beyoncé
|28
|-
|4
|align="left"|Justin Bieber
|26
|-
|5
|align="left"|The Weeknd
|22
|-
|6
| align="left" |Garth Brooks
|19
|-
| rowspan="4" |7
| align="left" |Adele
| rowspan="4" |18
|-
|align="left"|Morgan Wallen
|-
|align="left"|Usher
|-
|align="left"|Kanye West
|-
|-
|11
|align="left"|Eminem
|17
|-
|-
| rowspan="2" |12
|align="left"|Bad Bunny
| rowspan="2" |16
|-
| align="left" |Whitney Houston
|-
|14
|align="left"|Mariah Carey
|14
|-
|15
| align="left" |50 Cent
|13
|-
| rowspan="6" |16
|align="left"|BTS
| rowspan="6" |12
|-
|align="left"|Carrie Underwood
|-
|align="left"|George Michael
|-
|align="left"|Rihanna
|-
|align="left"|R.Kelly
|-
|align="left"|T.I.
|-
| rowspan="4" |22
|align="left"|Destiny's Child
| rowspan="4" |11
|-
|align="left"|Janet Jackson
|-
|align="left"|Mary J. Blige
|-
|align="left"|Post Malone
|-
| rowspan="2" |26
| align="left" |Imagine Dragons
| rowspan="2" |10
|-
|align="left"|Lady Gaga
|}
Most Wins in a single ceremony
{| class="wikitable"
!Rank
!Artist
!Most wins
|-
|1
|Drake
|13
|-
|2
|Adele
|12
|-
|3
|Whitney Houston
|11
|}
Performances
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%; width:100%;"
|+
|-
! Year
! Performers (chronologically)
|-
| align="center"| 2011
|
|-
| align="center"| 2012
|
|-
| align="center"| 2013
|
|-
| align="center"| 2014
|
|-
| align="center"| 2015
|
|-
| align="center"| 2016
|
|-
| align="center"| 2017
|
|-
| align="center"| 2018
|
|-
| align="center"| 2019
|
|-
| align="center"| 2020
|
|-
| align="center"| 2021
|
|-
| align="center"| 2022
|
|-
| align="center"| 2023
|
|-
| align="center" | 2024
|
|}
Broadcast
Since its inception (created by Rick Garson, Paul Flattery & Jim Yukich), the BMAs had been telecast on the Fox network; however due to contractual expirations and other unforeseen circumstances, the awards were cancelled for 2007. Plans for a new version of the BMAs in 2008 (in association with AEG Live) fell through and were not held until 2011.
On February 17, 2011, Billboard announced that the BMAs would return to television, moving from its original home on Fox to its new network, ABC, on May 22. A new award statuette was created by New York firm Society Awards. Dick Clark Productions, which is co-owned with Billboard, began producing the ceremony in 2014. On November 28, 2017, it was announced that the Billboard Music Awards would move from ABC to NBC beginning in 2018 under a multi-year contract.
The 2020 ceremony, originally scheduled for April 29, was postponed indefinitely on March 17 due to coronavirus-related public assembly concerns. On August 14, 2020, it was announced that the 2020 ceremony had been rescheduled to October 14.
On November 25, 2024, it was announced that the BMAs would return to Fox with a pre-recorded special on December 12. It also streamed live on Amazon Fire TV Channels and on-demand on Paramount+.
Ratings
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align: center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Day
! rowspan="2"| Date
! rowspan="2"| Network
! colspan="2"| 18–49 rating
! rowspan="2"| Viewers<br />(in millions)
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable"|
|-
! style="width:10%"| Rating
! style="width:10%"| Share
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| 1990
| rowspan="2"| Monday
| December 10
| rowspan="17"| Fox
|
|
| 14.50
|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| 1991
| December 9
|
|
| 11.60
|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| 1992
| rowspan="5"| Wednesday
| December 9
|
|
| 15.00
|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| 1993
| December 8
|
|
| 14.00
|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| 1994
| December 7
|
|
| 11.10
|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| 1995
| December 6
|
|
| 12.10
|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| 1996
| December 4
|
|
| 11.60
|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| 1997
| rowspan="2"| Monday
| December 8
|
|
| 12.81
|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| 1998
| December 7
|
|
| 11.36
| style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| 1999
| Wednesday
| December 8
|
|
| 12.12
| style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| 2000
| rowspan="2"| Tuesday
| December 5
| 5.4
| 14
| 11.43
| style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| 2001
| December 4
| 5.6
| 15
| 11.70
| style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| 2003
| rowspan="2"| Wednesday
| December 10
| 4.6
| 12
| 9.81
| style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| 2006
| Monday
| December 4
| 2.7
| 7
| 6.09
| style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| 2012
| May 20
| 2.7
| 7
| 7.40
| style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| 2013
| May 19
| 3.5
| 10
| 9.48
| style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| 2014
| May 18
| 3.5
| 10
| 10.50
| style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| 2015
| May 17
| 3.8
| 12
| 11.18
| style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| 2016
| May 22
| 3.2
| 10
| 9.76
| style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| 2018
| May 20
| rowspan=5| NBC
| 2.4
| 9
| 7.87
|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| 2019
| rowspan="2"|Wednesday
| May 1
| 2.1
| 10
| 8.01
|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| 2020
| October 14
| 0.8
| 5
| 3.71
|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| 2021
| rowspan=2| Sunday
| May 23
| 0.7
| 4
| 2.77
|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| 2022
| May 15
| 0.7
| 6
| 2.56
|
|}
See also
- Billboard Live Music Awards
- Billboard Japan Music Awards
- Billboard Latin Music Awards
- Billboard Women in Music
- Billboard Decade-End
- Billboard Digital Entertainment Awards