TAYLOR SWIFT ruled the 2013 Billboard Music Awards on Sunday (19May13), taking home eight top honours, including the prestigious Artist of the Year.
Swift, fun. and Maroon 5 all led the way heading into the Las Vegas ceremony with 11 nods each, but it quickly became clear that the night belonged to the blonde star as she dominated the prizegiving from the offset.
She entered the MGM Grand Garden Arena a six-time winner from the pre-show announcements alone, claiming accolades such as Top Country Artist, Top Country Album for Red and Top Country Song for We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together, while she beat Adele, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj and Carly Rae Jepsen to be named Top Female Artist.
The singer added a further two trophies to her impressive haul during the big event itself, hosted by Tracy Morgan, but she wasn't the only one celebrating - Justin Bieber was another main Billboard honouree.
The Baby hitmaker fought off competition from Drake, Bruno Mars, Flo Rida and Jason Aldean to claim the Top Male Artist award, in addition to the Top Social Artist title and the inaugural Milestone Award, which was voted for by fans.
Other multiple winners included Rihanna, Gotye, One Direction and late Latin singer Jenni Rivera, while Madonna was feted as the Top Touring Artist.
Accepting her honour for her MDNA world tour, the Material Girl said, "They say that it takes a village to raise a child. Well, it took several international villages to put my show together and I would be here all night if I was to specifically thank all the people who were there to walk through the fire with me."
Thanking her fans, she added, "Without you I wouldn't have a show to do and a showgirl needs her fans so thank you for supporting me for three decades. Without you, I truly wouldn't be here."
Music highlights on the night came from the likes of Swift, Selena Gomez, Nicki Minaj and Lil Wayne and Chris Brown, while Pitbull doubled up for two sexy performances - first teaming up with a slimmed-down Christina Aguilera for Feel This Moment, with A-ha's very own Morten Harket as their special guest, and then joining Jennifer Lopez for an energetic rendition of Live It Up.
Bieber also hit the stage twice, much to the delight of his fans, performing his solo hit Take You and showing off a robotic dance routine with will.i.am for ThatPower.
Prince, the 2013 recipient of the Icon Award, closed the show in style, rocking out with a medley of his hits, including a slowed-down version of his classic Let's Go Crazy to bring the curtain down on a night of celebrations.
The full list of winners is as follows:
Artist of the Year - Taylor Swift
Top New Artist - One Direction
Top Male Artist - Justin Bieber
Top Female Artist - Taylor Swift
Top Duo/Group - One Direction
Top Billboard 200 Artist - Taylor Swift
Top Hot 100 Artist - Maroon 5
Top Digital Songs Artist - Taylor Swift
Top Radio Songs Artist - Rihanna
Top Social Artist - Justin Bieber
Top Streaming Artist - Nicki Minaj
Top Pop Artist - One Direction
Top R&B Artist - Rihanna
Top Rap Artist - Nicki Minaj
Top Country Artist - Taylor Swift
Top Rock Artist - fun.
Top Latin Artist - Jenni Rivera
Top Dance Artist - Madonna
Top EDM Artist - David Guetta
Top Christian Artist - tobyMac
Top Touring Artist - Madonna
Top Billboard 200 Album - Red by Taylor Swift
Top Pop Album - 21 by Adele
Top R&B Album - Unapologetic by Rihanna
Top Rap Album - Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded by Nicki Minaj
Top Country Album - Red by Taylor Swift
Top Rock Album - Babel by Mumford & Sons
Top Latin Album - La Misma Gran Senora by Jenni Rivera
Top Dance Album - MDNA by Madonna
Top EDM Album - Bangarang by Skrillex
Top Christian Album - Eye On It by tobyMac
Top Hot 100 Song - Somebody That I Used To Know by Gotye featuring Kimbra
Top Radio Song - Somebody That I Used To Know by Gotye featuring Kimbra
Top Streaming Song (Audio) - Somebody That I Used To Know by Gotye featuring Kimbra
Top Streaming Song (Video) - Gangnam Style by Psy
Top Pop Song - Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen
Top R&B Song - Diamonds by Rihanna
Top Rap Song - Thrift Shop by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz
Top Country Song - We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together by Taylor Swift
Top Rock Song - Somebody That I Used To Know by Gotye featuring Kimbra
Top Latin Song - Ai Se Eu Te Pego by Michel Telo
Top Dance Song - Harlem Shake by Baauer
Top EDM Song - Harlem Shake by Baauer
Top Christian Song - 10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord) by Matt Redman
Milestone Award - Justin Bieber
Icon Award - Prince.
(MT/WNV/MJ)
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