LAS Vegas, Nevada, May 18 (Reuters) — Taylor Swift dominated the 2015 Billboard Music Awards on Sunday (May 17), winning eight awards including top artist, while British soul singer Sam Smith took the honors for both top male artist and new artist.
Swift, 25, one of the top-selling musical acts in the United States last year, also picked up awards for top female artist, top Billboard 200 artist and album and top hot 100 artist, among others.
Swift, whose video of her latest single “Bad Blood” premiered at the awards, also took home a special achievement award chosen by fan voting.
“This is such a good night,” Swift enthused as she collected the night’s big prize, top artist. Earlier, after winning top Billboard 200 album for “1989,” she said “you guys embraced change, embraced me doing something new. I’ll never forget it.”
Swift and Smith competed directly in several top categories, with Swift prevailing. Smith, 22, who had received 13 nominations to Swift’s 14, also won for top radio songs artist.
The British band One Direction was another multiple winner, winning for top touring artist and top duo or group, while Iggy Azalea was a triple winner for top rap artist, rap song and top streaming artist.
While accepting their award for top duo/group, Liam Payne thanked Zayn Malik, who left the group recently.
“Once again, I just want to say, Billboard, you guys have been so amazing for our career, and I acknowledge this one for the fans, but there’s one more person to share this with, and that’s our brother Zayn, so thank you very much, have a nice evening,” said Payne.
Meghan Trainor received two prizes for her feel-good hit “All About That Bass,” winning top hot 100 song and top digital song. The song, which celebrates girls with curvier bodies, prompted Trainor to thank the audience for their support.
“I just want everyone to learn to love themselves, and I’m glad this song is working,” said Trainor.
Florida George Line was named top country artist. “All of Me” by John Legend also won two prizes, for top radio song and top streaming song.
“I was inspired to write this by a beautiful, intelligent, dynamic woman, and I’m so proud that we won this award together tonight,” said John Legend, of his wife, Chrissy Teigen, the inspiration for “All of Me.”
Teigen co-hosted the awards with rapper Ludacris. hey were handed out in a live broadcast from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
In the non-televised awards, Pharrell Williams swept the R & B categories, taking honors for song, album and artist while Jason Aldean took the prizes for top country song and album. Hozier won top rock artist and top rock song, while Coldplay took the award for top rock album.
Billboard magazine, which covers the music industry, said the finalists were based on fan interactions with music, including album and digital sales, touring, radio airplay, streaming and interactions on social media websites and other online sites for music.