The most-played artists and songs on iHeartRadio stations and the iHeartRadio app throughout 2020 were celebrated and honored during Thursday night’s iHeartRadio Music Awards.
The winners were announced during Thursday’s ceremony that aired from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, with Usher serving as host. There was an in-person audience of nominees and fans. Those in attendance were wearing masks. “It’s been a crazy year but we’re going to get this right,” Usher said in his opening statements, as he also celebrated that “live music is back.”
Going into the ceremony, The Weeknd led with eight nominations, followed by Megan Thee Stallion and Roddy Ricch with seven each and Harry Styles with six.
Other artists who received multiple nominations include 24kGoldn, AC/DC, AJR, All Time Low, Ariana Grande, Bad Bunny, Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Blackbear, Blackpink, Blake Shelton, BTS, Calibre 50, Cardi B, Charlie Puth, Chris Brown, Christian Nodal, DaBaby, Doja Cat, Drake, Dua Lipa, Future, Gabby Barrett, H.E.R., J Balvin, Jhené Aiko, JP Saxe, Justin Bieber, Karol G, Lady Gaga, Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Maluma, Maren Morris, Ozuna, Ozzy Osbourne, Pop Smoke, Post Malone, Shawn Mendes, Snoh Aalegra, Summer Walker, Surf Mesa, Taylor Swift, The Pretty Reckless, Twenty One Pilots and Young Thug.
The Weeknd kicked off the show with Ariana Grande joining him for a remix of his single “Save Your Tears.” Later on, The Weeknd took home the award for male artist of the year and song of the year for “Blinding Lights.” Meanwhile, Dua Lipa also took home a top honor, winning female artist of the year. Megan Thee Stallion took home the first award of the night for best collaboration with Beyoncé for the remix version of “Savage.”
Though not in attendance, Taylor Swift filmed an acceptance speech after securing the win for pop album of the year for Folklore. Swift acknowledged that the album came out amid a time when “we all needed to escape into stories,” and thanked fans for choosing to escape through her album. “You really wrapped your arms around it,” Swift said.
Elton John was honored with the Icon Award presented by Coldplay’s Chris Martin and Lil Nas X. John is the second artist to earn the award after Bon Jovi in 2018. Prior to taking the stage, H.E.R., Brandi Carlile and Demi Lovato (who wore John’s trademark square glasses) performed a medley of John’s hits, including “Bennie and the Jets,” “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” and “I’m Still Standing.”
In his acceptance speech, John thanked everyone for all their “loyalty and love.” He also expressed how much he loved the radio and putting new artists in the spotlight. “I still play new artists and when I do my show I try to promote young artists because they need exposure. They need the radio,” he said. He also gave a “special thanks” to Lil Nas X for being a “wonderful artist” and someone who has “balls of steel.”
Performers who took the stage during the show included host Usher, Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak’s Silk Sonic, Dan + Shay and Doja Cat, who won best new pop artist.
Fans were able to vote for the winner in several categories, including Best Fan Army, Best Lyrics, Best Cover Song, Best Music Video, the Social Star Award, Favorite Music Video Choreography Award and the brand-new TikTok Bop of the Year Award.
See the full list of winners below.
Song of the Year:
“Blinding Lights” – The Weeknd (WINNER)
“Circles” – Post Malone
“Don’t Start Now” – Dua Lipa
“Rockstar” – DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch
“Watermelon Sugar” – Harry Styles
Female Artist of the Year:
Dua Lipa (WINNER)
Ariana Grande
Billie Eilish
Megan Thee Stallion
Taylor Swift
Male Artist of the Year:
The Weeknd (WINNER)
Harry Styles
Justin Bieber
Post Malone
Roddy Ricch
Best Duo/Group of the Year:
Dan + Shay (WINNER)
BTS
Jonas Brothers
Maroon 5
Twenty One Pilots
Best Collaboration:
“Savage” (Remix) – Megan Thee Stallion featuring Beyoncé (WINNER)
“Go Crazy” – Chris Brown & Young Thug
“Holy” – Justin Bieber featuring Chance the Rapper
“I Hope” – Gabby Barrett featuring Charlie Puth
“Mood” – 24kGoldn featuring Iann Dior
Best New Pop Artist:
Doja Cat (WINNER)
24kGoldn
Blackbear
JP Saxe
Pop Smoke
Alternative Rock Song of the Year:
“Level of Concern” – Twenty One Pilots (WINNER)
“Bang!” – AJR
“Bloody Valentine” – Machine Gun Kelly
“everything i wanted” – Billie Eilish
“Monsters” – All Time Low featuring Blackbear
Alternative Rock Artist of the Year:
Twenty One Pilots (WINNER)
AJR
All Time Low
Billie Eilish
Cage the Elephant
Best New Rock/Alternative Rock Artist:
Powfu (WINNER)
Ashe
Dayglow
Royal & The Serpent
Wallows
Rock Song of the Year:
“Shame Shame” – Foo Fighters (WINNER)
“Death By Rock and Roll” – The Pretty Reckless
“Patience” – Chris Cornell
“Shot in the Dark” – AC/DC
“Under the Graveyard” – Ozzy Osbourne
Rock Artist of the Year:
The Pretty Reckless (WINNER)
AC/DC
Five Finger Death Punch
Ozzy Osbourne
Shinedown
Country Song of the Year:
“The Bones” – Maren Morris (WINNER)
“Even Though I’m Leaving” – Luke Combs
“I Hope” – Gabby Barrett
“Nobody but You” – Blake Shelton with Gwen Stefani
“One Margarita” – Luke Bryan
Country Artist of the Year:
Luke Combs (WINNER)
Blake Shelton
Luke Bryan
Maren Morris
Thomas Rhett
Best New Country Artist:
Gabby Barrett (WINNER)
Ashley McBryde
HARDY
Ingrid Andress
Jameson Rodgers
Dance Song of the Year:
“Roses” (Imanbek Remix) – SAINt JHN (WINNER)
“Head & Heart” – Joel Corry x MNEK
“ily (i love you baby)” – Surf Mesa featuring Emilee
“Lasting Lover” – Sigala & James Arthur
“Rain on Me” – Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande
Dance Artist of the Year:
Marshmello (WINNER)
Anabel Englund
Diplo
Surf Mesa
Tiësto
Hip-Hop Song of the Year:
“The Box” – Roddy Ricch (WINNER)
“High Fashion” – Roddy Ricch featuring Mustard
“Life Is Good” – Future featuring Drake
“Rockstar” – DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch
“Savage” (Remix) – Megan Thee Stallion featuring Beyoncé
Hip-Hop Artist of the Year:
Roddy Ricch (WINNER)
DaBaby
Lil Baby
Megan Thee Stallion
Pop Smoke
Best-New Hip-Hop Artist:
Roddy Ricch (WINNER)
Jack Harlow
Moneybagg Yo
Pop Smoke
Rod Wave
R&B Song of the Year:
“Go Crazy” – Chris Brown & Young Thug (WINNER)
“B.S.” – Jhené Aiko featuring H.E.R.
“Heat” Chris Brown featuring Gunna
“Playing Games” – Summer Walker
“Slide” – H.E.R. featuring YG
R&B Artist of the Year:
H.E.R. (WINNER)
Chris Brown
Jhené Aiko
Snoh Aalegra
Summer Walker
Best New R&B Artist:
Snoh Aalegra (WINNER)
Chloe x Halle
Lonr.
Mahalia
Skip Marley
Latin Pop/Reggaeton Song of the Year:
“Tusa” – KAROL G & Nicki Minaj (WINNER)
“Caramelo” – Ozuna
“Dákiti” – Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez
“Hawái” (Remix) – Maluma & The Weeknd
“RITMO (Bad Boys for Life)” – Black Eyed Peas & J Balvin
Latin Pop/Reggaeton Artist of the Year:
Bad Bunny (WINNER)
J Balvin
Karol G
Maluma
Ozuna
Best New Latin Artist:
Rauw Alejandro (WINNER)
Chesca
Jay Wheeler
Natanael Cano
Neto Bernal
Regional Mexican Song of the Year:
“Palabra De Hombre” – El Fantasma (WINNER)
“Se Me Olvidó” – Christian Nodal
“Sólo Tú” – Calibre 50
“Te Volvería a Elegir” – Calibre 50
“Yo Ya No Vuelvo Contigo” – Lenin Ramírez featuring Grupo Firme
Regional Mexican Artist of the Year:
Christian Nodal (WINNER)
Banda Los Sebastianes
Calibre 50
Edwin Luna y La Trakalosa de Monterrey
Gerardo Ortíz
Producer of the Year:
Max Martin (WINNER)
Andrew Watt
Dr Luke
Frank Dukes
Louis Bell
Songwriter of the Year:
Ashley Gorley (WINNER)
Ali Tamposi
Amy Allen
Dan Nigro
Finneas
Best Lyrics: *Socially Voted Category
“Adore You” – Harry Styles (WINNER)
“Before You Go” – Lewis Capaldi
“Blinding Lights” – The Weeknd
“Cardigan” – Taylor Swift
“Don’t Start Now” – Dua Lipa
“Everything I Wanted” – Billie Eilish
“I Hope” – Gabby Barrett featuring Charlie Puth
“If the World Was Ending” – JP Saxe featuring Julia Michaels
“Intentions” – Justin Bieber featuring Quavo
“Life Is Good” – Future featuring Drake
Best Cover Song: *Socially Voted Category
“Juice” (Lizzo) – Harry Styles cover (WINNER)
“Adore You” (Harry Styles) – Lizzo cover
“Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” (Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons) – Shawn Mendes cover
“Fix You” (Coldplay) – Sam Smith cover
“Heart of Glass” (Blondie) – Miley Cyrus cover
Best Fan Army: *Socially Voted Category
#BTSARMY – BTS (WINNER)
#Agnation – Agnez Mo
#Arianators – Ariana Grande
#Beliebers – Justin Bieber
#BLINK – BLACKPINK
#Harries – Harry Styles
#Limelights – Why Don’t We
#Louies – Louis Tomlinson
#MendesArmy – Shawn Mendes
#NCTzens – NCT 127
#Selenators – Selena Gomez
#Swifties – Taylor Swift
Best Music Video: *Socially Voted Category
“Dynamite” – BTS (WINNER)
“Blinding Lights” – The Weeknd
“Don’t Start Now” – Dua Lipa
“Hawái” – Maluma
“How You Like That” – BLACKPINK
“Life Is Good” – Future featuring Drake
“Rain on Me” – Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande
“WAP” – Cardi B featuring Megan Thee Stallion
“Watermelon Sugar” – Harry Styles
“Yummy” – Justin Bieber
Social Star Award: *Socially Voted Category
Olivia Rodrigo (WINNER)
Dixie D’Amelio
Jaden Hossler
LILHUDDY
Nessa Barrett
Tate McRae
Favorite Music Video Choreography: *Socially Voted Category
BTS – Son Sung Deuk (WINNER)
“34+35” (Ariana Grande) – Scott & Brian Nicholson
“Do It” (Chloe x Halle) – Kendra Bracy & Ashanti Ledon
“Honey Boo” (CNCO & Natti Natasha) – Kyle Hanagami
“Physical” (Dua Lipa) – Charm La’Donna
“Rain Oo Me” (Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande) – Richy Jackson
“Say So” (Doja Cat) – Cortland Brown
WAP” (Cardi B featuring Megan Thee Stallion) – JaQuel Knight
“Bop” (DaBaby) – Coach Cherry & DaniLeigh
TikTok Bop of the Year (New Category): *Socially Voted Category
“Blinding Lights” – The Weeknd (WINNER)
“Lottery (Renegade)” – K CAMP
“Savage” – Megan Thee Stallion
“Savage Love” (Laxed-Siren Beat) – Jawsh 685, Jason Derulo
“Say So” – Doja Cat
“WAP” – Cardi B featuring Megan Thee Stallion
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