LAS VEGAS, May 23 (UPI) — The Weekend took home eight prizes from Sunday’s Billboard Music Awards ceremony in Las Vegas.
The musician was honored as Top Hot 100 Artist, Top Song Sales Artist, Top Radio Songs Artist, Top Streaming Songs Artist, Top R&B Artist, Top R&B Album for “Beauty Behind the Madness,” Top Streaming Song for “The Hills” and Top R&B Song for “The Hills.”
Adele, who was not present at the ceremony, earned the accolades for Top Selling Song for “Hello,” Top Artist, Top Female Artist, Top Billboard 200 Artist and Top Billboard 200 Album for 25.
Justin Bieber scored the statuettes for Top Male Artist and Top Social Media Artist, while Twenty One Pilots garnered the titles for Top Rock Artist and Top Rock Album for “Blurryface.”
One Direction was named Top Duo/Group and Taylor Swift was deemed Top Touring Artist.
Rihanna was honored with the Billboard Chart Achievement Award, Drake was declared Top Rap Artist and Luke Bryan Top Country Artist.
Fetty Wap received the prize for Top New Artist, and Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth won the awards for Top Hot 100 Song and Top Rap Song for “See You Again.”
Madonna closed out the ceremony — which was hosted by Ludacris and Ciara — by paying tribute to the late Prince, who died last month at the age of 57.
Madonna sang “Nothing Compares 2 U,” a haunting ballad Prince penned which became a hit when Sinead O’Connor recorded it. Stevie Wonder then joined Madonna on-stage to sing one of Prince’s best-loved songs, “Purple Rain.” As the audience sang along, the stadium was bathed in violet light.
