BIEBER WINS BIG AT MTV EMAS
2015 just keeps getting better for Justin Bieber, who was the main victor at the MTV EMA Awards in Milan on Sunday, bagging five awards during a night where Universal acts dominated. 12 artists signed to the major label group were honoured, with four gongs going to Warner, two to Sony and three to independent acts.
Def Jam’s Bieber ended the night with Best Male, Best Collaboration for his comeback track with Skrillex and Diplo “Where Are You Now?,” Best Worldwide Act: North America, Biggest Fans and Best Look.
The young star has been working his tuchus off to promote his forthcoming album, with a BBC Radio 1 interview up next; he and his team are in overdrive ahead of their chart showdown with One Direction next month.
New Island act Shawn Mendes was honoured with two gongs for Best New Act and Best Push (for breakthrough artists) and Best Female went to Def Jam Queen Rihanna.
Best Hip Hop was Cash Money's Nicki Minaj, while Universal's worldwide victors were Jane Zhang (China) for Asia and Capitol’s 5 Seconds of Summer (who look set to hit #1 in the U.K. this week with their sophomore album) for Australia/New Zealand for the second year running.
Warner’s Ed Sheeran, who co-hosted alongside Ruby Rose, was named Best Live Act as well as Best World Stage for his V Festival set in 2014. Rock legends Duran Duran were given the Video Visionary Award (new this year to honour the greatest pioneers in the history of the music video art form).
Genre wise, Best Rock act went to Parlophone band Coldplay and Interscope/Polydor's Lana Del Rey took home the gong for Best Alternative. The worldwide act for Latin America was Warner's Anitta (Brazil).
SYCO/Columbia stars One Direction took Best Pop and Sony's Marco Mengoni (Italy) repped Europe in the global stakes.
Best Song went to Taylor Swift for "Bad Blood" f/Kendrick Lamar (Big Machine/BMLG) and Best Video went to Macklemore and Ryan Lewis for the self-directed "Downtown". Best Electronic act was Spinnin's Martin Garrix and indie solo artist Diamond Platnumz (Africa) was honoured as the worldwide talent for Africa/India.
Ellie Goulding, Jason Derulo, Twenty One Pilots, Rudimental with Ed Sheeran, Tori Kelly and Andrea Bocelli, Jess Glynne, Justin Bieber and James Bay all performed, as well as Pharrell Williams, who closed the night with “Freedom”. Afterwards, the MTV Freedom campaign kicked off, which seeks to raise awareness, activism and donations in support of the current refugee crisis.
