The curtains closed on the 2023 Billboard Music Awards, Sunday night, leaving audiences buzzing with the echoes of sensational performances and the triumphs of the night’s most illustrious talents.
As the glitzy event unfolded, it was Morgan Wallen who emerged as the night’s juggernaut, claiming an impressive tally of 11 wins. Not far behind, the ever-illustrious Taylor Swift added 10 prestigious accolades to her repertoire, solidifying her stature as one of the evening’s leading female victors.
In a historic twist, Swift’s remarkable achievement placed her in parallel ranks with the venerable Drake, whose five wins on Sunday night saw him join her at the zenith of the Billboard Music Awards’ hall of fame with the most wins of all time.
The path to victory at the Billboard Music Awards diverges from traditional award ceremonies like the GRAMMYs. Here, the finalists and eventual winners aren’t solely determined by votes from an academy but rather by a multifaceted evaluation. The journey to these coveted awards is charted through a comprehensive assessment of album and digital song sales, streaming metrics, radio airplay, touring figures, and social engagement. Billboard, along with its esteemed data partners like MRC Data and Next Big Sound, meticulously tracks and measures these metrics year-round. This intricate evaluation system culminates in the recognition of artists and their works that have made the most significant impact across various facets of the music industry.
Throughout the star-studded affair, the stage came alive with an array of breathtaking performances, each leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of viewers. Karol G captivated audiences with pulsating renditions of “Qlona”, “Labios Mordidos”, and “Ojos Ferrari”, while David Guetta and Bebe Rexha mesmerised with a compelling duet, enthralling the crowd with “I’m Good (Blue)” and “One in a Million”.
NewJeans, in their signature style, enraptured the audience with a magnetic performance of “Super Shy” and “OMG”, igniting an electric atmosphere. Meanwhile, Tate McRae delivered a captivating rendition of “Greedy”, and Peso Pluma left a lasting impression with a soul-stirring performance of “Rubicon”.
Iconic moments continued to unfold as Mariah Carey serenaded the audience with her timeless classic, “All I Want for Christmas Is You”, infusing the night with holiday spirit and nostalgia. She also went on to claim the Chart Achievement Award for this Christmas classic track.
Stray Kids made their mark with a dynamic display, showcasing their prowess with “S-Class” and “Lalalala”, while Morgan Wallen’s music echoed once more with the resonant strains of “98 Braves”.
A total of 70 awards were given out for releases during the period dated November 19, 2022, through October 21, 2023. Check out the full list of awards and winners below and see if your favourites came out on top.
2023 Billboard Music Awards
Artist Awards
Top Artist
- Drake
- Luke Combs
- Morgan Wallen
- SZA
- WINNER: Taylor Swift
Top New Artist
- Bailey Zimmerman
- Ice Spice
- Jelly Roll
- Peso Pluma
- WINNER: Zach Bryan
Top Male Artist
- Drake
- Luke Combs
- WINNER: Morgan Wallen
- The Weeknd
- Zach Bryan
Top Female Artist
- Beyoncé
- Miley Cyrus
- Olivia Rodrigo
- SZA
- WINNER: Taylor Swift
Top Duo/Group
- Eslabon Armado
- Fifty Fifty
- WINNER: Fuerza Regida
- Grupo Frontera
- Metallica
Top Billboard 200 Artist
- Drake
- Luke Combs
- Morgan Wallen
- SZA
- WINNER: Taylor Swift
Top Hot 100 Artist
- Drake
- Luke Combs
- WINNER: Morgan Wallen
- SZA
- Taylor Swift
Top Hot 100 Songwriter (NEW)
- Ashley Gorley
- Jack Antonoff
- SZA
- WINNER: Taylor Swift
- Zach Bryan
Top Hot 100 Producer (NEW)
- Jack Antonoff
- WINNER: Joey Moi
- Metro Boomin
- Taylor Swift
- Zach Bryan
Top Streaming Songs Artist
- Drake
- WINNER: Morgan Wallen
- SZA
- Taylor Swift
- Zach Bryan
Top Radio Songs Artist
- Miley Cyrus
- Morgan Wallen
- SZA
- WINNER: Taylor Swift
- The Weeknd
Top Song Sales Artist
- Jason Aldean
- Miley Cyrus
- Morgan Wallen
- Oliver Anthony Music
- WINNER: Taylor Swift
Top Billboard Global 200 Artist
- Bad Bunny
- Morgan Wallen
- SZA
- WINNER: Taylor Swift
- The Weeknd
Top Billboard Global (Excl. U.S.) Artist
- Bad Bunny
- Ed Sheeran
- NewJeans
- WINNER: Taylor Swift
- The Weeknd
Top R&B Artist
- Beyoncé
- Chris Brown
- Rihanna
- WINNER: SZA
- The Weeknd
Top R&B Male Artist
- Chris Brown
- Miguel
- WINNER: The Weeknd
Top R&B Female Artist
- Beyoncé
- Rihanna
- WINNER: SZA
Top R&B Touring Artist
- WINNER: Beyoncé
- Bruno Mars
- The Weeknd
Top Rap Artist
- 21 Savage
- WINNER: Drake
- Lil Baby
- Metro Boomin
- Travis Scott
Top Rap Male Artist
- 21 Savage
- WINNER: Drake
- Travis Scott
Top Rap Female Artist
- Doja Cat
- Ice Spice
- WINNER: Nicki Minaj
Top Rap Touring Artist
- 50 Cent
- WINNER: Drake
- Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa
Top Country Artist
- Bailey Zimmerman
- Luke Combs
- WINNER: Morgan Wallen
- Taylor Swift
- Zach Bryan
Top Country Male Artist
- Luke Combs
- WINNER: Morgan Wallen
- Zach Bryan
Top Country Female Artist
- Lainey Wilson
- Megan Moroney
- WINNER: Taylor Swift
Top Country Duo/Group
- Old Dominion
- Parmalee
- WINNER: Zac Brown Band
Top Country Touring Artist
- George Strait
- Luke Combs
- WINNER: Morgan Wallen
Top Rock Artist
- Jelly Roll
- Noah Kahan
- Stephen Sanchez
- Steve Lacy
- WINNER: Zach Bryan
Top Rock Duo/Group (NEW)
- WINNER: Arctic Monkeys
- Foo Fighters
- Metallica
Top Rock Touring Artist
- WINNER: Coldplay
- Depeche Mode
- Elton John
Top Latin Artist
- WINNER: Bad Bunny
- Eslabon Armado
- Fuerza Regida
- Karol G
- Peso Pluma
Top Latin Male Artist
- WINNER: Bad Bunny
- Peso Pluma
- Rauw Alejandro
Top Latin Female Artist
- WINNER: Karol G
- ROSALÍA
- Shakira
Top Latin Duo/Group
- Eslabon Armado
- WINNER: Fuerza Regida
- Grupo Frontera
Top Latin Touring Artist
- Daddy Yankee
- WINNER: Karol G
- RBD
Top Global K-Pop Artist (NEW)
- Jimin
- WINNER: NewJeans
- Stray Kids
- TOMORROW X TOGETHER
- TWICE
Top K-Pop Touring Artist (NEW)
- WINNER: BLACKPINK
- SUGA
- TWICE
Top Afrobeats Artist (NEW)
- WINNER: Burna Boy
- Libianca
- Rema
- Tems
- Wizkid
Top Dance/Electronic Artist
- WINNER: Beyoncé
- Calvin Harris
- David Guetta
- Drake
- Tiësto
Top Christian Artist
- Brandon Lake
- Elevation Worship
- for KING & COUNTRY
- WINNER: Lauren Daigle
- Phil Wickham
Top Gospel Artist
- CeCe Winans
- Elevation Worship
- WINNER: Kanye West
- Kirk Franklin
- Maverick City Music
Album Awards
Top Billboard 200 Album
- Drake & 21 Savage, Her Loss
- Metro Boomin, HEROES & VILLAINS
- WINNER: Morgan Wallen, One Thing at a Time
- SZA, SOS
- Taylor Swift, Midnights
Top Soundtrack
- WINNER: Barbie: The Album
- Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – Music From and Inspired By
- ELVIS
- Metro Boomin Presents Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Soundtrack From and Inspired by the Motion Picture)
- Top Gun: Maverick
Top R&B Album
- Beyoncé, RENAISSANCE
- Brent Faiyaz, WASTELAND
- Drake, Honestly, Nevermind
- Steve Lacy, Gemini Rights
- WINNER: SZA, SOS
Top Rap Album
- WINNER: Drake & 21 Savage, Her Loss
- Future, I Never Liked You
- Lil Baby, It’s Only Me
- Metro Boomin, HEROES & VILLAINS
- Travis Scott, UTOPIA
Top Country Album
- Luke Combs, Gettin’ Old
- Luke Combs, Growin’ Up
- WINNER: Morgan Wallen, One Thing at a Time
- Taylor Swift, Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)
- Zach Bryan, American Heartbreak
Top Rock Album
- HARDY, the mockingbird & THE CROW
- Jelly Roll, Whitsitt Chapel
- Noah Kahan, Stick Season
- Steve Lacy, Gemini Rights
- WINNER: Zach Bryan, American Heartbreak
Top Latin Album
- WINNER: Bad Bunny, Un Verano Sin Ti
- Eslabon Armado, DESVELADO
- Ivan Cornejo, Dañado
- Karol G, MAÑANA SERÁ BONITO
- Peso Pluma, GÉNESIS
Top K-Pop Album (NEW)
- Jimin, FACE
- NewJeans, 2nd EP ‘Get Up’
- WINNER: Stray Kids, 5-STAR
- TOMORROW X TOGETHER, The Name Chapter: TEMPTATION
- TWICE, READY TO BE: 12th Mini Album
Top Dance/Electronic Album
- WINNER: Beyoncé, RENAISSANCE
- Drake, Honestly, Nevermind
- ILLENIUM, ILLENIUM
- Kim Petras, Feed the Beast
- Tiësto, DRIVE
Top Christian Album
- WINNER: Anne Wilson, My Jesus
- Brandon Lake, House of Miracles
- CAIN, Rise Up
- Elevation Worship, LION
- Lauren Daigle, Lauren Daigle
Top Gospel Album
- Jonathan McReynolds, My Truth
- WINNER: Maverick City Music x Kirk Franklin, Kingdom Book One
- Tye Tribbett, All Things New
- Whitney Houston, I Go to the Rock: The Gospel Music of Whitney Houston
- Zacardi Cortez, Imprint (Live in Memphis)
Song Awards
Top Hot 100 Song
- Metro Boomin, The Weeknd & 21 Savage, “Creepin’”
- Miley Cyrus, “Flowers”
- WINNER: Morgan Wallen, “Last Night”
- SZA, “Kill Bill”
- Taylor Swift, “Anti-Hero”
Top Streaming Song
- Miley Cyrus, “Flowers”
- WINNER: Morgan Wallen, “Last Night”
- SZA, “Kill Bill”
- Taylor Swift, “Anti-Hero”
- Zach Bryan, “Something in the Orange”
Top Radio Song
- Metro Boomin, The Weeknd & 21 Savage, “Creepin’”
- WINNER: Miley Cyrus, “Flowers”
- Rema & Selena Gomez, “Calm Down”
- Taylor Swift, “Anti-Hero”
- The Weeknd & Ariana Grande “Die for You”
Top Selling Song
- Jason Aldean, “Try That in a Small Town”
- Jimin, ‘Like Crazy”
- Miley Cyrus,“Flowers”
- Oliver Anthony Music, “Rich Men North of Richmond”
- WINNER: Taylor Swift, “Anti-Hero”
Top Collaboration
- David Guetta & Bebe Rexha, “I’m Good (Blue)”
- WINNER: Metro Boomin, The Weeknd & 21 Savage, “Creepin’”
- Rema & Selena Gomez, “Calm Down”
- Sam Smith & Kim Petras, “Unholy”
- The Weeknd & Ariana Grande, “Die for You”
Top Billboard Global 200 Song
- WINNER: Miley Cyrus, “Flowers”
- Rema & Selena Gomez, “Calm Down”
- SZA, “Kill Bill”
- Taylor Swift, “Anti-Hero”
- The Weeknd & Ariana Grande, “Die for You”
Top Billboard Global (Excl. U.S.) Song
- David Guetta & Bebe Rexha, “I’m Good (Blue)”
- Harry Styles, “As It Was”
- WINNER: Miley Cyrus, “Flowers”
- Rema & Selena Gomez, “Calm Down”
- The Weeknd & Ariana Grande, “Die for You”
Top R&B Song
- Metro Boomin, The Weeknd & 21 Savage, “Creepin’”
- Miguel, “Sure Thing”
- The Weeknd & Ariana Grande, “Die for You”
- WINNER: SZA, “Kill Bill”
- SZA, “Snooze”
Top Rap Song
- Coi Leray, “Players”
- WINNER: Drake & 21 Savage, “Rich Flex”
- Gunna, “fukumean”
- Lil Durk ft. J. Cole, “All My Life”
- Toosii, “Favorite Song”
Top Country Song
- Bailey Zimmerman, “Rock and a Hard Place”
- Luke Combs, “Fast Car”
- WINNER: Morgan Wallen, “Last Night”
- Morgan Wallen, “You Proof”
- Zach Bryan, “Something in the Orange”
Top Rock Song
- Jelly Roll, “Need A Favor”
- Stephen Sanchez, “Until I Found You”
- Steve Lacy, “Bad Habit”
- Zach Bryan ft. Kacey Musgraves, “I Remember Everything”
- WINNER: Zach Bryan, “Something in the Orange”
Top Latin Song
- WINNER: Eslabon Armado x Peso Pluma, “Ella Baila Sola”
- Fuerza Regida x Grupo Frontera, “Bebe Dame”
- Grupo Frontera x Bad Bunny, “un x100to”
- Karol G & Shakira, “TQG”
- Yng Lvcas x Peso Pluma, “La Bebe”
Top Global K-Pop Song (NEW)
- Fifty Fifty, “Cupid”
- Jimin, “Like Crazy”
- WINNER: Jung Kook ft. Latto, “Seven”
- NewJeans, “Ditto”
- NewJeans, “OMG”
Top Afrobeats Song (NEW)
- Ayra Starr, “Rush”
- Libianca, “People”
- Oxlade, “KU LO SA”
- WINNER: Rema & Selena Gomez, “Calm Down”
- Victony, Rema, & Tempoe ft. Don Toliver, “Soweto”
Top Dance/Electronic Song
- Bizarrap & Shakira, “Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53”
- David Guetta, Anne-Marie & Coi Leray, “Baby Don’t Hurt Me”
- WINNER: David Guetta & Bebe Rexha, “I’m Good (Blue)”
- Elton John & Britney Spears, “Hold Me Closer”
- Tiësto ft. Tate McRae, “10:35”
Top Christian Song
- WINNER: Brandon Lake, “Gratitude”
- Chris Tomlin, “Holy Forever”
- for KING & COUNTRY with Jordin Sparks, “Love Me Like I Am”
- Lauren Daigle, “Thank God I Do”
- Phil Wickham, “This Is Our God”
Top Gospel Song
- WINNER: CeCe Winans, “Goodness of God”
- Crowder & Dante Bowe ft. Maverick City Music, “God Really Loves Us”
- Elevation Worship ft. Chandler Moore & Tiffany Hudson, “More Than Able”
- Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin ft. Brandon Lake & Chandler Moore, “Fear is Not My Future”
- Zacardi Cortez, “Lord Do It for Me (Live in Memphis)”
Chart Achievement Award
- WINNER: Mariah Carey, “All I Want for Christmas Is You”
As the 2023 Billboard Music Awards drew to a close, the echoes of extraordinary talent and remarkable achievements reverberated through the venue. From the unmatched success of Morgan Wallen to the continued brilliance of Taylor Swift and the captivating performances that illuminated the stage, the event encapsulated the essence of musical artistry. While the night bids farewell, its vibrant legacy resonates as a testament to the everlasting impact of music, leaving an indelible imprint on the landscape of musical celebration.