One Direction were the big winners at the American Music Awards last night, taking home three prizes, while Iggy Azalea took home two and Taylor Swift was honoured with a special award.
The “Steal My Girl” hitmakers – who also took to the stage to perform “Night Changes” – were thrilled to pick up the trophies for Best Pop/Rock Band and Best Pop/Rock Album for Midnight Memories, as well as the prestigious Artist of the Year award at the annual ceremony at Los Angeles’ Nokia Theatre.Picking up their third honour of the night, Liam Payne said: “I can’t believe we’ve won three, it’s amazing, it’s so cool.”Iggy Azalea took home two awards, Best Rap/Hip-Hop Album for The New Classic and Best Rap/Hip-Hop Artist, and gave an emotional speech when she picked up the first honour. The Australian said: “This award is the first award I’ve ever won in my entire life, and means so much to me that it is for best hip-hop, because that’s what inspired me to move to American and pursue my dreams. It’s what helped me when I was a teenager to escape and to get through my life and to better times.”
Taylor Swift dined with a handsome man and played with fire during her show-opening performance of “Blank Space” and she was later honoured with the newly-created Dick Clark Award for Excellence. During her acceptance speech, the 24-year-old beauty – who recently removed her music from Spotify- appeared to take a swipe at the streaming service.
She said: “What you did by going out and investing in music and albums is you are saying that you believe in the same thing that I believe in: that music is valuable and music should be consumed in albums and albums should be consumed as art and appreciated.”
Other big winners on the night included Beyoncé, who was honoured with Best Soul/R&B Female Artist and Best Soul/R&B Female Album for her self-titled fifth album and Katy Perry, who accepted the Best Pop/Rock Female Artist and Single of the Year for “Dark Horse” via video link from Australia.
Performers at the ceremony included the evening’s host Pitbull, Lorde, Iggy Azalea and Jennifer Lopez, Selena Gomez – who wept as she sang “The Heart Wants What It Wants” – and Fergie.
Here are all the winners!
Single of the Year
Katy Perry Featuring Juicy J – “Dark Horse”
Artist of the Year
One Direction
New Artist of the Year
5 Seconds of Summer
Dick Clark Award for Excellence
Taylor Swift
Favorite Male Artist – Pop/Rock
Sam Smith
Favourite Female Artist – Pop/Rock
Katy Perry
Favourite Band, Duo or Group – Pop/Rock
One Direction
Favourite Album – Pop/Rock
One Direction – Midnight Memories
Favourite Male Artist – Country
Luke Bryan
Favourite Female Artist – Country
Carrie Underwood
Favourite Band, Duo or Group – Country
Florida Georgia Line
Favourite Album – Country
Brantley Gilbert – Just As I Am
Favourite Artist – Rap/Hip-Hop
Iggy Azalea
Favourite Album – Rap/Hip-Hop
Iggy Azalea – The New Classic
Favourite Male Artist – Soul/R&B
John Legend
Favourite Female Artist – Soul/R&B
Beyoncé
Favourite Album – Soul/R&B
Beyoncé – BEYONCÉ
Favourite Artist – Alternative Rock
Imagine Dragons
Favourite Artist – Adult Contemporary
Katy Perry
Favourite Artist – Latin
Enrique Iglesias
Favourite Artist – Contemporary Inspirational
Casting Crowns
Favourite Artist – Electronic Dance Music (EDM)
Calvin Harris
Top Soundtrack
Frozen