2020 Billboard Music Awards
The 2020 Billboard Music Awards were held on Wednesday October 14, 2020, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California. The ceremony was broadcast live from NBC. Hosted by Kelly Clarkson for the third year in a row, the ceremony was sponsored by TikTok and Xfinity. The ceremony was originally scheduled for April 29, 2020, but was later postponed first indefinitely and then to October due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nominees were announced on September 22, 2020. Voting opened on TikTok on October 1 and closed on October 13. Presenters were announced October 13.
| 2020 Billboard Music Awards | |
|---|---|
| Date | October 14, 2020 |
| Location | Dolby Theatre Los Angeles, California |
| Hosted by | Kelly Clarkson |
| Most awards | Post Malone (9) |
| Most nominations | Post Malone (16) |
| Television/radio coverage | |
| Network | NBC |
| Viewership | 3.71 million[1] |
Post Malone was the most awarded, with nine awards.[2] Malone was also the most nominated, with 16 nominations.[3] Garth Brooks and Killer Mike received the Icon Award and the inaugural Change Maker Award, respectively.[4][5]
Background
The 2020 ceremony was originally scheduled to be held April 29, 2020, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.[6] Kelly Clarkson was announced as the host. She had previously hosted the 2018 and 2019 ceremonies.[7] On March 17, NBC and Dick Clark Productions issued a joint statement postponing the ceremony due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the statement, they stated "[in] accordance with the current guidelines set forth by national and local health officials and in order to ensure the health and safety of our artists, fans, guests and staff, [w]e are postponing the Billboard Music Awards."[7] On August 14 of the same year, the show was rescheduled for October 14.[8] On September 22, the nominees for all categories were announced.[9] The first round of performers were announced September 29. Garth Brooks received the Icon Award, as announced on February 26, 2020; succeeding Mariah Carey, who won the award in 2019.[10][11] Killer Mike received the inaugural Change Maker Award, as announced two days before the ceremony.[12] Voting for fan-voted categories opened on dance video platform TikTok on October 1.[13] TikTok and Xfinity sponsored the ceremony.
Performers
| Performer(s) | Song(s) |
|---|---|
| Kelly Clarkson, Pentatonix and Sheila E. | "Higher Love" |
| Sia | "Courage to Change" |
| Kane Brown, Swae Lee, Khalid | "Be Like That" |
| Alicia Keys | "Love Looks Better" |
| Luke Combs | "Better Together" |
| Post Malone and Tyla Yaweh | "Circles" "Tommy Lee"[a] |
| Brandy | "Borderline" "Almost Doesn't Count" "No Tomorrow, pt 2." (with Ty Dolla Sign) |
| John Legend | "Never Break" |
| Bad Bunny, Ivy Queen and Nesi | "Yo Perreo Sola" |
| Doja Cat | "Juicy" "Say So" "Like That" |
| Garth Brooks | Icon Award Medley: "The Thunder Rolls" "Callin' Baton Rouge" "The River" "Standing Outside the Fire" "That Summer" "Dive Bar" "Friends in Low Places" "The Dance" |
| Saint Jhn | "Roses" |
| Demi Lovato | "Commander in Chief" |
| BTS | "Dynamite"[b] |
| En Vogue | "Free Your Mind" |
Notes
- ^[a] Pre-taped at the P.W. Gillibrand Co. Silver Sand quarry in Simi Valley, California.
- ^[b] Pre-recorded in Seoul, South Korea.
Winners and nominees
Nominees were announced in a series of Twitter statements on September 22, 2020. Post Malone was the most nominated, with 16 nominations, followed by Lil Nas X with 13, and Khalid and Billie Eilish with 12.[9] Voting for the three fan-voted categories, Billboard Chart Achievement, Top Social Artist and Best Collaboration opened on dance-sharing video app TikTok on October 1, 2020,[13] and closed on October 13.[15]
Winners are first and are in bold.[16]
Presenters
Presenters were announced October 13 in a series of Twitter statements.
- Nicole Richie - presented Top Billboard 200 Album
- Julia Michaels - presented Top Hot 100 Song
- Jharrel Jerome - presented Top Female Artist
- Jane Lynch - presented Top Country Artist
- Sheila E. - presented Top Song Sales Artist
- Keisha Bottoms – presented Change Maker Award
- Twitch - presented Top Latin Artist
- Lilly Singh - presented Top Male Artist
- Cher – presented the Icon Award
- Jay Ellis - presented Top R&B Artist
- Addison Rae - presented Billboard Chart Achievement
- Spencer X - presented Top Social Artist
- Garcelle Beauvais - presented Top Christian Artist
- Taraji P. Henson - presented Top Artist
References
- Porter, Rick (October 15, 2020). "TV Ratings: Billboard Music Awards Slump". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
- Atkinson, Katie (October 15, 2020). "2020 Billboard Music Awards Winners: Complete List". Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
- Aniftos, Rania (September 22, 2020). "Post Malone Leads 2020 Billboard Music Awards Nominations With 16: Full List". Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
- Newman, Melinda (October 15, 2020). "Icon Garth Brooks Delivers a Rousing Medley of Hits at 2020 Billboard Music Awards". Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
- Grein, Paul (October 12, 2020). "Killer Mike to Receive Billboard Music Awards' First-Ever Change Maker Award". Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
- Kirsten Spruch (December 8, 2019). "The show will air live April 29 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on NBC". Hollywood Reporter.
- "2020 Billboard Music Awards Postponed". Billboard Music Awards. March 17, 2020. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
- "The 2020 BBMAs Are Set for Wednesday, October 14". Billboard Music Awards. August 14, 2020. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
- "Nominees Announced for the 2020 Billboard Music Awards". Billboard Music Awards. September 22, 2020. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
- "Garth Brooks to Receive Icon Award at the BBMAs". Billboard Music Awards. February 26, 2020. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
- Slater, Georgia (February 26, 2020). "Garth Brooks Will Receive the Icon Award and Perform at 2020 Billboard Music Awards". People. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
- @BBMAs (October 12, 2020). "We are thrilled to announce that @KillerMike will be the first ever recipient of the Billboard Change Maker Award, presented by the Mayor of Atlanta @KeishaBottoms, during the 2020 #BBMAs" (Tweet). Retrieved October 12, 2020 – via Twitter.
- Aniftos, Rania (October 1, 2020). "Voting for 2020 Billboard Music Awards' Fan-Voted Categories Begins Today on TikTok". Billboard. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
- Warner, Denise (October 16, 2020). "Watch the Performances From the 2020 Billboard Music Awards". Billboard. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
- @BBMAs (October 12, 2020). "Experiencing #VOMO (vote or miss out)? It's not too late! Vote closes TOMORROW. Visit @tiktok_us and search #BBMAsVote to vote!" (Tweet). Retrieved October 12, 2020 – via Twitter.
- Nakamura, Reid (October 15, 2020). "2020 Billboard Music Awards: Complete Winners List". TheWrap. Retrieved May 9, 2023.