Billboard Music Awards: K-pop band BTS wins top group award to beat Imagine Dragons and Maroon 5
- Drake, who had 17 nominations, bagged top artist among other awards, while Taylor Swift mesmerised the audience with a powerful, eye-popping performance
BTS enjoyed an important night at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards. At previous Billboard Awards and American Music Awards, the K-pop band had only won “social” awards based on their fanatical fan base, but on Wednesday BTS picked up top duo/group, beating Grammy-winning groups Maroon 5, Imagine Dragons and Dan + Shay.
“I still can’t believe we’re here on this stage with so many great artists,” RM said as fans screamed loudly. “We’re still the same boys from six years ago, we still have the same dreams … We still have the same thoughts. Let us keep dreaming.”
Imagine Dragons picked up top rock artist, and band leader Dan Reynolds used his speech to highlight the dangers of conversion therapy on LGBTQ youth. He earned rousing applause.
Drake won numerous honours at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards and encouraged the audience of musicians to give their peers their plaudits while they’re still alive.
“We’ve obviously had like an unfortunate series of losses within our business, and I just want to encourage everybody to let other artists know how you feel about them,” Drake said as he accepted his top male artist.
“Let them know that you love them [and] respect them while we’re all still here.”
Drake could have been referring to a number of deaths in the music industry, from Nipsey Hussle to Aretha Franklin.
The rap star, who walked into Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena with 17 nominations, also won top Billboard 200 album, beating out Cardi B, Travis Scott, Post Malone and the late XXXTentacion.