Billboard Music Awards 2021: The Weeknd bags Top Male Artist

Canadian singer The Weeknd was on Sunday announced as the Top Male Artist in the 2021 edition of the Billboard Music Awards
(BBMA). The 31-year-old was announced winner ahead of compatriot Drake and
American rappers Lil Baby, Pop Smoke and Juice WRLD, the latter two receiving
their nominations posthumously.

Also Read | The Weeknd to BTS: Full list of performers at Billboards 2021 Music Awards

After being snubbed in the recently-held
Grammys, for which he did not receive a single nomination despite releasing 2020’s
biggest song ‘Blinding Lights’ and the multi-hit album ‘After Hours’.

The Weeknd as well as Drake, who have won
three and four Grammys each but have been restricted to the R&B and rap
categories instead of winning album, song or record of the year, called out the
Grammys after feeling they’ve been ‘overlooked’ by the awards.

However, they both take centre stage at the
BBMA this year. The Weekend has received a whopping 16 nominations, for most of
which he is the top nominee, while Drake has been nominated in seven categories and will also be honoured with Artist of the Decade.

Drake is the most decorated artist in the history
of the BBMA, with 27 wins.

Some of The Weeknd’s other nominations include
Top Artist, Top R&B Artist, Top Hot 100 Artist, Top Streaming Song Artist, and
others.

This year’s BBMA will be hosted by American
singer Nick Jonas, who has himself won three awards for his work as part of the
‘Jonas Brothers’ from the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles. It will air on NBC
live from 8 pm ET/5 pm PT.