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Taylor Swift dominates 2013 Billboard Music Awards

Written by . Published: May 20 2013

Taylor Swift ruled the 2013 Billboard Music Awards on Sunday (19May13), taking home eight top honors, including the prestigious Artist of the Year.


Taylor Swift, fun. and Maroon 5 all led the way heading into the Las Vegas ceremony with 11 nods each, but it quickly became clear that the night belonged to the blonde star as she dominated the prizegiving from the offset.


She entered the MGM Grand Garden Arena a six-time winner from the pre-show announcements alone, claiming accolades such as Top Country Artist, Top Country Album for Red and Top Country Song for We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together, while she beat Adele, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj and Carly Rae Jepsen to be named Top Female Artist.


The singer added a further two trophies to her impressive haul during the big event itself, hosted by Tracy Morgan, but she wasn't the only one celebrating - Justin Bieber was another main Billboard honoree.


The Baby hitmaker fought off competition from Drake, Bruno Mars, Flo Rida and Jason Aldean to claim the Top Male Artist award, in addition to the Top Social Artist title and the inaugural Milestone Award, which was voted for by fans.


Other multiple winners included Rihanna, Gotye, One Direction and late Latin singer Jenni Rivera, while Madonna was feted as the Top Touring Artist.


Accepting her honor for her MDNA world tour, the Material Girl said, "They say that it takes a village to raise a child. Well, it took several international villages to put my show together and I would be here all night if I was to specifically thank all the people who were there to walk through the fire with me."


Thanking her fans, she added, "Without you I wouldn't have a show to do and a showgirl needs her fans so thank you for supporting me for three decades. Without you, I truly wouldn't be here."


Music highlights on the night came from the likes of Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, Nicki Minaj and Lil Wayne and Chris Brown, while Pitbull doubled up for two sexy performances - first teaming up with a slimmed-down Christina Aguilera for Feel This Moment, with A-ha's very own Morten Harket as their special guest, and then joining Jennifer Lopez for an energetic rendition of Live It Up.


Bieber also hit the stage twice, much to the delight of his fans, performing his solo hit Take You and showing off a robotic dance routine with will.i.am for ThatPower.


Prince, the 2013 recipient of the Icon Award, closed the show in style, rocking out with a medley of his hits, including a slowed-down version of his classic Let's Go Crazy to bring the curtain down on a night of celebrations.


The full list of winners is as follows:

Artist of the Year - Taylor Swift


Top New Artist - One Direction


Top Male Artist - Justin Bieber


Top Female Artist - Taylor Swift


Top Duo/Group - One Direction


Top Billboard 200 Artist - Taylor Swift


Top Hot 100 Artist - Maroon 5


Top Digital Songs Artist - Taylor Swift


Top Radio Songs Artist - Rihanna


Top Social Artist - Justin Bieber


Top Streaming Artist - Nicki Minaj


Top Pop Artist - One Direction


Top R&B Artist - Rihanna


Top Rap Artist - Nicki Minaj


Top Country Artist - Taylor Swift


Top Rock Artist - fun.


Top Latin Artist - Jenni Rivera


Top Dance Artist - Madonna


Top EDM Artist - David Guetta


Top Christian Artist - tobyMac


Top Touring Artist - Madonna


Top Billboard 200 Album - Red by Taylor Swift


Top Pop Album - 21 by Adele


Top R&B Album - Unapologetic by Rihanna


Top Rap Album - Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded by Nicki Minaj


Top Country Album - Red by Taylor Swift


Top Rock Album - Babel by Mumford & Sons


Top Latin Album - La Misma Gran Senora by Jenni Rivera


Top Dance Album - MDNA by Madonna


Top EDM Album - Bangarang by Skrillex


Top Christian Album - Eye On It by tobyMac


Top Hot 100 Song - Somebody That I Used To Know by Gotye featuring Kimbra


Top Radio Song - Somebody That I Used To Know by Gotye featuring Kimbra


Top Streaming Song (Audio) - Somebody That I Used To Know by Gotye featuring Kimbra


Top Streaming Song (Video) - Gangnam Style by Psy


Top Pop Song - Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen


Top R&B Song - Diamonds by Rihanna


Top Rap Song - Thrift Shop by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz


Top Country Song - We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together by Taylor Swift


Top Rock Song - Somebody That I Used To Know by Gotye featuring Kimbra


Top Latin Song - Ai Se Eu Te Pego by Michel Telo


Top Dance Song - Harlem Shake by Baauer


Top EDM Song - Harlem Shake by Baauer


Top Christian Song - 10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord) by Matt Redman


Milestone Award - Justin Bieber


Icon Award - Prince.

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