Billboard Music Awards Make a Comeback
by Elizabeth Sexton
Billboard is back. Bieber fans: stay calm.
The awards, which ran from 1989 to 2006, are making their TV resurgence on May 22 airing live on ABC from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Artists will be celebrated through objective measures that capture pure fan support through Billboard’s chart rankings. Winners will be based on chart performances and digital track and album sales. In addition, touring, streaming and social networking popularity will play a factor in the awards. All of which will decrease the likelihood of any Bieber-like Grammy shockers for fans.
Awards will be handed out in the categories of R&B, rap, rock, pop, country, Latin and alternative, with the eligibility span running from Feb. 28 of last year to March 1 of this year.
At the moment, Billboard’s Hot 100 includes Lady Gaga ("Born this Way") at number one, followed by Katy Perry ("Firework") and Bruno Mars ("Grenade").
The charts from Billboard now include “The Social 50” – which ranks artists based on their online popularity. The formula includes counting the number of new fans and followers, in addition to artist views and weekly song plays. This week, Lady Gaga, Rihanna and Justin Bieber reign supreme.
Fans can anticipate a whole lotta Lady Gaga. Gaga just took the 1,000th Hot 100 No.1 spot with “Born This Way.”
Lady Gaga told the 52-year-old Billboard, “To be the 1000th no. 1 on Billboard… I would be silly not to say this is the greatest honor of my career."
"I am so humbled and so honored and overwhelmed by the reception to 'Born This Way,'...[It] has been so life changing for me as an artist, and between Billboard and the international number ones and the radio numbers...I couldn't be more blessed to have the fans that I have," she added.
The video for “Born This Way” is expected to be released next week. Fans are already pitting a Pop Music video standoff between Gaga and Britney Spears’ newest video and single, “Hold It Against Me.”
Good news: regardless of personal pop preference, Billboard will be there to objectively document it all.