Lagos, Nigeria | NOW THEN DIGITAL — Burna Boy and Rema clinched top honors at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards on November 19. The awards recognize outstanding achievements in music, taking into account album and digital song sales, streaming figures, radio airplay, touring success, and social engagement.
Burna Boy secured the inaugural Best Afrobeats Artist award, triumphing over competitors like Wizkid, Tems, and Cameroonian sensation Libianca. Making history, he expressed gratitude in his acceptance speech, dedicating the win to Africa and fellow artists emerging from the continent.
Rema’s global hit, ‘Calm Down,’ featuring Selena Gomez, was named Top Afrobeats Song, marking another milestone in the newly-established category.
In his acceptance, Burna Boy acknowledged the significance of the accolade for African artists, assuring that it’s just the beginning. Both artists had recently sold out major venues during their world tours—Rema at London’s O2 Arena and Burna Boy at Houston’s Toyota Center.
Morgan Wallen dominated the night with 11 wins, while Taylor Swift claimed the Top Artist Award and a total of 10 accolades, leading among female artists.
For the complete list of winners at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards, refer to the list below.
Artist Awards
- Top Artist: Taylor Swift
- Top New Artist: Zach Bryan
- Top Male Artist: Morgan Wallen
- Top Female Artist: Taylor Swift
- Top Duo/Group: Fuerza Regida
- Top Billboard 200 Artist: Taylor Swift
- Top Hot 100 Artist: Morgan Wallen
- Top Hot 100 Songwriter: Taylor Swift
- Top Hot 100 Producer: Joey Moi
- Top Streaming Songs Artist: Morgan Wallen
- Top Radio Songs Artist: Taylor Swift
- Top Song Sales Artist: Taylor Swift
- Top Billboard Global 200 Artist: Taylor Swift
- Top Billboard Global (Excluding U.S.) Artist: Taylor Swift
- Top R&B Artist: SZA
- Top R&B Male Artist: The Weeknd
- Top R&B Female Artist: SZA
- Top R&B Touring Artist: Beyoncé
- Top Rap Artist: Drake
- Top Rap Male Artist: Drake
- Top Rap Female Artist: Nicki Minaj
- Top Rap Touring Artist: Drake
- Top Country Artist: Morgan Wallen
- Top Country Male Artist: Morgan Wallen
- Top Country Female Artist: Taylor Swift
- Top Country Duo/Group: Zac Brown Band
- Top Country Touring Artist: Morgan Wallen
- Top Rock Artist: Zach Bryan
- Top Rock Duo/Group: Arctic Monkeys
- Top Rock Touring Artist: Coldplay
- Top Latin Artist: Bad Bunny
- Top Latin Male Artist: Bad Bunny
- Top Latin Female Artist: Karol G
- Top Latin Duo/Group: Fuerza Regida
- Top Latin Touring Artist: Karol G
- Top Global K-Pop Artist: NewJeans
- Top K-Pop Touring Artist: Blackpink
- Top Afrobeats Artist: Burna Boy
- Top Dance/Electronic Artist: Beyoncé
- Top Christian Artist: Lauren Daigle
- Top Gospel Artist: Kanye West
Album Awards
- Top Billboard 200 Album: Morgan Wallen, One Thing at a Time
- Top Soundtrack: Barbie: The Album
- Top R&B Album: SZA, SOS
- Top Rap Album: Drake & 21 Savage, Her Loss
- Top Country Album: Morgan Wallen, One Thing at a Time
- Top Rock Album: Zach Bryan, American Heartbreak
- Top Latin Album: Bad Bunny: Un Verano Sin Ti
- Top K-Pop Album: Stray Kids, 5-STAR
- Top Dance/Electronic Album: Beyoncé, RENAISSANCE
- Top Christian Album: Anne Wilson, My Jesus
- Top Gospel Album: Maverick City Music x Kirk Franklin, Kingdom Book One
Song Awards
- Top Hot 100 Song: Morgan Wallen, “Last Night”
- Top Streaming Song: Morgan Wallen, “Last Night”
- Top Radio Song: Miley Cyrus, “Flowers”
- Top Selling Song: Taylor Swift, “Anti-Hero”
- Top Collaboration: Metro Boomin, The Weeknd, 21 Savage, “Creepin’”
- Top Billboard Global 200 Song: Miley Cyrus, “Flowers”
- Top Billboard Global (Excluding U.S.) Song: Miley Cyrus, “Flowers”
- Top R&B Song: SZA, “Kill Bill”
- Top Rap Song: Drake & 21 Savage, “Rich Flex”
- Top Country Song: Morgan Wallen, “Last Night”
- Top Rock Song: Zach Bryan, “Something in the Orange”
- Top Latin Song: Eslabon Armado x Peso Pluma, “Ella Baila Sola”
- Top Global K-Pop Song: Jung Kook ft. Latto, “Seven”
- Top Afrobeats Song: Rema & Selena Gomez, “Calm Down”
- Top Dance/Electronic Song: David Guetta & Bebe Rexha, “I’m Good (Blue)”
- Top Christian Song: Brandon Lake, “Gratitude”
- Top Gospel Song: CeCe Winans, “Goodness of God”
- Chart Acheivement Award: Mariah Carey, “All I Want for Christmas Is You”
