Apple today announced the winners of the second annual Apple Music Awards and promised an exciting week of events.
The Apple Music Awards were introduced for the first time last year and recognize musical achievements in five different categories. Winners are selected through a process that reflects the service's editorial perspective combined with what customers around the world love most. The categories include:
- Artist of the Year
- Album of the Year
- Song of the Year
- Songwriter of the Year
- breakthrough as artist of the year
Now Apple has announced the winners of this year's Apple Music Awards and announced a special week of events, including special performances, fan events, interviews and more.
The Apple Music Awards recognize musical achievements in five different categories, with winners selected through a process that reflects both Apple Music's editorial perspective and what customers around the world love to listen to.
Winners for Global Artist of the Year, Songwriter of the Year and Breakthrough Artist of the Year were hand-selected by Apple Music's global editorial team of world-class experts and taste-testers. The awards for Top Song of the Year and Top Album of the Year are based on streaming data reflecting what Apple Music subscribers have been listening to this year.
Apple cited the album The Bigger Picture as a deciding factor in Lil Baby's selection as Artist of the Year.
In 2020, Lil Baby fully emerged as one of the biggest names in hip-hop, with billions of global streams and multiple tracks from "My Turn" topping the Apple Music charts. With his deeply moving and timely release "The Bigger Picture," he cemented his place as an undeniable, authentic voice of youth culture. His performance of the track at Apple Music's Rap Life Live event was a standout moment of 2020 in itself. Lil Baby has been a mesmerizing voice since his debut mixtape in 2017—but 2020 is the year he became an undeniable global star.
Apple Music Awards: An interesting week of events follows
Megan Thee Stallion was named Breakthrough Artist of the Year.
With two No. 1 singles and a highly anticipated debut album on the way, it's safe to say Houston rapper Megan Thee Stallion owns 2020. Her collaborations with Cardi B on "WAP" and with Beyoncé on the remix of "Savage" have garnered more than 300 million plays worldwide, along with Apple Music. The Apple Music Up Next alum is enjoying a breakthrough year that makes a difference, and she's just getting started.
Meanwhile, Taylor Swift was named Songwriter of the Year.
Taylor Swift is undoubtedly one of music's most distinguished and highly decorated songwriters, and "Folklore" is no exception. Written and recorded in isolation during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, "Folklore" immediately topped the Apple Music Albums chart and set the record for the most-streamed pop album on its day of release. With its wistful, third-person tales of love triangles, ghosts, and trauma, "Folklore" is a lyrical masterpiece.
The song of the year is The Box by Roddy Ricch. The rapper was also named the top album of the year with Please Excuse Me for Being Antisocial. Apple's Notice The awards ceremony will start on December 14th and last for a week. AirPods Pro on special offer at Amazon – available now. (Image: Apple)
The Apple Music Awards celebration kicks off on Monday, December 14, 2020, with a week of special performances, fan events, interviews and more, broadcast worldwide on Apple Music, Apple Music TV and the Apple TV app. Fans who don't already subscribe to Apple Music can sign up for a three-month free trial at apple.com/apple-music.
