Billie Eilish, Lil Nas X, and Lizzo Honored by Inaugural Apple Music Awards

Posted By: Chris
December 4, 2019 @ 5:22 am
News

Apple Music is expanding with their newly announced Apple Music Awards.

The streaming service is handing out five awards in their inaugural year. There’s Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Global Artist of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, and Breakthrough Artist of the Year. The first two categories are decided by looking at Apple Music’s streaming data while the remaining three categories are decided by the company‘s editorial team.

Behold the Apple Music Award: Built from the same laser-cut silicon wafers that power Apple’s microprocessors, it’s a unique token of appreciation for the artists whose work upended convention and dominated the conversation all year. #AppleMusicAwards2019 https://t.co/9OZK3rOkcS pic.twitter.com/qQ2bwq0r1z

— Apple Music (@AppleMusic) December 3, 2019

“Introducing the Apple Music Awards, a celebration of the best and boldest musicians of 2019 and the enormous impact they have had on global culture this year,” a press release from Apple said. “The Apple Music Awards honor achievements in music across five distinct categories and winners are chosen through a process that reflects the service’s editorial perspective, combined with what customers around the world are loving most.”

In addition to announcing the Apple Music Awards, the company also named winners. Billie Eilish was named Artist of the Year, Lizzo was named Breakthrough Artist of the Year, and Lil Nas X got Song of the Year for his record-breaking track “Old Town Road.” Billie Eilish also received Album of the Year for WHEN WE FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?, was named Global Artist of the Year, and is splitting the award for Songwriter of the Year with Finneas. WHEN WE FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? was the most streamed album on the platform in 2019, garnering over 1 billion plays.

Not too many teenagers—or artists of any age—have had a year like @billieeilish‘s 2019. Take a look back at her rise and see why she won the Apple Music Award for Artist of the Year and Top Album of the Year. #AppleMusicAwards2019 https://t.co/9OZK3rwIOi pic.twitter.com/jcTvxiUcim

— Apple Music (@AppleMusic) December 3, 2019

Combining bawdy rap and brassy soul, @Lizzo is Apple Music’s Breakthrough Artist of the Year. #AppleMusicAwards2019 https://t.co/9OZK3rwIOi pic.twitter.com/IrkDhVWYaw

— Apple Music (@AppleMusic) December 3, 2019

.@LilNasX’s #OldTownRoad was everywhere in 2019. Congratulations to the winner of the first-ever Apple Music Award for Top Song of the Year. #AppleMusicAwards2019 https://t.co/9OZK3rwIOi pic.twitter.com/7EOppjrtpp

— Apple Music (@AppleMusic) December 3, 2019

The creative partnership between @billieeilish and @finneas is the real story behind the year’s biggest musical phenomenon. Here’s a salute to Apple Music’s Songwriters of the Year. #AppleMusicAwards2019 https://t.co/9OZK3rwIOi pic.twitter.com/5fyh3Of7Ye

— Apple Music (@AppleMusic) December 3, 2019

“The Apple Music Awards are designed to recognize the passion, energy and creativity of the world’s favorite artists,” Oliver Schusser, vice president of Apple Music and International Content at Apple, said. “The musically diverse group of inaugural winners have sparked deep social conversation, influenced culture and inspired our customers around the world. We couldn’t be more excited to celebrate them.”

Billie Eilish will also be performing on December 4 at 6:30 p.m. PST. The event, which will go down at the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple Park, will be livestreamed.

Head here to watch when it goes live.

— COMPLEX