Taylor Swift won her third consecutive artist of the year prize at the American Music Awards, but she missed the show for a good reason: She said sheB次元官网网址檚 busy re-recording her early music after her catalogue was sold.

In a video that aired during SundayB次元官网网址檚 awards show, the pop star said B次元官网网址渢he reason IB次元官网网址檓 not there tonight is IB次元官网网址檓 actually re-recording all of my old music in the studio where we originally recorded it. So itB次元官网网址檚 been amazing. And I canB次元官网网址檛 wait for you to hear it.B次元官网网址�

Last year music manager Scooter Braun B次元官网网址� who manages Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande B次元官网网址� announced that his Ithaca Holdings company had acquired Big Machine Label Group, the home to SwiftB次元官网网址檚 first six albums. This month Braun said he has sold the master rights to SwiftB次元官网网址檚 first six albums to an investment company; Swift acknowledged the sale on social media and said she would not work with the new buyers because Braun was still involved.

Instead, she headed back to the studio.

Are you ready for it? is Artist of the Year!

B次元官网网址� American Music Awards (@AMAs)

Swift beat out Bieber, Post Malone and Roddy Ricch to win the top award. She also won favourite music video and favourite pop/rock female artist, winning three honours and tying Bieber, Dan + Shay and the Weeknd for most wins Sunday.

The Weeknd lost artist of the year, but he still kicked off his all-star week as a big winner: Days before heB次元官网网址檚 expected to land multiple Grammy nominations, he won favourite soul/R&B male artist, favourite soul/R&B album for B次元官网网址淎fter HoursB次元官网网址� and favourite soul/R&B song for B次元官网网址淗eartlessB次元官网网址� two days before the 2021 Grammy nominations are announced.

B次元官网网址淭he last time I received this award it was given to me by the late, great Prince,B次元官网网址� he said after winning favourite soul/R&B album. B次元官网网址淎nd, you know, heB次元官网网址檚 the reason I get to constantly challenge the genre of R&B and yeah, IB次元官网网址檇 like to dedicate this to him.B次元官网网址�

The Weeknd didnB次元官网网址檛 break character throughout the three-hour show with his gauze-wrapped face, which matched the vibe of his recent album and music videos where he appears blooded and bruised. He accepted his awards and performed with his face wrapped in gauze.

Kenny G joined the Weeknd for his performance, playing the sax in downtown Los Angeles as the Weeknd walked across a bridge singing B次元官网网址淚n Your Eyes.B次元官网网址� He finished the performance singing B次元官网网址淪ave Your Tears.B次元官网网址�

The Weeknd was one of several artists who appeared live at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles for the fan-voted awards show. Others recently taped their performances because of the coronavirus pandemic, though host Taraji P. Henson B次元官网网址� who appeared live from the venue B次元官网网址� said the few audience members sitting in the mezzanine practiced social distancing, wore masks and were tested for the virus.

Henson joked that A-list celebrities were in the audience, including Beyonc茅, though cardboard cut-out of the singer, Jay-Z and other stars appeared in seats.

But a good number of chart-toppers were in the building. Breakthrough singer-rapper Doja Cat performed and won new artist of the year and favourite soul/R&B female artist. Grammy-winning country duo Dan + Shay beautifully performed B次元官网网址淚 Should Probably Go to BedB次元官网网址� and won favourite country duo or group, collaboration of the year and favourite country song for B次元官网网址�10,000 Hours,B次元官网网址� the latter two shared with Bieber. And Megan Thee Stallion B次元官网网址� won favourite rap/hip-hop songs for B次元官网网址淲APB次元官网网址� with Cardi B B次元官网网址� performed B次元官网网址淏odyB次元官网网址� from her recently released debut album B次元官网网址淕ood B次元官网网址.B次元官网网址�

Bieber and Shawn Mendes kicked off the AMAs with a pre-taped performance of their new duet B次元官网网址淢onster,B次元官网网址� marking the first time they performed the song together. It began with a stripped-down Bieber singing his recent hit B次元官网网址淟onely,B次元官网网址� with songwriter-producer Benny Blanco on piano, and B次元官网网址淗oly,B次元官网网址� where background dancers wearing masks joined him.

Mendes, strumming his guitar, then appeared for B次元官网网址淢onster,B次元官网网址� which featured the twentysomethings singing lyrics about about fame and growing up as celebrities who attracted massive public attention. Mendes later sang his song B次元官网网址淲onderB次元官网网址� during the show, which aired on ABC.

Katy Perry, in her first performance since giving birth to her first child, gave a strong performance of the emotional and hopeful song B次元官网网址淥nly Love,B次元官网网址� which featured a surprise guest appearance from Darius Rucker, who sang and played guitar. With flaming red lights glaring behind her, Billie Eilish sang her new song B次元官网网址淭herefore I Am,B次元官网网址� as her brother-songwriter-producer Finneas backed her on guitar. Jennifer Lopez and Maluma teamed up to perform their new songs B次元官网网址淧aB次元官网网址� TiB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淟onelyB次元官网网址� from the film B次元官网网址淢arry Me,B次元官网网址� which both of them star in, while Dua Lipa B次元官网网址� who won favourite pop/rock song B次元官网网址� floated in the air during her performance of B次元官网网址淟evitating.B次元官网网址�

24kGoldn and Iann Dior B次元官网网址� who currently have the countryB次元官网网址檚 No. 1 song with the smash hit B次元官网网址淢ood,B次元官网网址� also performed. The multi-genre track is the rare song that has reached No. 1 on both the rap and rock charts.

Other performers included BTS, Lewis Capaldi, Machine Gun Kelly, Lil Baby, Bell Biv DeVoe and Nelly, who performed hits from his diamond-certified debut album B次元官网网址淐ountry Grammar,B次元官网网址� which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.

This year the AMAs, which typically awards one Latin honour, launched more categories in the genre. Becky G B次元官网网址� who burst on the music scene in 2014 with the pop hit B次元官网网址淪howerB次元官网网址� but has recently had success singing in Spanish and launching hits on the Latin charts B次元官网网址� won favourite Latin female artist.

She used her speech to honour immigrant families.

B次元官网网址淚 proudly wave both flags, Mexican and American. And like many, many children and grandchildren of immigrants, no matter where theyB次元官网网址檙e from, we have learned from the ones before us what sacrifice and hard work looks like,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淎nd I dedicate this award to all of our immigrant workers in this pandemic; the students and immigrant families. ItB次元官网网址檚 because of my family, my abuelitos, that I stand here today.B次元官网网址�

Nominees for the AMAs were based on streaming, album and digital sales, radio airplay and social activity, and reflect the time period of Sept. 27, 2019, through Sept. 24, 2020.

Mesfin Fekadu, The Associated Press

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