...the billboard awardees

Fil-Ams shine at Billboard awards

By NEIL RAMOS

May 25, 2011

Apl.de.ap [extreme left] with his group The Black Eyed Peas at the Billboard Music Awards 2011

MANILA, Philippines – After being in hiatus since 2007 due to contractual snags, The Billboard Music Awards (BMAs)  returned this year with a bang, and among those that made a big splash during the much-awaited event held at the MGM Grand May 22 were a number of Filipino Americans.


Fil-Am apl.de.ap wowed the crowd when he performed with his group the Black Eyed Peas. He was wearing a custom-designed earpiece, embellished with the colors of the Philippine Flag. The Black Eyed Peas also went home with the Top Duo/Group trophy.


Fast rising Asian-American group Far East Movement, which includes Fil-Am member DJ Virman, also performed during awards night alongside One Republic and Snoop Dogg.

Fil-Am Bruno Mars was nominated in a couple of categories, including Top Artist and Top Male artist, winning Top Radio Song for “Just The Way You Are.”

Another Fil-Am who made a mark at the Billboard awards—though not for music—is designer Oliver Tolentino. Tolentino created the flashy costume worn by singer Cee Lo Green during his performance at the event.

The BMAs honor winners based on Billboard's year-end music charts, which are compiled based on Nielsen data for sales, downloads and airplay.

Below is a list of the winners:

Top Artist: Eminem
Top HOT 100 Song: Taio Cruz – “Dynamite”
Top BILLBOARD 200 Album: Eminem – “Recovery”
Top New Artist: Justin Bieber
Top BILLBOARD 200 Artist: Taylor Swift
Top HOT 100 Artist: Katy Perry
Top Male Artist: Eminem
Top Female Artist: Rihanna
Top Pop Song: Taio Cruz – “Dynamite”
Billboard Icon Award: Neil Diamond
Billboard Millennium Award: Beyonce


OTHER WINNERS:

Digital Artist of the Year: Justin Bieber
Top Country Song: Lady Antebellum – “Need You Now”
Top Duo/Group: Black Eyed Peas
Top Touring Artist: U2
Top Country Artist: Taylor Swift
Top Country Album: Taylor Swift – “Speak Now”
Top Rap Album: Eminem – “Recovery”
Top Rock Album & Top Alternative Album: Mumford & Sons – “Sigh No More”
Top Digital Song: Taio Cruz – “Dynamite”
Top Radio Song:  Bruno Mars – “Just The Way You Are”
Top Pop Artist: Lady Gaga
Top R'n'B Artist: Usher
Top Rap Artist: Eminem
Top Rock Artist: Train
Top Alternative Artist: Mumford & Sons
Top Latin Artist: Shakira
Top Dance Artist: Lady Gaga
Top Radio Artist: Rihanna
Top R'n'B Song: Usher – “OMG”
Top Rap Song: Eminem feat. Rihanna– “Love The Way You Lie”
Top Rock Song: Train – “Hey Soul Sister”
Top Latin Song: Shakira – “Waka Waka”
Top Dance Song: Edward Maya & Vika Jigulina – “Stereo Love”
Top Country Song: Lady Antebellum – “Need You Now”
Top Pop Album: (tie) Katy Perry – “Teenage Dream” and Justin Bieber – “My World 2.0”
Top Dance/Electronic: Lady Gaga -  “The Fame”