Michael Trewartha, second left, and Kyle Tree, right, of Grey, Zedd, left, and Maren Morris accept the award for song of the year for “The Middle” at the iHeartRadio Music Awards on Thursday, March 14, 2019, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
The warming temperatures bring one of the most colorful and lively music award shows that not only celebrates the artists, but the listeners. The sixth annual 2019 iHeartRadio Music Awards in Los Angeles, hosted by T-Pain, brings together some of the biggest music stars that have missed previous award shows, including Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande and Marshmello. Fans could have tuned into the live broadcast on Fox, on iHeartMedia stations and in the iHeartRadio app.
Some winners that were announced before the start of the awards show included technicolor romper-clad Taylor Swift for Tour of the Year in honor of her record-breaking Reputation Stadium tour, presented by Maren Morris. In her acceptance speech, the superstar teased the possibility of new music by referencing the fan theories about her cryptic Instagram posts.
Alicia Keys also received the iHeartRadio Innovator award for her “contributions to pop culture and social causes as an artist, songwriter, producer, entrepreneur and activist,” according to the award show’s official website. Halsey will be honored with the 2019 Fangirls award, which “recognizes a female artist who has pushed boundaries with her music and message while inspiring her fans,” according to a press release. The show’s first iHeartRadio Artist of the Decade award will be awarded to Garth Brooks, who is the number-one selling solo artist in U.S. for his country hits.
The awards in the show are determined by listeners tuning into iHeartMedia radio stations nationwide and on iHeartRadio, the company’s digital music platform. Besides the classic awards such as Female Artist of the Year and Best New Pop Artist, awarded to Ariana Grande and Marshmello respectively, the iHeartRadio Music Awards bring more creative awards to the scene. Song That Left Us Shook, Best Cover Song and Cutest Musician’s Pet were all socially voted categories.
Pop star Ariana Grande presented one of the most talked-about performances of the night, despite it being prerecorded for the show. She debuted the song “Needy” from the chart-topping album “Thank U, Next” in a low-key performance in the name of preserving her energy for her “Sweetener” world tour that begins March 18. She was nominated in seven categories last night, winning the Artist of the Year and Pop Album of the Year.
The Backstreet Boys sang their new hit “No Place,” eventually switching to “I Want It That Way.” Other performers in the lineup included Halsey, Alicia Keys, Lovely the Band, Marshmello with special guest Lauv and Kasey Musgraves.
Other notable winners include:
Song of the Year: “The Middle,” Zedd, Maren Morris, Grey
Best Duo/Group of the Year: 5 Seconds of Summer
Alternative Rock Song of the Year: “High Hopes,” Panic! At the Disco
Alternative Rock Artist of the Year: Imagine Dragons
Best New Rock/Alternative Rock Artist: lovelytheband
Country Song of the Year: “Meant to Be,” Bebe Rexha feat. Florida Georgia Line
Hip-Hop Artist of the Year: Cardi B
R&B Song of the Year: “Boo’d Up,” Ella Mai
R&B Artist of the Year, Best New R&B Artist: Ella Mai
Favorite Tour Photographer: Helene Pambrun, Harry Styles
More winners can be found online at the iHeartRadio Music Awards website.
Hollie Lao is a staff writer for The Daily Campus. She can be reached via email at hollianne.lao@uconn.edu.
