K-pop superstars BTS bagged the Top Social Artist award again at the 2020 Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs) held on Oct. 14 (Oct. 15 in the Philippines) at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles and hosted by Kelly Clarkson.
For the fourth straight year, BTS won the fan-voted Top Social Artist award. They first won the award in 2017 and made a repeat in 2018 and 2019. Other nominees in the category were fellow K-pop boy bands EXO and GOT7, Billie Eilish and Ariana Grande. This was the second year that EXO and GOT7 were nominated for the same award.
Justin Bieber won the Top Social Artist Award for six consecutive years from 2011 to 2016. BTS ended his winning streak in 2017 and have won the award since then.
“Thank you ARMYs for giving us this award four years in a row,” said J-Hope in BTS’ video acceptance speech.
RM said, “We think that this award is a living proof that no matter where we are, the ARMY, BTS stay so close connected as always” while V said, “Big thanks to you again ARMY and Billboard Music Awards.”
However, BTS failed to win this year’s Top Duo/Group award, which went to the Jonas Brothers. Other nominees were Dan + Shay, Maroon 5 and Panic! At The Disco.
BTS got their first nomination for the award last year and won, and fans were hoping that they would win it again this year. Other nominees last year for Top Duo/Group were Dan + Shay, Imagine Dragons, Maroon 5 and Panic! At The Disco.
In addition, BTS performed on the show and sang their Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 track “Dynamite.” Other performers this year were Pentatonix, Sheila E, Alicia Keys, Bad Bunny, Brandy feat. Ty Dolla $ign, Kane Brown, Luke Combs, Doja Cat, En Vogue, Khalid, Swae Lee, Demi Lovato, Sia, Post Malone and SAINt JHN.
The hashtag #BTSxBBMAs trended worldwide on Twitter as BTS ARMYs celebrated their idol. This year’s awards were based on the chart period from March 23, 2019 through March 14, 2020 and the BBMAs announced the nominees in 55 categories last month.
According to the BBMAs, the “nominees and winners are based on key fan interactions with music, including album and digital song sales, streaming, radio airplay, touring and social engagement, tracked by Billboard and its data partners, including MRC Data/Nielsen Music.”