Bad Bunny Becomes First Latino Artist Named Apple Music’s Artist of the Year

Bad Bunny is the apple of Apple’s eye…

Apple Music has named the 28-year-old Puerto Rican superstar its 2022 Artist of the Year.

Bad BunnyIt’s the first time since the Apple Music Awards launched in 2019 that a Latin artist has been recognized as AOTY, and the first time only one artist is named for the award.

Bad Bunny — whose Un Verano Sin Ti Album is also Apple Music’s most streamed album this year and the biggest Latin album of all time — is acknowledged for his excellence and influence on global culture in 2022. He now joins previous AOTY honorees including Billie Eilish, Lil Baby, Megan Thee Stallion, Taylor Swift and The Weeknd.

“We’re thrilled to celebrate the achievements of Bad Bunny, whose influence on every corner of culture could not be ignored in 2022,” said Oliver Schusser, Apple’s vice president of Apple Music and Beats, in a statement. “Watching Bad Bunny ascend from an Apple Music Up Next artist in 2018 to our Artist of the Year this year has been nothing short of extraordinary. We congratulate him on his record-breaking year and for continuing to bring Latin music to a massive global audience.”

In addition to becoming Apple Music’s biggest Latin artist of all time by streams worldwide, Bad Bunny’s “Moscow Mule” holds the record for the biggest Latin song of all time by first-day streams worldwide.

He broke the record for most simultaneous entries by a single Latin artist with 22 songs on the Daily Top 100; reached No. 1 on the Daily Top 100 in 34 countries worldwide, more than any other Latin artist; and holds the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 Latin albums by first-day streams, just to name a few milestones.

“When I started, I didn’t have a global fan base,” he told Apple Music in an exclusive film. “I’m grateful for everything I’ve accomplished and everything I’ve experienced. The Latin music movement has grown so much. I would never take full credit or say, ‘It’s because of me.’ No, it’s every one of us. A whole generation. Our energy and presence are always felt.”

In celebration, the “Me Porto Bonito” singer curated a “La Fórmula” playlist with tracks from Myke Towers and Rauw Alejandro, among others, and fans can tune in to Apple Music 1, where it’s Bad Bunny Day with exclusive programming, specials, and more.

Bad Bunny Makes History with Artist of the Year Win at the MTV Video Music Awards

Bad Bunny continues etching his name in the music history books…

The 28-year-old Puerto Rican superstar was named Artist of the Year during Sunday’s Video Music Awards, becoming the first non-English-language performer to win the prize.

Bad BunnyBad Bunny was nominated for the honor alongside Drake, Ed Sheeran, Harry Styles, Jack Harlow, Lil Nas X and Lizzo. His hit song “Tití Me Preguntó” also received an MTV VMAs nomination this year for the Best Latin Award.

During the MTV telecast, Bad Bunny performed live from Yankee Stadium in New York as part of his World’s Hottest Tour. Other acts in the VMA performance lineup this year included Harlow, Nicki Minaj, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Blackpink, Panic! at the Disco, Anitta, Snoop Dogg, Eminem and Lizzo.

In May, Bad Bunny released his fourth studio album, “Un Verano Sin Ti,” which was the second all-Spanish-language record to debut atop the Billboard 200 chart in the United States, according to MTV. When it came out, Bad Bunny’s latest LP was also Spotify‘s most-streamed album of 2022.

Meanwhile, Anitta also made history at this year’s VMAs as she picked up her first American Moon Person.

The 29-year-old Brazilian singer-songwriter, whose won several MTV Europe Music Awards, won Best Latin for her viral hit song “Envolver,” becoming the first-ever Brazilian artist to take home an MTV Video Music Awards.

It was a highly competitive category, with Anitta competing against Bad Bunny, Daddy Yankee, J Balvin, Becky G and Karol G.

Here’s a look at the night’s big winners:

VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Taylor Swift – “All Too Well” (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version) – Republic Records

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Bad Bunny – Rimas Entertainment

BEST ALBUM
Harry Styles – “Harry’s House”

SONG OF THE YEAR
Billie Eilish – “Happier Than Ever” – Darkroom / Interscope Records

BEST NEW ARTIST
Dove Cameron – Disruptor Records / Columbia Records

PUSH PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
December 2021: SEVENTEEN – “Rock With You” – PLEDIS Entertainment / Geffen Records

BEST COLLABORATION
Lil Nas X, Jack Harlow – “INDUSTRY BABY” – Columbia Records

BEST POP
Harry Styles – “As It Was” – Columbia Records

BEST HIP-HOP
Nicki Minaj ft. Lil Baby – “Do We Have A Problem?” – Young Money / Cash Money / Republic Records

BEST ROCK
Red Hot Chili Peppers – “Black Summer” – Warner Records

BEST ALTERNATIVE
Måneskin – “I WANNA BE YOUR SLAVE” – Arista Records

BEST LATIN
Anitta – “Envolver” – Warner Records

BEST R&B
The Weeknd – “Out Of Time” – XO / Republic Records

BEST K-POP
LISA – “LALISA” – YG Entertainment / Interscope Records

VIDEO FOR GOOD
Lizzo – “About Damn Time” – Atlantic Records

BEST METAVERSE PERFORMANCE
BLACKPINK The Virtual | PUBG – YG Entertainment / Interscope Records

BEST LONGFORM VIDEO
Taylor Swift – “All Too Well” (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version) – Republic Records

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Harry Styles – “As It Was” – Columbia Records

BEST DIRECTION
Taylor Swift – “All Too Well” (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version) – Republic Records

BEST ART DIRECTION
Lil Nas X, Jack Harlow – “INDUSTRY BABY” – Columbia Records

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Lil Nas X, Jack Harlow – “INDUSTRY BABY” – Columbia Records

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
Doja Cat – “Woman” – Kemosabe Records / RCA Records

BEST EDITING
ROSALÍA – “SAOKO” – Columbia Records

Jessie Reyez Earns Two Juno Awards Nominations, Including Artist of the Year

Jessie Reyezis in the running for Canada’s top music prize…

Nominations for the 49th annual Juno Awards have been announced, with the 28-year-old Colombian singer-songwriter earning two nods.

Jessie Reyez

Reyez, who won the Breakthrough Artist prize in 2018, earned a nod for Artist of the Year from the Canadian Academy of Recordings Arts and Sciences(CARAS).

She’s also nominated in the R&B/Soul Recording of the Year category for “Feel It Too,” her collaboration with Tory Lanez and Puerto Rican singer Tainy.

Camila Cabellois nominated in the Song of the Yearfor “Señorita,” her chart-topping collaboration with Shawn Mendes.The Juno Awards will be awarded at a private, industry-only gala dinner taking place on March 14 at the World Trade Center Saskatoon.

Bruno Mars Earns Four MTV Video Music Awards Nominations

It’s a Magic-al time for Bruno Mars

The 31-year-old part-Puerto Rican singer leads the Latino pack of MTV Video Music Awards nominees with four nods.

Bruno Mars

Mars, who released “24K Magic” as the lead single from the album of the same name in October, is nominated in the top two categories, Artist of the Year and Video of the Year for “24K Magic.”

He’s also up for Best Direction and Best Art Direction for the same track, which peaked at No. 4 in the United States.

The MTV VMAs will air live on August 27 from the Forum in Inglewood, CA.

Like MTV’s earlier Movie & TV Awards, the network has combined categories to remove gender designations, with the former Best Female Video and Best Male Video categories combined to become Artist of the Year.

Selena Gomez picked up two nods for her most recent collaborations.

The 25-year-old Mexican American singer/actress is nominated for Best Collaboration for her work on Charlie Puth’sWe Don’t Talk Anymore” and Best Dance for “It Ain’t Me” with Kygo.

Fifth Harmony picked up two nods, including Best Pop for the part-Latina girl group’s “Down,’ featuring Gucci Mane. The other nod comes in the Best Choreography category for the same video.

Fans vote will decide eight of the VMAs’ 15 categories, with the Artist of the Year voting live through the pre-show.

Here’s the full list of nominees:

VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Kendrick Lamar – “HUMBLE.” (TDE/Aftermath/Interscope)
Bruno Mars – “24K Magic” (Atlantic Records)
Alessia Cara – “Scars To Your Beautiful” (Def Jam)
DJ Khaled ft. Rihanna & Bryson Tiller – “Wild Thoughts” (Epic Records/We The Best)
The Weeknd – “Reminder” (XO/Republic Records) 

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Bruno Mars (Atlantic Records)
Kendrick Lamar (TDE/Aftermath/Interscope)
Ed Sheeran (Atlantic Records)
Ariana Grande (Republic Records)
The Weeknd (XO/Republic Records)
Lorde (Republic Records) 

BEST NEW ARTIST
Khalid (RCA Records)
Kodak Black (Atlantic Records)
SZA (TDE/RCA Records)
Young M.A (3D)
Julia Michaels (Republic Records)
Noah Cyrus (Records) 

BEST COLLABORATION
Charlie Puth ft. Selena Gomez – “We Don’t Talk Anymore” (Atlantic Records)
DJ Khaled ft. Rihanna & Bryson Tiller – “Wild Thoughts” (Epic Records/We The Best)
D.R.A.M. ft. Lil Yachty – “Broccoli” (Atlantic Records)
The Chainsmokers ft. Halsey – “Closer” (Disruptor Records/Columbia Records)
Calvin Harris ft. Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry & Big Sean – “Feels” (Columbia Records)
Zayn & Taylor Swift – “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever (Fifty Shades Darker)” (Republic Records) 

BEST POP
Shawn Mendes – “Treat You Better” (Island Records)
Ed Sheeran – “Shape of You” (Asylum/Atlantic Records)
Harry Styles – “Sign Of The Times” (Columbia Records)
Fifth Harmony ft. Gucci Mane – “Down” (Syco Music/Epic Records)
Katy Perry ft. Skip Marley – “Chained To The Rhythm” (Capitol Records)
Miley Cyrus – “Malibu” (RCA Records) 

BEST HIP HOP
Kendrick Lamar – “HUMBLE.” (TDE/Aftermath/Interscope)
Big Sean – “Bounce Back” (Def Jam)
Chance the Rapper – “Same Drugs” (Chance the Rapper LLC)
D.R.A.M. ft. Lil Yachty – “Broccoli” (Atlantic Records)
Migos ft. Lil Uzi Vert – “Bad & Boujee” (300 Entertainment)
DJ Khaled ft. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper & Lil Wayne – “I’m The One” (Epic Records/We The Best) 

BEST DANCE
Zedd and Alessia Cara – “Stay” (Interscope)
Kygo x Selena Gomez – “It Ain’t Me” (Ultra/Interscope)
Calvin Harris – “My Way” (Columbia Records)
Major Lazer ft. Justin Bieber and MØ – “Cold Water” (Mad Decent)
Afrojack ft. Ty Dolla $ign – “Gone” (Wall Recordings/Latium/RCA Records) 

BEST ROCK
Coldplay – “A Head Full of Dreams” (Parlophone/Atlantic Records)
Fall Out Boy – “Young And Menace” (Island)
Twenty One Pilots – “Heavydirtysoul” (Fueled by Ramen/Atlantic Records)
Green Day – “Bang Bang” (Warner Bros. Records)
Foo Fighters – “Run” (RCA Records) 

BEST FIGHT AGAINST THE SYSTEM
Logic ft. Damian Lemar Hudson – “Black SpiderMan” (Race & LGBTQ) (Def Jam)
The Hamilton Mixtape – “Immigrants (We Get the Job Done)” (Immigration) (Atlantic Records)
Big Sean – “Light” (Race) (Def Jam)
Alessia Cara – “Scars To Your Beautiful” (Body image) (Def Jam)
Taboo ft. Shailene Woodley – “Stand Up / Stand N Rock #NoDAPL” (Environment)
John Legend – “Surefire” (Immigration & Anti-Muslim hate) (Columbia Records) 

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Kendrick Lamar – “HUMBLE.” (TDE/Aftermath/Interscope) (Scott Cunningham)
Imagine Dragons – “Thunder” (KIDinaKORNER/Interscope) (Matthew Wise)
Ed Sheeran – “Castle On The Hill” (Asylum/Atlantic Records) (Steve Annis)
DJ Shadow ft. Run The Jewels – “Nobody Speak” (Mass Appeal Records LLC) (David Proctor)
Halsey – “Now or Never” (Astralwerks/Capitol) (Kristof Brandl)

BEST DIRECTION
Kendrick Lamar – “HUMBLE.” (TDE/Aftermath/Interscope) (Dave Meyers & the little homies)
Katy Perry ft. Skip Marley – “Chained To The Rhythm” (Capitol Records) (Mathew Cullen)
Bruno Mars – “24K Magic” (Atlantic Records) (Cameron Duddy & Bruno Mars)
Alessia Cara – “Scars To Your Beautiful” (Def Jam) (Aaron A)
The Weeknd – “Reminder” (XO/Republic Records) (Glenn Michael)

BEST ART DIRECTION
Kendrick Lamar – “HUMBLE.” (TDE/Aftermath/Interscope) (Spencer Graves)
Bruno Mars – “24K Magic” (Atlantic Records) (Alex Delgado)
Katy Perry ft. Migos – “Bon Appetit” (Capitol Records) (Natalie Groce)|DJ Khaled ft. Rihanna & Bryson Tiller – “Wild Thoughts” (Epic Records/We The Best) (Damian Fyffe)
The Weeknd – “Reminder” (XO/Republic Records) (Creative Director: Lamar C Taylor / Co-creative Director: Christo Anesti) 

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Kendrick Lamar – “HUMBLE.” (TDE/Aftermath/Interscope) (Company: Timber/Lead: Jonah Hall)
A Tribe Called Quest – “Dis Generation” (Epic Records) (Company: Bemo/Lead: Brandon Hirzel)
KYLE ft. Lil Yachty – “iSpy” (Atlantic Records) (Company: Gloria FX/Leads: Max Colt & Tomash Kuzmytskyi)
Katy Perry ft. Skip Marley – “Chained To The Rhythm” (Capitol Records) (Company: MIRADA)
Harry Styles – “Sign Of The Times” (Columbia Records) (Company: ONE MORE/Lead: Cédric Nivoliez) 

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
Kanye West – “Fade” (Def Jam) (Teyana Taylor, Guapo, Jae Blaze & Derek ‘Bentley’ Watkins)
Ariana Grande ft. Nicki Minaj – “Side To Side” (Republic Records) (Brian & Scott Nicholson)
Kendrick Lamar – “HUMBLE.” (TDE/Aftermath/Interscope) (Dave Meyers)
Sia – “The Greatest” (Monkey Puzzle Records/RCA Records) (Ryan Heffington)
Fifth Harmony ft. Gucci Mane – “Down” (Syco Music/Epic Records) (Sean Bankhead)

BEST EDITING
Future – “Mask Off” (Epic Records/Freebandz/A1) (Vinnie Hobbs of VHPost)
Young Thug – “Wyclef Jean” (300 Entertainment/Atlantic Records) (Ryan Staake & Eric Degliomini)
Lorde – “Green Light” (Republic Records) (Nate Gross of Exile Edit)
The Chainsmokers ft. Halsey – “Closer” (Disruptor Records/Columbia Records) (Jennifer Kennedy)
The Weeknd – “Reminder” (XO/Republic Records) (Red Barbaza)

Gomez Receives First-Ever AMA Artist of the Year Nomination

It’s a memorable first for Selena Gomez

The 24-year-old Mexican American singer has received her first-ever American Music Awards Artist of the Year nomination.

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After four weeks of voting, fans have selected Gomez among this year’s finalists for the top prize.

She’ll face off against her ex-boyfriend Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Carrie Underwood and Ariana Grande to see who will take home the title on Sunday, November 20.

Gomez is also nominated for Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist.

The star-studded affair will see performances from Fifth HarmonyLady GagaGreen DayBruno MarsTwenty One Pilots and on-stage collaborations from Maroon 5 and Kendrick Lamar as well as The Chainsmokers‘ and Halsey with their record-breaking No. 1 hit “Closer.”

Fans can vote for the Artist of the Year category at AMAvote.com up until Thursday, November 17th at 8:59pm PT.

Mars Named a Finalist in Three Billboard Music Award Categories, Including Top Artist

He’s Billboard’s reigning Artist of the Year… And now Bruno Mars leads the Latino pack of finalists for the 2014 Billboard Music Awards.

The 28-year-old part-Puerto Rican singer-songwriter has been named a finalist in three categories, including the big prize: Top Artist.

Bruno Mars

Mars is up against Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry, Justin Timberlake and Imagine Dragons for the top award.

In addition, the Super Bowl Halftime Show standout is nominated for Top Male Artist and Top Radio Songs Artist.

But Mars isn’t the only Latino artist to be named a finalist in multiple categories…

Romeo Santos, who recently broke Billboard records with his No. 1 single Odio,” is a finalist in three categories, including Top Latin Artist and Top Latin Album. Puerto Rican/Dominican American singer is also a double-finalist in the Top Latin Song category for his collaboration with Enrique Iglesias, “Loco,” and his single “Propuesta Indecente.”

Prince Royce and Marc Anthony, who will perform at the Billboard Latin Music Awards later this month, have both been named finalists in the same three categories:  Top Latin Artist, Top Latin Album and Top Latin Song.

Other Latino finalists include Aloe Blacc, the late Jenni Rivera, Gerardo Ortiz, Pitbull, Alejandro Fernandez and Daddy Yankee.

The awards will be broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, May 18, on ABC from 8:00 –11:00 pm ET.

Billboard Music Awards finalists are based on key fan interactions with music, including album and digital singles sales, radio airplay, touring, streaming and social interactions on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, VEVO, Spotify and other popular online destinations for music. These measurements are tracked year-round by Billboard and its data partners, including Nielsen Entertainment and Next Big Sound. The awards are based on the reporting period of March 11, 2013 through March 9, 2014.

The six finalists will be narrowed down to three finalists, who will be announced on Billboard’s website on April 21. Voting will then continue through the first two hours of the live 2014 Billboard Music Awards broadcast, culminating with the announcement of the award winner during the last hour of the show.

Here’s a look at the categories with a Latino nominee:

Top Artist
Bruno Mars
Miley Cyrus
Katy Perry
Justin Timberlake
Imagine Dragons

Top Male Artist
Luke Bryan
Drake
Eminem
Bruno Mars
Justin Timberlake

Top Radio Songs Artist
Imagine Dragons
Lorde
Bruno Mars
Katy Perry
Justin Timberlake

Top Rap Artist
Drake
Eminem
Jay Z
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Pitbull

Top Latin Artist
Marc Anthony
Gerardo Ortiz
Jenni Rivera
Prince Royce
Romeo Santos

Top Latin Album
Marc Anthony, 3.0
Alejandro Fernandez, Confidencias
Jenni Rivera, 1969-Siempre: En Vivo Desde Monterrey: Part 1
Prince Royce, Soy El Mismo
Romeo Santos, Formula: Vol. 2

Top Radio Song
Avicii feat. Aloe Blacc, “Wake Me Up!”
Lorde, “Royals”
Katy Perry, “Roar”
Robin Thicke feat. T.I. & Pharrell, “Blurred Lines”
Justin Timberlake, “Mirrors”

Top Rap Song
Eminem feat. Rihanna, “The Monster”
Jay Z feat. Justin Timberlake, “Holy Grail”
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton, “Can’t Hold Us”
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Wanz, “Thrift Shop”
Pitbull feat. Ke$ha, “Timber”

Top Latin Song
Marc Anthony, “Vivir Mi Vida”
Daddy Yankee, “Limbo”
Enrique Iglesias feat. Romeo Santos, “Loco”
Prince Royce, “Darte Un Beso”
Romeo Santos, “Propuesta Indecente”

Top Dance/Electronic Song
Avicii feat. Aloe Blacc, “Wake Me Up!”
Daft Punk feat. Pharrell Williams, “Get Lucky”
Icona Pop feat. Charli XCX, “I Love It”
Lady Gaga, “Applause”
Zedd feat. Foxes, “Clarity”

Mars Named to Billboard’s Highest-Paid Musicians in 2013 List

Bruno Mars is making bank…

The 28-year-old part-Puerto Rican singer-songwriter is one of Billboard’s highest-paid musicians of the past year.

Bruno Mars

Mars, who attracted a record audience during his Super Bowl Halftime Show, ranks No. 12 on Billboard’s Music’s Top 40 Money Makers 2014: The Rich List with $18.8 million in reported earnings. He’s actually the only Latino to make this year’s list.

Before his unforgettable Super Bowl performance, Mars entertained fans during his sold-out Moonshine Jungle Tour, which finished at No. 23 on Billboard’s list of the top 25 tours of 2013, grossing $46.4 million.

In addition to Mars’ share of that revenue ($12.2 million), the previous year marked his chart-topping ascent with his Grammy-winning sophomore album Unorthodox Jukebox.”

Selling 1.4 million in 2013 and charting four Hot 100 hits, including No. 1s “Locked Out of Heaven” and “When I Was Your Man,” these feats helped Mars earn the title of Billboard’s 2013 Artist of the Year.

The top five artists on the list include Taylor Swift, Kenny Chesney, Justin Timberlake, Bon Jovi and The Rolling Stones.

Click here to see the complete list.

Mars Announces Dates for the Second Leg of His “Moonshine Jungle” Tour

Bruno Mars is ready for a little more Moonshine

The 28-year-old part-Puerto Rican singer, who will be performing at this year’s Super Bowl with the Red Hot Chili Peppers as his special guest, has announced plans to launch the next leg of his popular Moonshine Jungle tour — and on select dates, he’ll be joined by fellow hitmaker Pharrell Williams.

Bruno Mars

Mars will kick off the newest set of concerts this May, following two April shows in Mars’ hometown of Honolulu, Hawaii. Pharrell, a music producer and featured artist on two of 2013’s biggest songs, Robin Thicke‘s “Blurred Lines” and Daft Punk‘s “Get Lucky,” will join Mars in five cities — Los Angeles, New York, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal — while appearing behind his upcoming solo release with Columbia Records.

Panamanian American soul singer Aloe Blacc, best known in U.S. as the vocalist on Avicii‘s “Wake Me Up,” will open for Mars for majority of dates where Pharrell will not perform.

The Moonshine Jungle tour’s next leg will begin May 27 at Fresno, California’s Save Mart Center, running over 40 total dates before concluding Aug. 17 in Englewood, Colorado at Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre.

Mars, Billboard’s Artist of the Year in 2013, is touring in support of his sophomore album, Unorthodox Jukebox, which was released in December 2012. The album has spawned two No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 — “Locked Out of Heaven” and “If I Was Your Man,” as well as the No. 5-peaking “Treasure” and “Gorilla,” which hit No. 22.

He’s also received multiple nominations at the Grammys later this month, including nods for Song of the Year and Record of the Year for “Locked Out of Heaven.”

See the full list of tour dates at Mars’ official site.

Mars’ “Unorthodox Jukebox” Ranks as a Top-Seller in the U.K.

Bruno Mars is a big man in Britain…

The 28-year-old part-Puerto Rican Grammy darling, who recently inaugurated The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, has one one of the the biggest-selling albums of 2013 in the United Kingdom.

Bruno Mars

Mars’ critically acclaimed sophomore album Unorthodox Jukebox, nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album at the upcoming Grammy Awards, ranks at No. 6 on the chart. It debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart in December 2012. It was Britain’s fastest selling album by a recording artist in 2012, selling 136,000 copies, just behind the albums by Mumford & Sons and One Directon.

With more than five million copies sold worldwide by the end of 2013, Unorthodox Jukebox is currently named the best-selling album of 2013.

Mars, the most played artist at pop radio in 2013 according to Mediabase, was named Billboard Artist of the Year by Billboard magazine.While, the album was the fifth “most streamed album” on Spotify.

Meanwhile, One Direction’s Midnight Memories was the biggest-selling artist album of the year in Britain with 685,000 copies sold
by year’s end.

Here is a look at the top 10 albums of 2013 in the U.K.:

1. One Direction Midnight Memories
2. Emeli Sande Our Version of Events
3. Michael Buble To Be Loved
4. Robbie Williams Swings Both Ways
5. Olly Murs Right Place Right Time
6. Bruno Mars Unorthodox Jukebox
7. Rod Stewart Time
8. Arctic Monkeys AM
9. Gary Barlow Since I Saw You Last
10. Ellie Goulding Halcyon

Mars Named Billboard’s Artist of the Year

There’s no denying Bruno Mars has had an incredible year in 2013…

Not only did the 28-year-old part-Puerto Rican singer earn four Grammy nominations earlier this month and land on three of Spotify’s year-end streaming charts, he’s just been named Billboard‘s top artist of the year.

Bruno Mars

Mars, the first man to claim the title since 2008, beat out several of this year’s breakout stars like Macklemore & Ryan Lewis and Imagine Dragons, pop divas like Miley Cyrus and Katy Perry, and R&B stars like Justin Timberlake and Robin Thicke for the honor.

Mars’ sophomore album Unorthodox Jukebox, which commanded a steady presence on the Billboard 200 following its No. 2 debut last December, is one of the main reasons he’s the artist of the year.

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Remaining in the top 20 every week since then through the Sept. 14 issue, the Atlantic Records album hit No. 1 in its 12th week. To date, Unorthodox Jukebox has sold 1.8 million copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

The year-end top artist tally also factors in activity on the Billboard Hot 100, where Mars landed three top 10 singles: “Locked Out of Heaven” (six weeks at No. 1), “When I Was Your Man” (No. 1 for a week) and “Treasure” (No. 5).

Also figured into the equation are social, ringtone and Billboard Boxscore data. In the lattermost instance, Mars’ Moonshine Jungle world tour finished at No. 23 on Billboard’s Top 25 Tours list. Kicking off June 22 at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., the sold-out arena trek has thus far logged 48 dates in North America-including two nights at the Staples Center-posting a total attendance of 667,000 with a gross of $46.4 million.

And Mars isn’t slowing down in 2014…

His world tour resumes on February 28 with 10 dates in Australia and New Zealand before heading to Asiaand later to Mexico City. Another North American leg, which starts this summer, will be announced shortly. In the meantime, Mars has several other engagements to fulfill.

First up, his two-day residency at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas on December 29 and December 31. Next it’s on to the 56th annual Grammy Awards before playing the Pepsi Super Bowl XLVIII Halftime Show on February 2 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.