Apple announces third Apple Music Award winners
Apple’s annual music awards reaches its third year
Apple has announced this year’s Apple Music Award winners, including global and regional champions.
What are the Apple Music Awards?
Now in their third year, the awards are given across five categories — Artist of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Breakthrough Artist of the Year, Top Song of the Year, and Top Album of the Year — and winners are chosen through a combination of Apple Music editor’s advice and what customers listen to. This year we see Regional Artist of the Year awards also given.
The physical award itself was introduced last year when Apple designed a series of physical awards that feature Apple Silicon wafers suspended between a polished sheet of glass and a machined and anodized aluminum body. In a symbolic gesture, the same chips that power the devices that put the world’s music at listeners fingertips sit at the very heart of the Apple Music Awards.
The Apple Music Awards celebration kicks off on Tuesday, December 7, 2021, with interviews, original content, and other material streaming worldwide on Apple Music and the Apple TV app.
The winners are
The following eight artists take home this year’s ten awards.
Global Artist of the Year:
Breakthrough Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year:
Songwriter of the Year:
Artist of the Year (Africa):
Artist of the Year (France):
Artist of the Year (Germany):
Artist of the Year (Japan):
Artist of the Year (Russia):
H.E.R. is Apple Music’s ‘Songwriter of the Year’
What Apple said
“The past 12 months have proved to be a remarkable year for music, and we’re thrilled to honor the artists who are shaping culture and connecting with fans around the world on Apple Music,” said Oliver Schusser, Apple’s vice president of Apple Music and Beats.
“This year we’re also recognizing more regional artists, showing the world the impact of extraordinary talented musicians who are making waves globally.”
[Also read: What is the Apple Music Voice Plan?]
Olivia Rodrigo takes Breakthrough Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year.
What the artists said
“I’m so grateful for this huge honor and want to thank Apple for all its support, not only for my work but also for great music by newer artists, where it matters so much for creators to be found and supported,” The Weeknd said.
“I did my first interview for ‘drivers license’ with Apple Music, and so much has happened since then,” Rodrigo said. “It’s truly surreal. Thank you to Apple Music for these amazing awards.”
“I am very honored and blessed to receive this recognition,” H.E.R. said. “As a young Black and Filipino artist, and a woman who is on the stage giving my all, there’s no doubt that representation is important. Thank you so much, Apple Music.”
“Thank you to Apple Music for this award,” Wizkid said. “It’s a blessing to get to do what I do, and I’m proud to be representing for Africa.”
Scriptonite leads the new and emerging breed of Russian hip-hop.
“I am extremely honored to be the very first Francophone artist to win an Apple Music Award as Artist of the Year (France),” Nakamura said. “Thank you, Apple!”
“2021 was such a good year for me because it has borne a lot of fruit of things that I postponed for a long time,” RIN said. “My music has evolved in the same sense. I am much more personal.”
“We didn’t know Japanese artists could win this award and were shocked when we were told,” the band said. “We’re super happy to be the winners of the first Apple Music Award for Artist of the Year (Japan).”
“This award is the culmination of an incredible few years, and Apple Music has been with me for so much of it along the way,” Scriptonite said. “Thank you for the recognition.”
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