The Weeknd has been voted Apple Music’s Global Artist of the Year for 2021.
His 2020 album, After Hours, is the most pre-added album by a male artist on the platform, with over one million pre-adds, as well as the most-streamed R&B/Soul album in its first week in 73 countries, according to the streaming service. Meanwhile, “Blinding Lights” reached No. 1 on Apple Music’s Daily Top 100: Global list and is one of the top 20 Shazamed songs of all time.
“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 in a statement.
Olivia Rodrigo, her album SOUR, and single “driver’s license” won Breakthrough Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year were among the significant prizes at the 2021 Apple Music Awards. “I did my first ‘drivers license’ interview with Apple Music, and a lot has happened since then,” she explained. “It’s truly surreal. Thank you to Apple Music for these amazing awards.”
Songwriter of the Year awarded to H.E.R., who said, ” am very honored and blessed to receive this recognition. 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.”
For the first time, Apple Music also handed Artist of the Year accolades to Africa’s Wizkid, France’s Aya Nakamura, Germany’s RIN, Japan’s OFFICIAL HIGE DANDISM, and Russia’s Scriptonite.