For the first time ever Apple will be hosting a music awards show in celebration of some of the best and most influential artists of 2019. The awards will range across five distinct categories: Artist of the Year, Breakthrough Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Songwriters of the Year and Album of the Year.
The winners of the Artist of the Year, Breakthrough Artist of the Year and Songwriters of the Year were chosen by Apple Music’s editorial team of experts whom based their decisions on the artists whom they felt have shown “true passion for their craft, who boldly defy conventions in the category and who embody a sense of humanity, where listeners are drawn as much to who they are as to their music”. The Album of the Year and Song of the Year were left down to to the statistics, specifically the number of streams; basically which songs and albums were on repeat throughout the year.
With Apple set to host the awards show on Thursday, 5 December at 1:30 p.m. AEDT at the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple Park in Cupertino, California; here are the winners of the very first Apple Music Awards:
Artist of the Year and Album of the Year
Billie Eilish
At just 17 years old, her rise to stardom has been monumental to say the least. Her first studio album, “WHEN WE FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?,” has been nothing short of a success story. An artist that speaks to the new generation at such a young age has become a global phenomenon, selling out her 2020 world tour “WHERE DO WE GO?” and having performed at several major events including Glastonbury, Coachella and Saturday Night Live.
Also racking up the award for Album of the Year, “WHEN WE FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?” was streamed over a BILLION times this year!
Breakthrough Artist of the Year
Lizzo
The body positive goddess. And she certainly encapsulates that in her album “Cuz’ I Love You”. Think “Juicy” where she oozes confidence as she flaunts herself in a hot pink retro aerobic dance class fit from the 80s. Saying that she’s feelin’ herself would be an understatement, and she’s right. Why be humble? “This is what a breakthrough is all about, babies,” she told Apple Music.
Song of the Year
“Old Town Road” – Lil Nas X
If you haven’t heard this song, then you must have been living on another planet, because this was on replay the whole year with it not only being a viral sensation, but also creeping into the meme world. It’s a mix that, in theory, should never work. But Lil Nas X’s genius made it catchy and listenable; plus Billy Ray Cyrus’ country vocals really emanated that “realm of a loner cowboy, needing to run away from everything,” kind of vibe, as Lil Nas X himself said.
Songwriters of the Year
Billie Eilish and Finneas
Billie Eilish takes home yet another award, this time alongside her talented brother Finneas who co-wrote and produced her ““WHEN WE FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?” album.
And it doesn’t stop there for Billie Eilish as she will also be performing at the event.
In order to celebrate this special event, the Apple Music Awards themselves will features “Apple’s custom silicon wafer suspended between a polished sheet of glass and a machined and anodised aluminium body” giving them a slick, polished and laser-cut look.
“Copper layers are deposited and patterned by ultraviolet lithography to create connections between billions of transistors” which are then transformed into hundreds of little chips found in the heart of the award, essentially putting the same chips that give millions of people access to Apple Music from the palm of their hands, into the hands of the artists themselves. Symbolic and unique.
You can watch the live stream of the Apple Music Awards here: apple.co/AppleMusicAwards2019
