Billboard Music Awards 2011: The Winners

The Billboard Music Awards have returned this year after a 4 year-hiatus. Held in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Garden Arena last night, they featured some of the biggest artists of the last 12 months and are, of course, sponsored by Billboard magazine. The BMAs honor winners based on Billboard's year-end music charts, which are compiled based on Nielsen data for sales, downloads and airplay. Awards are given for the top album/artist/single in every genre.

The nominees are selected based on their performances in the Billboard charts in the respective year, therefore there are a gazillion categories, according to music genre, digital/radio classifications, but I've selected some of the major categories below, listing the nominees and winners. Read on.

Top Artist:

Eminem -WINNER
Lady Gaga
Rihanna
Justin Bieber
Taylor Swift

Top HOT 100 Song:

Eminem feat. Rihanna - Love The Way You Lie
Taio Cruz - Dynamite - WINNER
Bruno Mars - Just The Way You Are
Katy Perry feat. Snoop Dogg - California Gurls
Usher feat. Will.I.Am - OMG

Top BILLBOARD 200 Album:

Eminem - Recovery - WINNER
Justin Bieber - My World 2.0
Susan Boyle - The Gift
Lady Antebellum - Need You Now
Taylor Swift - Speak Now

Top New Artist:

Ke$ha
Taio Cruz
Justin Bieber -  WINNER
Bruno Mars
Nicki Minaj

Top BILLBOARD 200 Artist:

Eminem
Justin Bieber
Susan Boyle
Taylor Swift - WINNER
Lady Antebellum

Top HOT 100 Artist:

Ke$ha
Bruno Mars
Katy Perry - WINNER
Rihanna
Usher

Top Male Artist:

Bruno Mars
Usher
Eminem - WINNER
Justin Bieber
Drake

Top Female Artist:

Rihanna - WINNER
Katy Perry
Ke$ha
Lady Gaga
Taylor Swift

Top Pop Song:

Katy Perry - California Gurls
Katy Perry - Firework
Katy Perry - Teenage Dream
Bruno Mars - Just The Way You Are
Taio Cruz - Dynamite - WINNER

OTHER WINNERS:

Digital Artist of the Year - Justin Bieber
Top Country Song - Lady Antebellum - Need You Now 
Top Duo/Group - Black Eyed Peas
Top Touring Artist - U2
Top Country Artist - Taylor Swift
Top Country Album - Taylor Swift - Speak Now
Top Rap Album - Eminem - Recovery

Top Rock Album & Top Alternative Album - Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More
Top Digital Song - Taio Cruz - Dynamite
Top Radio Song -  Bruno Mars - Just The Way You Are
Billboard Icon Award - Neil Diamond
Top Pop Artist - Lady Gaga
Top R'n'B Artist - Usher
Top Rap Artist - Eminem
Top Rock Artist - Train

Top Alternative Artist - Mumford & Sons
Top Latin Artist - Shakira
Top Dance Artist - Lady Gaga
Top Radio Artist - Rihanna
Billboard Millenium Award - Beyonce
Top R'n'B Song - Usher - OMG
Top Rap Song - Eminem feat. Rihanna - Love The Way You Lie

Top Rock Song - Train - Hey Soul Sister
Top Latin Song - Shakira - Waka Waka
Top Dance Song - Edward Maya & Vika Jigulina - Stereo Love
Top Country Song - Lady Antebellum - Need You Now 
Top Pop Album - (tie) Katy Perry - Teenage Dream/ Justin Bieber - My World 2.0
Top Dance/Electronic - Lady Gaga -  The Fame