Barbados’ pop princess Rihanna and Trinidad-born rap queen Nicki Minaj (Credit: Atlanta Black Star)
CALIFORNIA, United States, Wednesday March 4, 2015 – Barbados’ pop princess Rihanna and Trinidad-born rap queen Nicki Minaj did the Caribbean proud when they were named among the 50 winners of the 2015 YouTube Music Awards.
The winning artists were chosen based on their YouTube views, subscribers, and engagement over the last six months, according to an announcement on Monday.
The popular video-streaming site is honouring a mix of talent ranging from established performers like Beyonce, Drake, Taylor Swift, Pharrell Williams and Katy Perry, to emerging artists like Hozier and Sam Smith.
YouTube is reportedly turning up the jets for this year’s awards ceremony. Instead of hosting a traditional live show, the event will feature some of the award-winning artists collaborating on nine original music videos which will air during the online event.
The ceremony, in which the original clips will debut, will take place on March 23 at 10 a.m.
The new content will be created by musicians including Charli XCX, Sheeran, Martin Garrix, Max Schneider, Migos, Megan Nicole, Cahoots, Nicky Jam and Shamir, with Vice set to produce the interactive online event.
A few fans will be invited to participate in the videos, moreover, while others will get to join in the behind-the-scenes fun.
Other artists who will be honoured this year include Snoop Dogg/Lion, Lady Gaga, Ed Sheeran, Kendrick Lamar, and British boy band One Direction.
During Monday’s announcement, YouTube revealed that their site had reached 47 billion views, 164 million subscribers, and has had 1600 videos uploaded in the last six months.
The 2015 Awards are returning after a one-year hiatus. In 2013 they were held in a warehouse at New York’s Pier 36.
2015 YouTube Music Award Winners (in alphabetical order)
2NE1
Alt-J
Ariana Grande
Beyonce
Bigbang
Big Sean
Brad Paisley
Charlie XCX
Dej Loaf
Drake
Ed Sheeran
Ella Henderson
Fifth Harmony
Florida Georgia Line
FKA Twigs
George Ezra
Hoodie Allen
Hozier
Hunter Hayes
J. Cole
Jason Derulo
Katy Perry
Kendrick Lamar
Kiesza
Kurt Hugo Schneider
Lady Gaga
Lindsey Stirling
Martin Garrix
Max
Megan Nicole
Meghan Trainor
Miggs
Miley Cyrus
Nicki Minaj
Nicky Jam
OK Go
One Direction
Pentatonix
Pharrell Williams
Rihanna
Sam Smith
Sia
Snoop Dogg
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd
Tinashe
Tori Kelly
Tove Lo
Troy Sivan
Tyler Ward