Post by Emerald City on Dec 9, 2004 17:26:18 GMT -5
By Charlie Amter
The 2004 Billboard Music Awards wrapped hours ago, and Usher is still saying "Yeah!"
The chart-bursting singer walked away with a leading 11 awards at the music biz's biggest popularity contest, including trophies for Artist of the Year, Album of the Year for Confessions and Hot 100 Single of the Year for "Yeah!" (featuring Lil Jon & Ludacris). His Confessions has sold more than 7 million copies in the U.S. since it dropped in March.
The R&B star, who opened the show by descending from the ceiling, was relaxed and humble backstage Wednesday--hard to believe for a man who has owned 2004, dominating the charts (he became the first artist in more than three decades to top Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart four times in a calendar year), sweeping the American Music Awards last month and racking up eight Grammy nods this week. He cashed in on all but two categories he was up for at the Billboard gala.
"I'm just happy that year after year every time I put out an album, it's recognized," Usher said following the ceremony, which was held as Las Vegas' MGM Grand Casino and telecast on Fox. "It's a great compliment to receive awards."
Other big winners Wednesday included Alicia Keys with seven, OutKast with five and Kanye West with four. Per Billboard tradition, the hardware was doled out on the basis of radio airplay, album and single sales and Internet downloading--all of which boil down to determining the year's most popular acts. The categories correspond to the various charts tracked in the trade magazine.
Among Keys' haul, Female Artist of the Year.
"It feels wonderful to win...especially because this award comes from the love of the people really loving the music--that really means a lot to me," the New York City-based singer said.
West, who topped Tuesday's Grammy nominations with 10 for his smash breakthrough, The College Dropout, played politics, trying to spin his way out of some embarrassing comments made after the American Music Awards. The Chi-town rapper had said he was "robbed" after getting shut out at the AMAs, but now says he blames his reaction on him "just being a new artist." West says he didn't mean to offend anyone and that he has since apologized to and talked with several artists to explain his statements.
The 2004 Billboard Music Awards wrapped hours ago, and Usher is still saying "Yeah!"
The chart-bursting singer walked away with a leading 11 awards at the music biz's biggest popularity contest, including trophies for Artist of the Year, Album of the Year for Confessions and Hot 100 Single of the Year for "Yeah!" (featuring Lil Jon & Ludacris). His Confessions has sold more than 7 million copies in the U.S. since it dropped in March.
The R&B star, who opened the show by descending from the ceiling, was relaxed and humble backstage Wednesday--hard to believe for a man who has owned 2004, dominating the charts (he became the first artist in more than three decades to top Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart four times in a calendar year), sweeping the American Music Awards last month and racking up eight Grammy nods this week. He cashed in on all but two categories he was up for at the Billboard gala.
"I'm just happy that year after year every time I put out an album, it's recognized," Usher said following the ceremony, which was held as Las Vegas' MGM Grand Casino and telecast on Fox. "It's a great compliment to receive awards."
Other big winners Wednesday included Alicia Keys with seven, OutKast with five and Kanye West with four. Per Billboard tradition, the hardware was doled out on the basis of radio airplay, album and single sales and Internet downloading--all of which boil down to determining the year's most popular acts. The categories correspond to the various charts tracked in the trade magazine.
Among Keys' haul, Female Artist of the Year.
"It feels wonderful to win...especially because this award comes from the love of the people really loving the music--that really means a lot to me," the New York City-based singer said.
West, who topped Tuesday's Grammy nominations with 10 for his smash breakthrough, The College Dropout, played politics, trying to spin his way out of some embarrassing comments made after the American Music Awards. The Chi-town rapper had said he was "robbed" after getting shut out at the AMAs, but now says he blames his reaction on him "just being a new artist." West says he didn't mean to offend anyone and that he has since apologized to and talked with several artists to explain his statements.
