Taylor Swift, Tyla and Sabrina Carpenter were among the big winners at the 2024 MTV EMAs, which also included a touching tribute to Liam Payne, nearly a month after the singer's death in Argentina.
“I just want to take a moment to remember someone who was very, very dear to us. We lost him recently and he was a big part of the MTV world and my world, and I think a lot of yours at home and everyone here tonight,” said show host Rita Ora, who duetted with the former One Direction singer . in 2018's For You (Fifty Shades Freed)
“He had the biggest heart and was always the first person to offer help in any way he could,” said a tearful Ora. “She brought so much joy to every room she walked into and left such a mark on this world,” said the visibly emotional host.
The EMAs show, which took place at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England, on Sunday (November 10), also included a short video tribute to Payne.
Swift, who was not present in Manchester, won the most awards of the night, taking home awards for best artist, best live, best US act and best video for her Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper “Fortnight.” , featuring Post Malone.
“I have to say thank you so much to Post Malone for being the most amazing co-star,” Swift said in a video acceptance speech.
Just behind Swift with three awards was Tyla, who took home trophies for Best Afrobeats, Best R&B and Best African Performance. The South African singer, who was honored with a global impact award at the R&B No. 1 Billboard in New York earlier this year, also gave one of the night's standout performances, flanked by dancers for a lively medley of two of his songs, “Push 2 Start” and “Water.”
“I can't believe it,” Tyla said upon accepting the award for best afrobeats from LL Cool J. “Literally, all the nominees, they're crazy. They've taken Afrobeats so far and I'm so honored to win this award… Afrobeats have opened so many doors for African music, so thank you Afrobeats.”
Sabrina Carpenter and Ariana Grande, who both didn't attend the show, won best song for “Espresso” and best pop, respectively. Billie Eilish and Charli xcx, who were also absent, failed to win in any of the five categories they were nominated for.
Benson Boone opened the two-hour show, which was held in the UK for the first time since 2017, with a passionate energetic run through 'Slow It Down' and 'Beautiful Things' which began with the 22-year-old suspended in the air as she played a golden piano. Later in the evening, Boone received her first EMA award in the form of a Best New Actress nod.
Making their UK live debut, K-pop group LE SSERAFIM delivered a powerful performance of 'Chasing Lightning' and 'CRAZY', the title track from their latest EP, which topped Billboard's September Albums Chart .
The five-piece pop group, who made their Coachella debut this year, were rewarded for their efforts with the award for best promotion, one of three awards they were nominated for ahead of Sunday's show.
Other memorable performances included Shawn Mendes playing his new single 'Heart of Gold', Mexican trio The Warning with a raucous, pyrotechnic-laced rendition of 'Automatic Sun' and Best British & Irish Actress winner Raye, along with a 30-member choir for a stirring medley of 'Escapism', 'Oscar Winning Tears' and 'Body Dysmorphia.'
Meanwhile, Best Latina recipient Peso Pluma joined Estevan Plazola for a rousing rendition of their hit collaboration “Hollywood.”
Busta Rhymes won the global icon award, the EMA's top honor, previously won by Queen, Eminem, Janet Jackson, U2 and Whitney Houston, among others.
“Thirty-four years of professional recording, this is the first time I've received an award from MTV. And it feels incredible,” Rhymes said of collecting the icon trophy from British rapper Little Simz.
The Brooklyn-born rapper went on to pay a glowing tribute to “one of my heroes” LL Cool J, who was at the ceremony to present his duties, before performing a collection of his greatest hits, including “Scenario “, “Put Your Hands Where The Eyes Can See”, “Do The BusABus Pt.2”, “Break Ya Neck” and “Pass The Courvoisier”.
“LL Cool J was my role model,” Rhymes said in a lengthy eight-minute acceptance speech that also saw him thank his mother and Public Enemy's Chuck D for their support early in his career.
“I learned how to be the embodiment of Busta Rhymes because I love to break down rhymes for real and I love hip-hop for real,” he told the audience.
“Busta Rhymes is a true creative visionary who has made a huge impact on the music landscape and pop culture,” Bruce Gillmer, executive producer and president of music and content for music at MTV parent company Paramount+, told Billboard. runs until Sunday's ceremony.
The show also featured a number of playful references to host city Manchester's musical heritage with the Hacienda nightclub's famous yellow and black striped badge and the signature opening riff of New Order's 'Blue Monday' repeating patterns throughout the evening .
Local band Blossoms, from nearby Stockport, also joked with presenter Ora as she served champagne bar-style, while one of the more surreal moments of the show involved Ora chatting to Happy Mondays founding members Shaun Ryder and Bez. , with the latter in characteristically uncontrollable, intense spirit.
In addition to celebrating the 30th anniversary of MTV's EMAs, which first took place in Berlin in 1994, Sunday's show was the first EMAs since 2022, after last year's event in Paris was canceled due to global security concerns over the Israel-Hamas war.
Pet Shop Boys were joined by members of Manchester orchestra Camerata (wearing the band's iconic conical hats) to close the show with a rocking cover of David Bowie's 'All The Young Dudes', followed by the band's first hit ' West End Girls”, first. released in 1984.
Full list of MTV EMA 2024 nominees and winners
World Icon Award
Busta Rhymes
MTV EMA Pop Pioneers Award
Pet Shop Boys
Best Song
Ariana Grande – We Can't Be Friends (Waiting For Your Love)
Benson Boone – Beautiful Things
Beyoncé – TEXAS HOLD 'EM
Billie Eilish – Birds Of A Feather
Chappell Roan – Good Luck Baby!
WINNER: Sabrina Carpenter – Espresso
Best video
Ariana Grande – We Can't Be Friends (Waiting For Your Love)
Charlie xcx – 360
Eminem – Houdini
Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us
LISA ft. Rosalía – NEW WOMAN
WINNER: Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – Fortnight
Best Artist
Beyoncé
Billie Eilish
Post Malone
RAY
Sabrina Carpenter
WINNER: Taylor Swift
Better Collaboration
Charli xcx & Billie Eilish – Guess with Billie Eilish
Future, Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar – Like That
Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars – Die With A Smile
WINNER: LISA ft. Rosalía – NEW WOMAN
Peso Pluma, Anitta – BELLAKEO
Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – Fortnight
Best New
Ayra Starr
WINNER: Benson Boone
Chapel Roan
LE SSERAFIM
Teddy Swims
The last supper
Tyla
Better pop
WINNER: Ariana Grande
Billie Eilish
Camila Cabello
Charlie xcx
Dua Lipa
Sabrina Carpenter
Taylor Swift
The best Afrobeats
Asake
Ayra Starr
Burna Boy
Stream
Tems
WINNER: Tyla
Better Rock
Bon Jovi
Coldplay
Green Day
Kings of Leon
Lenny Kravitz
WINNER: Liam Gallagher
The Killers
The best Latin
Anita
Bad Bunny
CAROL G
WINNER: Peso Pluma
Rau Alejandro
Shakira
Best K-Pop
WINNER: Jimin
Jung Cook
LE SSERAFIM
LISA
New Jeans
Stray children
Better alternative
Fontaines DC
Hozier
WINNER: Imagine Dragons
Lana Del Rey
Twenty one pilots
JUNGLUND
Better electronic
WINNER: Calvin Harris
David Guetta
Revelation
DJ Snake
Fred again..
Swedish House Mafia
Best Hip-Hop
Central Cee
WINNER: Eminem
Kendrick Lamar
Megan Thee Stallion
Nicki Minaj
Travis Scott
Best R&B
Kehlani
SZA
Shake it
WINNER: Tyla
ENTER
Victoria Monet
Better Live
Adel
Coldplay
Doja Cat
RAY
WINNER: Taylor Swift
Travis Scott
Better Push
Ayra Starr
Chapel Roan
Coco Jones
Flyana Boss
Jesse Murph
Laufey
WINNER: LE SSERAFIM
Mark Ambor
Shaboozey
Teddy Swims
The Warning
Victoria Monet
The biggest fans
Anita
Ariana Grande
Beyoncé
Billie Eilish
Chapel Roan
Charlie xcx
Katy Perry
WINNER: LISA
Nicki Minaj
Sabrina Carpenter
Sean Mendes
Taylor Swift
Complete list of MTV EMA Worldwide 2024 winners
Best African Act – Tyla
Best Asia Act – BINI
Best Australian Act – Sia
Best Austrian Act – RAF Camora
Best Brazilian Act – Pablo Vittar
Best Canadian Act – Sean Mendes
Best Caribbean Act – Young Miko
Best Dutch Act – Roxy Dekker
Best French Act – Pierre Garnier
Best German Act – Ayliva
Best India Act – Mali
Best Israeli Act – Noa Kirel
Best Italian Act – Annalisa
Best Lat Am Central Act – Manuel Turizo
Best Lat Am North Act – Yerimua
Best Lat Am South Act – Dillom
Best Nordic Act – Zara Larsson
Best Polish Act – Daria Zawiałow
Best Portuguese Act – Bárbara Bandeira
Best Spanish Act – Lola Indigo
Best Swiss Act – Nemo
Best Act UK & Ireland – Raye
Best US Act – Taylor Swift
