Apple unveils third annual Apple Music award winners
"The Weeknd" has been named global Artist of the Year at the third Apple Music Awards, which also introduced a new category of Regional Artist of the Year.
Apple Music Awards
First launched in 2019, the Apple Music Awards have this year expanded to recognize more works from around the world.
"The past 12 months have proved to be a remarkable year for music," said Apple's vice president of Apple Music and Beats, Oliver Schusser, in a statement. "[We're] thrilled to honor the artists who are shaping culture and connecting with fans around the world on Apple Music."
"This year we're also recognizing more regional artists," continued Schusser, "showing the world the impact of extraordinary talented musicians who are making waves globally."
The winners have been announced ahead of a series of interviews and more original content, which will stream on Apple Music and the Apple TV app from December 7, 2021.
Winners of the third annual Apple Music Awards are:
"I did my first interview for [my first album] 'drivers license' with Apple Music," said Olivia Rodrigo, "and so much has happened since then. It's truly surreal. Thank you to Apple Music for these amazing awards."
Read on AppleInsider
Apple Music Awards
First launched in 2019, the Apple Music Awards have this year expanded to recognize more works from around the world.
"The past 12 months have proved to be a remarkable year for music," said Apple's vice president of Apple Music and Beats, Oliver Schusser, in a statement. "[We're] thrilled to honor the artists who are shaping culture and connecting with fans around the world on Apple Music."
"This year we're also recognizing more regional artists," continued Schusser, "showing the world the impact of extraordinary talented musicians who are making waves globally."
The winners have been announced ahead of a series of interviews and more original content, which will stream on Apple Music and the Apple TV app from December 7, 2021.
Winners of the third annual Apple Music Awards are:
- Global Artist of the Year: The Weeknd
- Breakthrough Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year: Olivia Rodrigo
- Songwriter of the Year: H.E.R.
- Artist of the Year (Africa): Wizkid
- Artist of the Year (France): Aya Nakamura
- Artist of the Year (Germany): RIN
- Artist of the Year (Japan): OFFICIAL HIGE DANDISM
- Artist of the Year (Russia): Scriptonite
"I did my first interview for [my first album] 'drivers license' with Apple Music," said Olivia Rodrigo, "and so much has happened since then. It's truly surreal. Thank you to Apple Music for these amazing awards."
Read on AppleInsider
Comments
EDIT: Let me expand on my thought. I think Apple, as it often does, likes to position itself as a tastemaker, and does move the needle to an extent. However, the difficulty with music streaming is they're all offering the exact same product. Given that some surveys now show Apple Music in third place behind Amazon Music and, of course, Spotify, it becomes difficult for them to justify their marketing message. It's less "Apple Music: The most important option" and more "Apple Music: For people who find the Apple brand important."
It doesn't make Apple Music a bad service, or offering their own awards unnecessary. But context, in all things. The rising trend of self-released/represented artists and independent music represent an existential threat to companies like Apple (and the Grammy's, for that matter) that are so major-label narrow-focused. I mean, does anyone have a doubt that Taylor Swift is going to win an enormous pile of Grammy Awards? Good for her, it's a fine album, but it's hardly the most essential piece of music produced in 2021. And so it goes with the "Apple Music Awards."