Illenium took home the fifth award of the evening at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards on Sunday (May 15), when his independently released album Fallen Embers took the trophy for top dance/electronic album.

While accepting the award — which was presented by actress Liza Koshy — at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, the Chicago native revealed that the momentous occasion also marked his first time being formally recognized for his music.

He opened his acceptance speech saying humbly, “Thank you guys so much. I’ve never won an award before, so this is cool.”

Illenium went on to thank his “amazing team” before speaking further on his passion for creating. “Making music for me has always been a really big healing aspect of my life and it’s amazing to share with amazing fans and [to be] here. So thank you guys so much, hope to see you guys soon again,” he said onstage.

The Billboard Music Award-winning project debuted at No. 1 atop Billboard’s Top Dance/Electronic chart dated July 31, 2021, where it remained for 34 weeks. The album also debuted in the top 10 of the Independent Albums chart, arriving at No. 8 last summer, and remained on the chart for two weeks. On the all-genre Billboard 200 chart, Fallen Embers debuted at No. 49 and charted for one week.

The album (which was released via 12Tone Music) is Illenium’s first music drop on an independent label following his departure from Astralwerks Records, which came after the 2019 release of his third studio album, Ascend.

Chatting with Billboard in July, Illenium explained that Fallen Embers is a continuation of the narrative he unveiled with his first three albums. “I love the mythology and a fantasy story stuff,” he said at the time. “[Fallen Embers] is the same universe, but a new phase.”

The Billboard Music Awards are produced by MRC Live & Alternative, a division of MRC. MRC and Penske Media are co-parent companies of Billboard.

After walking the 2022 Billboard Music Awards’ red carpet with girlfriend Kylie Jenner and 4-year-old daughter Stormi, Travis Scott took the stage for a performance of “Mafia” and “Lost Forever.” Scott’s BBMAs spot marks his first major awards show performance since a crowd crush during his Nov. 5 set at the Astroworld Festival in Houston left 10 people dead and thousands injured.

Performing in a room done up to look like a wintery bunker in an icy wasteland, Travis Scott – with a fuzzy satchel over his shoulder and furry pants to match – rapped his single “Mafia” while dry ice smoke swirled around him and his backup dancers, who were also decked out in furs. As the screen shifted to black and white, Scott then segued into “Lost Forever,” his hard-hitting collab with James Blake and Westside Gunn.

As Scott gears up to release his 2022 album Utopia, he faces ongoing litigation over the Astroworld tragedy. In January, several lawsuits were combined into a single large lawsuit, with multiple attorneys representing thousands of alleged victims who are suing Scott and the promoter Live Nation. During a December 2021 interview with Charlamagne Tha God, Scott spoke about the Astroworld deaths: “I went through something, fans went through something, people’s parents went through something. It really hurts, it hurts a community, it hurts a city. It’s just been a lot of thoughts, a lot of feelings, a lot of grieving, you know just trying to wrap my head around it.” When asked about responsibility, he replied, “As an artist, you just do the creative. And this to be my festival, I got to bring artists, creatively produce it. We just trust the professionals to make sure that people are taken care of and leaving safely.”

The Billboard Music Awards are produced by MRC Live & Alternative, a division of MRC. MRC and Penske Media are co-parent companies of Billboard.

The Weeknd and Charlotte Cardin each won multiple awards at the 2022 Juno Awards’ ‘Opening Night Awards’ ceremony, which was held at Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto on Saturday (May 14). More than 40 awards were presented at the event, which is similar to the Grammys’ Premiere Ceremony, at which the bulk of their awards are presented.

Cardin won three awards — artist of the year, single of the year for “Meaningless” and pop album of the year for her debut, Phoenix, which spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Canadian Albums chart.

Cardin is the first female artist to win artist of the year since Serena Ryder eight years ago. She’s the first female solo artist to win single of the year for a solo recording (not a collab) since Carly Rae Jepsen won nine years ago for the global smash “Call Me Maybe.”

Cardin led this year’s Juno nominations with six nods (one more than The Weeknd and Justin Bieber, who had five each). The Montreal-born singer-songwriter sings pop, electro and jazz. Cardin, 27, was nominated for Juno Awards in 2018 for breakthrough artist of the year and songwriter of the year.

The Weeknd won two prizes. He took songwriter of the year for the third time and contemporary R&B recording of the year for “Take My Breath.” Only two other songwriters have won songwriter of the year (or its predecessor categories, composer of the year and best songwriter) three or more times. Jim Vallance won four times. Bryan Adams also won three times.

Producer WondaGurl and engineer Hill Kourkoutis each made Juno Awards history. WondaGurl became the first female to win producer of the year twice. She also won last year. Kourkoutis, who in March became the first female ever nominated for recording engineer of the year, is now the first female ever to win in that category.

Olivia Rodrigo’s Sour won international album of the year. The 19-year old phenom accepted via a video. Rodrigo’s “good 4 u,” one of the biggest hits from the album, won international song of the year at the Brit Awards in February. In April, Rodrigo won three Grammys, including best pop vocal album.

Kaytranada, won won two Grammys in March 2021, won dance recording of the year for his non-album single “Caution.”

Canadian director Xavier Dolan won music video of the year for directing Adele’s “Easy on Me.”

The Junos introduced a new category this year, underground dance single of the year, to draw attention to less mainstream sounds with roots in subgenres of electronic music. The inaugural winner was “Shadows in the Dark” by HNTR featuring Elliot Moss.

Denise Jones, one of the most influential voices in Canada’s Black entertainment community, was posthumously awarded the 2022 Walt Grealis special achievement award. The award was accepted by her sons, Jesse and Jeremy.

Angeline Tetteh-Wayoe and Ann Pornel hosted the celebration, which featured performances by nominees Ruby Waters, Valley, Allison Russell, Roxane Bruneau and 2020-21 Allan Slaight Juno masterclass shortlister Jesse Gold.

Simu Liu, star of the box-office smash Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, will host the 2022 Juno Awards, which will air live on Sunday, May 15, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. This will be the first in-person Juno ceremony in three years, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, this will be the first time the ceremony has been held in Toronto since 2011 – when Michael Bublé was crowned new artist of the year.

Shawn Mendes will be honored with a special international achievement award to honor his global impact in music. Deborah Cox will be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. Cox, best known for her 1998 R&B smash “Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here,” is the first Black female artist to receive that honor.

Fans can watch the 2022 Juno Awards on CBC-TV, CBC Gem, CBC Radio One, CBC Music and CBC Listen. The show will also stream globally on cbcmusic.ca/junos, CBC Music’s Facebook, YouTube and Twitter pages.

Here’s the full list of winners from the Juno Awards’ ‘Opening Night Awards.’

Artist of the year: Charlotte Cardin, Cult Nation*The Orchard

Single of the year: “Meaningless,” Charlotte Cardin, Cult Nation*The Orchard

Songwriter of the year: Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye

Jack Richardson producer of the year: WondaGurl  

Recording engineer of the year: Hill Kourkoutis

Music video of the year: “Easy on Me,” Xavier Dolan (Adele), Columbia*Sony

International album of the year: Sour, Olivia Rodrigo, Universal

Breakthrough group of the year: Monowhales, True Records*ADA

Pop album of the year: Phoenix, Charlotte Cardin, Cult Nation*The Orchard

Dance recording of the year: “Caution,” Kaytranada, Sony

Underground dance single of the year: “Shadows in the Dark,” HNTR ft. Elliot Moss, mau5trap*AWAL

Electronic album of the year: Oasis Sky, TOR, Independent

Rock album of the year: Sisters Not Twins (The Professional Lovers Album), The Beaches, Universal

Metal/hard music album of the year: Bleed the Future, Archspire, Season of Mist*The Orchard

Alternative album of the year: When Smoke Rises, Mustafa Regent, Park Songs*Pirates Blend

Contemporary R&B recording of the year: “Take My Breath,” The Weeknd, XO*Universal

Traditional R&B/soul recording of the year: “24hrs,” Savannah Ré, 1Music*Universal

Rap single of the year: “Bold,” Charmaine, Warner

Country album of the year: What Is Life?, Brett Kissel, Warner

Adult contemporary album of the year: The Art of Falling Apart, Serena Ryder, ArtHaus*Warner

Adult alternative album of the year: Inwards & Onwards, Half Moon Run, Crystal Math*Universal

Reggae recording of the year: Easy Now, Kairo McLean, Willow Records*Independent

Jazz album of the year (group): Worldview, Avataar, InSound*Independent

Album artwork of the year: Mykaël Nelson (art director, designer, & illustrator), Nicolas Lemieux (art director & designer), Albert Zablit (photographer); Histoires Sans Paroles – Harmonium Symphonique – Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, conducted by Simon Leclerc GSI Musique

Contemporary indigenous artist or group of the year: War Club, DJ Shub, Shub Music*The Orchard

Jazz album of the year (solo): Change of Plans, Will Bonness, Independent

Classical album of the year (solo artist): energeia, Emily D’Angelo, Deutsche Grammophon*Universal

Contemporary Christian/gospel album of the year: No Greater Love, The Color, Dream Records*Universal

Classical album of the year (large ensemble): Solfeggio, L’Harmonie des saisons, conducted by Eric Milnes ft. Hélène Brunet ATMA*Naxos

Comedy album of the year: Grandma’s Girl 姥姥的孩子 Andrea Jin 金玉琪 604*Fontana North

Children’s album of the year: Falling in Africa, Garth Prince, Prince Garth Music*Independent

Instrumental album of the year: That Tall Distance, David Myles, Little Tiny Records*Fontana North

Classical composition of the year: “Arras,” Keiko Devaux, Analekta*F.A.B./The Orchard

Vocal jazz album of the year: Now Pronouncing: Caity Gyorgy, Caity Gyorgy, La Reserve*Independent/The Orchard

Global music album of the year: Kalasö, Afrikana Soul Sister, Les Faux-Monnayeurs*Propagande/Believe

Album Francophone de l’année:  Impossible à aimer, Cœur de pirate, Bravo Musique*Propagande/Believe

Traditional roots album of the year: Joyful Banner Blazing, Maria Dunn, Independent*Outside/Believe

Blues album of the year: Open Road, Colin James, Stony Plain*Fontana North/IDLA

Classical album of the year (small ensemble): Beethoven: Sonates pour violon et piano / Violin Sonatas Nos. 1, 2, 3 & 5, Andrew Wan and Charles Richard-Hamelin, Analekta*F.A.B./The Orchard

Contemporary roots album of the year: Outside Child, Allison Russell, Fantasy Records*Universal

Traditional indigenous artist or group of the year: Kakike, Fawn Wood Buffalo, Jump*Amplified/Drumbeat/A-Train

Against the backdrop of war in Europe, the hugely popular Eurovision Song Contest entered its flamboyant climax Saturday night (May 14) as 25 bands performed in front of a live audience in the Italian city of Turin, while millions more watched on television around the world.

The Ukrainian band Kalush Orchestra is heavily tipped to win by bookmakers, who are giving the group that mixes traditional Ukrainian rhythms, costumes and dance moves with contemporary hip-hop a 60% chance of winning.

Despite Ukraine’s position as the oddsmakers’ and sentimental favorite, fans from Spain, Britain and elsewhere entering the PalaOlimpico venue from throughout Europe were rooting for their own country to win.

Still, Ukrainian music fan Iryna Lasiy said she felt global support for her country in the war and “not only for the music.”

Russia was excluded this year after its Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, a move organizers said was meant to keep politics out of the contest that promotes diversity and friendship among nations.

Ukraine’s song, “Stefania,” was written as a tribute to the frontman’s mother, but has transformed since the war into an anthem to the beleaguered nation, as lyrics take on new meaning. “I’ll always find my way home, even if all roads are destroyed,” Kalush Orchestra frontman Oleh Psiuk wrote.

The six-member, all-male band received special permission to leave the country to represent Ukraine and Ukrainian culture at the music contest. One of the original members stayed to fight, and the others plan to return as soon as the contest is over.

Back in Ukraine, in the battered northeastern city of Kharkiv, Kalush Orchestra’s participation in the contest is seen as giving the nation another platform to garner international support.

“The whole country is rising, everyone in the world supports us. This is extremely nice,″ said Julia Vashenko, a 29-year-old teacher.

“I believe that wherever there is Ukraine now and there is an opportunity to talk about the war, we need to talk,″ said Alexandra Konovalova, a 23-year-old make-up artist in Kharkiv. “Any competitions are important now, because of them more people learn about what is happening now.”

Anastasia Khardikova, a 24-year-old Ukrainian living in Sweden, said she intends to vote for Kalush Orchestra, and is persuading her friends abroad to do the same.

The winner is chosen in equal parts by panels of music experts in each competing nation and votes by the viewing public — leaving room for an upset. Britain’s Sam Ryder and Sweden’s Cornelia Jakobs are each given a 10% shot while the Italian duo of Mahmood & Blanco have a 6% chance of winning.

The winner takes home a glass microphone trophy and a potential career boost.

The event was hosted by Italy after local rock band Maneskin won last year in Rotterdam. The victory shot the Rome-based band to international fame, opening for the Rolling Stones and appearing on Saturday Night Live and numerous magazine covers in their typically genderless costume code.

Twenty bands have been chosen in two semifinals this week, and will compete along with the Big Five of Italy, Britain, France, Germany and Spain, which have permanent berths due to their financial support of the contest.

Anitta spoke with Billboard backstage at MusicCon 2022 and chatted about her first BBMAs, wanting to work with Lil Nas X and Doja Cat, ritual she has to do before going on stage and teases ‘Versions Of Me’ deluxe edition with new tracks.