AMAs 2026 Winners & Nominees: BTS, Sabrina Carpenter, Cardi B and Tyla Dominate the Music Night

The 2026 American Music Awards delivered one of its most competitive and globally diverse editions with major wins spread across K-pop, pop, R&B, Latin, Afrobeats, and hip-hop. From BTS’ dominance to Sabrina Carpenter’s pop takeover and Cardi B’s hip-hop sweep, the night reflected a fully global music landscape. Held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

ARTIST CATEGORIES

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Winner: BTS

Nominees:

  • Bad Bunny
  • Bruno Mars
  • BTS
  • Harry Styles
  • Justin Bieber
  • Kendrick Lamar
  • Lady Gaga
  • Morgan Wallen
  • Sabrina Carpenter
  • Taylor Swift

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Winner: KATSEYE

Nominees:

  • Alex Warren
  • Ella Langley
  • KATSEYE 
  • Leon Thomas
  • Olivia Dean
  • SOMBR

ALBUM CATEGORIES

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Winner: Sabrina Carpenter – Man’s Best Friend

Nominees:

  • Cardi B – AM I THE DRAMA?
  • Fuerza Regida – 111XPANTIA
  • Justin Bieber – SWAG
  • Lady Gaga – Mayhem
  • Morgan Wallen – I’m The Problem
  • Olivia Dean – The Art of Loving
  • Playboi Carti – MUSIC
  • Sabrina Carpenter – Man’s Best Friend 
  • Tate McRae – So Close To What
  • Taylor Swift – The Life of a Showgir

BREAKTHROUGH ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Winner: Olivia Dean – The Art of Loving

Nominees:

  • Olivia Dean 
  • SOMBR
  • Zara Larsson
  • Leon Thomas

SONG CATEGORIES

SONG OF THE YEAR

Winner: “Golden” – HUNTR/X

Nominees:

  • Alex Warren – “Ordinary”
  • Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas”
  • HUNTR/X – “Golden”
  • Kehlani – “Folded”
  • Leon Thomas – “MUTT”
  • Morgan Wallen – “I’m The Problem”
  • Olivia Dean – “Man I Need”
  • Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild”
  • SOMBR – “Back to Friends”
  • Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”

SONG OF THE SUMMER

Winner: BTS – “SWIM”

Nominees:

  • BTS – “SWIM” 
  • Other viral summer hits

SOCIAL SONG OF THE YEAR

Winner: Tyla – “CHANEL”

Nominees:

  • Disco Lines & Tinashe – “No Broke Boys”
  • PinkPantheress – “Illegal”
  • Role Model – “Sally, When the Wine Runs Out”
  • Tyla – “CHANEL”
  • Zara Larsson – “Lush Life”

COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR

Winner: PinkPantheress & Zara Larsson – “Stateside”

Nominees:

  • BigXthaPlug & Bailey Zimmerman – “All The Way”
  • David Guetta, Teddy Swims & Tones And I – “Gone Gone Gone”
  • Morgan Wallen & Tate McRae – “What I Want”
  • PinkPantheress & Zara Larsson – “Stateside” 
  • Shaboozey & Jelly Roll – “Amen”
  • Tinashe & Disco Lines – “No Broke Boys”

POP CATEGORIES

BEST FEMALE POP ARTIST

Winner: Sabrina Carpenter

Nominees:

  • Sabrina Carpenter
  • Olivia Rodrigo
  • Taylor Swift
  • Lady Gaga
  • Dua Lipa

BEST MALE POP ARTIST

Winner: Justin Bieber

Nominees:

  • Justin Bieber 
  • Harry Styles
  • Bruno Mars
  • The Weeknd
  • Morgan Wallen

R&B CATEGORIES

BEST FEMALE R&B ARTIST

Winner: SZA

Nominees:

  • SZA 
  • Kehlani
  • Summer Walker
  • H.E.R.
  • Victoria Monét

BEST MALE R&B ARTIST

Winner: Bruno Mars

Nominees:

  • Bruno Mars 
  • Chris Brown
  • The Weeknd
  • Khalid
  • Giveon

BREAKTHROUGH R&B ARTIST

Winner: Leon Thomas

Nominees:

  • Leon Thomas
  • Mariah The Scientist
  • Ravyn Lenae

BEST R&B SONG

Winner: Bruno Mars – “I Just Might”

Nominees:

  • Bruno Mars – “I Just Might”
  • Kehlani – “Folded”
  • Leon Thomas – “MUTT”
  • Chris Brown & Bryson Tiller – “It Depends”
  • Mariah The Scientist – “Burning Blue”

BEST R&B ALBUM

Winner: Bruno Mars – The Romantic

Nominees:

  • Bruno Mars – The Romantic
  • Justin Bieber – SWAG
  • Leon Thomas – MUTT
  • Mariah The Scientist – Hearts Sold Separately
  • Summer Walker – Finally Over It

HIP-HOP CATEGORIES

BEST FEMALE HIP-HOP ARTIST

Winner: Cardi B

Nominees:

  • Cardi B 
  • Nicki Minaj
  • Megan Thee Stallion
  • Doja Cat
  • Latto

BEST HIP-HOP SONG

Winner: Cardi B – “ErrTime”

Nominees:

  • Cardi B – “ErrTime”
  • Other major hip-hop tracks from top female rappers

ROCK / ALTERNATIVE

BEST ROCK / ALTERNATIVE ARTIST

Winner: Twenty One Pilots

Nominees:

  • Twenty One Pilots 
  • Imagine Dragons
  • Foo Fighters
  • Arctic Monkeys
  • The Killers

BREAKTHROUGH ROCK / ALTERNATIVE ARTIST

Winner: SOMBR

Nominees:

  • SOMBR
  • Emerging alternative acts

LATIN CATEGORIES

BEST MALE LATIN ARTIST

Winner: Bad Bunny

Nominees:

  • Bad Bunny 
  • J Balvin
  • Feid
  • Maluma
  • Rauw Alejandro

BEST LATIN ALBUM

Winner: KAROL G – Tropicoqueta

Nominees:

  • KAROL G – Tropicoqueta
  • Bad Bunny – Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar
  • Feid – Ferxxocalipsis
  • Rauw Alejandro – Cosa Nuestra
  • Shakira – Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran

AFROBEATS CATEGORY

BEST AFROBEATS ARTIST

Winner: Tyla

Nominees:

  • Burna Boy
  • Rema
  • Wizkid
  • MOLIY
  • Tyla 

DANCE / ELECTRONIC

BEST DANCE / ELECTRONIC ARTIST

Winner: David Guetta

Nominees:

  • David Guetta 
  • Calvin Harris
  • Tiësto
  • Fred again..
  • Peggy Gou

SPECIAL AWARDS

  • Lifetime Achievement Award — Billy Idol
  • International Artist Award of Excellence — KAROL G
  • Veterans Voice Award — Darius Rucker

BET Awards 2026 Nominations: Tyla, Tems, Wizkid & Asake On Global Music Recognition

The BET Awards 2026 nominations are officially out, and this year’s list is shaping up to be one of the most globally competitive editions yet, with African stars once again making a strong impact across key categories.

From viral visuals to chart dominating collaborations, the nominations reflect a music landscape where Afrobeats, R&B, and hip-hop continue to collide on a worldwide stage.

Nigeria continues its steady dominance on the BET stage.

BET Awards 2026 Full Nominations

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Ella Mai — 100
Doechii — Anxiety
Mariah the Scientist — Burning Blue
Tyla — CHANEL
Teyana Taylor — Escape Room (Short Film)
Kehlani — Folded
T.I. — Let ’Em Know
Kendrick Lamar & SZA — Luther

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Am I The Drama? — Cardi B
Don’t Tap The Glass — Artist TBC
everything is a lot. — Artist TBC
Hearts Sold Separately — Artist TBC
Let God Sort Em Out — Clipse
Mutt Deluxe: Heel — Artist TBC
The Fall-Off — J. Cole
The Romantic — Artist TBC

BEST FEMALE R&B / POP ARTIST

SZA
Tems
Ari Lennox
Coco Jones
Ella Mai
Jill Scott
Kehlani
Mariah the Scientist
Olivia Dean

BEST MALE R&B / POP ARTIST

Chris Brown
Usher
Bruno Mars
Bryson Tiller
Brent Faiyaz
Giveon
Leon Thomas
October London
Durand Bernarr
BEST FEMALE HIP HOP ARTIST

Cardi B
Doja Cat
Megan Thee Stallion
Latto
GloRilla
Doechii
Coi Leray
Sexyy Red

BEST MALE HIP HOP ARTIST

Drake
J. Cole
Kendrick Lamar
A$AP Rocky
Baby Keem
Don Toliver
DaBaby
BigXthaPlug
T.I.

BEST GROUP

Wizkid & Asake
Nas & DJ Premier
Metro Boomin & DJ Spinz
French Montana & Max B
Clipse
De La Soul
FLO
Terrace Martin & Kenyon Dixon
41

BEST COLLABORATION

Gunna ft. Burna Boy — WGFT
Mariah the Scientist & Kali Uchis — Is It a Crime
Chris Brown ft. Bryson Tiller & Usher — It Depends (Remix)
Baby Keem ft. Kendrick Lamar — Good Flirts
Metro Boomin ft. Quavo, YK Niece & DJ Spinz — Take Me Thru Dere

VIEWER’S CHOICE AWARD

Drake — NOKIA
Chris Brown — Residuals
Doechii — Anxiety
Dave ft. Tems — Raindance
GELO — Tweaker
Pluto & YK Niece — Whim Whamiee

BET HER AWARD

Tems — First
Beyoncé — Blackbiird
Summer Walker — Heart of a Woman
Mary J. Blige — Beautiful People
Doechii — Bloom

BEST NEW ARTIST

Leon Thomas
Mariah the Scientist
Olivia Dean
GELO
Breskii
YK Niece

GRAMMYs 2026: Major Winners and the Global & African Categories That Defined the Night

The 68th Annual GRAMMY Awards (2026) delivered a night that balanced mainstream dominance with a growing global outlook. While pop, rap, and songwriting heavyweights controlled the Academy’s biggest prizes, the Global Music and African categories once again reinforced the Grammys’ slow but steady shift toward cultural inclusivity.

Below is a list of major GRAMMY categories alongside the Global and African-focused awards. 

Major GRAMMY Categories (General Field)

Record of the Year

Winner: “luther” — Kendrick Lamar with SZA

Nominees:

  • “DtMF” — Bad Bunny
  • “Manchild” — Sabrina Carpenter
  • “Anxiety” — Doechii
  • “WILDFLOWER” — Billie Eilish
  • “Abracadabra” — Lady Gaga
  • “The Subway” — Chappell Roan
  • “APT.” — ROSÉ & Bruno Mars

Album of the Year

Winner: DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS — Bad Bunny

Nominees:

  • SWAG — Justin Bieber
  • Man’s Best Friend — Sabrina Carpenter
  • Let God Sort Em Out — Clipse
  • MAYHEM — Lady Gaga
  • GNX — Kendrick Lamar
  • MUTT — Leon Thomas
  • CHROMAKOPIA — Tyler, The Creator

Song of the Year

Winner: “WILDFLOWER” — Billie Eilish & FINNEAS

Nominees:

  • “Abracadabra” — Lady Gaga
  • “Anxiety” — Doechii
  • “APT.” — ROSÉ & Bruno Mars
  • “DtMF” — Bad Bunny
  • “Golden” — HUNTR/X
  • “luther” — Kendrick Lamar with SZA
  • “Manchild” — Sabrina Carpenter

Best New Artist

Winner: Olivia Dean

Nominees:

  • KATSEYE
  • The Marías
  • Addison Rae
  • sombr
  • Leon Thomas
  • Alex Warren
  • Lola Young

Songwriting & Production

Producer of the Year (Non-Classical)

Winner: Cirkut

Nominees:

  • Dan Auerbach
  • Dijon
  • Blake Mills
  • Sounwave

Songwriter of the Year (Non-Classical)

Winner: Amy Allen

Nominees:

  • Edgar Barrera
  • Jessie Jo Dillon
  • Tobias Jesso Jr.
  • Laura Veltz

Global & African Categories

Best African Music Performance

Winner: “Push 2 Start” — Tyla

Nominees:

  • “Love” — Burna Boy
  • “With You” — Davido ft. Omah Lay
  • “Hope & Love” — Eddy Kenzo & Mehran Matin
  • “Gimme Dat” — Ayra Starr ft. Wizkid

Best Global Music Performance

Winner: “EoO” — Bad Bunny

Nominees:

  • “Cantando en el Camino” — Ciro Hurtado
  • “Jerusalema” — Angélique Kidjo
  • “Inmigrante Y Qué?” — Yeisy Rojas
  • “Shrini’s Dream (Live)” — Shakti
  • “Daybreak” — Anoushka Shankar ft. Alam Khan & Sarathy Korwar

Best Global Music Album

Winner: Caetano e Bethânia Ao Vivo — Caetano Veloso & Maria Bethânia

Nominees:

  • Sounds of Kumbha — Siddhant Bhatia
  • No Sign of Weakness — Burna Boy
  • Éclairer le monde – Light the World — Youssou N’Dour
  • Mind Explosion (50th Anniversary Tour Live) — Shakti
  • Chapter III: We Return to Light — Anoushka Shankar

Tyla’s “CHANEL” Surpasses 200 Million Spotify Streams

South African music sensation Tyla continues to break records as her hit single “CHANEL” surpasses 200 million streams on Spotify. This milestone marks the song as her 6th track to reach this level, highlighting her growing influence on the global music scene.

Since its release, “CHANEL” has captivated fans worldwide with its signature Afro-pop rhythms and catchy hooks. Crossing 200 million streams signals not only the song’s viral appeal but also Tyla’s consistency in producing hits that resonate far beyond her home country.

Tyla’s 200M+ Spotify Hits

“CHANEL” now joins an elite group of Tyla’s most-streamed tracks:

  • Water – Over 1 billion streams, her biggest hit to date.
  • PUSH 2 START – Surpassed 300 million streams, a global favorite.
  • Jump – Over 200 million streams, showcasing her strong international fanbase.
  • Truth or Dare – Another 200M+ hit, reflecting her versatility.
  • Show Me Love – Crossed 200 million streams, proving her success in collaborations.
  • CHANEL – The latest addition, now her 6th track to hit this milestone.

Her energetic performances, viral music videos, and strategic releases ensure that she remains a key figure in Afro-pop’s global expansion

Tyla’s 200 million Spotify streams for “CHANEL” reflect her position as a global African music star, with multiple high-performing tracks confirming her status as one of the continent’s most exciting talents.

Tyla’s “Push 2 Start” Earns Gold Certification in the UK

South African pop sensation Tyla has reached another major career milestone as her hit single “Push 2 Start” has officially been certified Gold in the United Kingdom, following sales of over 400,000 units.

The certification, awarded under the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) standards, highlights the song’s sustained commercial success and growing popularity among UK listeners.

Released as part of Tyla’s recent run of globally appealing singles, “Push 2 Start” quickly gained traction thanks to its infectious production, smooth vocals, and crossover appeal. The track performed strongly on UK streaming platforms and enjoyed steady radio rotation, helping it cross the Gold threshold.

The achievement places “Push 2 Start” among Tyla’s most successful releases in the region and reinforces her status as one of Africa’s most commercially viable pop exports right now.

The UK has played a key role in Tyla’s international breakthrough, with her music consistently charting across Afrobeats and pop categories. A Gold certification in the market is particularly significant, given its competitive music landscape and strict certification benchmarks.

This latest milestone adds to Tyla’s growing list of international accomplishments and further proves that her sound resonates well beyond the African continent.

AFRIMA 2025 Nominations: Full List, Top Contenders, and Emerging Stars

The All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) 2025 nominations are out, and the competition is fiercer than ever. With 343 nominees across 40 categories, this year’s edition highlights Africa’s biggest icons, rising talents, and diaspora voices shaping global music culture.

AFRIMA 2025 made history with 10,717 entries, the highest in its 12-year existence. After a rigorous 10-day screening by a 13-member international jury, the final nominees list was unveiled, representing all five African regions and the diaspora. The award ceremony will run from November 25 to 30, 2025, in Lagos, Nigeria, culminating in the main event on November 30. Fans will also have their say when public voting opens on September 10 via the official AFRIMA website.

Artists with the Most Nominations

Five Nominations Each

  • Burna Boy (Nigeria) – Album of the Year (No Sign of Weakness), Song of the Year, Artiste of the Year
  • Davido (Nigeria) – Album of the Year (5ive), Best Collaboration, Song of the Year
  • DJ Maphorisa (South Africa) – Key nods in production and collaboration categories
  • El Grande Toto (Morocco) – Album of the Year (Salgoat), Best Male Artist North Africa
  • Mia Guissé (Senegal)
  • Moliy (Ghana) – Leading the female Afropop charge

Four Nominations

  • Shallipopi (Nigeria) – Artiste of the Year and Song of the Year for “Laho”
  • Amr Diab (Egypt)
  • Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
  • Tyla (South Africa) – Riding global fame with Amapiano fusion
  • Uncle Waffles (Eswatini) – Reinforcing female dominance in the DJ scene

Three Nominations

  • Ipupa (DRC)
  • Ferre Gola (DRC)
  • Himra (Côte d’Ivoire)
  • Didi B (Côte d’Ivoire)
  • Eboloko (Gabon)
  • Emma’a (Gabon)
  • Jaylann (Morocco)
  • Juma Jux (Tanzania) – Song of the Year for “Ololufe mi”
  • Mawhoo (South Africa)
  • Nasty C (South Africa)
  • Rema (Nigeria) – Also contending for Artiste of the Year

Two Nominations

  • Ayra Starr (Nigeria) – Facing Burna Boy, Davido, and Rema in the Artiste of the Year category

AFRIMA 2025 extends beyond the continent, celebrating African talent abroad. Notable nominees include:

Male: DJ Snake, Niska, Tayc, Tiakola, Odeal
Female: Aya Nakamura, Darkoo, Deborah Lukalu, Faouzia, Ronisia

The 2025 AFRIMA nominations prove once again that African music is not just thriving, it’s leading global soundscapes. With icons like Burna Boy, Davido, and Rema battling it out alongside rising stars like Shallipopi, Moliy, and Ayra Starr, this year’s awards promise unforgettable moments. As voting begins on September 10, fans will play a crucial role in deciding who takes home Africa’s biggest music honors.

Mixtape Review; Tyla’s We Wanna Party (WWP)

South African star Tyla is clearly not here for one-dimensional artistry. Just a year after her self-titled debut album and a whirlwind global breakout with “Water,” she’s switching gears again and this time with a tight, bold, and experimental EP titled We Wanna Party, released under FAX and Epic Records.

The 4-track project is short, but far from small. It’s playful, confident, and rhythm-heavy — giving us a version of Tyla that isn’t trying to prove anything, just enjoying her growth in real time. If Tyla the album was her formal debut, We Wanna Party is her pulling up to the function in silk and sunglasses, telling us she’s not only ready to party — she’s hosting it.

The EP in Four Tracks

1. Dynamite ft. Wizkid

    This is the moment. “Dynamite” is smooth, slow, and sexy — the kind of track you want to put on repeat during a humid evening. Tyla and Wizkid deliver chemistry without doing too much. The beat doesn’t rush, the lyrics don’t beg, and the vibe is locked in. For fans of laid-back Afropop and effortless energy, this is gold.

    2. Mr. Media

    This track is Tyla at her cheekiest. She calls out gossip culture, online noise, and the obsession with image — all while sounding unbothered and fabulous. “Mr. Media” is fun and shady in the best way, with production that snaps and bounces like a digital catwalk. It’s a clapback, a wink, and a flex — all wrapped in one.

    3. Is It

    A more emotional, slowed-down moment. “Is It” has that late-night feel where the party fades and questions start rising. Tyla’s delivery is soft and vulnerable here, and the production gives space for that honesty. She doesn’t just sing — she questions, she hesitates, she wonders out loud. And we feel it.

    4. Bliss

    Ending the EP on a floaty, reflective note, “Bliss” lives up to its name. It’s dreamy and mellow, like the last scene in a coming-of-age movie. Tyla lets her vocals glide over airy production, giving us a gentle close that lingers after the beat fades. Not flashy — just beautifully calm.

    The Sound & Mood

    We Wanna Party isn’t trying to follow the same path as her debut album. Where Tyla was sleek and full of world-building, this Mixtape is more vibe-first, more experimental, and definitely less polished. 

    Why It Works

    Tyla has always known how to balance softness with strength, and We Wanna Party proves it again. She’s giving attitude without arrogance. She’s calling out the media, teasing desire, showing some emotional depth — all within four tracks. It’s cohesive without being predictable.

    And that Wizkid collab; Honestly, overdue because we all know Tyla is a big fan of Wizkid and has been looking forward to working with him. “Dynamite” feels like a natural meeting of two calm-but-commanding stars. No overproduction, no gimmicks — just quality.

    My Rating 8.5/10 

    It’s short, stylish, and quietly bold — exactly what an artist in her position should be dropping right now. She’s not doing too much, but she’s doing just enough to remind us: the party’s not stopping anytime soon.

    Tyla and Rema are The only Two African in Spotify’s 1 Billion Song Club

    South African pop queen Tyla is at it, but this time it’s a top record: only one person has broken it—the first African solo artist with a song to surpass 1 billion streams on Spotify.

    As of February 2025, Tyla became the first solo artist with a song (“Water”) to surpass one billion streams on Spotify. The song, which was released on July 28, 2023, took the entire world to the borders of South Africa.

    The song peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Hot R&B Songs charts. It also spent 15 weeks on the Billboard 200, peaking at #24.

    ‘Water’ won many international awards, including MTV VMAs, MTV EMA, BET, and Grammys.

    Another Billion club member achieved this but with the help of Selena Gomez on “Calm Down Remix.”

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