The Kid LAROI Bags Multiple Wins at 2022 Billboard Music Awards
The Kid LAROI is a multiple winner at the Billboard Music Awards, presented Sunday night (early Monday AEST, May 16) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
The Sydney-raised singer and rapper collected a swag of trophies for “Stay,” his global mega-hit with Justin Bieber, but missed out on the newcomer prize to Olivia Rodrigo.
Laroi (real name Charlton Howard) dominated the “Song” category, winning top Hot 100 song, top streaming song, top collaboration, and two of five new categories, top Billboard 200 song and top Billboard Global (Excl. U.S.) song honours.
If you’d tuned in early, the going looked tough for the Aussie star, as the major BBMAs categories were handed out to Drake, Rodrigo, BTS, and Taylor Swift.
Never count out the Kid.
Earlier this month, the teen phenomenon collected a hattrick of APRA Awards, including the coveted song of the year, for “Stay,” and songwriter of the year, adding to a collection that includes ARIA Awards and NIMAs, and the breakthrough songwriter win at the 2021 APRAs, when he was the youngest winner on the night.
Laroi had eight nominations heading into Billboard’s annual award ceremony, reward for an awesome 2021, during which time he scored No. 1 singles and albums in the U.S. and in his homeland, and, along with U.S. star Rodrigo, become the hottest teenage property in popular music.
The Gadigal-born artist with Kamilaroi roots had the No. 2 digital single worldwide in 2021 with “Stay,” according to the IFPI, amassing 2.07 billion “streaming equivalent” units, eclipsed only by The Weeknd’s “Save Your Tears” (2.17 billion streams).
Expect the young star to perform it, along with “Without You” and “Thousand Miles,” lifted from his forthcoming debut LP, when he embarks on his national tour later this month at Qudos Bank Arena.
The Kid Laroi wasn’t the only Australian act in the winners’ circle at the 2022 BBMAs.
The annual top dance/electronic song category went to Elton John & Dua Lipa’s “Cold Heart,” the U.K. and Australian chart-topping track remixed by Aussie production trio Pnau.
This year’s awards are based on the tracking period of March 26, 2021, through March 17, 2022.
That corresponds to Billboard chart dates of April 10, 2021, through March 26, 2022.
Billboard Music Awards finalists and winners are based on key fan interactions with music, including album and digital song sales, streaming, radio airplay, and social engagement, tracked by Billboard and its data partners, including Luminate (formerly known as MRC Data).