The Weeknd Wins 10 Billboard Music Awards; Pop Smoke’s Mother and Drake Offer Emotional Moments

variety.com:

Chris Willman Music WriterThe Weeknd won a leading 10 awards at Sunday night’s Billboard Music Awards, including the climactic top artist trophy presented as the climax of the night, followed by the late Pop Smoke with five, and BTS and Bad Bunny with four apiece.Accepting one of several awards on-camera earlier in the evening, the Weeknd promised a change of stylistic pace to come in his future album and performance cycles. “The after hours are done and the dawn is coming,” he vowed.

At another point, he made a joke after beginning with a slight show-of-religiosity fake-out. “I’d like to thank God… that I don’t have to wear that red suit anymore,” he said.One of the performance highlights of the three-hour telecast was a pre-recorded.