The app “iHeart radio,” a cousin of Pandora, launched a music festival in 2013 with the biggest artists and now continues on with an award show honoring those stars. The NBC aired telecast featured a tribute to Los Angeles, using clips of artists’ speaking of their pre-fame lives, and some shade thrown at Donald Sterling by Pitbull.
Among the winners of the night was Rihanna, who picked up awards for hip-hop/R&B song of the year, best fan army for her “Rihanna Navy,” and Song of the Year with “Stay.” Another winner was 2014’s queen of controversy, Miley Cyrus, who won best lyrics for her Liam Hemsworth inspired “Wrecking Ball,” however the award was picked up by her father.
Seventeen year-old Lorde scored the honor of best new artist, which she accepted via a video while sick in her home country of New Zealand.
The three hour long show included a new posthumous Michael Jackson single called “Love Never Felt This Good,” which was danced to by Usher.
Other musical entertainment was provided by Arcade Fire, who were introduced via video message by “Breaking Bad’s” Aaron Paul, Bastille’s “Pompeii,” and Ariana Grande performing “The Way” while in a loose-fitting black dress and knee-high white boots before switching to her new hit “Problem” and ripping off the former dress to reveal a tighter sequined number.
Compton native, Kendrick Lamar payed respects to the 1995 2Pac song “California Love,” which he revealed he had a minor extra acting gig in. Love for California continued with Thirty Seconds to Mars’ performance of “ City of Angels” that featured clips of some famous friends- Kanye West, Selena Gomez, and Olivia Wilde- speaking highly of the Los Angeles.
Throughout the show, clips of artists talking about their L.A stories and “breakthroughs” served as transitions- among them were Adam Levine, Rita Ora, and Steven Tyler.
The newest addition to NBC’s “The Voice” Gwen Stefani presented her fellow new coach Pharrell Williams with the iHeart Radio’s innovator award.
“He was the person who made it cool to just be you,” said Beyonce about Williams.
Other awards of the night included Alternative Rock Song of the year for Imagine Dragons’ “Demons,” Country Song of the Year for “Boys ‘Round Here” by Blake Shelton, and EDM Song of the year for Avicii’s “Wake Me Up.”
