Apple Announces Winners of Third Annual Apple Music Awards

Apple has announced the winners of the third annual Apple Music Awards, which recognize "the best artists of 2021 and their influence on global culture."

apple apple music awards 2020 hero 11182020 big
The awards honor achievements in music across five categories, with winners chosen through a process that reflects both ‌‌Apple Music‌‌'s editorial perspective and what customers around the world have been listening to most.

Apple has named The Weeknd as Global Artist of the Year, while Olivia Rodrigo is Breakthrough Artist of the Year. Rodrigo also bagged the Album of the Year award for her debut album, "SOUR," and Single of the Year for "drivers license." The Songwriter of the Year award went to multi-instrumentalist H.E.R. especially in recognition of her 21-track R&B album "Back of My Mind."

This year, the ‌Apple Music‌ Awards also introduces a new category of awards for Regional Artist of the Year, recognizing artists from five countries and regions: Africa, France, Germany, Japan, and Russia. The Regional Artist of the Year awards recognize artists who made the greatest impact culturally and on the charts in their respective countries and regions, according to Apple.

"The past 12 months have proved to be a remarkable year for music, and we're thrilled to honor the artists who are shaping culture and connecting with fans around the world on Apple Music," said Oliver Schusser, Apple's vice president of Apple Music and Beats. "This year we're also recognizing more regional artists, showing the world the impact of extraordinary talented musicians who are making waves globally."

The ‌Apple Music‌ Awards celebration kicks off Tuesday, December 7, 2021, with interviews, original content, and more all streaming worldwide on ‌Apple Music‌ and the Apple TV app. Apple's full article has a more complete list of details on all of the artists that are to be honored with a special Apple-designed award.

Popular Stories

Apple Wallet ID Illinois

Apple Plans to Expand iPhone Driver's Licenses to These 7 U.S. States

Wednesday December 24, 2025 8:40 am PST by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Apple Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, and then use it to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. The feature is currently available in 13 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, and it is expected to launch in at least seven more in the future. To set up the...
iPhone Top Left Hole Punch Face ID Feature Purple

iPhone 18 Pro Launching Next Year With These 12 New Features

Tuesday December 23, 2025 8:36 am PST by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not expected to launch for another nine months, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we have recapped 12 features rumored for the iPhone 18 Pro models. The same overall design is expected, with 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes, and a "plateau" housing three rear cameras Under-screen Face ID Front camera in...
maxresdefault

Where's the New Apple TV?

Monday December 22, 2025 11:30 am PST by
Apple hasn't updated the Apple TV 4K since 2022, and 2025 was supposed to be the year that we got a refresh. There were rumors suggesting Apple would release the new Apple TV before the end of 2025, but it looks like that's not going to happen now. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said several times across 2024 and 2025 that Apple would...
airpods color prototypes

Apple Tested AirPods in Bright Colors

Saturday December 27, 2025 6:06 am PST by
Apple reportedly tested a version of the first-generation AirPods with bright, iPhone 5c-like colored charging cases. The images, shared by the Apple leaker and prototype collector known as "Kosutami," claim to show first-generation AirPods prototypes with pink and yellow exterior casings. The interior of the charging case and the earbuds themselves remain white. They seem close to some...
iOS 26

iOS 26.2 Adds These 8 New Features to Your iPhone

Monday December 22, 2025 8:47 am PST by
Earlier this month, Apple released iOS 26.2, following more than a month of beta testing. It is a big update, with many new features and changes for iPhones. iOS 26.2 adds a Liquid Glass slider for the Lock Screen's clock, offline lyrics in Apple Music, and more. Below, we have highlighted a total of eight new features. Liquid Glass Slider on Lock Screen A new slider in the Lock...
maxresdefault

10 Mac Apps Worth Trying in 2026

Wednesday December 24, 2025 9:27 am PST by
2026 is almost upon us, and a new year is a good time to try out some new apps. We've rounded up 10 excellent Mac apps that are worth checking out. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Alt-Tab (Free) - Alt-Tab brings a Windows-style alt + tab thumbnail preview option to the Mac. You can see a full window preview of open apps and app windows. One Thing (Free) -...
top stories 2025 12 27

Top Stories: iPhone Fold Mockup, Where's the New Apple TV?, and More

Saturday December 27, 2025 6:00 am PST by
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from MacRumors! News in the Apple world has unsurprisingly been relatively slow over the past week, but Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone managed to make its way back into the news, while we also shared updates on current and future Apple TV news. iOS 26.3 will be bringing some new features, particularly for users in the EU, so we'll look for additional...

Top Rated Comments

TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
53 months ago
Well deserved! The weekend Wins!

Congratulations!!!


The Weekend wins Global Artist of the Year at the third annual Apple Music Awards.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Bandaman Avatar
53 months ago
Ugh no.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Bug-Creator Avatar
53 months ago

Aya Nakamura for France?
Dunno, but considering that they went with a 100% talent free autotune "rapper" for Germany gives me a hint....
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Upeo Avatar
53 months ago

She’s the exact opposite of an artist. She is an empty product created for mass consumption with no idea of what she’s doing. She even recognized herself that she didn’t know what the lyrics she’s been writing meant (because they don’t mean anything whatsoever). Appart from the lyrics, the music is also quite… appalling.
I never really understood this argument regarding pop music, regardless of how I feel about it. Let's say she is an empty product created for mass consumption, doesn't that mean the appetite for whatever it is she's producing is out there? You think it's just ignorance that has people consuming what she's producing? Can't it be that they're simply looking for something in their music that you're not looking for in yours?

Music is meant to elicit an emotional response out of people. Whether to energise, help contemplate or think, inform, emotional processing, or what else, it's popular with human beings precisely because it affects the way we feel and it can do so in multiple different ways.

You can't judge a song for what it's not trying to be, she's not going after a Pulitzer. It's music meant to help you decompress. That has its value too. Apple Music is a streaming platform, they go by what people listen to. We may not enjoy it, but for something as utterly and completely subjective as music, who are we to either say they're not allowed to or the music we listen to is better?

If these people are doing good, more power to them. Music you like is still out there, music I like is still out there. There's room for both. Not everything has to be for everybody.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
RobertoDLV Avatar
53 months ago

Why do you say that?
She’s the exact opposite of an artist. She is an empty product created for mass consumption with no idea of what she’s doing. She even recognized herself that she didn’t know what the lyrics she’s been writing meant (because they don’t mean anything whatsoever). Appart from the lyrics, the music is also quite… appalling.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Stevez67 Avatar
53 months ago
Industry awards like these are intended to continue the corporate revenue stream from performers who are already part of that stream. These awards go to performers in whom the music industry has already invested. It's a bit like slapping insurance policy onto an asset. I've listened to all the awardees and they're listenable, but unremarkable. They break no new ground, musically.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)