“So proud to give @Shawn Mendes the #ArtistOfTheYear award. So freaking deserved, and followed by an amazing performance.” – Scott Helman, THE 2018 IHEARTRADIO MMVA presenter
“I loved hanging out with #iHeartRadioMMVAs host @awkwafina (the first American Asian actress to host a North American awards show!!) and @Meghan_Trainor! Fierce, fine ladies!!” – Tyra Banks, THE 2018 IHEARTRADIO MMVA presenter
TORONTO (August 26, 2018) – Rising superstar Awkwafina electrified the corner of Queen and John Streets in Toronto tonight in her broadcast hosting debut at THE 2018 IHEARTRADIO MMVAS. During the two-hour broadcast, hometown hero Shawn Mendes charmed fans with two stellar performances and four big wins - Artist of the Year, Best Pop Artist or Group, Fan Fave Artist, and Fan Fave Video (“In My Blood”). Toronto’s own Drake added two more IHEARTRADIO MMVAS to his hardware collection for Best Hip Hop Artist or Group and Best Director with Karena Evans for “God’s Plan”, while London, ON-bred DJs Loud Luxury claimed the Song of the Summer Presented by Coca-Cola award for “Body” ft. Brando. Ottawa’s Elijah Woods x Jamie Fine, featured on the first season of CTV’s THE LAUNCH, took home Best New Canadian Artist for their hit “Ain’t Easy,” while Brampton’s Alessia Cara locked down Video of the Year for her and Khalid’s collaboration on Logic’s song “1-800-273-8255”.
Many performers made their debut on the THE 2018 IHEARTRADIO MMVAS stage including bülow, lighting up the audience with glow-in-the-dark LED masks during a performance of “Not A Love Song”; Kris Wu, performing a smoking-hot medley of his hit singles, “18,” “Like That,” and “Deserve”; Canadian indie rock band, The Beaches, who captivated the audience with “T-Shirt”; Halsey, winner tonight of the Artist for Change, stunning viewers at home with animated effects that had flames and butterflies dancing around her; Anne-Marie, performing “2002,” before being joined on-stage by Marshmello to perform their up-beat pop single “FRIENDS,” which helped snag Marshmello an IHEARTRADIO MMVA for Best EDM/Dance Artist or Group; Meghan Trainor rocking a four-song medley of “No Excuses,” “All About That Bass,” “Me Too,” and “Let You Be Right”; and Brett Kissel, making IHEARTRADIO MMVA history as the first country singer to perform on the MMVA stage when he joined Bebe Rexha on smash hit “Meant To Be,” which earned Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line a win for Best Collaboration. Finally, 98 Degrees graced the audience with a classic throwback medley of their top hits as they returned to THE IHEARTRADIO MMVA stage after nearly a decade.
The show hit big in the Twitterverse today with 1.3 million mentions, reaching more than 1.5 billion worldwide, and with #iHeartRadioMMVAs holding the top trend in Canada during the broadcast. Host Awkwafina summed up her boisterous turn as host by tweeting a photo of one of the night’s best moments: Shawn Mendes accepting an award on behalf of Marshmello - helmet and all! Marshmello also tweeted about the moment, joking that the two were now a duo. In the weeks leading up to the show, fans turned out to vote for their favourites with more than 46 million votes cast across six Fan Fave categories online and on social.
The IHEARTRADIO MMVA hardware was handed out by star-studded celebrities including, Alexandra Shipp, Ashlee Simpson-Ross and Evan Ross, Chrissy Metz, Colton Haynes, Craig McMorris, Derek Hough, Francesco Yates, Gus Kenworthy, Jenni “JWOWW” Farley, Jus Reign, Kristin Cavallari, Madison Beer, New City, Prince Michael Jackson, Scott Helman, Sofi Tukker, Sonequa Martin-Green, The Reklaws, Tyler Shaw, and Tyra Banks.
IHEARTRADIO MMVA Aftermath
**MEDIA NOTE** Download IHEARTRADIO MMVA photos at Bellmedia.ca/PR
And the winners are...
iHeartRadio MMVA Artist for Change
Halsey
Best Rock/Alternative Artist or Group
Imagine Dragons
Best Pop Artist or Group
Shawn Mendes
Best EDM/Dance Artist or Group
Marshmello
Best Hip Hop Artist or Group
Drake
Best Director
Drake – “God’s Plan”
Director: Karena Evans
Video of the Year
Logic ft. Alessia Cara and Khalid – “1-800-273-8255”
Single of the Year
Ed Sheeran – “Perfect”
Artist of the Year
Shawn Mendes
Song of the Summer Presented by Coca-Cola
Loud Luxury ft. Brando – “Body”
Best Collaboration
Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line – “Meant To Be”
Best New Canadian Artist or Group
Elijah Woods x Jamie Fine
Fan Fave Artist
Shawn Mendes
Fan Fave Duo or Group
BTS
Fan Fave Video
Shawn Mendes – “In My Blood”
Fan Fave Single
Selena Gomez ft. Marshmello – ‘Wolves’
Fan Fave New Artist
Kris Wu
Fan Fave Much Creator
TheDanocracy – Dan Rodo
Official partners of THE 2018 IHEARTRADIO MMVAS are: Coca-Cola®, Nintendo of Canada Ltd., and Virgin Mobile Canada.
About THE IHEARTRADIO MMVAs:
Fans get the experience of a lifetime by putting them as close as humanly possible to their favourite artists and celebrities at THE 2018 IHEARTRADIO MMVAs. Past MMVA performers and presenters include: Alessia Cara, Ariana Grande, Britney Spears, Bruno Mars, Camila Cabello, Carly Rae Jepsen, Drake, Ed Sheeran, Gigi Hadid, James Bay, Jonas Brothers, Justin Bieber, Kanye West, Katy Perry, Kim Kardashian, Lady Gaga, Lorde, Miley Cyrus, Nick Jonas, Post Malone, Rihanna, Selena Gomez, Shawn Mendes, Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, and many more. At THE IHEARTRADIO MMVAs, the audience is the priority; whether a foot from the stage or a foot from a television, computer, or mobile phone. Fans should hit up @CTV, @iHeartRadioCA, and @Much for the most up-to-date info about the event of the year.
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