Winning the top prize at the AMAs is a different beast entirely. It’s not like the Grammys, where a room full of suits and "experts" decide who had the most artistic integrity. Here, it’s all about the fans. If you’ve ever wondered why your favorite indie darling never stands a chance against the juggernauts of pop, it’s basically because the American Music Awards Artist of the Year is a popularity contest in its purest, most chaotic form. And honestly? That’s what makes it so fun.
The Night Billie Eilish Cleaned House
Let’s talk about the 2025 ceremony. It was a weird one, right? Moved from its usual November slot to May 26—Memorial Day, of all days—and held in Las Vegas at the Fontainebleau instead of Los Angeles. Jennifer Lopez was back as host, and the energy was just... different.
Billie Eilish didn't just win; she absolutely dominated.
She was up against some heavy hitters. We’re talking Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar, Ariana Grande, and the breakout of the year, Chappell Roan. But when the dust settled, Billie took home all seven awards she was nominated for, including the big one: American Music Awards Artist of the Year. It was a massive statement for HIT ME HARD AND SOFT. People were shocked, mostly because Taylor Swift has historically owned this category.
The Taylor Swift Monopoly
You can't discuss this award without talking about Taylor. It’s impossible.
She holds the record. Seven wins. 2009, 2011, 2013, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2022. That is an insane run. For a decade and a half, if Taylor Swift released an album, the "Artist of the Year" trophy was basically hers to lose. Why? Because the Swifties are arguably the most organized voting block in music history.
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But even a titan can be unseated. In 2021, BTS took it home, marking a huge shift in how global fandoms influence American award shows. Then in 2025, the momentum shifted toward Billie.
- Taylor Swift: 7 wins (The undisputed GOAT of the AMAs)
- Justin Bieber: 2 wins
- One Direction: 2 wins
It’s a short list of repeat winners. Most artists are lucky to even get a nomination once in their career.
Why Kendrick Lamar’s 10 Nominations Mattered
Kendrick Lamar went into the 2025 show with ten nominations. Ten! That was more than anyone else. He was the favorite in almost every room you walked into. After the whole "Not Like Us" cultural moment, it felt like his year.
He didn't win Artist of the Year.
That went to Billie.
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This happens a lot at the AMAs. You can have the biggest song in the world—the "song of the summer" that everyone from your toddler to your grandma knows—and still lose the top prize. Kendrick did win Favorite Hip-Hop Song, which felt right, but the snub for the night's biggest honor sparked a lot of "is this show rigged?" talk on social media. Honestly, it's not rigged; it's just that pop fans and country fans often out-vote hip-hop fans in these specific digital portals.
The Country Crossover Chaos
Did anyone have Beyoncé winning Favorite Female Country Artist on their bingo card five years ago? Probably not. But 2025 was the year of Cowboy Carter.
Beyoncé won. Post Malone won Favorite Male Country Artist.
The purists were mad. You could practically hear the collective sigh from Nashville. Some people argued that "real" country artists were being pushed out by pop stars "playing dress-up," but the AMAs don't care about genres as much as they care about impact. If you’re moving the needle and your fans are clicking that vote button, you’re getting the trophy.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Voting
There’s a common misconception that "fan-voted" means "only teenagers on TikTok."
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That’s not quite it.
The nominations themselves are based on actual data: streaming numbers, album sales, radio airplay, and social engagement. You have to be a massive success just to get on the ballot. Once you're there, yeah, it’s a click-war. But the "Artist of the Year" nominees are chosen because they actually ran the numbers for the previous twelve months.
Surprising Facts from the Vault
- The 2024 Hiatus: There wasn't even a regular AMAs ceremony in 2024. They did a 50th Anniversary Special in October instead, which is why the 2025 show felt like such a comeback.
- The First Winner: The "Artist of the Year" category didn't even exist when the show started in 1974. It was introduced much later, in 1996. The first winner? Garth Brooks. He famously refused the award because he didn't believe in the concept of one artist being "better" than others in a year where Hootie & the Blowfish were so big. Talk about a different era.
- Michael Jackson's Record: Before Taylor came along, MJ was the king of the AMAs with 26 total wins. Taylor has since blown past that with 40.
How to Actually Win (The Strategy)
If you're a rising artist, winning American Music Awards Artist of the Year requires more than just a hit song. You need a cult.
Look at Gracie Abrams, who won New Artist of the Year in 2025. She has a highly dedicated, "online" fanbase. You need people who are willing to refresh a page and vote every single day.
The Actionable Insight for Fans and Follower
If you want to see your favorite artist stand on that stage in Las Vegas (or wherever they host it next), you have to understand the window.
- Watch the Eligibility Period: Usually, the AMAs look at a one-year cycle. If your favorite drops an album in June, they might not see a nomination until the following year's ceremony.
- The Multi-Platform Vote: In recent years, voting has moved across Discord, X (formerly Twitter), and the official website. To actually make a difference, you have to be active on all of them.
- Check the Data: If you want to predict the winner, look at the Billboard Year-End charts. The AMAs almost always align with who was most dominant on Spotify and radio.
The 2025 show proved that the old guard (Taylor, Beyoncé) is still powerful, but there's a new generation (Billie, Chappell, Sabrina Carpenter) that has figured out how to mobilize fans in a way that can topple even the biggest legends. Whether you love the results or hate them, you can't deny that the Artist of the Year award is the most accurate pulse of what America is actually listening to.
The best way to stay ahead of the next ceremony is to track the RIAA certifications and streaming peaks of current nominees starting in the fall. This will give you a clear picture of who is actually leading the pack before the nominations are even announced. Keep an eye on the mid-year charts for 2026; that’s where the next winner is currently hiding.