Apple introduces its own award

Apple has announced that it has created its own Music Awards aimed at recognizing musicians who have made an impact in the industry this year. The winners were chosen across five distinctive categories by an editorial team and based on user data.

Spotify, Apple Music’s direct music streaming competitor will be having its own awards ceremony in Mexico City next year. Unlike Apple’s event, Spotify says that it chooses its winners based on popularity determined from harvested user data.

Apple’s winners for Global Artist of the Year, Songwriter of the Year and Breakthrough Artist of the Year were hand-selected by Apple Music’s global editorial team. The awards for Album of the Year and Song of the Year are based on streaming data.

Billie Eilish was awarded the Artist of the Year award, Lizzo received the award for Breakthrough Artist of the Year and Lil Nas X received the Song of the Year award for “Old Town Road”.

In typical Apple fashion, winners are presented with a unique award to commemorate their achievements. Each features Apple’s custom silicon wafer suspended between a polished sheet of glass and a machined and anodized aluminum body. These wafers are mafe into the same chips that power Apple’s devices including the iPhone.

The inaugural Apple Music Awards will take place on December 4th at the Steve Jobs theater at Apple Park. A performance by Billie Eilish will be held at the same location. This and the awards ceremony will be streamed live on the same date.