What Is 2019 MTV Europe Music Awards

Overview

The 2019 MTV Europe Music Awards celebrated the year's most influential artists across global and regional music scenes. Held on November 3, 2019, the event marked a milestone as it took place in Seville, Spain, for the first time in the awards' history.

Organized by MTV, the EMAs spotlighted achievements in pop, hip-hop, rock, and regional genres, with winners determined by fan votes. The ceremony emphasized international representation, featuring performances and nominations from artists across Europe, North America, Asia, and Latin America.

• BTS made history by winning three awards: Best Song for 'Boy With Luv,' Best Group, and Best Worldwide Act, becoming the most awarded act of the night.
• Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello won Best Collaboration for their hit 'Senorita,' a chart-topping single that reached No. 1 in over 20 countries.
• The event was hosted by German-Russian DJ Zedd, who also performed a medley of his hits, marking his debut as the official host of the EMAs.
• Venue for the ceremony was the FIBES Conference and Exhibition Centre in Seville, a modern facility with a capacity of over 5,000 attendees.
• Post Malone received the Best Artist award, beating out high-profile nominees including Ariana Grande and Billie Eilish.

How It Works

The MTV Europe Music Awards operate through a hybrid system combining fan voting and selection committees to determine winners across categories. While most awards are fan-voted via social media and the official MTV website, certain honors like the Global Icon Award are decided internally by MTV.

• Eligibility Period: Nominations are based on music released between September 2018 and September 2019, ensuring recent work is recognized.
• Fan Voting: Over 80 million votes were cast globally during the 2019 voting window, which ran from October 1 to November 1.
• Categories: The EMAs feature 20 competitive categories, including Best Song, Best Artist, and regional Best Act awards for Europe, Asia, and Latin America.
• Nominations Committee: A panel of MTV executives and music industry experts selects the initial nominee pool in each category.
• Regional Representation: Artists from over 40 countries were nominated, reflecting the EMAs' global reach and cultural inclusivity.
• Winning Threshold: Winners are determined by the highest vote count, with no minimum threshold, though MTV monitors for voting irregularities.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 2019 EMAs compare to previous editions in terms of location, viewership, and major winners:

The 2019 EMAs saw a slight increase in global viewership compared to 2018, reaching an estimated 220 million viewers across 180 countries. Spain hosted the event for the second consecutive year, highlighting its growing role in international music events.

Why It Matters

The 2019 MTV Europe Music Awards were significant not only for recognizing top talent but also for reflecting broader shifts in the global music landscape, especially the rising influence of K-pop and digital fan engagement.

• BTS’s success underscored the global reach of K-pop, with the group receiving over 12 million fan votes across categories.
• The awards highlighted gender diversity, with female artists like Rosalía and Dua Lipa receiving multiple nominations and wins.
• Regional categories helped spotlight emerging talent from countries like Lithuania, Cyprus, and Georgia, promoting cultural exchange.
• MTV’s use of social media voting platforms boosted youth engagement, especially on Instagram and Twitter.
• The event’s broadcast included sign language interpreters, marking a step toward greater accessibility in live award shows.
• Performances by Little Mix and Maluma emphasized genre fusion, blending pop, Latin, and dance elements in real time.

Overall, the 2019 EMAs served as a barometer of global music trends, illustrating how fan-driven platforms shape modern award recognition and artist visibility worldwide.