‘SHAPE OF YOU’ STILL IN FINE FORM
Ed Sheeran took home the biggest award of the night at the iHeartERadio
Music Awards: Song of the year, for “Shape of You.” Sheeran also won male artist of the year, beating Bruno Mars, who was the King of the Grammys.
“Shape of You” was the most downloaded song on Spotify last year, and was named best performing song of 2017 by Billboard.
Unfortunately, Sheeran was in Australia and could not receive the award personally. He accepted the award in a live feed from Australia. After a short speech, he strapped on his guitar and performed “Perfect.”
Sheeran’s best friend Taylor Swift won female artist of the year. She also debuted the new music video for her song “Delicate” at the awards show.
But the show wasn’t just about the music. It also tackled the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida earlier this year, which left 17 people dead.
Big Sean introduced a survivor named Alex Moscou: “He’s a lacrosse goalie, member of the drama club and he’s a sophomore who survived the attack by a gunman at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School killing 17 people.”
Moscou talked about the upcoming March For Our Lives: “We’re marching in Washington D.C. on March 24th, for all of our fellow students and for the victims and survivors of gun violence in every community.
“From New Orleans to Chicago, Baltimore, Detroit, wherever you are, we hope you will join us.”
Co-host Hailey Baldwin also made a statement by wearing a black T-shirt emblazoned with “Stoneman Douglas High.”
All four members of One Direction also won individual awards: Liam Payne was named best new pop artist; Niall Horan’s “Slow Hands” was awarded best lyrics, which was a socially voted category; Harry Styles won two—best cover song for “The Chain” and best music video for “Sign of the Times,” both were socially voted categories; and Louis Tomlinson won over his bandmates and Camila Cabello for the socially voted category best solo breakout.