MTV EMAs Pay Tribute to Liam Payne as Taylor Swift, Tyla and Sabrina Carpenter Triumph

Taylor Swift, Tyla and Sabrina Carpenter were among the big winners at the 2024 MTV EMAs, which also included a poignant tribute to Liam Payne, almost one month on from the singer’s death in Argentina.

“I just want to take a moment to remember someone that was very, very dear to us. We lost him recently, and he was a big part of the MTV world and my world, and I think a lot of yours at home and everybody in here tonight,” said the show’s host Rita Ora, who duetted with the former One Direction vocalist on 2018’s “For You (Fifty Shades Freed).”

“He had the biggest heart and was always the first person to offer help in any way that he could,” said a tearful Ora. “He brought so much joy to every room he walked into, and he left such a mark on this world,” said the visibly moved host.

The EMAs show, which was staged at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England, on Sunday (Nov. 10), also featured a brief video tribute to Payne.

Swift, who was not present in Manchester, won the most awards on the night, taking home prizes for best artist, best live, best U.S. act and best video for her Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper “Fortnight,” featuring Post Malone.

“I have to say thank you so much to Post Malone for being the most amazing co-star possible,” said Swift in a video acceptance speech.

Just behind Swift with three awards was Tyla, who took home trophies for best Afrobeats, best R&B and best African act. The South African singer, who was honored with a global impact award at Billboard’s R&B No. 1s event in New York earlier this year, also delivered one of the night’s standout performances, flanked by writhing dancers for a lively two-song medley of “Push 2 Start” and “Water.”

“I can’t believe it,” said Tyla accepting the best afrobeats prize from LL Cool J. “Literally, all the nominees, they are insane. They have taken Afrobeats so far and I’m so honored to be winning this award… Afrobeats has opened so many doors for African music, so thank you so much to Afrobeats.”

Sabrina Carpenter and Ariana Grande, who both did not attend the show, won best song for “Espresso” and the award best pop, respectively. Billie Eilish and Charli xcx, who were also absent, failed to win in any of the five categories they were each nominated.

Benson Boone opened the two-hour show, which was being held in the U.K. for the first time since 2017, with an impassioned energetic run through “Slow It Down” and “Beautiful Things” that began with the 22-year-old suspended in the air as he played a golden grand piano. Later in the evening, Boone collected his first EMA award in the form of the best new act title.

Making their U.K. live debut, K-pop band LE SSERAFIM delivered an energetic performance of “Chasing Lightning” and “CRAZY”, the title track from their latest EP, which topped Billboard’s Top Album Sales in September.

The five-piece pop group, who made their Coachella debut this year, were rewarded for their efforts with the best push award, one of three prizes they were nominated for in the lead up to Sunday’s show.

Other memorable performances included Shawn Mendes playing his new single “Heart of Gold,” Mexican trio The Warning with a raucous, pyrotechnic-accompanied rendition of “Automatic Sun” and Best U.K. and Ireland act winner Raye, joined by a 30-piece choir for a stirring medley of “Escapism, “Oscar Winning Tears” and “Body Dysmorphia.”

Meanwhile, best Latin recipient Peso Pluma was joined by Estevan Plazola for a rousing performance of their hit single collaboration “Hollywood.”

Busta Rhymes won the global icon award, EMAs top honor, previously received by Queen, Eminem, Janet Jackson, U2 and Whitney Houston, among others.

“Thirty-four years of professionally recording, this is the first time I’m getting an award from MTV. And it feels fucking incredible,” said Rhymes collecting the icon trophy from British rapper Little Simz.

The Brooklyn-born rapper went on to play glowing tribute to “one of my heroes” LL Cool J, who was at the ceremony on presenting duties, before performing a collection of his greatest hits, including “Scenario,” “Put Your Hands Where The Eyes Can See,” “Do The BusABus Pt.2,” “Break Ya Neck” and “Pass The Courvoisier”.

“LL Cool J was the template that I followed,” said Rhymes in a lengthy eight-minute-long acceptance speech that also saw him thank his mother and Public Enemy’s Chuck D for supporting him at the start of his career.

“I learned how to become the embodiment of Busta Rhymes because I love to bust rhymes for real and I love hip-hop for real,” he told the audience.

“Busta Rhymes is a true creative visionary who has made a massive impact on the musical landscape and pop culture,” Bruce Gillmer, the event’s executive producer and president of music and chief content officer for music at MTV parent company Paramount+, told Billboard in the run up to Sunday’s ceremony.

The show also contained a succession of playful references to the musical heritage of host city of Manchester with the Hacienda night club’s famous yellow and black striped branding and the distinctive opening riff of New Order’s “Blue Monday” recurring motifs throughout the evening.

Local band Blossoms, from the nearby town of Stockport, also made a cameo joking with host Ora as she served champagne in a bar style setting, while one of the show’s more surreal moments featured Ora chatting with Happy Mondays’ founder members Shaun Ryder and Bez, with the latter in characteristically uncontrollable, highly spirited form.

In addition to marking the 30th anniversary of MTV’s EMAs, which first took place in Berlin in 1994, Sunday’s show was the first EMAs since 2022 after last year’s event in Paris was cancelled due to global security reasons in connection with the Israel-Hamas war.

Pet Shop Boys were joined by members of the Manchester Camerata orchestra (wearing the band’s iconic cone hats) to close the show with a stirring cover of David Bowie’s “All The Young Dudes” followed by the band’s debut hit “West End Girls,” first released in 1984.

Full list of 2024 MTV EMA nominees and winners

Global Icon Award

Busta Rhymes

MTV EMA Pop Pioneers Award

Pet Shop Boys

Best Song

Ariana Grande – we can’t be friends (wait for your love)

Benson Boone – Beautiful Things

Beyoncé – TEXAS HOLD ‘EM

Billie Eilish – BIRDS OF A FEATHER

Chappell Roan – Good Luck, Babe!

WINNER: Sabrina Carpenter – Espresso

Best Video

Ariana Grande – we can’t be friends (wait for your love)

Charli xcx – 360

Eminem – Houdini

Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us

LISA ft. Rosalía – NEW WOMAN

WINNER: Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – Fortnight

Best Artist

Beyoncé

Billie Eilish

Post Malone

RAYE

Sabrina Carpenter

WINNER: Taylor Swift

Best Collaboration

Charli xcx & Billie Eilish – Guess featuring Billie Eilish

Future, Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar – Like That

Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars – Die With A Smile

WINNER: LISA ft. Rosalía – NEW WOMAN

Peso Pluma, Anitta – BELLAKEO

Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – Fortnight

Best New

Ayra Starr

WINNER: Benson Boone

Chappell Roan

LE SSERAFIM

Teddy Swims

The Last Dinner Party

Tyla

Best Pop

WINNER: Ariana Grande

Billie Eilish

Camila Cabello

Charli xcx

Dua Lipa

Sabrina Carpenter

Taylor Swift

Best Afrobeats

Asake

Ayra Starr

Burna Boy

Rema

Tems

WINNER: Tyla

Best Rock

Bon Jovi

Coldplay

Green Day

Kings of Leon

Lenny Kravitz

WINNER: Liam Gallagher

The Killers

Best Latin

Anitta

Bad Bunny

KAROL G

WINNER: Peso Pluma

Rauw Alejandro

Shakira

Best K-Pop

WINNER: Jimin

Jung Kook

LE SSERAFIM

LISA

NewJeans

Stray Kids

Best Alternative

Fontaines D.C.

Hozier

WINNER: Imagine Dragons

Lana Del Rey

Twenty One Pilots

YUNGBLUD

Best Electronic

WINNER: Calvin Harris

David Guetta

Disclosure

DJ Snake

Fred Again..

Swedish House Mafia

Best Hip-Hop

Central Cee

WINNER: Eminem

Kendrick Lamar

Megan Thee Stallion

Nicki Minaj

Travis Scott

Best R&B

Kehlani

SZA

Tinashe

WINNER: Tyla

USHER

Victoria Monét

Best Live

Adele

Coldplay

Doja Cat

RAYE

WINNER: Taylor Swift

Travis Scott

Best Push

Ayra Starr

Chappell Roan

Coco Jones

Flyana Boss

Jessie Murph

Laufey

WINNER: LE SSERAFIM

Mark Ambor

Shaboozey

Teddy Swims

The Warning

Victoria Monét

Biggest Fans

Anitta

Ariana Grande

Beyoncé

Billie Eilish

Chappell Roan

Charli xcx

Katy Perry

WINNER: LISA

Nicki Minaj

Sabrina Carpenter

Shawn Mendes

Taylor Swift

Full list of 2024 MTV EMA Worldwide Winners

Best African Act – Tyla

Best Asia Act – BINI

Best Australian Act – Sia

Best Austrian Act – RAF Camora

Best Brasilian Act – Pabllo Vittar

Best Canadian Act – Shawn Mendes

Best Caribbean Act – Young Miko

Best Dutch Act – Roxy Dekker

Best French Act – Pierre Garnier

Best German Act – Ayliva

Best India Act – Mali

Best Israeli Act – Noa Kirel

Best Italian Act – Annalisa

Best Lat Am Central Act – Manuel Turizo

Best Lat Am North Act – Yerimua

Best Lat Am South Act – Dillom

Best Nordic Act – Zara Larsson

Best Polish Act – Daria Zawiałow

Best Portuguese Act – Bárbara Bandeira

Best Spanish Act – Lola Indigo

Best Swiss Act – Nemo

Best UK & Ireland Act – Raye

Best US Act – Taylor Swift