On Sunday 3 November, some of the music world’s biggest names descended on Sevilla in Spain for the annual MTV Europe Music Awards. A slew of Eurovision stars were among their ranks, including Mahmood, Maruv and Roksana Węgiel.
2019 MTV EMAs Winners — Eurovision
Mahmood — Best Italian Act
He was a surprise Sanremo winner in the spring. But again Eurovision rolled round, Mahmood was one of the favourites to take the famous glass microphone. Ultimately, “Soldi” finished in second place. Nonetheless, it’s gone multi-platinum in Italy, smashed the 100-million-view ceiling on YouTube and become the most-streamed Eurovision song on Spotify. And Mahmood is not a one-trick pony. He’s dropped new singles “Barrio” and “Calipso” and embarked on a European-wide tour.
Mahmood saw off competition from Coez, Elettra Lamborghini, Elodie (Saneremo 2017) and Salmo.
Maruv — Best Russian Act
She ended up quitting Eurovision due to controversy regarding her Russian ties. And now, ironically, Ukraine’s Vidbir 2019 winner Maruv has won the best Russian act gong. “Siren Song” may never have reached Tel Aviv, but it proved to be a massive hit in Ukraine, Russia and the wider region. She performed at major awards shows and released “Mon Amour” in the summer. Most recently, she’s been taking part in the 2019 season of Ukraine’s Dancing With The Stars.
Maruv won the prize ahead of Face, Little Big, Noize MC and Zivert.
Roksana Węgiel — Best Polish Act
She became Poland’s first Junior Eurovision victor in November 2018. And since then, Roksana Węgiel has gone on to be one of the most commercially successful JESC acts ever. “Anyone I Want To Be” is the most-viewed Junior Eurovision video of all time on YouTube and cracked the top five in the Polish charts. Roxie has followed it up with several singles, including a collab with Bulgaria’s Eurovision 2017 singer Kristian Kostov.
Roxie beat Bass Astral x Igo, Daria Zawiałow, Dawid Podsiadło and Sarsa
Other MTV EMA 2019 Winners and Losers
- Viktor Király (A Dal 2012, 2014 and 2018) took Best Hungarian Act ahead of András Kállay-Saunders (Eurovision 2014).
- Fernando Daniel (Festival da Canção 2017) won Best Portuguese Act.
- Avicii posthumously won Best Swedish Act. Molly Sandén (Melodifestivalen 2009, 2012 and 2016) was also nominated in this category.
Did you watch the 2019 MTV EMAs? Did the right acts win? Let us know in the comments below.
Follow all of our Eurovision 2020 news.
Okay come after me if you want but how did Roksana beat Sarsa? Sarsa’s music is so sophisticated and memorable, and Roksana’s is definitely good, but I can’t see how it placed above Sarsa.
Did anyone notice how small the venue of the this year EMAs? It’s a major tv production where the biggest stars perform (far bigger than an average ESC participant). And yet it manages to look good in a far smaller venue than the Expo Tel Aviv.
I’m not really interested in these awards, but it supposed me to read that they chose a modest setting rather than a big arena. I know on two occasions in the 2000s they used a tent, which makes me wonder if they could ever do that for ESC (it’s usually suggested if there’s few alternatives).
What could Eurovision learn from this show (production wise)?
40+ countries participate in ESC every year. Some of them don’t have big indoor arenas or exhibition pavilions (imagine where ESC would be held if Cyprus won for example). So sometimes ESC will have to be held in a smaller venue. It’s a TV show, it doesn’t need a stadium. And no, no country have to spend extra tens of millions of tax payer money to cover a football stadium or to build a new arena just for this freaking event. So next time ESC comes to a country that doesn’t have a 17-20k indoor arena to provide, take a… Read more »
That’s an aggressive reply!
Obviously if a small country wins and wants to host, the EBU can compromise and use a smaller arena or maybe a concert hall. For example, I think the 2001 contest should have been held in the Copenhagen Forum instead of the vast Parken (unless it was unavailable), and should have been considered for 2014 too. The B&W hall was impressive but I understand it went to waste.
I’m just really interested in the logistics of Eurovision! I ponder it quite a lot in my head
mahmood should’ve been nominated in main categories but y’all know the ‘european’ music awards are actually the vmas hosted somewhere in europe. out of 15 nominees in the three main categories literally only rosalía is from europe…. a joke
enough complainin now. congrats to mahmood, maruv and roxie. they all deserved it <3
If European acts manage to strike a global mainstream hit then they’ll be able to get a nomination in the main non-local categories, which UK have regularly been able to. On the ESC front, Cascada (Germany 2013) got their VMA nomination for Evacuate the Dancefloor back in 2010. Other European artists who went global also were recognized by the American Music Awards, Grammy’s, and even Billboard’s own music awards show.
That defeats the purpose though. Weird to have American artists based in America to fill up the main categories.
I recall when the MTV Asia Awards was still around, regional stars tend to be more centerstage and take up a lot of the show’s airtime. Too bad it canceled. Anyway, as for the EMA’s, I guess that one has a more global reach because everyone around the world can vote for the main categories. Hence the main categories are dominated mostly by American artists, with sprinkles coming from the UK and Europe (Rosalia), Canada (Shawn Mendes, Justin Bieber), Latin America, and most recently South Korea (i.e. BTS) because their names are the most familiar and their MV’s are played… Read more »
So I looked it up and we also have a category for Southeast Asian artists.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHir_YeWqpo
i love taylor swift but the good sis flopped here in europe this year, yet she snatched all those noms? miley cyrus did almost nothing on the charts yet she was up for best artist? halsey had ONE hit yet she won best pop??? c’mon those awards are ridiculous
KING MAHMOOD’S PRIZE COLLECTION KEEPS GROWING
-talent
-acclaim
-beauty
-success
he has it all doesn’t he <3
And most importantly:
-the sweetest, most down-to-earth personality ever (been to one of his concerts and he went all the way to talk and take photos with every single fan waiting for him outside – both before AND after the actual show!!)
UA: PBC IS SHAKING
Well Maruv definitely won’t be able to compete in Vidbir now! But I guess she doesn’t need it- congrats to all the winners though
You know, Belarus is the new Cyprus.
Belarus? That will be so funny if a french girl that live in Russia will represent Belarus