Drake will win the Artist of the Decade Award at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards on May 23

Canadian rapper and singer Drake leads Billboard’s Top Artists of the 2010s chart and will receive the Artist of the Decade Award at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards on May 23.

Billboard recently uncovered, among numerous Decade-end charts, the overall top artists from Nos. 6 through 100 for the 2010s, alongside the decade’s top artists for the country, rock, R&B/hip-hop, Latin, Christian, gospel, dance/electronic, and all-genre touring.

The declaration was made by NBC and Dick Clark Productions in a proclamation posted on the official website of Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs) on Tuesday.

Drake’s dominance during the 2010s wins him top honors in the overall top artist category, which ranks the best-performing artists dependent on action on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart and the Billboard 200 albums tally, as well as social media information and touring income from Billboard Boxscore, during the decade.

After first showing up on Billboard charts in 2009, Drake banked nine Billboard 200 No. 1s during the 2010s, first leading with his debut 2010 studio LP, Thank Me Later, and most recently ruling with 2019’s Care Package. He additionally scored six Hot 100 No. 1s in that span. Since his debut, he has devastated various chart records, including the most Hot 100 top 10s (45, to date) and overall entries (232).

At the 2021 Billboard Music Awards, Drake – who holds the title for most BBMAs with 27 after bringing home 12 prizes in 2019 – will get the Artist of the Decade Award. Drake is a finalist in seven categories at the current year’s show, including top artists. The Nick Jonas-hosted event will air live Sunday, May 23, on NBC at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

Below, Billboard likewise uncovers for the first time the Nos. 2 through 5 top artists, among all genres, of the 2010s.

Billboard’s Top Artists of the 2010s:

1, Drake
2, Taylor Swift
3, Bruno Mars
4, Rihanna
5, Adele
6, Ed Sheeran
7, Justin Bieber
8, Katy Perry
9, Maroon 5
10, Post Malone

At No. 2 on Billboard’s Top Artists of the 2010s chart, Taylor Swift counted five No. 1s each on the Hot 100 and Billboard 200 during the decade. Bruno Mars ranks at No. 3 (seven Hot 100 No. 1s and one Billboard 200 leader in the 2010s), followed by Rihanna at No. 4 (nine and two No. 1s, respectively) and Adele at No. 5 (four and two No. 1s, respectively).

Drake’s triumph on Billboard’s Top Artists of the 2010s chart follows Eminem, who won for the 2000s, and Mariah Carey, the champion for the 1990s. Eminem managed the Billboard 200 with five albums and the Hot 100 with two songs in the 2000s, while Carey gathered 14 Hot 100 No. 1s and four Billboard 200 leaders in the ’90s (the first decade for which the accomplishment was awarded).

As Drake directs the Top Artists of the 2010s chart including all genres, he joins the recently reported winners for specific genres: Luke Bryan (country), Imagine Dragons (rock), Romeo Santos (Latin), The Chainsmokers (dance/electronic), MercyMe (Christian) and Tasha Cobbs Leonard (gospel). Moreover, U2 flaunts top honors for touring, while Drake was recently declared as the winner in the R&B/hip-hop category.

Additionally, Mark Ronson’s “Uptown Funk!,” including Bruno Mars, rules as the Hot 100’s No. 1 song of the 2010s and Adele’s 21 standards as the Billboard 200’s No. 1 album of the decade.

Billboard’s decade-end touring charts depend on Billboard Boxscore information for performances between Dec. 1, 2009, and Sept. 30, 2019.

Drake additionally flaunts the most top 10 singles on America’s Billboard Hot 100 in the same decade, with 33 hits.

The winner of Artist of the Decade depends on Billboard consumption data, with Drake winning over Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, Rihanna, and Adele, who make up the top five, respectively.

The title is the latest addition to the hip-hop star’s trophy cabinet – before the Artist of the Decade news, he was at that point the most perceived musician in Billboard Music Awards history, with 27 prizes to his name, and he’s nominated for a further seven at the forthcoming show.

Drake joins pop star Pink among the special honourees – she will get the Icon Award during the Los Angeles ceremony, which will be hosted by Nick Jonas.

Pink and The Weeknd will be among the performers on the night, while BTS will stage the TV debut of their new English-language single, Butter, during the ceremony. The Weeknd, who is leading the nominations with 16 nods, is among the performers declared for the ceremony.

The 2021 Billboard Music Awards are produced by Dick Clark Productions, which is owned by MRC; MRC and Penske Media are co-parent organizations of Billboard.

Singer-actor Nick Jonas will host the 2021 edition of the Billboard Music Awards, which are scheduled to happen on May 23, on NBC at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.