JJ Lin wins Best Southeast Asia Act, BTS nab 4 prizes

BUDAPEST • Singaporean Mandopop singer JJ Lin won Best Southeast Asia Act, while K-pop group BTS snatched four awards at MTV's Europe Music Awards (EMA), which returned as an in-person event after a virtual edition lat year due to the pandemic.

Lin - who released his first English album, Like You Do, earlier this year - was up against other South-east Asian acts such as Filipino boy band SB19, Malaysian singer Naim Daniel and Thai singer Ink Waruntorn.

The event on Sunday was held at Hungary's Laszlo Papp Budapest Sport Arena.

English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran won Best Artiste and Best Song for Bad Habits, while South Korea's BTS took home the most awards - Best Pop, Best K-pop, Best Group and Biggest Fans.

First-time EMA winners Maneskin took home Best Rock while show host and performer Saweetie won Best New award.

Lil Nas X was awarded Best Video for Montero (Call Me By Your Name) while Nicki Minaj was named Best Hip-hop. Olivia Rodrigo clinched Best Push, Maluma received Best Latin and Yungblud snagged Best Alternative.

Grammy Award-winning Sheeran opened the night surrounded by neon graffiti to perform his latest single, Overpass Graffiti. Later in the show, he performed his chart-topping hit Shivers.

Imagine Dragons returned to the EMA for the debut of their new single Enemy. Bathed in laser lights, the best-selling band rocked the stage alongside Grammy-nominated rapper and artiste J.I.D and a squad of dancers.

Multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter Yungblud closed the night with a pyrotechnics-filled performance of his latest single, Fleabag.

REUTERS