British Acts Dominate American Music Awards

It was a HUGE night for British acts at the American Music Awards (AMAs) in Los Angeles last night with One Direction, Sam Smith and Calvin Harris all triumphing.

Undoubtedly the biggest winners on the night were One Direction who took home three prestigious gongs – Artist of the Year, Best Pop/Rock Band and Best Pop/Rock Album for ‘Midnight Memories’.

Picking up their Best Album award at the Nokia Theatre, Liam Payne said: "This has been a real perfect day ... America feels like a second home to us."

!

After cracking the American market this year, Sam Smith was honoured with the Best Pop/Rock Male Artist award.

“Genuinely from my heart I didn't think I was going to be winning this. This is unreal,” London-born Sam said of beating John Legend and Pharrell Williams to the honour.

He added: "Mainly, thank you to my fan base. You guys are amazing, and last year I wrote an album about being lonely and tonight, I couldn't feel further from lonely, so thank you so much."

Calvin Harris, who wasn’t present at the ceremony, continued the British onslaught when he was named Best Electronic Dance Music (EDM) Artist.

!

Other big winners included Taylor Swift (Dick Clark Award for Excellence),** **Katy Perry (Best Pop/Rock Female Artist, Single of the Year for ‘Dark Horse’), 5 Seconds of Summer (Best New Artist of the Year) and Beyoncé (Best Soul/R&B Female Artist and Best Soul/R&B Album for Beyoncé).

Australian star Iggy Azalea beat Eminem and Drake to the Best Rap/Hip-Hop Album title for ‘The New Classic’.

Clearly elated, the 24-year-old said: "This award is the first award I've ever won in my entire life, and it means so much to me that it is for best hip-hop because that's what inspired me to move to America and pursue my dreams, and it's what helped me when I was a teenager to escape and to get through my life and to better times.

"And it means so much that I can stand here against Eminem and Drake and come out with this.”****

!

The full winners’ list is as follows:

Dick Clark Award for Excellence Taylor Swift

Artist of the Year One Direction

Best Pop/Rock Band One Direction

Best Rap/Hip-Hop Album The New Classic, Iggy Azalea

Best Pop/Rock Album Midnight Memories, One Direction

Best Pop/Rock Male Artist Sam Smith

Best Pop/Rock Female Artist Katy Perry

Best Country Male Artist Luke Bryan

Best Alternative Rock Artist Imagine Dragons

Best New Artist of the Year 5 Seconds of Summer

Best Rap/Hip-Hop Artist Iggy Azalea

Best Country Album Just As I Am, Brantley Gilbert

Best Latin Artist Enrique Iglesias

Single of the Year Dark Horse , Katy Perry feat. Juicy J

Best Country Female Artist Carrie Underwood

Best Country Band Florida Georgia Line

Best Soul/R&B Male Artist John Legend

Best Soul/R&B Female Artist Beyoncé

Best Soul/R&B Album Beyoncé ‘Beyoncé’

Best Electronic Dance Music (EDM) Artist Calvin Harris

Best Soundtrack Frozen