MUMBAI: The Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California, hosted the 42nd People’s Choice Awards on 6 January and the gala event included performances from Shawn Mendes, Jason Derulo and Jordan Smith. The winners are purely based on the votes contributed by the general public, and the star-studded nominees from various categories celebrated the success of popular culture from various genres of entertainment. In the music categories, there were some surprising announcements; however, the major categories belonged to the expected names. 

Favourite Male Vocalist - Ed Sheeran 

For the second time in a row, fans voted the Brit pop star Ed Sheeran as the ‘Favourite Male Vocalist’. With The Weeknd, Justin Bieber and Nick Jonas among the nominees, the choice surely would not have been an easy one, although, it’s hard to not vote for the artist who ended one of the most successful years of his career. Having secured the American Music Award, the BRIT award, the JIM award for ‘Best Male Vocalist’ and similar success in MTV Europe and Teen Choice awards, the 24-year-old continued to make news for the most part of the calendar year 2015. 

Favourite Female Vocalist - Taylor Swift 

It’s just not the ‘I See Fire’ singer who walked off the People’s Choice Awards 2016 stage with the ‘Favourite Vocalist’ award for the second time in a row. For the Female category of the award, Taylor Swift achieved a similar feat. The 26-year-old singer-songwriter had an immensely decorated 2015, and continues to remain an obsession for almost every pop music fan around the world. Swift beat pop icon Madonna, ‘Born To Die’ singer Lana Del Rey, Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato for the award. The night did not end there for Swift; the singer was also announced as the ‘Favourite Pop Artist’ ahead of Ed Sheeran. However, Swift could not beat Britney Spears for the ‘Favourite Social Media Category’, an award that includes nominations from all genres of entertainment. 

Favourite Group - Fifth Harmony 

The American five-piece girl group ‘Fifth Harmony’ was voted as the 'Favourite Group', making it the first time for the group to win a People's Choice Award. Active since 2013, the group also won the award under the same name at ‘Billboard Women in Music’ that celebrates women’s contribution towards music. The group’s popularity can be judged by the fact that MTV recognised their fans, called ‘Harmonizers’, with ‘Fandom Army of the Year’, earlier in 2015. The group beat One Direction, Imagine Dragons, Maroon 5 and Fall Out Boy in the process. 

Favourite Breakout Artist - Shawn Mendes 

The Canadian songwriter has had moments of critical success since he surfaced on the music arena. Nominated for ‘Best Canadian Act’ at MTV Europe Awards and winning the ‘Breakthrough Artist Of The Year’ at Streamy awards could be counted as the highlights of Mendes’ career since the release of his album ‘Handwritten’, but nothing can beat the success at the People’s Choice Awards for the category that included artists like The Weeknd and Tori Kelly.

Favourite R&B Artist - The Weeknd

Canadian producer and songwriter Abel Tesfaye, better known as The Weeknd, had won 19 awards since his arrival as a musician in the year 2010. The artist may have lost to Shawn Mendes for the Breakout Artist category, but the success of his third studio album ‘Beauty Behind The Madness’ which resulted into the album securing ‘Favourite Soul/R&B Album’ at American Music Awards in 2015. At the same ceremony, The Weeknd won ‘Favourite Soul/R&B’ award in the male category. The Weeknd was also nominated for ‘Favourite Song’, ‘Favourite Male Singer’, ‘Breakout Artist’ and ‘Favourite Album’ at the 42nd People’s Choice awards. 

Favourite Song – 'What Do You Mean' by Justin Bieber

Canadian pop sensation Justin Bieber finally had some success at the People’s Choice Awards. Having been nominated nine times from 2010 to 2013, the songwriter returned to the People’s Choice Awards with nominations for two categories this year (‘Favourite Male Artist’ and ‘Favourite Song’). From his immensely successful album ‘Purpose’, the track ‘What Do You Mean’ dominated various international charts, including Billboard and the UK Official Charts, and the song gained immense popularity among the fans across the world. 

Other Winners:

Favourite Hip-Hop Artist - Nicki Minaj

Favourite Country Group - Lady Antebellum 

Favourite Country Artist - Male - Blake Shelton
                                         Female - Carrie Underwood

Favourite Album – ‘Title’ by Meghan Trainor 

Favourite Music Icon - Madonna