At the 2023 Billboard Music Awards on Sunday (Nov. 19), Taylor Swift and Drake both enjoyed remarkable successes, solidifying their positions as chart titans. Swift clinched an impressive 10 awards, elevating her career total to 39, while Drake secured five awards, bringing his career total to an equally remarkable 39. This tie establishes them as the co-holders of the record for the most career wins at the BBMAs.
Swift’s victories at this year’s BBMAs include her third Top Artist award, having previously triumphed in 2013 and 2015, a feat shared with Drake. The latter secured the Top Artist title in 2017, 2019, and 2022. Additionally, Swift secured the Top Billboard 200 Artist award for the sixth time, setting a record. Meanwhile, Drake claimed this award for the third time. Both artists achieved the Top Billboard 200 Album honor twice, with Swift winning for “Red” in 2013 and “1989” in 2015, and Drake for “Views” in 2017 and “Scorpion” in 2019.
Swift’s 10 awards this year mark her best showing at the BBMAs to date, surpassing her previous records of eight awards in 2013 and 2015. Drake’s most successful year at the BBMAs was in 2017 when he secured 13 awards. This year marks his second consecutive year with five awards, following the same achievement in the previous year.
The rivalry between Swift and Drake, dating back to their debuts in the 2000s, is evident in their Billboard 200 statistics, with both artists boasting 13 No. 1 albums and 16 top 10 albums. However, Swift holds a substantial lead in total weeks at No. 1 on that chart, with 65 weeks compared to Drake’s 35 weeks. On the Billboard Hot 100, Drake leads with 13 No. 1 hits and 76 top 10 hits, while Swift has 11 No. 1 hits and 49 top 10 hits. Drake also outpaces Swift in total weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100 chart, with 56 weeks compared to Swift’s 33 weeks.
Drake even acknowledged Swift’s chart dominance in the lyrics of “Red Button,” a track from his surprise Scary Hours 3 EP, released on Nov. 17. In the song, he raps about Swift being the only artist he ever rated and praises her chart achievements.
Looking ahead, the question arises: will Swift or Drake break their tie and emerge as the sole leader at next year’s BBMAs? The competition remains fierce, and it’s unlikely that any other artist will surpass them in the near future. Justin Bieber currently holds the third position on the all-time BBMAs leaderboard with 26 wins, followed by The Weeknd with 22 and Garth Brooks with 20. The music world eagerly awaits the next chapter in the ongoing rivalry between these two musical powerhouses.
