Destiny’s Child was one of the night’s big winners, taking home artist of the year, artist of the year duo/group, Hot 100 artist, Hot 100 duo/group artist, and soundtrack single. Backstage, Beyonce Knowles told us how much the awards meant to her.
“Well, this definitely is important. I know it’s one of the most accurate awards, its based on Billboard, and that means a lot. When you win a Billboard award for artist of the year, that’s facts. It’s amazing, you know, we’re so blessed, ’cause last year we won the award and it’s incredible that again we had another beautiful year,” she said.
Last year’s rock artist of the year Creed took catalog artist of the year, and its 1997 album, My Own Prison was designated catalog album of the year. Backstage, Creed frontman Scott Stapp offered advice to the new flock of rock heavyweights. “I think they should cherish every moment, ’cause you never know when it’s all gonna end,” he said. “And enjoy the ride. I think that’s the attitude of this band, for this record. We’re finally like, ‘Hey man, this is fun,’ you know? Because it totally changed. It was always fun but, like, it became a business and you’re like, ‘I didn’t get into a rock band to be a businessman.'”
Backstage, Tim McGraw, who took home five awards, spoke about how he stays inspired as a musician. “I think that I’m a fan of music in general, and always have been since I was a kid. I get inspired every day by every new artist that I hear, every older artist that I hear, every legend that I hear. You can’t hear music and not be inspired if you’re a musician, so… If it means anything, it means that I like music and that I’m always trying to evolve as a musician, I guess. I have no idea, to tell you the truth. I mean really, I just try to make the music that I hear in my head and I hope everybody kind of likes it as much as I do, I guess.”
