From Bieber to Prince, Star Power Ignites THE 2013 BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS, Sunday, May 19 on CTV

TORONTO (May 1, 2013) – Delivering yet another star-studded, blockbuster celebration of music, CTV continues its award show hot streak with exclusive coverage of THE 2013 BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS. Grammy® Award winners Prince, Taylor Swift, and Bruno Mars are just some of the A-list acts set to take the stage. Hosted by Emmy® Award-nominated actor and comedian Tracy Morgan,THE 2013 BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDSair live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, May 19 at 8 p.m. ETon CTV (visit CTV.ca to confirm local broadcast times). 

This year, THE 2013 BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS also honours world-renowned music legend Prince with the Billboard Icon Award, highlighting his unique journey and history of groundbreaking accomplishments in music during the broadcast.

**Media Note** – Photos of THE 2013 BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS are available at BellMediaPR.ca

Music royalty continues to take the stage as THE 2013 BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS also launches its new fan-driven Milestone Award, which celebrates the ingenuity of this year’s hitmakers. The narrowed down Top 3 finalists are pop sensation Justin Bieber and Grammy® Award winners Taylor Swift and Bruno Mars. Voting is open to Canadians by visiting Billboard.com/milestone and clicking on the “Vote Now” button. Voting is open now until the broadcast of THE 2013 BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS.

Taylor Swift, indie pop band fun, and Maroon 5, fronted by Adam Levine, from CTV’s THE VOICE, lead in nominations for THE 2013 BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS in a whopping 11 categories this year. Swift and Maroon 5 are also competing for the coveted Top Artist prize at this year’s ceremony. Other nominated artists include One Direction, Rihanna and Carly Rae Jepsen, who will also contend in several major categories. For a complete list of finalists, click here. 

Previously announced performers set to grace the stage May 19 include Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Taylor Swift, Miguel, Pitbull, Christina Aguilera, Macklemore, Ryan Lewis, The Band Perry, Kacey Musgrave, and Bruno Mars – who ascended to the #1 spot single on the Billboard’s Hot 100 and will celebrate by opening the award show with a live performance. 

As part of a multi-year deal with CTV, established in April 2011, THE 2013 BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS provides a bridge between THE 2013 JUNO AWARDS and the always popular MUCHMUSIC VIDEO AWARDS coming up in June.

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About Billboard
Billboard is the world’s most influential music brand reaching key executives and tastemakers in and around the music business through Billboard magazine, Billboard.biz, Billboard Conferences, Billboard Bulletin, and other targeted newsletters, and millions of music fans through Billboard.com and Billboard Events. The Billboard brand is built on its exclusive charts and unrivalled reporting on the latest news, issues and trends across all genres of music. Billboard charts and content are consumed and referenced by millions of people in more than 100 countries through a content syndication deal with global news network, and strategic relationships with other major companies around the world. In addition to North America, Billboard operates businesses in Brazil, Japan, Korea and Russia. Billboard is owned by Prometheus Global Media, which resides under the newly formed Guggenheim Digital Media, a diversified company with leading assets in the media and entertainment arenas, including: Music (Billboard and its related conferences, events and awards shows such as The Billboard Music Awards on ABC, and The Billboard Latin Music Awards on Telemundo), Entertainment (The Hollywood Reporter, Backstage, ShowEast, CineAsia, and CineEurope); and Advertising & Marketing (Adweek, Adweek Conferences and The CLIO Awards).

About CTV
CTV is Canada’s #1 private broadcaster. Featuring a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming, CTV has been Canada’s most-watched television network for the past 10 years in a row. CTV is a division of Bell Media, Canada’s premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio and digital. Bell Media is owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada’s largest communications company. More information about CTV can be found on the network’s website at CTV.ca.
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For more information, please contact:
Matthew Almeida, CTV and CTV Two, 416.384.2629 ormatthew.almeida@bellmedia.ca
Aviva Sokolsky, CTV and CTV Two, 416.384.2629 orAviva.sokolsky@bellmedia.ca