Taylor Swift Calls 2024 Billboard Music Awards Wins 'the Nicest Early Birthday Present': 'It's Exactly What I Wanted'

Mar. 15, 2025

Taylor Swift accepts her 2024 Billboard Music Awards.

Taylor Swiftgot to celebrate her birthday early this year, thanks to her record-breaking 2024Billboard Music Awards(BBMA) wins.

On Thursday, Dec. 12, Swift, 35, won 10 new trophies at the ceremony, bringing hertotal winsup to 49 — a fete that makes her the artist with the most BBMA accolades in the show’s history.

Ahead of her 35th birthday on Friday, Dec. 13, the pop superstar told fans in a message posted onYouTube, “I just wanted to say hi and thank you to the Billboard Awards, thank you to the fans becauseBillboardis counting your stuff, they’re counting what you listen to, the albums that you’re passionate about."

“So, I count these as fan-voted awards because you guys are the ones who care about our albums and come see us in concert,” Swift added.

“Everything that’s happened with theEras TourandThe Tortured Poets Department, I just have to say thank you. It means the world to me that you guys have embraced the things I’ve made and the fact that you’ve cared so much about my music,” the musician continued, referencing her 2024 album and incredible 149-date world tour, which sold over $2 billion in tickets according to theNew York Times.

Swift added in the YouTube clip, “This is like the nicest early birthday present you could’ve given me, so thank you very much, I love it. It’s exactly what I wanted,” as she kissed the award.

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Taylor Swift.Kevin Mazur/Getty

Kevin Mazur/Getty

Swift was previously tied for the most BBMA wins withDrake, with 39 wins each. However, Drake nabbed three trophies this year, bringing his total up to 42, while Swift got 10 for the second year in a row.

The singer was named top artist for the fourth time, after previously winning in 2013, 2015 and 2023 — setting yet another record — and also won top female artist for the sixth time.

Other trophies given to Swift this year: topBillboard200 artist, top hot 100 artist, top hot 100 songwriter, top streaming songs artist, top radio songs artist, topBillboardGlobal 200 artist, topBillboardGlobal (excl. U.S.) artist and topBillboard200 album (forThe Tortured Poets Department).

Taylor Swift performs onstage for the opening night of the Eras Tour in March 2023.Kevin Winter/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

Kevin Winter/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

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After the final show, PEOPLE revealed Swift had given out$197 million in bonuses to everyone working on her tourover the past two years; including to truck drivers, caterers, instrument techs, merch team, lighting, sound, production staff and assistants, carpenters, dancers, band, security, choreographers, pyrotechnics, riggers, hair, make-up, wardrobe, physical therapists and her video team.

source: people.com