There was something different about the announcements on the Manchester tram network this week. Instead of the usual voice calling out Deansgate-Castlefield and St Peter’s Square, passengers have been listening to Rita Ora warning: “Make sure you plan your journey – it’s gonna be busy!”
The pop star was in Manchester on Sunday to host the MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs), one of the highlights of the global music calendar, at the city’s Co-op Live Arena.
Featuring performances from Shawn Mendes, Raye and the South African singer Tyla, this year was the first time the EMAs was held in Manchester – arguably England’s music capital – having previously travelled to Glasgow, Liverpool, Belfast and Edinburgh, as well as three visits to London since it began in 1994.
Taylor Swift led the nominations, making an appearance in seven categories and coming away with four awards, including best artist and best video for Fortnight, her duet with Post Malone. She has become the first musician to win best artist three times, ahead of two-time best artist winner Mendes, who picked up an award this year for best Canadian artist.
Swift, whose Eras tour has been the most lucrative in music history, also saw off other top female artists in a female-dominated lineup, also featuring Charli XCX and Billie Eilish.
Homegrown artists triumphed too, with Raye winning best UK artist, Liam Gallagher picking up best rock artist and Calvin Harris winning best electronic artist.
Best song predictably went to the song of the summer, Espresso by Sabrina Carpenter, beating Eilish’s Birds of a Feather, Beyoncé’s Texas Hold ’Em, Beautiful Things by Benson Boone, Chappell Roan’s Good Luck, Babe! and We Can’t Be Friends by Ariana Grande.
Pet Shop Boys, who picked up the Pop Pioneer award for their 40 years in the music industry, also performed, alongside a local orchestra, the Manchester Camerata.
The duo are the most successful in UK music history with Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe listed in the Guinness Book of Records, achieving 44 UK Top 30 singles, including 22 Top 10 hits and four No 1s, 15 UK Top 10 studio albums and sold-out shows in 63 countries.
The hip-hop legend Busta Rhymes – with an unlikely connection to the north-west of England – took home a lifetime achievement award. The musician previously spoke of spending two summers with his Aunt Velma in Morecambe.
“That’s a fact,” he told the BBC last year. “I’d never seen a white and a black person go [to school] together until I came here.”
Accepting the award, which was presented by the British rapper Little Simz, Rhymes said: “This is my first time here. I’ve never got an award from MTV before. Thirty-four years of professionally recording, this is the first time I’m getting an award from MTV. It feels fucking incredible.”
The 12-time Grammy nominee thanked his mother, who he described as his best friend and hero. Rhymes also performed a medley of his greatest hits to the crowd of 23,500, at the UK’s largest indoor music venue.
Broadcast live to more than 150 countries across the world, the EMAs are watched closely by the music industry as they often give a hint of which artists are lined up for success at the Grammys.
The EMAs were the last in a week-long series of events in Manchester under the umbrella of MTV music week.
Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “For a long time we’ve been saying that Manchester is the UK’s capital of music, with a rich musical heritage stretching back decades that has helped build a vibrant, diverse music scene that continues to flourish today.
“Having the MTV EMAs, music week and some of the biggest names in pop music like Rita Ora in Manchester not only helps to strengthen our claim, but it also provides a huge boost to our music industry and the wider economy.”