It’s been a banner year for Katy Perry. The 27-year-old started 2011 already riding the success of her sophomore album Teenage Dream. She was nominated for two Grammy awards, embarked on her huge “Teenage Dream Tour,” hosted SNL, and couldn’t seem to release a song that didn’t burn its way up the charts. Now, Perry can add her title as inaugural MTV Artist of the Year to her growing list of accomplishments.
According to Amy Doyle, MTV’s Chief of Music Programming and internal panel of experts chose Perry over other popular artists like Adele and Rihanna because she was everywhere in 2011. “You just really felt her presence in pop culture throughout the year,” Doyle said.
Five of Perry’s songs— “California Gurls,” “Teenage Dream,” “Firework,” “E.T.” and “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F),”— spent multiple weeks on Billboard’s Hot 100 this year, a feat that tied Teenage Dream with Michael Jackson’s Bad for the title of most #1 singles on an album. Currently, Perry has the potential to break that record with her song “One That Got Away,” which is spinning constantly on top 40 radio stations.
MTV created the prize to honor and emphasize its music past. When the network débuted in 1981, its programming was dominated by music videos and performance footage. Now, music content has been sidelined for reality TV shows like Jersey Shore and Teen Mom.
Just in case you were wondering, Adele wasn’t totally forgotten. The powerhouse vocalist was awarded song of the year by the panel for “Rolling in the Deep.”
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