EarnED It! 2015 MUCH MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS Winners Announced

- Co-host Ed Sheeran charms thousands of fans at Much's downtown Toronto HQ -
- Global R&B sensation and hometown hero The Weeknd takes top honours, with four MMVA wins -
- Drake surprises P.Reign, 2015 MMVA winner for Best Hip Hop Video, on stage -

"This is the fourth MMVAs I've been at and they're finally letting me host - they couldn't afford the Jenners so I came back and am doing it for free. I'm very excited!" - Ed Sheeran, 2015 MMVA co-host

To tweet this release: http://bmpr.ca/1MZ4mhr #MMVA

** Media Note ** To download images from the 2015 MUCH MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS, and the MMVA RED CARPET SPECIAL, click here.

TORONTO, June 21, 2015 /CNW/ - The 2015 MUCH MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS stunned in a multi-channel super simulcast tonight, with this year's biggest winner, Toronto's own alternative R&B sensation and first-time MMVA performer The Weeknd, scooping up four awards for Video of the Year, Best Director, Best Pop Video, and Most Buzzworthy Canadian. The broadcast's charming co-host Ed Sheeran scored two MMVAs for Best International Artist and Most Buzzworthy International Artist, with local duo, and Drake collaborator, Majid Jordan picking up Best MuchFACT Video for "Forever". Fans went wild when Drake made a surprise appearance to help present P.Reign with the award for Best Hip Hop Video for "DnF" on which the Toronto rapper is featured.

The corner of Queen and John streets in Toronto lit up tonight with the MMVAs, one of the world's biggest and most exciting street-level award shows. Global mega-star Ed Sheeran was in full command of the stage in his fourth annual MMVA appearance, his first as co-host, as he led a remarkable evening filled with some of the world's biggest names in music and entertainment. Talent who graced the 2015 MMVA stage included performers such as Carly Rae Jepsen, Nick Jonas, Fall Out Boy, and Walk Off The Earth, and presenters such as International supermodel Gigi Hadid, E!'s SEX WITH BRODY star Brody Jenner, and GRAMMY-nominated rocker Adam Lambert.

In the Twitterverse, 10 MMVA related topics trended in Canada, including #MMVA, which also trended internationally.  2015 MMVA performers and presenters also joined in, with Nick Jonas and Carly Rae Jepsen both tweeting their thanks to Much, and Hailee Steinfeld tweeting "#MMVAs THAT WAS SO REAL."

The two-hour music extravaganza encores tomorrow, Monday, June 22, at 7 p.m. ET, and again throughout the week on Much or on demand now at much.com.

** Media Note ** Download MMVA photos at bellmediapr.ca/network/much

Setting the tone for the 2015 MUCH MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS was Fall Out Boy with an energetic rendition of their latest single "Uma Thurman", immediately followed by Canadian sweetheart Carly Rae Jepsen performing her infectious hit single "I Really Like You". Co-host Ed Sheeran delivered with a performance of "Photograph", complete with a string quartet, and later returned with an intimate performance of "Thinking Out Loud" surrounded by the ecstatic MMVA crowd. Newcomer Tori Kelly made her MMVA debut with a powerhouse performance of "Nobody Love", followed by Canadian Scott Helman whose feel good performance of his single "Bungalow" had fans dancing. Four-time 2015 MMVA winner The Weeknd set the stage aglow with a medley of "Earned It" and "The Hills" - the first-ever broadcast performance of the single. Canadian artists kept the fans screaming, with Walk Off The Earth performing their new single "Rule The World", winner of FAN FAVE Video, Shawn Mendes, singing "Stitches", and Mia Martina delivering a red-hot version of her single "Beast" featuring Waka Flocka. Nick Jonas captivated fans with a sexy performance of his hit single "Chains", and Jason Derulo, joined by dozens of dancers, closed the show with "Want To Want Me".

"From the boundless energy of our devoted fans to the calibre of the talent - tonight's show was one not to be missed," said Tracey Pearce, Senior Vice-President, Specialty and Pay, Bell Media. "The spectacle on our stage, which featured some of the top names in music, and the conversation it created internationally via social media platforms such as Twitter, illustrates how the MMVAs continue to be a one-of-a-kind experience for our audience."

"The MMVAs are unparalleled in the access they give to fans, and the experience they provide to the artists," said Sheila Sullivan, Executive Producer, 2015 MUCH MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS. "A huge thank you to our captivating and generous co-host Ed Sheeran, as well as the show-stopping performers and presenters who helped make the 2015 MUCH MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS shine."

And the winners are…

FAN FAVE Video
Shawn Mendes - "Something Big"

FAN FAVE Artist or Group
Justin Bieber

FAN FAVE International Artist or Group
One Direction

Video of The Year
The Weeknd - "Often"

Best International Artist
Ed Sheeran  

Most Buzzworthy International Artist or Group
Ed Sheeran

Best Pop Video
The Weeknd - "Earned It"

Best EDM/Dance Video
Grandtheft & Keys N Krates - "Keep It 100"

Best Hip-Hop Video
P. Reign f. Drake & Future - "DnF"

Best Rock/Alternative Video
Arcade Fire - "We Exist"

Most Buzzworthy Canadian
The Weeknd

Best MuchFACT Video
Majid Jordan - "Forever"

Best Director
The Weeknd - "Often"
Director: Sam Pilling

Best Post-Production
Zeds Dead f. Twin Shadow & D'Angelo Lacy - "Lost You"

Official sponsors of the 2015 MMVAs include: Bud Lime Ritas, Coca-Cola^®, Procter & Gamble^®, SUBWAY^® Restaurants, and Virgin Mobile Canada™.

About the MUCH MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS:
Much gives fans the experience of a lifetime by putting them as close as humanly possible to their favourite artists and celebrities at the 2015 MUCH MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS. The show airs live on Sunday, June 21 on Much. Past MMVA performers and presenters include: Adam Lambert, Avril Lavigne, The Black Eyed Peas, The Black Keys, Britney Spears, Bruno Mars, Carly Rae Jepsen, Colin Farrell, Down With Webster, Drake, Ed Sheeran, Hedley, Jonas Brothers, Justin Bieber, Kanye West, Katy Perry, Kesha, Kellan Lutz, Kelly Clarkson, Lady Gaga, LMFAO, Miley Cyrus, Paris Hilton, Pauly D, Rihanna, Selena Gomez, Snooki, Snoop Dogg, Taylor Lautner, and many more. At the MMVAs, the audience is the priority; Much gives them the best seats in the house, whether a foot from the stage or a foot from a television, computer, or mobile phone. Fans should hit up Much regularly at Much.com or Twitter @Much for the most up-to-date info about the event of the year.

SOURCE Much

Image with caption: "Ed Sheeran 2015 MMVAs co-host (CNW Group/Much)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150622_C9770_PHOTO_EN_43655.jpg

Camila Ossa, Music & Entertainment Specialties, Bell Media, 416.384.2594 or [email protected]
Jessica Charbonneau, Music & Entertainment Specialties, Bell Media, 416.384.3016 or [email protected]
Amanda Rinaldo, Music & Entertainment Specialties, Bell Media, 416.384.5325 or [email protected]