The most telling moment of the 2015 American Music Awards wasn’t captured on air during Sunday’s three-hour telecast.
Instead, it happened during a commercial break when a voice announced — via loudspeaker — that Taylor Swift’s insta-hit “Blank Space” had taken the trophy for song of the year.
The night’s biggest award wasn’t doled out during the main telecast, but that shouldn’t come as a surprise. Swift didn’t bother to show up to the awards, or even film an acceptance speech.
American Music Awards 2015, held in Los Angeles at the Microsoft Theater.
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Jennifer Lopez hosts the show at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
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Justin Bieber, left, performs.
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Water plays a huge part in Justin Bieber’s AMA finale performance.
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Justin Bieber at the American Music Awards. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)
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Macklemore, left, and Leon Bridges perform a statement-riddled song.
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Fall Out Boy accepts the Favorite Alternative Artist award.
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Actor-singer Jared Leto speaks onstage as he introduces a performance by Celine Dion.
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Celine Dion performs a song from Edith Piaf.
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Actor Harrison Ford introduces a “Star Wars”-centric performance.
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An orchestra performs a tribute to “Star Wars.”
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Avi Kaplan, left, Kirstie Maldonado, Scott Hoying, Mitch Grassi, and Kevin Olusola of Pentatonix perform during a tribute to the theme song of “Star Wars.”
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Avi Kaplan, Kirstie Maldonado, Scott Hoying, Mitch Grassi, and Kevin Olusola of Pentatonix perform, with Darth Vader watching over the quintet and the accompanying orchestra.
Luke Bryan and Karen Fairchild of Little Big Town perform.
(Matt Sayles / Invision / Associated Press)
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LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 22: Singer The Weeknd performs onstage during the 2015 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on November 22, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) ** OUTS - ELSENT, FPG, CM - OUTS * NM, PH, VA if sourced by CT, LA or MoD ** (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)
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Musicians Diplo, left, Skrillex and Justin Bieber accept Collaboration of the Year award for “Where Are U Now.”
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Carrie Underwood accepts the award for Favorite Female Artist — Country.
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Nicki Minaj accepts the award for Favorite Album — Rap/hip-hop for “The Pinkprint.”
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Paula Abdul, center, and Donnie Wahlberg, right, present Ariana Grande with the award for Favorite Female artist — Pop/rock.
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Singer Ariana Grande takes a moment to accept the Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist award.
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Singer Chris Martin, center, and musicians Jonny Buckland, left, Will Champion and Guy Berryman of Coldplay.
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Ariana Grande thanks the fans as she accepts the Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist award.
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Chris Martin of Coldplay
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The Weeknd and fire.
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Singer Sam Hunt accepts New Artist of the Year award.
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Nick Jonas performs a medley of his 2015 hits.
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Nick Jonas performs his hit “Jealous.”
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Gwen Stefani sings with emotion.
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Gwen Stefani performs.
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Niall Horan, left, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson of One Direction perform.
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Nicki Minaj presents the award for Favorite Duo or Group — Pop/rock.
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Model Gigi Hadid, left, and TV personality Kylie Jenner walk onstage as presenters.
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Hannah Davis, left, and Wiz Khalifa introduce a performance by 5 Seconds of Summer.
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Michael Clifford, left, Luke Hemmings, Ashton Irwin, and Calum Hood of 5 Seconds of Summer perform.
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Actresses Hailee Steinfeld, left, Chrissie Fit, Rebel Wilson and Anna Kendrick accept Top Soundtrack award for “Pitch Perfect 2.”
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Carrie Underwood performs.
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Carrie Underwood belts out a tune.
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Ariana Grande starts off singing solo.
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Ariana Grande performs.
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Selena Gomez performs with a cadre of male dancers onstage during the 2015 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on Nov. 22, 2015.
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Actors Nick Robinson and Chloe Grace Moretz introduce a performance.
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Singers Charlie Puth and Meghan Trainor perform the song “Let’s Marvin Gaye and Get it On.”
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Singers Charlie Puth and Meghan Trainor kiss onstage, something they’ve done before.
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Demi Lovato performs.
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Demi Lovato and her backup dancers, perform.
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Singers Niall Horan, left, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Liam Payne of One Direction accept the Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group award.
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Prince speaks onstage as he prepares to hand out the award for soul/R&B album.
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The Weeknd accepts Favorite Soul/R&B Album for “Beauty Behind the Madness.”
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Host Jennifer Lopez performs onstage during the opening.
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Jennifer Lopez snuggles with a dancer.
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But that didn’t matter to the thousands of young fans who crammed the Microsoft Theatre for Sunday’s show. Just the announcement of her name and headshot of the country-turned-pop superstar was enough to send them into hysterics.
For the AMA audience, it’s about a feeling of proximity to the acts they have logged endless hours voting online for, tweeting about and shamelessly “stanning” for.
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Sunday’s ceremony shouldn’t be measured in awards or best-dressed lists. Instead, fans shrill screams are the most appropriate way to sum up the “winners” of the evening.
Based on the scream factor, One Direction was clearly the evening’s biggest success story.
The English-Irish boy band nabbed fewer trophies than Swift (she took home three to their two) but tell that to the gaggle of teenage girls who stomped through a crowd of onlookers and revelers as the group made its entrance, the ear splitting screams during their sleepy performance or the thongs of fans who nearly drowned them out during their acceptance speech early into the night.
In fact, fan testimonials rang out over Microsoft Theatre much clearer -- and more effectively -- than any single performer of the night.
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That guy professing his love for Jennifer Lopez during the host’s sizzling dance medley at the top of the show? He’d eventually be drowned out by shrieks for the Weeknd and Nick Jonas, a sing along with Selena Gomez or hollers for Nicki Minaj.
The appearance of Justin Bieber doing the robot during a song elicited just as many cheers as his win for collaboration, his performance — and his name being called on the loud speaker.
It really didn’t matter what happened on that stage or who won what. For most of the audience, just the proximity to the action was enough.
Gerrick D. Kennedy is a former staff writer for the Los Angeles Times. He covered music and pop culture from 2009 to 2019. In 2012, Kennedy was named Emerging Journalist of the Year by the National Assn. of Black Journalists and in 2014 the Advocate featured him in its annual 40 Under 40 list. He is also the author of “Parental Discretion Is Advised: The Rise of N.W.A and the Dawn of Gangsta Rap.”
