LAS VEGAS — Airing live on ABC shortly after the natural light show outside — a partial solar eclipse — the 2012 Billboard Music Awards, staged at the MGM Grand Arena May 20 and supported by PRG, featured design flourishes in lighting and video that animated the set and a visual circus of performances. There were also musical and silent tributes for Whitney Houston, Adam Yauch, Donna Summer and Robin Gibb.
Production credits this year went to LD Robert Dickinson/Full Flood Inc., lighting directors Jon Kusner and Travis Hagenbuch/Full Flood Inc., production designer Brian Stonestreet and media server programmer Jason Rudolph/Mobius Productions. The event was produced by Richard D. Beckman, CEO of Prometheus Global Media and Don Mischer Productions.
As with the Grammys, Adele won plenty of awards this year, but the show’s focus was on the spectacle accompanying other artists at the event, including BMX aerial stunts (for Chris Brown), stilt walkers (for Nelly Furtado) and flames (for Linkin Park). Others performing included LMFAO, The Wanted, Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, Usher, Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson.
Memorial tributes included performances by Natasha Bedingfield (for Donna Summer), Cee Lo Green (for Adam Yauch) and a duet with John Legend and Jordin Sparks (for Whitney Houston). The Bee Gees’ Robin Gibb, who lost his battle with cancer mere hours before the event, was remembered with a moment of silence.
Special honors this year went to Whitney Houston and Stevie Wonder (who also performed during the show with Alicia Keys). Other big winners besides Adele (who wasn’t present at the show) included Lil Wayne, Taylor Swift, Wiz Khalifa and LMFAO.
For more information, please visit www.billboard.com.
