Madonna won the award for top touring artist.

Taylor Swift was the red hot winner at the Billboard Music Awards on Sunday. She won eight of 11 awards, including top artist and top Billboard 200 album for Red.

“You are the longest and best relationship I ever had,” she told the crowd.

She also had a colourful performance of her hit 22 – starting backstage and working her way to the main stage on the back of a bike with help from a dozen background dancers and a flurry of red balloons.

Justin Bieber also performed – twice – and was also a multiple winner with three awards, including top male artist, social artist and the fan-voted milestone award, beating out Taylor and Bruno Mars. When accepting the latter – where boos were heard – he alluded to the tumultuous weeks he has had in the public eye.

I’m 19 years old; I think I’m doing a pretty good job- Justin Bieber

“I’m 19 years old; I think I’m doing a pretty good job. And basically from my heart I really just want to say it should really be about the music, it should be about the craft that I’m making. This is not a gimmick,” he said. “I’m an artist and I should be taken seriously and all this other bull should not be spoken.”

Justin performed with will.i.am and solo when he sang Take You in leather pants, a leather vest and a black shirt that had one sleeve, as blue laser lights beamed.

Miguel, too, had a showstopping performance, though he seemed to kick a fan when he jumped over the crowd while singing his hit Adorn. The R&B singer seemed to have landed part of his body on one woman, who walked away, and kicked another, who held her head low.

Maroon 5 and fun. were also nominated for 11 awards and walked away with one win each in pre-telecast announcements. Gotye and Rihanna had the second-most wins with four awards each.

French producer and DJ David Guetta was named top electric dance music artist.

Nicky Minaj won the first award in the live telecast for top rap artist, beating out Drake, Flo Rida, Pitbull and Psy.

Pop diva Madonna was named top touring artist for her MDNA Tour, 2012’s highest-grossing concert series.

Madonna strode onstage to accept the accolade from will.i.am, wearing black fishnet stockings, garters and a padlock choker.

The MDNA Tour grossed more than $305 million from 88 sold-out shows and attracted an audience of 2.2 million people. Madonna acknowledged her fans, saying: “A showgirl needs her fans. Thank you for supporting me for three decades.”

But the awards show, airing live from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vega on ABC, is less about the trophies – which reflect success on the Billboard charts – and more about the performances.

Bruno Mars opened the show with Treasure, Selena Gomez sang her seductive new number, Come & Get It, while Chris Brown danced around the stage to his latest single, Fine China, though his voice began to crack during the performance. Duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis also performed their massive hit, Thrift Shop, which won top rap song.

Other musical pairings included Jennifer Lopez and Pitbull singing LiveItUp, Minaj and Lil Wayne who performed High School, and Christina Aguilera and Pitbull singing Feel This Moment.

Prince, who received the icon award, closed the awards show with a melody of his jams in a turquoise and purple ensemble. He sang, danced and rocked on the guitar.

Winners in some of the main categories

Top artist: Taylor Swift
Top Billboard 200 album: Taylor Swift – Red
Top duo/group: One Direction
Top new artist: One Direction
Top touring artist: Madonna
Top male artist: Justin Bieber
Top female artist: Taylor Swift
Top Billboard 200 artist: Taylor Swift
Top radio songs artist: Rihanna
Top social artist: Justin Bieber
Top pop artist: One Direction
Top R&B artist: Rihanna
Top rap artist: Nicki Minaj
Top country artist: Taylor Swift
Top rock artist: fun.
Top Latin artist: Jenni Rivera
Top dance artist: Madonna
Top EDM artist: David Guetta
Top pop album: Adele – 21
Top R&B album: Rihanna – Unapologetic
Top rap album: Nicky Minaj – Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded
Top country album: Taylor Swift – Red
Top rock album: Mumford & Sons – Babel
Top dance album: Madonna – MDNA
Top EDM album: Skrillex – Bangarang
Top digital song: Carly Rae Jepsen – Call Me Maybe