Justin Bieber with his award for Best Male at the press room for the MTV European Music Awards. Photo: Yui Mok/PA Wire

Singer Justin Bieber has triumphed at the 2015 MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) in Milan, winning a total of five awards.

Bieber, who was up against Taylor Swift who had nine nominations, was named Best Male, Best Worldwide Act: North America, Best Look, Best Collaboration and he took home the Best Fans award.

Bieber took to the stage to perform his hit, What Do You Mean, and told his fans as he won his second accolade: “I don’t take any of these moments for granted; you guys are unbelievable. That’s where I belong, right up there on that stage.”

A good deal of anticipation surrounded his performance because he broke down in tears at the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) in August.

Accepting his first award, Bieber said: “Wow, thank you. It’s been a long couple of years, um, I just feel like this is pretty awesome to be recognised for my music. I just want to say thank you to all of my fans, you guys are really incredible.

I don’t take any of these moments for granted; you guys are unbelievable

“I want to thank you mom and my dad, and God, and everyone who helped me get to this place. I love you, thank you all very much.”

Other winners included Best Pop: One Direction; Best New: Shawn Mendes; and Best Female: Rihanna.

Duran Duran received the first ever MTV Video Visionary Award for their strong visual presence and for influencing a generation of musicians with some of the best music videos.

“When we started there was us and MTV and we blazed a trail and we were there for each other,” said lead singer Simon Le Bon.

The ceremony was hosted by Ed Sheeran and Orange Is The New Black star Ruby Rose.

Sheeran was also named Best Live Act and won the Best World Stage award.

Stand-out performances were given by Ellie Goulding and Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli and YouTube star Tori Kelly, who performed a duet of Pink’s hit Just Give Me A Reason.

Tennis ace Novak Djokovic took to the stage in a suit to present the award for Best Hip Hop, which was won by Nicki Minaj.

Music producer Naughty Boy, who had a very public Twitter spat with One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson, said he is being kept busy promoting his new single, Runnin’ (Lose It All) that features Beyonce and Arrow Benjamin.

“It’s a good end to the year, it’s been a circus of a year,” he said.

When asked if everything was settled with One Direction, he said: “This is the media business, we’re all circus monkeys, we go round and go the other way and then we go back again so I’m just going this way.”