Ashanti took home eight trophies from this year's Billboard Music Awards, among them honors for female artist of the year, R&B/hip-hop artist of the year and R&B/hip-hop single of the year for "Foolish," from her self-titled debut. Nelly's second album Nellyville earned the St. Louis-based rapper six titles, including artist of the year, rap artist of the year and rap single of the year for "Hot in Herre."

Nickelback, Creed and Puddle of Mudd split the rock honors evenly among themselves, earning four trophies a piece, with Puddle of Mudd claiming rock artist of the year and Creed winning group of the year. Eminem -- by most other accounts, the artist of the year -- claimed two awards, including album of the year for his The Eminem Show.

The complete list of 2002 Billboard Music Award winners:

Artist of the year: Nelly

Male artist of the year: Nelly

Female artist of the year: Ashanti

Top new pop artist of the year: Ashanti

Group/duo of the year: Creed

Album of the year: The Eminem Show, Eminem

Group/duo albums artist of the year: Creed

Hot 100 singles artist of the year: Ashanti

Hot 100 Singles male artist of the year: Nelly

Hot 100 singles group/duo of the year: Nickleback

Hot 100 single of the year: "How You Remind Me," Nickelback

Hot 100 airplay single of the year: "How You Remind Me," Nickelback

Top 40 track of the year: "How You Remind Me," Nickelback

R&B/hip-hop artist of the year: Ashanti

R&B/hip-hop male artist of the year: Nelly

R&B/hip-hop female artist of the year: Ashanti

Ashanti

R&B/hip-hop album of the year: The Eminem Show, Eminem

R&B/hip-hop single of the year: "Foolish," Ashanti

R&B/hip-hop singles artist of the year: Ashanti

R&B/hip-hop single (sales) of the year: "Uh Huh," B2K

Rap artist of the year: Nelly

Rap track of the year: "Hot in Herre," Nelly

Country singles artist of the year: Toby Keith

Rock artist of the year: Puddle of Mudd

Rock track of the year: "Blurry," Puddle of Mudd

Modern rock artist of the year: Puddle of Mudd

Modern rock track of the year: "Blurry," Puddle of Mudd

Dance/club play artist of the year: Cher

Electronic album of the year: 18, Moby

Electronic albums artist of the year: Moby

Catalog artist of the year: Creed

Catalog album of the year: Human Clay, Creed

Century Award: Annie Lennox

Artist Achievement Award: Cher

AUGUSTIN SEDGEWICK
(December 10, 2002)