The ceremony took place on October 22 at the James L. Knight Center in Miami, Florida. Burna Boy emerged ahead of fellow nominees Bruno Mars, DJ Snake, Shenseea and Steve Aoki in the category.
The award recognises artists whose music reaches audiences beyond their primary musical markets. For Burna Boy, the win highlights his growing international reach and the increasing visibility of Nigerian music beyond Africa.
Known for blending Afrobeats with dancehall, reggae and hip-hop, Burna Boy has built a global audience through albums such as African Giant, Twice as Tall and Love, Damini. His international collaborations, major festival appearances and tours have also helped introduce his music to listeners across different regions.
His latest recognition comes as Afrobeats continues to gain attention on the international music scene, with African artists reaching wider audiences through streaming platforms, live performances and cross-genre collaborations.
At the same ceremony, Puerto Rican star Bad Bunny won Artist of the Year and Tour of the Year, while Mexican group Fuerza Regida was among the evening’s biggest winners.
Burna Boy’s victory places Nigerian music in the spotlight at an awards ceremony closely associated with Latin music. It also reflects the growing connections between music markets, as artists increasingly reach audiences beyond the genres and regions where their careers began.
