DRAKE Wins MTVu's 'Woodie of the Year' Award

mtvU, MTV's 24-hour college network named Drake, The 1975, Chance the Rapper, Ed Sheeran, Beyoncé, A$AP Rocky and Skrillex, as well as 90.3 FM WESS Radio from East Stroudsburg University winners of the "2014 mtvU Woodie Awards," honoring the music college students love. MTV will premiere the "2014 mtvU Woodie Awards Special" on Sunday, March 16 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT, celebrating award winners and showcasing some of the best performances from the Woodies.

From Austin, Texas, the Live Music Capital of the World, Drake was named winner of the night's biggest honor, "Woodie of the Year," which celebrates the artist that completely owned the past 12 months. While Drake was unable to attend the show, Lil Wayne accepted the award on his behalf after previously making a surprise appearance officially opening the "2014 mtvU Woodie Awards." With an eye to the future, the "Breaking Woodie" award went to best emerging artist and Woodie Awards performer The 1975. Another UK act, Ed Sheeran, won the "Performing Woodie" award, which spotlights artists who reimagined their stages to create live experiences that resonated beyond venue walls.

"Best Video Woodie" went to Chance the Rapper for "Everybody's Something," while Beyoncé won the first-ever "Did it My Way Woodie," which praises pioneers who challenge tradition and unleash innovative ideas, for releasing her new, self-titled album under the radar and without any prior promotion. A$AP Rocky and Skrillex captured the "Best Collaboration Woodie" award, presented by Reese's® Peanut Butter Cups, for their work together on "Wild For the Night." mtvU also honored 90.3 FM WESS Radio from East Stroudsburg University with the "College Radio Woodie," presented annually to pioneering stations dedicated to bringing students the best emerging music. Voting is still open for the "Cover Woodie" award, presented by Taco Bell, and fans can continue to vote for the winner through Sunday, March 16 for that category.

"I played the Woodies back in 2012 and saw everyone win an award and was quite jealous, so it's actually nice to win one," said Ed Sheeran. "Thanks to the fans for voting and thank to you to mtvU for creating the award and for giving it to me."

"Thank you mtvU, we are deeply humbled by our award," said The 1975. "It is very nice to be physically awarded for something that doesn't physically exist. How much of a paradox is that? Thank you very much. Love."

"Thank you so much to mtvU for this Woodie Award for Best Video. It means a lot," said Chance the Rapper. "Thanks to Austin Vesely for directing it and to all the independent artists out there."

The "2014 mtvU Woodie Awards" opened with hip hop superstar Lil Wayne shocking the Austin crowd to officially kick off the show, while dropping a verse from his legendary track "A Milli," leading into the evening's first performers, The 1975. The British band rocked the thousands in attendance with a rousing set including their hit single "Chocolate" and were stunned to be presented with the "Breaking Woodie" award upon leaving the stage. Woodie Awards alumni Danny Brown and Steve Aoki then introduced Iggy Azalea, who kept the energetic crowd moving to her new song "Fancy" with special guest Charli XCX. The performance echoed her highly acclaimed new video for "Fancy," which is an ode to the classic film "Clueless."

The buzz continued in Austin when Shailene Woodley and Theo James presented Ed Sheeran with the "Performing Woodie" award and shared an exclusive clip of their upcoming blockbuster "Divergent." The duo prepared the Woodies throng for another feature presentation, as Wiz Khalifa then announced Drake as "Woodie of the Year" winner. The rousing applause soon turned to laughter as comedian Hannibal Buress introduced the show-closing and jaw-dropping set from Childish Gambino. Entering from the back of the house awash in the bright lights of an LED suit, Childish Gambino led a marching band progression through the Austin crowd and to center stage, where he performed a medley of his hits "3005" and "Sweatpants."

The marathon day of music began at 4:00 p.m. locally with a set from Wild Cub, followed by performances from 2014 MTV Artists to Watch Vic Mensa and Echosmith. Jack Antonoff'sBleachers rocked the Austin crowd by making one of its first live appearances ever at the Woodies Festival, while London Grammar, Sam Smith, Phantogram and American Authorsalso kept the packed house partying throughout the day. For more information on all of the artists, check out Artists.MTV.

Voting will remain open through Sunday, March 16 for a new category, the "Cover Woodie" award presented by Taco Bell, which praises artists who have taken a smash hit and turned it on its head to make it their own. Fans can vote for their favorite nominee on Twitter, Instagram and Vine by using custom hashtags with "#vote" in front of the name of the artist they support. The honorees for "Cover Woodie" include Bastille's take of "We Can't Stop" by Miley Cyrus (#votebastille); Arctic Monkeys covering Drake's "Hold On We're Going Home" (#votearcticmonkeys);Vampire Weekend's rendition of "Blurred Lines" by Robin Thicke (#votevampireweekend); Sam Smith's version of Bruno Mars' "When I Was Your Man" (#votesamsmith); Low covering Rihanna's "Stay" (#votelow); and The 1975's version of "What Makes You Beautiful" by One Direction (#votethe1975).

The winners of the "2014 mtvU Woodie Awards" are:

Woodie Of The Year (Artist of the Year)

· Drake (YMCMB/Republic Records)

Breaking Woodie (Best Emerging Artist)

· The 1975 (Dirty Hit/Vagrant/Interscope Records)

Best Video Woodie (Best Video of the Year)

· Chance The Rapper - "Everybody's Something" (Independent)

Performing Woodie (Reimagined Live Performance)

· Ed Sheeran (Atlantic Records)

Did It My Way Woodie (Biggest Pioneer/Innovator)

· Beyoncé (Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records)

Best Collaboration Woodie (Presented by Reese's® Peanut Butter Cups)

· A$AP Rocky and Skrillex - "Wild For the Night" (Polo Grounds Music/RCA Records)

College Radio Woodie (Best College Radio Station)

· East Stroudsburg University (WESS)