MTV Names ONE DIRECTION as 'Artist of the Year'; 'Call Me Maybe' as 'Song of the Year'

By: Caryn Robbins Dec. 14, 2012

MTV today announced One Direction (OneDirection.MTV.com) has been selected by its team of music staffers as 2012's Artist of the Year, ending a week long multiscreen celebration in which Carly Rae Jepsen's (CarlyRaeJepsen.MTV.com) Call Me Maybe was named Song of the Year. Fan votes determined Demi Lovato (DemiLovato.MTV.com) for having the most passionate fan army, while MGK(MGK.MTV.com) was voted best MTV performance and 2012 and Kill the Noise (KilltheNoise.MTV.com) was voted MTV's Clubland's #PICKOFTHEYEAR.

After a banner year that included two #1 albums (Up All Night and Take Me Home) international super hits like What Makes You Beautiful and Live While We're Young, a sold out world tour and a performance on MTV's Video Music Awards, One Direction was the clear choice for the top spot. Additionally, MTV named the band's single "What Makes You Beautiful" as the #4 on the Song of the Year list. To view a clip of One Direction's acceptance speech, click here

"MTV, we cannot thank you enough. Artist of the Year, it is an absolute honor. We've had an amazing year and this is the icing on the cake, so thank you so much," said One Direction's Louis Tomlinson

"We want to thank you, MTV for all your support. You've supported us from very early on. And a massive thank you to all the fans. This wouldn't be possible without you, so thank you once again. This is amazing and we'll see you soon," added One Direction's Harry Styles.

The panel named Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call My Maybe" as Song of the Year. The love-at-first-sight ode spent an astounding nine weeks atop the singles chart, sold more than 10 million copies worldwide and inspired a ton of parody videos. MTV also named Jepsen as one of the top artists of the year. To view a clip of Carly Rae Jepsen accepting the award for Song of the Year, click here

"I have to thank the two other writers, Joshua Ramsay and Travish Crowe," said Carly Rae Jepsen. "When we worked on this song together we were not expecting this year to turn out to be the crazy adventure that it is. Thank you to the fans, the team, my family and MTV! Thanks to you."

Taylor Swift (TaylorSwift.MTV.com) and fun. (fun.MTV.com) also ranked high on the year end lists. Swift ranked #2 and fun. at #3 on the Artist of the Year list, while fun.'s anthem "We Are Young" and Swift's smash hit "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" ranked at #2 and #6 on Song of the Year list respectively.

The week long music event kicked off on Monday during MTV's morning music hours, AMTV, where each day, editors and staffers from MTV's various music powerhouses: MTV News, MTV Music & Talent, and MTV.com put their minds and votes together to review the year in music to compile the lists. The Song of the Year and Artist of the Year were announced at 7:59 pm ET on MTV Monday and Thursday evening. MTV News' Christina Garibaldi would reveal the panel's top choices and present the award to the #1 pick.

No one has more passionate fans that Demi Lovato. During and leading up to "The Big & Best of 2012: A Year End Celebration Presented by T-Mobile," livestream, 16 fan armies battled it out in a series of social challenges for the title of Best Fans of the Year. In the end, Demi's Lovato's Lovatics emerged victorious.

After a notable year that included winning the mtvU Woodie Award for Breaking Woodie, which celebrates emerging artists, MGK walked away with the fan votes for Best MTV Live Performance for his performance of Invincible at the 2012 mtvU Woodie Awards. MGK bested the likes of All Time Low (AllTimeLow.MTV.com), who finished second in the poll for their tribute to their hometown in a heartfelt MTV Buzzworthy acoustic rendition of "For Baltimore."

"FUUUUUUCK YES!!!! This is definitely our proudest award yet, not just because it sheds light on the dedication of our fans but because the heart and soul of this band and this movement lies in our performances. So, to see that aspect of what we do get nominated and win is everything to us, because we are performers. Lace Up!!!!," said MGK.

2012 was certainly a critical year for EDM. Fans of MTV's EDM show Clubland, overwhelmingly voted Kill the Noise's "Kill the Noise Pt 1." as MTV's Clubland's #PICKOFTHEYEAR.

MTV Artist of the Year:

One Direction
Taylor Swift
fun.
Rihanna
2 Chainz
Frank Ocean
Carly Rae Jepsen
Nicki Minaj
Psy
Flo Rida

Song of the Year:

"Call Me Maybe," Carly Rae Jepsen
"We Are Young," fun.
"Somebody I Used to Know," Gotye
"What Makes You Beautiful," One Direction
"Starships," Nicki Minaj
"We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together," Taylor Swift
"Mercy," Kanye West/G.O.O.D. Music
"Gangnam Style," Psy
"Glad You Came," The Wanted
"Payphone," Maroon 5

Best MTV 2012 Live Performance (fan voted)

Machine Gun Killer, "Invincible," 2012 MTV Woodies
All Time Low, "For Baltimore," Buzzworthy Live
WALK THE MOON, "Anna Sun," MTV Unplugged
One Direction, "One Thing," MTV Video Music Awards
Mac Miller, "Party on 5th Avenue," MTV Woodies
Say Anything, "Say Anything," Buzzworthy Live
Rita Ora, "RIP," MTV Unplugged
The Wanted, "Glad You Came," Spring Break 2012
Taylor Swift, " We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together, MTV Video Music Awards
Florence + The Machine, "Shake It Out," MTV Unplugged

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