Billboard has named Bruno Mars its Artist of the Year for 2013. The magazine announced the selection on Friday (Dec. 13), admitting that choosing the pop singer as the year’s top overall artist might seem unusual, with Miley Cyrus twerking her way to the top of the charts and Justin Timberlake returning to music after a seven-year hiatus, but the numbers for his latest release Unorthodox Jukebox back them up on their decision.
Bruno Mars’ Unorthodox Jukebox was released a year ago in December, debuting at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, and after 12 weeks managed to become No. 1. The record remained in the top 20 of the albums chart until Sept. 14. Unorthodox Jukebox has sold 1.8 million copies since its release and is the second best-selling album of the year behind Justin Timberlake’s The 20/20 Experience.
The singer’s impressive year includes a No. 1 hit with “When I Was Your Man” and a top 5 hit with “Treasure,” along with several Grammy Award nominations. His No. 1 hit, “Locked Out of Heaven,” is up for two of the top awards, Song of the year and Record of the year.
Mars stated that being named Billboard’s Artist of the Year is “flattering. It’s just an honor.”
Bruno Mars will launch the second North American leg of his “Moonshine Jungle World Tour” next summer.
