Billboard Music Awards to Air Live From Las Vegas on ABC

The 2012 Billboard Music Awards will air on ABC live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on May 20, in partnership with Chevrolet and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. Like last year, which also aired on ABC, the live broadcast will be co-executive produced by Richard Beckman and Don Mischer.

our editor recommends

Billboard Music Awards to Debut on India's Zee Cafe

Billboard Music Awards Draws Biggest Audience Since 2003

The telecast will include a performance by the winner of Billboard's annual Battle of the Bands gig.

The awards will reflect Billboard's chart rankings based on key fan interactions with music, including album sales and downloads, track downloads, radio airplay and touring as well as streaming and social interactions on Facebook, Twitter, Vevo, Youtube, Spotify and other popular online destinations for music. These measurements are tracked year-round by Billboard and its data partners, including Nielsen Entertainment and Next Big Sound. The awards will be based on the reporting period of March 1, 2011 through Feb. 29, 2012. Top artists will be recognized in a variety of genres, including R&B, rap, pop, country, rock, Latin and alternative.

Last year's ceremony featured performances from the Black Eyed Peas, Rihanna, Keith Urban, Taio Cruz, Cee Lo Green, Lady Antebellum, Nicki Minaj, Ke$ha, Far*East Movement, Pitbull, Mary J. Blige with Lil Wayne, OneRepublic and a special performance by Neil Diamond.

However, history will likely point to Beyonce's visually groundbreaking performance of "Run the World (Girls)" -- with its 100 back-up dancers and virtual Beyonce duplicates -- as the night's most enduring moment.

The singer also received a pre-taped tribute from a wide slate of cultural figures including First Lady Michelle Obama, Barbra Streisand, Bono and Lady Gaga, who told the camera, "You represent the dream."