Singer Blige sweeps music awards
Soul singer Mary J Blige has swept the Billboard music awards in the US, collecting nine trophies, including female R&B artist of the year.
The 35-year-old, whose latest album The Breakthrough topped the US charts, was among the performers at the ceremony held in Las Vegas.
But Blige lost out to Barbados-born singer Rihanna in the female singer of the year category.
Veteran performer Tony Bennett won a lifetime achievement honour.
Mary Blige,Rihanna,Billboards
