Prince's sister Tyka broke down in tears as she accepted the award, which she said would be kept at the star's Paisley Park estate.

"Prince defied the odds," she said. "A black teen from Minneapolis with a goal to electrify the world. He had the courage to be different with his courage and god-given talent."

You can read can about Hot Press' exclusive look inside Paisley Park here .

The awards had a decidedly anti-Trump feel, with singer Billy Joe Armstrong singing: "No Trump, no KKk, no fascist USA" during the middle of Green Day's new single 'Bang Bang'.

Hosts Gigi Hadid and Saturday Night Live comedian Jay Pharoah also made multiple slights about Trump.

Referring to Bruno Mars, who was born in Hawaii, Pharoah said "I love Bruno Mars. I don't know what colour he is, so I can't deport him".

Zayn Malik, who quit One Direction in 2015, was given the award for best new artist.

Collecting his award, which is chosen by the American public, Malik said: "This one just says my name on it, right?

"It's been a crazy year. I can't thank the people who have been with me every day for the past year enough. To this very point, being stood on this stage is crazy."

After thanking his parents and fans, the 23-year-old "I didn't expect anybody to still vote for me so thank you for voting for me. I'll put it on my fireplace."

Irishman and former bandmate Niall Horan had earlier performed his solo single 'This Town' at the Los Angeles ceremony.

Actor Robert Downey Jr presented Sting with the American Music Award of Merit in recognition of work with his former band The Police and as a solo artist.

After playing a medley of some of his biggest hits including Message In A Bottle and Every Breath You Take, Sting said: "It's important for me as a musical migrant to acknowledge the very real debt I owe to American music. After all, American music lit the musical spark in my mind.

"While I may be an Englishman in New York, my musical soul is all-American."