Adele held the record for most wins in a single Billboard Music Awards ceremony before Drake won 13 in 2017. She collected 12 awards at the 2012 Billboard Music Awards.
Adele’s record-setting night reflected the enormous impact of her album 21 and its singles, including “Rolling in the Deep” and “Someone Like You.” She won major awards such as Top Artist, Top Female Artist, Top Billboard 200 Artist, Top Billboard 200 Album, and Top Hot 100 Artist.
The 2012 ceremony honored music released or charting during 2011, so Adele’s total was tied closely to 21’s worldwide success. She also received 20 nominations that year, more than any other artist at the ceremony.
Drake surpassed her five years later at the 2017 Billboard Music Awards, winning 13 awards. The comparison concerns wins at one ceremony—not an artist’s lifetime Billboard Music Awards total, where career totals and eligibility periods produce a different record.