One Direction were the big winners at the American Music Awards on Sunday night, taking home three prizes.

Picking up their third honour of the night, Liam Payne said: "I can't believe we've won three, it's amazing, it's so cool."

Iggy Azalea took home two awards, Best Rap/Hip-Hop Album for 'The New Classic' and Best Rap/Hip-Hop Artist, and gave an emotional speech when she picked up the first honour.

The Australian said: "This award is the first award I've ever won in my entire life, and means so much to me that it is for best hip-hop, because that's what inspired me to move to American and pursue my dreams.

"It's what helped me when I was a teenager to escape and to get through my life and to better times."

Taylor Swift dined with a handsome man and played with fire during her show-opening performance of 'Blank Space' and she was later honoured with the newly-created Dick Clark Award for Excellence.

During her acceptance speech, the 24-year-old beauty - who recently removed her music from Spotify- appeared to take a swipe at the streaming service.

She said: "What you did by going out and investing in music and albums is you are saying that you believe in the same thing that I believe in: that music is valuable and music should be consumed in albums and albums should be consumed as art and appreciated."

Other big winners on the night included Beyonce, who was honoured with Best Soul/R&B Female Artist and Best Soul/R&B Female Album for 'BEYONCE' and Katy Perry, who accepted the Best Pop/Rock Female Artist and Single of the Year for 'Dark Horse' via video link from Australia.

Performers at the ceremony included the evening's host Pitbull, Lorde, Iggy Azalea and Jennifer Lopez, Selena Gomez - who wept as she sang 'The Heart Wants What It Wants' - and Fergie.




American Music Awards 2014 full list of winners:




Dick Clark Award for Excellence:

Taylor Swift




Artist of the Year:

One Direction




Best Pop/Rock Band:

One Direction




Best Rap/Hip-Hop Album:

'The New Classic' - Iggy Azalea

Best Pop/Rock Album:

'Midnight Memories' - One Direction




Best Pop/Rock Male Artist:

Sam Smith




Best Pop/Rock Female Artist:

Katy Perry




Best Country Male Artist:

Luke Bryan




Best Alternative Rock Artist:

Imagine Dragons




Best New Artist of the Year:

5 Seconds of Summer




Best Rap/Hip-Hop Artist:

Iggy Azalea




Best Country Album:

'Just As I Am' - Brantley Gilbert




Best Latin Artist:

Enrique Iglesias




Single of the Year:

'Dark Horse' - Katy Perry feat. Juicy J




Best Country Female Artist:

Carrie Underwood




Best Country Band:

Florida Georgia Line




Best Soul/R&B Male Artist:

John Legend




Best Soul/R&B Female Artist: Beyonce




Best Soul/R&B Album:

'BEYONCE' - Beyonce




Best Electronic Dance Music (EDM) Artist:

Calvin Harris




Best Soundtrack:

'Frozen'