A success timeline featuring the most significant achievements of The Weeknd.
Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, famously known as The Weeknd, is a highly acclaimed Canadian singer, songwriter, and actor. He's garnered significant recognition for his work, evidenced by a vast collection of awards. These include four Grammy Awards, 20 Billboard Music Awards, 22 Juno Awards, six American Music Awards, three MTV Video Music Awards, and a Latin Grammy Award. Furthermore, his talent has also been recognized with nominations for both an Academy Award and a Primetime Emmy Award, highlighting his versatility and impact across various entertainment platforms.
2012: Nomination for the Polaris Music Prize
In 2012, Echoes of Silence was a longlisted nominee for the Polaris Music Prize.
2013: Nomination for the Sound of 2013 Poll Award by BBC
In 2013, Tesfaye received a nomination for the Sound of 2013 poll award by BBC.
October 2014: Allan Slaight Honour by Canada's Walk of Fame
In October 2014, Tesfaye was awarded the Allan Slaight Honour by Canada's Walk of Fame.
2014: Donation to University of Toronto
After receiving a Bikila Award in 2014, Tesfaye donated CA$50,000 to the University of Toronto to fund a Ge'ez course.
June 2015: Won Centric Award, Performed with Alicia Keys, and Released "Can't Feel My Face"
In June 2015, Tesfaye won the Centric Award at the BET Awards, performed "Earned It" with Alicia Keys, and released "Can't Feel My Face" as a single, which became his first number-one song in the United States.
2015: Nominated for First Academy Award
In 2015, Tesfaye earned his first Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song for "Earned It" from the Fifty Shades of Grey soundtrack.
January 2019: Starboy certified triple platinum
As of January 2019, the album Starboy by The Weeknd was certified triple platinum by the RIAA, which represents significant sales and popularity of the album.
June 2019: "The Hills" Certified Diamond
In June 2019, "The Hills" was certified diamond by the RIAA, marking Tesfaye's first diamond-certified record.
2020: Listed as One of the World's Most Influential People by Time
In 2020, Tesfaye was listed by Time as one of the world's most influential people, recognizing his impact on music and culture.
February 7, 2021: Super Bowl LV halftime show
On February 7, 2021, The Weeknd headlined the Super Bowl LV halftime show, becoming the first Canadian solo artist to do so.
May 8, 2021: "Save Your Tears" Remix Hit #1
On May 8, 2021, The Weeknd's remix of "Save Your Tears" with Ariana Grande reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100, becoming both artists' sixth number one hit.
September 11, 2021: "Blinding Lights" long charting song ends
On September 11, 2021, The Weeknd's single "Blinding Lights" ended its record-breaking run as the longest charting song by a solo artist on the Hot 100 at 90 weeks.
November 23, 2021: "Blinding Lights" ranked #1 Greatest Hot 100 Hit of All Time
On November 23, 2021, The Weeknd's "Blinding Lights" was ranked as the #1 Greatest Hot 100 Hit of All Time by Billboard, surpassing Chubby Checker's "The Twist".
January 1, 2023: "Blinding Lights" most streamed song on Spotify
On January 1, 2023, The Weeknd's "Blinding Lights" became the most streamed song on Spotify with 3.3 billion streams, marking a significant milestone.
February 27, 2023: The Weeknd surpasses 100 million monthly listeners on Spotify
On February 27, 2023, The Weeknd became the first artist to surpass 100 million monthly listeners on Spotify, following the success of the "Die for You" remix.
March 11, 2023: "Die for You" remix reaches number one on Billboard Hot 100
On March 11, 2023, the "Die for You" remix reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming both The Weeknd and Ariana Grande's seventh number one hit.
March 2023: "Starboy" certified Diamond
As of March 2023, The Weeknd's song "Starboy" was certified Diamond by the RIAA, indicating significant sales and popularity.
2023: Ranked on Rolling Stone's 200 Greatest Singers of All Time list
In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked the Weeknd at number 110 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.
2023: Dubbed the "World's Most Popular Artist" by Guinness World Records
In 2023, Tesfaye was dubbed the "world's most popular artist" by Guinness World Records.