Adele triumphs at Billboard awards

Adele picked up a dozen gongs at the Billboard Music Awards less than a week after her triumph at the Ivor Novellos.

The singer was named Top Artist, Top Female Artist and Top Pop Artist at the US event.

'Rolling In The Deep' was named Top Streaming Song (Audio) and Top Alternative Song, while her album '21' was named Top Billboard 200 Album and Top Pop Album.

There was also success for Coldplay who were named Top Rock Artist and Top Alternative Artist, while their album 'Mylo Xyloto' was named Top Rock Album and Top Alternative Album.

Adele's Billboard success comes after she was named songwriter of the year at the Ivor Novello Awards last Thursday. 'Rolling In The Deep' picked up the award for most performed work at the same bash.

She can also count Brit Awards and six Grammys among her haul this year and '21' recently overtook Pink Floyd's landmark 1973 release 'The Dark Side Of The Moon' in the list of best-selling UK albums.

It has now sold more than 4,142,000 copies, making it the seventh biggest-selling album of all time.

The singer has become a household name in the US and the UK, with her chart-topping second album inspired by the end of a romance.

Her journey to the top began when she was offered a recording contract with XL Recordings after a friend posted her demos on MySpace soon after she graduated from the performing arts Brits School in Croydon in 2006.