1st Urapopstar Critics Choice Awards

The 1st Urapopstar Critics Choice Awards were held at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles and the Hôtel Ritz Paris in Paris on March 13, 2021. It recognized the best recordings, compositions, and artists of the eligibility period, running from May 29, 2020, to January 22, 2021. The nominations were revealed during a virtual livestream on February 14, 2021. Alesha and Shell Ruin hosted the ceremony, reprising their roles from the 17th Urapopstar Awards in 2009.

Shell Ruin received the most nominations with 13 (although four of those nominations are shared with Putanovska), followed by Putanovska with 11 and Emily Henning with 10. Jack Stevens received the most award with three.

Winners and nominees
Artist of the Year
 * Emily Henning
 * Alesha
 * Jack Stevens
 * Justyce
 * Shell Ruin

Single of the Year
 * Jack Stevens - "Masc for Masc"
 * Alesha - "Dove"
 * Emily Henning - "Detonate"
 * Justyce - "The Keeper" (ft. Aurora Reed)
 * Putanovska - "Lovechild"
 * Putanovska & Shell Ruin - "Burning the Candle (At Both Ends)"
 * Riker Allen - "Down Together"
 * Shell Ruin - "Man Is a Woman"

Album of the Year
 * Shell Ruin - The Fourth Wall
 * Aurora Reed - Into the Divine Summer Vol. 1
 * Crystal Barker - Nightmares x Dreams
 * Putanovska - Lovechild
 * Romo - Romo (II)

Collaboration of the Year
 * Putanovska & Shell Ruin - "Burning the Candle (At Both Ends)"
 * Charisma Kane - "Halo" (ft. Zander)
 * Jupiter & James Moss - "The Hunger"
 * Spells x Aurora Reed - Dropbox EP
 * Syd Wolfe - "Wknd in Paris" (ft. Paul)

Comeback of the Year
 * Indigo Peak
 * Crystal Barker
 * Emily Henning
 * Jack Stevens
 * Romo

Video of the Year
 * Paul - Christopher St. anthology
 * Emily Henning - "Big in Japan"
 * Jupiter & James Moss - "The Hunger"
 * Putanovska & Shell Ruin - "Burning the Candle (At Both Ends)"
 * Romo - "Feminist Christ"

Best New Artist
 * Jupiter
 * Charisma Kane
 * Darius Costel
 * Neoncity
 * Riker Allen

Best Male Artist
 * Jack Stevens
 * Gabriel Dresden
 * Justyce
 * Paul
 * Riker Allen

Best Female Artist
 * Alesha
 * Emily Henning
 * Putanovska
 * Shell Ruin
 * Syd Wolfe

Best Duo or Group
 * Indigo Peak
 * Dresden & Bareilles
 * Flare
 * Neoncity
 * Spells

Best Pop or Dance Artist
 * Jack Stevens
 * Emily Henning
 * Jupiter
 * Justyce
 * Syd Wolfe

Best R&B or Hip-Hop Artist Best Alternative or Rock Artist
 * Kenya
 * Aurora Reed
 * Charisma Kane
 * Paul
 * Shell Ruin
 * Riker Allen
 * Amy Marshall
 * Gabriel Dresden
 * Putanovska
 * Romo

Best Songwriter
 * Mike S (Romo, Luke Ramada)
 * Aneurin (Shell Ruin, heroes)
 * Ben (Alesha, Kenya)
 * Kyle (Syd Wolfe, Justyce)
 * Liam (Aurora Reed, Riker Allen)

Best Promotional Campaign
 * Jack Stevens - "Masc for Masc" (Close Encounters)
 * Emily Henning - "Let the Night Fall" (Rebound)
 * Putanovska & Shell Ruin - "Burning the Candle (At Both Ends)" (Lovechild)
 * Romo - "Feminist Christ" (Romo (II))
 * Shell Ruin - "Man Is a Woman" (The Fourth Wall)

Best Single Cover Art
 * Justyce - "The Keeper" (ft. Aurora Reed)
 * Emily Henning - "Big in Japan"
 * Indigo Peak - "Cocaine"
 * Jupiter & James Moss - "The Hunger"
 * Shell Ruin - "Man Is a Woman"

Best Album Cover Art
 * Alesha - Visible Light
 * Putanovska - Lovechild
 * Shell Ruin - The Fourth Wall
 * Spells - Entrail
 * Syd Wolfe - Club Supreme

Best Miscellaneous Art
 * Emily Henning - online merch store
 * Holy Trinity x KFC value meal box
 * Jack Stevens x Heinz pasta shapes
 * Justyce's New Years Blowout
 * Syd Wolfe - Club Supreme album reveal

Outstanding Art Direction for an Album Campaign
 * Justyce - Deliverance (Deluxe)
 * Alesha - Visible Light
 * Emily Henning - Rebound
 * Putanovska - Lovechild
 * Shell Ruin - The Fourth Wall

Artist of the Decade (2011-2020)
 * Syd Wolfe
 * Aurora Reed
 * Paulo Araujo
 * Putanovska
 * Shell Ruin

Lifetime Achievement Award
 * Paul