Chris Brown named artist of the year

Rex Features

R&B singer Chris Brown has been named Billboard magazine's artist of the year for the second time.

The 18-year-old confessed that the accolade came as a "surprise", despite previously bagging the title in 2006.

"It's bigger than what I can ever imagine," he said. "It's unexpected totally, so it's a surprise."

He added: "I've had a good year but I still feel like a little insecure in those parts. I'm like, 'There's little ol' me getting an award' - that's incredible."

The honour is determined by a combination of album sales, digital downloads, radio airplay and internet streaming.

Second place in the rankings went to rapper Lil Wayne, while Brown's rumoured girlfriend Rihanna nabbed third place.