Sam Smith on top at Grammys

Beating the likes of Iggy Azalea, Bastille, Taylor Swift and HAIM, Sam Smith went home on Sunday with the awards for best new artist as well as the best pop vocal album for "In the Lonely Hour," and the song of the year and record of the year awards for "Stay with Me" (Darkchild Version), which reached top 10 status in more than 12 countries worldwide.

"Just a quick one - I want to thank the man who this record is about, who I fell in love with last year. Thank you so much for breaking my heart, because you got me four Grammys," the 22-year-old said in his acceptance speech.

US musician Beck was awarded the prize for album of the year for his 12th studio album "Morning Phase."

Pharrell Williams also went home with a good haul, picking up three awards for best solo performance and best video for his single "Happy" and best urban contemporary album for his second studio album "Girl."

Equaling Williams' win was Beyonce who won best surround sound album, as well as best R&B song and best R&B performance for "Drunk in Love."

Disney's animated hit "Frozen" also racked up two awards, for best compilation soundtrack for visual media and best song written for visual media, with its song "Let It Go."

After winning a BAFTA for best original music earlier in the evening, Wes Anderson's comedy "The Grand Budapest Hotel" also picked up a Grammy for best score soundtrack for visual media on Sunday, thanks to the work of French film composer Alexandre Desplat.

Rapper Eminem added to his 13 previous gongs on Sunday night after winning the award for best rap album for his fourth solo effort "The Marshall Mathers LP2."

Big names put on a show

Among the 23 performances of the night were ceremony openers AC/DC who were shortly followed by English pop star Jessie J and Welsh legend Tom Jones. The British duo performed The Righteous Brothers' "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin" in tribute to songwriters Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, who co-wrote the 1964 hit and received the Grammy Trustees' Award on Sunday.

Singing "I Put a Spell on You," Scottish singer-songwriter Annie Lennox also collaborated with new musician on the scene Hozier, with his chart smash hit "Take Me to Church."

Never one to shy away from the limelight, after flashing her behind to photographers on the red carpet earlier in the evening, queen of pop Madonna put on a big production performing her upcoming single "Living for Love" - surrounded by leaping male dancers who were sporting silver masks and horns.

Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett also paired up to perform their version of Irving Berlin's "Cheek To Cheek" from their Grammy award-winning album of the same name.

Kanye West made two appearances, first performing "Only One" which he wrote with Paul McCartney, before returning to the stage with the former Beatle and Rihanna later in the evening to perform their collaboration "FourFiveSeconds."

US President Barack Obama also made a guest appearance at the awards ceremony via a pre-recorded video message in which he urged the audience to support the "It's On Us" campaign against domestic violence.

"It's not OK and it has to stop," Obama said. "Artists have a unique power to change minds and attitudes and get us talking about what matters."

Next on the agenda in the music awards season are the Brit Awards in London on February 25. Last year, Sam Smith won the Brits' Critics' Choice Award.