With help from hip-hop artist and actor Ludacris and international music sensation Ciara, dick clark productions and ABC announced the finalists for the 2016 Billboard Music Awards during the 8AM ET hour of Good Morning America.Â
The award show hosts announced the finalists in six categories, including: Top Artist, Top Male Artist, Top Female Artist, Top New Artist, Top Billboard 200 Album and Top Hot 100 Song. Immediately following the broadcast, five additional categories were exclusively announced live via Billboard Music Award’s Facebook and Periscope, followed by a live stream on ABC News of the remaining categories.
The Weeknd leads the finalist pack with nods in 16 categories including Top Artist, Top Male Artist and Top Hot 100 Song. Justin Bieber follows as a finalist in 11 categories including Top Artist, Top Male Artist and Top Hot 100 Artist. Fetty Wap and Drake are tied with nods in 10 categories each, including Top Male Artist contenders for both musicians. Drake will compete against himself for Top Rap Album for “If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late†and his collaboration with Future on “What A Time To Be Alive.â€
Leading the ladies, Adele and Taylor Swift are tied with eight nods each including Top Artist, Top Female Artist, Top Billboard 200 Artist and Top Billboard 200 Album, all of which Swift won last year. Other returning winners from 2015, who are also finalists this year, include One Direction, Romeo Santos, Coldplay, DJ Snake and Carrie Underwood.
In addition, Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth are finalists in six categories respectively. They received five each for their hit single “See You Again,†while Wiz Khalifa is also up for Top Rap Artist and Charlie is up for Top New Artist. The late David Bowie is honored posthumously as a finalist for Top Rock Album for “Blackstar.â€
Billboard Music Awards finalists are based on key fan interactions with music, including album and digital songs sales, radio airplay, streaming, touring and social interactions on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Spotify and other popular online destinations for music. These measurements are tracked year-round by Billboard and its data partners, including Nielsen Music and Next Big Sound. The awards are based on the reporting period of tracking dates March 23, 2015 through March 17, 2016 and Billboard chart dates April 11, 2015 through April 2, 2016.
The 2016 Billboard Music Awards will broadcast LIVE from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, May 22 at 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC.
The complete list of finalists for the 2016 Billboard Music Awards can be found below.
THE “2016 BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS†FINALISTS:
ARTIST AWARDS
Top Artist:
Adele
Justin Bieber
Drake
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd
Top New Artist:
Fetty Wap
OMI
Charlie Puth
Silentó
Bryson Tiller
Top Male Artist:
Justin Bieber
Drake
Fetty Wap
Ed Sheeran
The Weeknd
Top Female Artist:
Adele
Selena Gomez
Ariana Grande
Rihanna
Taylor Swift
Top Duo/Group:
Maroon 5
One Direction
twenty one pilots
The Rolling Stones
U2
Top Billboard 200 Artist:
Adele
Justin Bieber
Drake
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd
Top Hot 100 Artist:
Justin Bieber
Drake
Fetty Wap
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd
Top Song Sales Artist:
Adele
Justin Bieber
Drake
Fetty Wap
The Weeknd
Top Radio Songs Artist:
Justin Bieber
Ellie Goulding
Ed Sheeran
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd
Top Streaming Songs Artist:
Justin Bieber
Drake
Fetty Wap
Silentó
The Weeknd
Top Social Media Artist:
Justin Bieber
Selena Gomez
Ariana Grande
Demi Lovato
Taylor Swift
Top Touring Artist:
Madonna
One Direction
The Rolling Stones
Taylor Swift
U2
Top R&B Artist:
Chris Brown
Jeremih
Rihanna
Bryson Tiller
The Weeknd
Top Rap Artist:
Drake
Fetty Wap
Future
Wiz Khalifa
Silentó
Top Country Artist:
Zac Brown Band
Luke Bryan
Sam Hunt
Chris Stapleton
Carrie Underwood
Top Rock Artist:
Fall Out Boy
Elle King
twenty one pilots
WALK THE MOON
X Ambassadors
Top Latin Artist:
Banda Sinaloense MS De Sergio Lizárraga
Juan Gabriel
Nicky Jam
Ariel Camacho y Los Plebes del Rancho
Romeo Santos
Top Dance/Electronic Artist:
The Chainsmokers
DJ Snake
David Guetta
Major Lazer
Zedd
Top Christian Artist:
Casting Crowns
Lauren Daigle
Hillsong UNITED
MercyMe
Chris Tomlin
Top Gospel Artist:
Anthony Brown and group therAPy
Tasha Cobbs
Kirk Franklin
Travis Greene
Marvin Sapp
ALBUM AWARDS
Top Billboard 200 Album:
Adele “25â€
Justin Bieber “Purposeâ€
Ed Sheeran “xâ€
Taylor Swift “1989â€
The Weeknd “Beauty Behind The Madnessâ€
Top Soundtrack:
“Empire: Original Soundtrack From Season 1â€
“Fifty Shades of Greyâ€
“Furious 7â€
“Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix Vol. 1â€
“Pitch Perfect 2â€
Top R&B Album:
Chris Brown “Royaltyâ€
Rihanna “Antiâ€
Bryson Tiller “T R A P S O U Lâ€
Tyrese “Black Roseâ€
The Weeknd “Beauty Behind The Madnessâ€
Top Rap Album:
Drake “If You’re Reading This It’s Too Lateâ€
Drake & Future “What A Time To Be Aliveâ€
Dr. Dre “Comptonâ€
Kendrick Lamar “To Pimp A Butterflyâ€
Meek Mill “Dreams Worth More Than Moneyâ€
Top Country Album:
Chris Stapleton “Travellerâ€
Luke Bryan “Kill The Lightsâ€
Sam Hunt “Montevalloâ€
Zac Brown Band “Jekyll + Hydeâ€
Carrie Underwood “Storytellerâ€
Top Rock Album:
Alabama Shakes “Sound & Colorâ€
David Bowie “Blackstarâ€
Coldplay “A Head Full Of Dreamsâ€
Mumford & Sons “Wilder Mindâ€
twenty one pilots “Blurryfaceâ€
Top Latin Album:
Juan Gabriel “Los Dúoâ€
Juan Gabriel “Mis Número 1…40 Aniversarioâ€
Maná “Cama Incendiadaâ€
Gerardo Ortiz “Hoy Mas Fuerteâ€
Romeo Santos “Formula, Vol. 2â€
Top Dance/Electronic Album:
David Guetta “Listenâ€
Major Lazer “Peace Is The Missionâ€
ODESZA “In Returnâ€
Skrillex & Diplo “Skrillex And Diplo Present Jack Uâ€
Zedd “True Colorsâ€
Top Christian Album:
Lauren Daigle “How Can It Beâ€
Hillsong UNITED “Empiresâ€
Joey + Rory “Hymns That Are Important To Usâ€
TobyMac “This Is Not A Testâ€
Chris Tomlin “Adore: Christmas Songs of Worshipâ€
Top Gospel Album:
Anthony Brown & group therAPy “Everyday Jesusâ€
Tasha Cobbs “One Place Liveâ€
Kirk Franklin “Losing My Religionâ€
Jonathan McReynolds “Life Music: Stage Twoâ€
Marvin Sapp “You Shall Liveâ€
SONG AWARDS
Top Hot 100 Song:
Adele “Helloâ€
Fetty Wap “Trap Queenâ€
Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth “See You Againâ€
The Weeknd “Can’t Feel My Faceâ€
The Weeknd “The Hillsâ€
Top Selling Song:
Adele “Helloâ€
Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth “See You Againâ€
OMI “Cheerleaderâ€
Rachel Platten “Fight Songâ€
The Weeknd “The Hillsâ€
Top Radio Song:
Adele “Helloâ€
Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth “See You Againâ€
Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars “Uptown Funk!â€
WALK THE MOON “Shut Up And Danceâ€
The Weeknd “Can’t Feel My Faceâ€
Top Streaming Song (Audio):
Justin Bieber “Sorryâ€
Justin Bieber “What Do You Meanâ€
Fetty Wap “Trap Queenâ€
The Weeknd “The Hillsâ€
Drake “Hotline Blingâ€
Top Streaming Song (Video):
Fetty Wap “Trap Queenâ€
Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth “See You Againâ€
Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars “Uptown Funk!â€
Silentó “Watch Meâ€
The Weeknd “The Hillsâ€
Top R&B Song:
Alessia Cara “Hereâ€
Omarion ft. Chris Brown & Jhené Aiko “Post To Beâ€
The Weeknd “Can’t Feel My Faceâ€
The Weeknd “Earned It (Fifty Shades of Grey)â€
The Weeknd “The Hillsâ€
Top Rap Song:
Drake “Hotline Blingâ€
Fetty Wap “Trap Queenâ€
Fetty Wap “679†feat. Remy Boyz
Silentó “Watch Meâ€
Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth “See You Againâ€
Top Country Song:
Sam Hunt “Break Up In A Small Townâ€
Sam Hunt “Take Your Timeâ€
Little Big Town “Girl Crushâ€
Thomas Rhett “Die A Happy Manâ€
Chris Young “I’m Comin’ Overâ€
Top Rock Song:
Fall Out Boy “Uma Thurmanâ€
Elle King “Ex’s & Oh’sâ€
twenty one pilots “Stressed Outâ€
WALK THE MOON “Shut Up And Danceâ€
X Ambassadors “Renegadesâ€
Top Latin Song:
J Balvin “Ginzaâ€
Ariel Camacho y Los Plebes del Rancho “Te Metisteâ€
Nicky Jam & Enrique Iglesias “El Perdonâ€
Maluma “Borro Cassetteâ€
Romeo Santos “Propuesta Indecenteâ€
Top Dance/Electronic Song:
The Chainsmokers ft. ROZES “Rosesâ€
DJ Snake & AlunaGeorge “You Know You Like Itâ€
David Guetta ft. Nicki Minaj, Bebe Rexha & Afrojack “Hey Mamaâ€
Major Lazer & DJ Snake ft. MØ “Lean Onâ€
Skrillex & Diplo “Where Are Ü Now†With Justin Bieber
Top Christian Song:
Hillsong UNITED “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)â€
Hillsong UNITED “Touch The Skyâ€
MercyMe “Flawlessâ€
NEEDTOBREATHE ft. Gavin DeGraw “Brotherâ€
Chris Tomlin “Good Good Fatherâ€
Top Gospel Song:
Anthony Brown and group therAPy “Worthâ€
Erica Campbell ft. Big Shizz “I Luh Godâ€
Kirk Franklin “Wanna Be Happy?â€
Travis Greene “Intentionalâ€
Brian Courtney Wilson “Worth Fighting Forâ€