The Weeknd Leads Billboard Music Awards Nominations
The nominees for the 2016 Billboard Music Awards have been announced, and it’s looking like it could be a major weekend for The Weeknd. The “Can’t Feel My Face” singer leads the way with 19 nominations in 16 categories at this year’s show.
Abel’s fellow Canadian Justin Bieber arrives in second with 12 nominations in 11 categories, while Drake and Fetty Wap are finalists 11 times in 10 categories. Elsewhere, Taylor Swift and Adele are both up for eight awards.
According to Billboard, the finalists were based on a series of factors, including sales, airplay, streaming, touring, and social activity. This takes into account tracking information from March 23, 2015 through March 17, 2016 and chart data from April 11, 2015 through April 2, 2016.
W-O-W! First-time #BBMAs finalist @theweeknd has 19 nods in 16 categories: https://t.co/fzCuGRNSm8 pic.twitter.com/BN1zi4NpjI
— Billboard Music Awards (@BBMAs) April 11, 2016
One of the key awards The Weeknd is up for is Top R&B Artist, where he will face off against Chris Brown, Jeremih, Rihanna, and Bryson Tiller. He is also up for Top R&B Album against Chris Brown’s Royalty, Rihanna’s ANTI, Bryson Tiller’s T R A P S O U L, and Tyrese’s Black Rose.
In the Top R&B Song category, he is nominated three times for “Can’t Feel My Face,” “Earned It (Fifth Shades of Grey),” and “The Hills.” His only competition there is Alessia Cara’s “Here” and Omarion’s Chris Brown and Jhené Aiko-assisted “Post to Be.”
Ludacris and Ciara will host the 2016 Billboard Music Awards, which are set to take place at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena on May 22.
See a partial list of finalists below.
2016 Billboard Music Awards Finalists
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 Billboard 200 Album
Adele, 25
Justin Bieber, Purpose
Ed Sheeran, x
Taylor Swift, 1989
The Weeknd, Beauty Behind The Madness
Top Soundtrack
Empire: Original Soundtrack from Season 1
Fifty Shades of Grey
Furious 7
Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix Vol. 1
Pitch Perfect 2
Top R&B Album
Chris Brown, Royalty
Rihanna, ANTI
Bryson Tiller, T R A P S O U L
Tyrese, Black Rose
The Weeknd, Beauty Behind the Madness
Top Rap Album
Drake, If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late
Drake & Future, What a Time to Be Alive
Dr. Dre, Compton
Kendrick Lamar, To Pimp a Butterfly
Meek Mill, Dreams Worth More Than Money
Top Hot 100 Song
Adele, “Hello”
Fetty Wap, “Trap Queen”
Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth, “See You Again”
The Weeknd, “Can’t Feel My Face”
The Weeknd, “The Hills”
Top Selling Song
Adele, “Hello”
Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth, “See You Again”
OMI, “Cheerleader”
Rachel Platten, “Fight Song”
The Weeknd, “The Hills”
Top Radio Song
Adele “Hello”
Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth, “See You Again”
Mark Ronson Featuring Bruno Mars, “Uptown Funk!”
Walk the Moon, “Shut Up and Dance”
The Weeknd, “Can’t Feel My Face”
Top Streaming Song (Audio)
Justin Bieber, “Sorry”
Justin Bieber, “What Do You Mean”
Fetty Wap, “Trap Queen”
The Weeknd, “The Hills”
Drake, “Hotline Bling”
Top Streaming Song (Video):
Fetty Wap, “Trap Queen”
Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth, “See You Again”
Mark Ronson Featuring Bruno Mars, “Uptown Funk!”
Silentó, “Watch Me”
The Weeknd, “The Hills”
Top R&B Song
Alessia Cara “Here”
Omarion Featuring Chris Brown & Jhene Aiko, “Post to Be”
The Weeknd, “Can’t Feel My Face”
The Weeknd, “Earned It (Fifty Shades of Grey)”
The Weeknd, “The Hills”
Top Rap Song
Drake, “Hotline Bling”
Fetty Wap, “Trap Queen”
Fetty Wap, “679” feat. Remy Boyz
Silentó, “Watch Me”
Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth, “See You Again”