FINALISTS ANNOUNCED
The Weeknd Leads This Year with Nods in 16 Categories,
Justin Bieber follows as a Finalist in 11 Categories,
while Drake and Fetty Wap Tie with Nods in 10 Categories Each
2016 Top Artist Finalists include Adele, Justin Bieber,
Drake, Taylor Swift and The Weeknd
Ludacris & Ciara to Host the “2016 Billboard Music Awards” Live from
T-Mobile Arena on SUNDAY, MAY 22nd at 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC
Hosts Ludacris and Ciara appeared in the 8:00 a.m. ET hour of ABC’s “Good Morning America” today, to announce 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.” 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.
This year, 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.”
- Adele is a finalist in eight categories and is a contender to earn the most BBMA wins of any artist in history, a record currently held by Taylor Swift, with 20 wins. Adele has previously won 13 BBMAs. Swift herself is a finalist in eight 2016 BBMA categories.
- Justin Bieber is a finalist in 11 categories and could surpass Garth Brooks, who currently is the highest winning male with 19 wins, if he takes home six or more BBMA trophies. If Bieber takes home more than eight trophies, he has the chance of beating Taylor Swift’s current all-time leading record of 20, pending other results.
- Drake is a finalist in 10 categories. If he wins, he will take home his first BBMA trophy. He has previously been a finalist in 21 categories.
- First time finalist Fetty Wap is a contender in 10 categories, including Top Male Artist, Top Hot 100 Artist, Top Song Sales Artist, Top Streaming Songs Artists, Top Rap Artist, Top Streaming Song (Audio) and Top Rap Song.
- Hillsong UNITED is a finalist in three categories including Top Christian Artist and Top Christian Album.
- Sam Hunt is a finalist in three categories – the most of any country artist this year — including Top Country Artist and Top Country Album. If he wins, he will take home his first BBMA trophy.
- First time finalist Silentó is a contender for Top New Artist, Top Rap Artist, Top Rap Song, Top Streaming Songs Artist and Top Streaming Song (Video).
- This year could prove to be historic, in that Taylor Swift could beat her own all-time record for the most BBMA wins (she has 20), while Justin Bieber and Adele are also vying to surpass Swift’s record. Swift is a finalist in eight categories this year, and thus could extend her own record, or can be caught or surpassed by Bieber (an 11 times finalist this year with 13 prior BBMA trophies) or Adele (a finalist in 8 categories this year and also with 13 all-time BBMAs to her name).
- The Weeknd is a first-time Billboard Music Award finalist and leads all artists with nods in 16 categories (including multiple songs competing in the Top Hot 100 Song and Top R&B Song categories). If he wins, he will take home his first Billboard Music Award trophy. With a near sweep of his 16 categories, The Weeknd could set the record for taking home the most trophies in one night. That single-night mark is held by Adele with 12 trophies in 2012.
- Thanks to their smash collaboration “See You Again,” Charlie Puth and Wiz Khalifa are finalists in six categories each, including Top New Artist for Puth, a category won by Khalifa in 2012.
For additional information on the “2016 Billboard Music Awards” visit us at www.billboardmusicawards.com or the Billboard hub at www.billboard.com/bbma.
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The complete list of finalists for the “2016 Billboard Music Awards” can be found below.
About Billboard
Billboard is the world’s most influential music brand, built on the most complete and well- respected database of charts across all music genres. The Billboard charts define success in music. From the iconic Billboard magazine to Billboard.com, the ultimate consumer-facing destination for millions of passionate music fans, to the industry’s most elite conference series and influencer events including the Power 100 and Women in Music – the Billboard brand has unmatched authority among fans, artists and the industry alike. Billboard was named the leading U.S. brand on Twitter, surpassing the NFL, ESPN, BuzzFeed and MTV, with 7.5 million engaged actions in Q4 2015, and named an overall Top 10 U.S. Media Publisher in December 2015 with 11.8 million social actions. Billboard topped Shareablee’s list of U.S. publishers by engagement on Twitter in Q4, ahead of brands including Bleacher Report, BuzzFeed and The New York Times. Billboard magazine has scored major news-generating covers recently including Nicki Minaj, Lana Del Rey, Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber.
About “2016 Billboard Music Awards”
The “2016 Billboard Music Awards” are set to return to ABC and will be broadcast live from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, May 22 at 8:00pm ET/PT. The show will showcase this year’s hottest and biggest music stars. Billboard Music Awards finalists are based on key fan interactions with music, including album and digital songs sales, radio airplay, streaming, touring and social engagement. 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 March 23, 2015 through March 17, 2016. The “2016 Billboard Music Awards” is produced by dick clark productions. Allen Shapiro, Mike Mahan, Mark Bracco, Barry Adelman and Robert Deaton are Executive Producers.
About dick clark productions
dick clark productions (dcp) is the world’s largest producer and proprietor of televised live event entertainment programming, with the “Academy of Country Music Awards,” AMERICAN COUNTRY COUNTDOWN AWARDS, “American Music Awards,” “Billboard Music Awards,” “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest,” “Golden Globe Awards,” “Hollywood Film Awards” and the “Streamy Awards.” Weekly television programming includes SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE, from 19 Entertainment, a division of CORE Media Group and dcp. dcp also owns one of the world’s most unique and extensive entertainment archive libraries, with more than 55 years of award-winning shows, historic programs, specials, performances and legendary programming. For additional information, visit www.dickclark.com.
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 “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 Country Album:
Chris Stapleton “Traveller”
Luke Bryan “Kill The Lights”
Sam Hunt “Montevallo”
Zac Brown Band “Jekyll + Hyde”
Carrie Underwood “Storyteller”
Top Rock Album:
Alabama Shakes “Sound & Color”
David Bowie “Blackstar”
Coldplay “A Head Full Of Dreams”
Mumford & Sons “Wilder Mind”
twenty one pilots “Blurryface”
Top Latin Album:
Juan Gabriel “Los Dúo”
Juan Gabriel “Mis Número 1…40 Aniversario”
Maná “Cama Incendiada”
Gerardo Ortiz “Hoy Mas Fuerte”
Romeo Santos “Formula, Vol. 2”
Top Dance/Electronic Album:
David Guetta “Listen”
Major Lazer “Peace Is The Mission”
ODESZA “In Return”
Skrillex & Diplo “Skrillex And Diplo Present Jack U”
Zedd “True Colors”
Top Christian Album:
Lauren Daigle “How Can It Be”
Hillsong UNITED “Empires”
Joey + Rory “Hymns That Are Important To Us”
TobyMac “This Is Not A Test”
Chris Tomlin “Adore: Christmas Songs of Worship”
Top Gospel Album:
Anthony Brown & group therAPy “Everyday Jesus”
Tasha Cobbs “One Place Live”
Kirk Franklin “Losing My Religion”
Jonathan McReynolds “Life Music: Stage Two”
Marvin Sapp “You Shall Live”
SONG AWARDS
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 ft. 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 ft. Bruno Mars “Uptown Funk!”
Silentó “Watch Me”
The Weeknd “The Hills”
Top R&B Song:
Alessia Cara “Here”
Omarion ft. Chris Brown & Jhené 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”
Top Country Song:
Sam Hunt “Break Up In A Small Town”
Sam Hunt “Take Your Time”
Little Big Town “Girl Crush”
Thomas Rhett “Die A Happy Man”
Chris Young “I’m Comin’ Over”
Top Rock Song:
Fall Out Boy “Uma Thurman”
Elle King “Ex’s & Oh’s”
twenty one pilots “Stressed Out”
WALK THE MOON “Shut Up And Dance”
X Ambassadors “Renegades”
Top Latin Song:
J Balvin “Ginza”
Ariel Camacho y Los Plebes del Rancho “Te Metiste”
Nicky Jam & Enrique Iglesias “El Perdon”
Maluma “Borro Cassette”
Romeo Santos “Propuesta Indecente”
Top Dance/Electronic Song:
The Chainsmokers ft. ROZES “Roses”
DJ Snake & AlunaGeorge “You Know You Like It”
David Guetta ft. Nicki Minaj, Bebe Rexha & Afrojack “Hey Mama”
Major Lazer & DJ Snake ft. MØ “Lean On”
Skrillex & Diplo “Where Are Ü Now” With Justin Bieber
Top Christian Song:
Hillsong UNITED “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)”
Hillsong UNITED “Touch The Sky”
MercyMe “Flawless”
NEEDTOBREATHE ft. Gavin DeGraw “Brother”
Chris Tomlin “Good Good Father”
Top Gospel Song:
Anthony Brown and group therAPy “Worth”
Erica Campbell ft. Big Shizz “I Luh God”
Kirk Franklin “Wanna Be Happy?”
Travis Greene “Intentional”
Brian Courtney Wilson “Worth Fighting For”
NOMINATIONS IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER (BY FIRST NAME):
Adele: (8) Top Artist, Top Female Artist, Top Billboard 200 Artist, Top Song Sales Artist, Top Billboard 200 Album (25), Top Hot 100 Song (“Hello”), Top Selling Song (“Hello”), Top Radio Song (“Hello”)
Afrojack: (1) Top Dance/Electronic Song (“Hey Mama” with David Guetta ft. Nicki Minaj & Bebe Rexha)
Alabama Shakes: (1) Top Rock Album (Sound & Color)
Alessia Cara: (1) Top R&B Song (“Here”)
AlunaGeorge: (1) Top Dance/Electronic Song (“You Know You Like It”)
Anthony Brown & group therAPy: (3) Top Gospel Artist, Top Gospel Album (Everyday Jesus), Top Gospel Song (“Worth”)
Ariana Grande: (2) Top Female Artist, Top Social Media Artist
Ariel Camacho y Los Plebes del Rancho: (2) Top Latin Artist, Top Latin Song (“Te Metiste”)
Banda Sinaloense MS De Sergio Lizárraga: (1) Top Latin Artist
Bebe Rexha: (1) Top Dance/Electronic Song (“Hey Mama” with David Guetta ft. Nicki Minaj & Afrojack)
Big Shizz: (1) Top Gospel Song (“I Luh God” with Erica Campbell)
Brian Courtney Wilson: (1) Top Gospel Song (“Worth Fighting For”)
Bruno Mars: (2) Top Radio Song (“Uptown Funk!” with Mark Ronson), Top Streaming Song (Video) (“Uptown Funk!” with Mark Ronson)
Bryson Tiller: (3) Top R&B Album (T R A P S O U L), Top New Artist, Top R&B Artist
Carrie Underwood: (2) Top Country Album (Storyteller), Top Country Artist
Casting Crowns: (1) Top Christian Artist
Charlie Puth: (6) Top Hot 100 Song (“See You Again” with Wiz Khalifa), Top Radio Song (“See You Again” with Wiz Khalifa), Top Rap Song (“See You Again” with Wiz Khalifa), Top Selling Song (“See You Again” with Wiz Khalifa), Top Streaming Song (Video) (“See You Again” with Wiz Khalifa), Top New Artist
Chris Brown: (3) Top R&B Album (Royalty), Top R&B Artist, Top R&B Song (“Post To Be” with Omarion & Jhené Aiko)
Chris Stapleton: (2) Top Country Album (Traveller), Top Country Artist
Chris Tomlin: (3) Top Christian Album (Adore: Christmas Songs of Worship), Top Christian Song (“Good Good Father”), Top Christian Artist
Chris Young: (1) Top Country Song (“I’m Comin’ Over”)
Coldplay: (1) Top Rock Album (A Head Full Of Dreams)
David Bowie: (1) Top Rock Album (Blackstar)
David Guetta: (3) Top Dance/Electronic Album (Listen), Top Dance/Electronic Song (“Hey Mama” ft. Nicki Minaj, Bebe Rexha & Afrojack), Top Dance/Electronic Artist
Demi Lovato: (1) Top Social Media Artist
Diplo: (2) Top Dance/Electronic Song (“Where Are Ü Now” with Justin Bieber and Skrillex), Top Dance/Electronic Album (Skrillex and Diplo Present Jack U)
DJ Snake: (3) Top Dance/Electronic Artist, Top Dance/Electronic Song (“You Know You Like It” with AlunaGeorge), Top Dance/Electronic Song (“Lean On” ft. MØ)
Dr. Dre: (1) Top Rap Album (Compton)
Drake: (11) Top Rap Album (What A Time To Be Alive), Top Rap Album (If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late), Top Rap Song (“Hotline Bling”), Top Streaming Song (Audio) (“Hotline Bling”), Top Artist, Top Billboard 200 Artist, Top Hot 100 Artist, Top Male Artist, Top Rap Artist, Top Song Sales Artist, Top Streaming Songs Artist
Ed Sheeran: (3) Top Billboard 200 Album (X), Top Male Artist, Top Radio Songs Artist
Elle King: (2) Top Rock Song (“Ex’s & Oh’s”), Top Rock Artist
Ellie Goulding: (1) Top Radio Songs Artist
“Empire: Original Soundtrack From Season 1”: (1) Top Soundtrack
Enrique Iglesias: (1) Top Latin Song (“El Perdon”)
Erica Campbell: (1) Top Gospel Song (“I Luh God” ft. Big Shizz)
Fall Out Boy: (2) Top Rock Song (“Uma Thurman”), Top Rock Artist
Fetty Wap: (11) Top Hot 100 Song (“Trap Queen”), Top Rap Song (“Trap Queen”), Top Streaming Song (Audio) (“Trap Queen”), Top Streaming Song (Video) (“Trap Queen”), Top Rap Song (“679” ft. Remy Boyz), Top Hot 100 Artist, Top Male Artist, Top New Artist, Top Rap Artist, Top Song Sales Artist, Top Streaming Songs Artist
“Fifty Shades of Grey”: (1) Top Soundtrack
“Furious 7”: (1) Top Soundtrack
Future: (2) Top Rap Artist, Top Rap Album (What A Time To Be Alive)
Gavin DeGraw: (1) Top Christian Song (“Brother” with NEEDTOBREATHE)
Gerardo Ortiz: (1) Top Latin Album (Hoy Mas Fuerte)
“Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix Vol. 1”: (1) Top Soundtrack
Hillsong UNITED: (4) Top Christian Album (Empires), Top Christian Song (“Oceans [Where Feet May Fail]”), Top Christian Song (“Touch The Sky”), Top Christian Artist
J Balvin: (1) Top Latin Song (“Ginza”)
Jeremih: (1) Top R&B Artist
Jhené Aiko: (1) Top R&B Song (“Post To Be” with Omarion & Chris Brown)
Joey + Rory: (1) Top Christian Album (Hymns That Are Important To Us)
Jonathan McReynolds: (1) Top Gospel Album (Life Music: Stage Two)
Juan Gabriel: (3) Top Latin Album (Los Dúo), Top Latin Album (Mis Número 1… 40 Aniversario), Top Latin Artist
Justin Bieber: (12) Top Billboard 200 Album (Purpose), Top Streaming Song (Audio) (“Sorry”), Top Streaming Song (Audio) (“What Do You Mean”), Top Artist, Top Billboard 200 Artist, Top Hot 100 Artist, Top Male Artist, Top Radio Songs Artist, Top Social Media Artist, Top Song Sales Artist, Top Streaming Songs Artist, Top Dance/Electronic Song (“Where Are Ü Now” with Diplo and Skrillex)
Kendrick Lamar: (1) Top Rap Album (To Pimp A Butterfly)
Kirk Franklin: (3) Top Gospel Album (Losing My Religion), Top Gospel Song (“Wanna Be Happy?”), Top Gospel Artist
Lauren Daigle: (2) Top Christian Album (How Can It Be), Top Christian Artist
Little Big Town: (1) Top Country Song (“Girl Crush”)
Luke Bryan: (2) Top Country Album (Kill The Lights), Top Country Artist
Madonna: (1) Top Touring Artist
Major Lazer: (3) Top Dance/Electronic Song (“Lean On” with Major Lazer and MØ), Top Dance/Electronic Album (Peace Is The Mission), Top Dance/Electronic Artist
Maluma: (1) Top Latin Song (“Borro Cassette”)
Maná: (1) Top Latin Album (Cama Incendiada)
Mark Ronson: (2) Top Radio Song (“Uptown Funk!” with Bruno Mars), Top Streaming Song (Video) (“Uptown Funk!” with Bruno Mars)
Maroon 5: (1) Top Duo/Group
Marvin Sapp: (2) Top Gospel Album (You Shall Live), Top Gospel Artist
Meek Mill: (1) Top Rap Album (Dreams Worth More Than Money)
MercyMe: (2) Top Christian Song (“Flawless”), Top Christian Artist
MØ: (1) Top Dance/Electronic Song (“Lean On” with Major Lazer and DJ Snake)
Mumford & Sons: (1) Top Rock Album (Wilder Mind)
NEEDTOBREATHE: (1) Top Christian Song (“Brother” ft. Gavin DeGraw)
Nicki Minaj: (1) Top Dance/Electronic Song (“Hey Mama” with David Guetta ft. Bebe Rexha & Afrojack)
Nicky Jam: (2) Top Latin Song (“El Perdon” with Enrique Iglesias), Top Latin Artist
ODESZA: (1) Top Dance/Electronic Album (In Return)
Omarion: (1) Top R&B Song (“Post To Be” ft. Chris Brown & Jhené Aiko)
OMI: (2) Top Selling Song (“Cheerleader”), Top New Artist
One Direction: (2) Top Duo/Group, Top Touring Artist
“Pitch Perfect 2”: (1) Top Soundtrack
Rachel Platten: (1) Top Selling Song (“Fight Song”)
Remy Boyz: (1) Top Rap Song (“679” with Fetty Wap)
Rihanna: (3) Top R&B Album (Anti), Top Female Artist, Top R&B Artist
Romeo Santos: (3) Top Latin Album (Formula Vol. 2), Top Latin Song (“Propuesta Indecente”), Top Latin Artist
ROZES: (1) Top Dance/Electronic Song (“Roses” with The Chainsmokers)
Sam Hunt: (4) Top Country Song (“Break Up In A Small Town”), Top Country Song (“Take Your Time”), Top Country Album (Montevallo), Top Country Artist
Selena Gomez: (2) Top Female Artist, Top Social Media Artist
Silentó: (5) Top Rap Song (“Watch Me”), Top Streaming Song (Video) (“Watch Me”), Top New Artist, Top Rap Artist, Top Streaming Songs Artist
Skrillex: (2) Top Dance/Electronic Song (“Where Are Ü Now” with Justin Bieber and Diplo), Top Dance/Electronic Album (Skrillex and Diplo Present Jack U)
Tasha Cobbs: (2) Top Gospel Album (One Place Live), Top Gospel Artist
Taylor Swift: (8) Top Billboard 200 Album (1989), Top Artist, Top Billboard 200 Artist, Top Female Artist, Top Hot 100 Artist, Top Radio Songs Artist, Top Social Media Artist, Top Touring Artist
The Chainsmokers: (2) Top Dance/Electronic Song (“Roses” ft. ROZES), Top Dance/Electronic Artist
The Rolling Stones: (2) Top Duo/Group, Top Touring Artist
The Weeknd: (19) Top Artist, Top Male Artist, Top Billboard 200 Artist, Top Hot 100 Artist, Top Song Sales Artist, Top Radio Songs Artist, Top Streaming Songs Artist, Top R&B Artist, Top Billboard 200 Album (Beauty Behind The Madness), Top R&B Album (Beauty Behind The Madness), Top Hot 100 Song (“Can’t Feel My Face”), Top Hot 100 Song (“The Hills”), Top Selling Song (“The Hills”), Top Radio Song (“Can’t Feel My Face”), Top Streaming Song (Audio) (“The Hills”), Top Streaming Song (Video) (“The Hills”), Top R&B Song (“Can’t Feel My Face”), Top R&B Song (“Earned It [Fifty Shades of Grey]”), Top R&B Song (“The Hills”)
Thomas Rhett: (1) Top Country Song (“Die A Happy Man”)
TobyMac: (1) Top Christian Album (This Is Not A Test)
Travis Greene: (2) Top Gospel Song (“Intentional”), Top Gospel Artist
twenty one pilots: (4) Top Rock Album (Blurryface), Top Rock Song (“Stressed Out”), Top Duo/Group, Top Rock Artist
Tyrese: (1) Top R&B Album (Black Rose)
U2: (2) Top Duo/Group, Top Touring Artist
WALK THE MOON: (3) Top Radio Song (“Shut Up And Dance”), Top Rock Song (“Shut Up And Dance”), Top Rock Artist
Wiz Khalifa: (6) Top Hot 100 Song (“See You Again” with Charlie Puth), Top Radio Song (“See You Again” with Charlie Puth), Top Rap Song (“See You Again” with Charlie Puth), Top Selling Song (“See You Again” with Charlie Puth), Top Streaming Song (Video) (“See You Again” with Charlie Puth), Top Rap Artist
X Ambassadors: (2) Top Rock Song (“Renegades”), Top Rock Artist
Zac Brown Band: (2) Top Country Album (Jekyll + Hyde), Top Country Artist
Zedd: (2) Top Dance/Electronic Album (True Colors), Top Dance/Electronic Artist
- 2016 TOP FINALIST CHART FACTS
- RECORD HOLDERS BY CATEGORY
- TOP BBMA WINNERS OF ALL TIME (1990 – 2015)
2016 TOP FINALIST CHART FACTS:
- Adele, a 13-time Billboard Music Award winner, stormed Billboard‘s charts in late 2015 with her blockbuster third studio album, 25, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, selling 3.38 million copies in its first week in the U.S., the largest sales week for an album since Nielsen Music began tracking sales in 1991. The album has already sold more than 8 million copies in America, and is the largest-selling release since Adele’s own previous set, 21. The new album’s lead single, “Hello,” spent 10 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became the first song to sell more than 1 million downloads in a week.
- Despite his monster success since his 2009 career launch, 13-time Billboard Music Award winner Justin Bieber soared even higher with the release of his album Purpose in 2015. His sixth No. 1 set on the Billboard 200 generated his first three Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 singles: “What Do You Mean?” (which debuted on top), “Sorry” and “Love Yourself.” Like The Weeknd, Bieber replaced himself atop the Hot 100 with the latter two songs. Bieber also broke a vaunted Hot 100 record, placing 17 songs on the Dec. 5, 2015 chart, passing the Beatles and Drake for the most titles on the list by an artist in one week.
- Drake not only earned his fifth consecutive No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 with What a Time to Be Alive (with Future), but also claimed two chart-toppers in less than a year’s time, as it arrived nearly eight months after his previous No. 1, If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late. Drake has placed more than 100 entries on the Billboard Hot 100 (one of only four acts to reach that milestone) and scored 15 No. 1s on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, including “Hotline Bling,” “Summer Sixteen,” “Hold On, We’re Going Home” and “The Motto.”
- Fetty Wap blasted onto Billboard‘s charts in 2015 with three consecutive career-opening top 10 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 (“Trap Queen,” “My Way” and “679”), making him just the third hip-hop act to earn that triple honor since 1990 (joining Chingy and M.C. Hammer). Fetty Wap’s self-titled debut album bowed at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and spent its first six months lodged in the list’s top 40.
- Charlie Puth made his Billboard Hot 100 bow in 2015 as the featured vocalist on Wiz Khalifa’s 12-week No. 1 smash “See You Again.” He followed with two more top 25 hits: “Marvin Gaye,” ft. Meghan Trainor, and “One Call Away,” both from his top 10 Billboard 200 debut album, Nine Track Mind.
- Eighteen-year-old rapper Silentó broke through in 2015 with his viral sensation “Watch Me,” which ruled the Hot Rap Songs chart for nine weeks and the Streaming Songs chart for 10 weeks. The track sold more than 2.3 million downloads and generated 650 million on-demand streams in the U.S.
- The winner of a record 20 Billboard Music Awards, Taylor Swift has debuted her last four studio albums at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, with the last three all selling in excess of 1 million copies each in their first weeks. Combined, they have spent 35 weeks at No. 1. The country-turned-pop superstar has charted more than 60 entries on the Billboard Hot 100, including 19 top 10s, with four of those reaching No. 1.
- WALK THE MOON rocketed to a record with its crossover smash “Shut Up and Dance,” leading the Hot Rock Songs chart for 27 weeks. It also reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in a more-than year-long stay on the chart.
- When Wiz Khalifa‘s Furious 7 soundtrack hit, “See You Again,” ft. Charlie Puth, spent its 12th (and final) week atop the Billboard Hot 100, it tied a historic mark, matching the most weeks a rap song has ever led the list. The song became the rapper’s second leader, while he’s run up a resume of 30 chart entries since his 2011 arrival with the No. 1 “Black and Yellow.”
ARTIST CATEGORY RECORD HOLDERS:
TOP ARTIST
- 50 Cent, Garth Brooks, Destiny’s Child, Taylor Swift and Usher are tied for the most wins in this category with 2 wins. Swift is a 2016 finalist in this category and if she wins, she will become the artist with the most TROPHIES in this category
TOP MALE ARTIST
- No one has won this award more than once. If Justin Bieber wins in this category, he will be the first artist to take home the award twice. He previously won the category in 2013.
TOP FEMALE ARTIST
- Rihanna and Taylor Swift lead with 2 wins in this category. Swift, is a finalist in 2016 and a victory will give her the most all-time wins in this category.
TOP DUO OR GROUP
- Destiny’s Child and One Direction are tied with two wins each in this category. Destiny’s Child won in 2000 and 2001, while One Direction won in 2013 and 2015.
TOP R&B ARTIST
- R. Kelly has the most wins for Top R&B Artist. He won the category in 1994, 1996, 1999 and 2001. Usher follows with three wins from 1998, 2004 and most recently in 2011. Chris Brown and Rihanna are the two finalists this year who have previously won this category, in 2012 and 2013, respectively.
TOP RAP ARTIST
- LL Cool J, along with Eminem and protégé 50 Cent are tied in this category with two wins each. LL Cool J won Top Rap Artist in 1991 and 1996, Eminem won in 2011 and 2014, while 50 Cent actually won years before his mentor, in 2003 and 2005.
TOP COUNTRY ARTIST
- Garth Brooks has won this award three times (in 1991, 1993 and 1998). Luke Bryan is the only finalist this year to have won before (in 2014).
TOP ROCK ARTIST
- No artist has ever won this award more than once and all of this year’s finalists have never won this category before.
TOP LATIN ARTIST
- Romeo Santos has the chance to tie Shakira for most wins in this category, should he win this year. He previously won Top Latin Artist last year, while Shakira won this category back-to-back in 2011 and 2012.
TOP CHRISTIAN ARTIST
- Chris Tomlin has won this award twice (2001 and 2014) and is a finalist again this year.
TOP BBMA WINNERS OF ALL TIME (1990–2015):
- Taylor Swift – 20 wins total, the most BBMA wins of any artist in history; Top Billboard 200 Artist (2011); Top Country Artist (2011); Top Country Album (2011); Woman of the Year (2012); Top Artist (2013); Top Female Artist (2013); Top Billboard 200 Artist (2013); Top Digital Songs Artist (2013); Top Country Artist (2013); Top Billboard 200 Album (2013); Top Country Album (2013); Top Country Song (2013); Top Artist (2015); Top Female Artist (2015); Top Billboard 200 Artist (2015); Top Hot 100 Artist (2015); Top Digital Songs Artist (2015); Top Billboard 200 Album (2015); Top Streaming Song (2015); Chart Achievement Award (2015)
- Garth Brooks – 19 wins total; #1 Albums Artist (1991); #1 Country Album (1991); #1 Country Singles Artists (1991); #1 Country Artist (1991); #1 Country Albums Artist (1991); No. 1 Pop Artist (1992); #1 Country Artist (1993); #1 Pop Artist (1993); #1 Country Singles Artist (1993); #1 Country Albums Artist (1993); Country Album of the Year (1995); Artist Achievement Award (1997); Country Artist of the Year (1998); Country Album of the Year (1998); Male Album of the Year (1998); Male Albums Artist of the Year (1998); Country Singles Artist of the Year (1998); Country Albums Artist of the Year (1998); Male Artist of the Decade (1999)
- Usher – 18 wins total; Artist of the Year (1998); R&B Artist of the Year (1998); Hot 100 Singles Artist of the Year (1998); Artist of the Year (2004); R&B/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year (2004); Hot 100 Artist of the Year (2004); Hot 100 Single of the Year (2004); Mainstream Top 40 Artist of the Year (2004); Mainstream Top 40 Single of the Year (2004); Billboard 200 Album of the Year (2004); R&B/Hip-Hop Album of the Year (2004); R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Artist of the Year (2004); Billboard 200 Artist of the Year (2004); Hot 100 Airplay Single of the Year (2004); Rap Song of the Year (2005); Top R&B Artist (2011); Top R&B Song (2011); Top R&B Album (2011)
- Whitney Houston – 16 wins total; #1 R&B Singles Artist (1991); #1 R&B Albums Artist (1991); #1 R&B Artist (1991); #1 R&B Album (1991); #1 Hot 100 Singles Artist (1993); #1 Hot 100 Single (1993); Single With Most Weeks at #1 (1993); #1 R&B Single (1993); #1 R&B Singles Artist (1993); #1 R&B Album (1993); #1 World Artist (1993); #1 World Single (1993); #1 Album (1993); #1 Soundtrack Album (1993); #1 Album With Most Weeks at No. 1 (1993); Billboard Millennium Award (2012)
- Mariah Carey – 14 wins total; #1 Hot 100 Singles Artist (1991); #1 Album (1991); #1 Adult Contemporary Artist (1991); #1 Pop Artist (1991); #1 Female Artist (1994); Special Hot 100 Singles Award – Most Weeks at No. 1 on The Billboard Hot 100 (1996); Hot 100 Singles Artist of the Year (1996); Special Billboard Hot 100 Award for the most No.1s ever by a female artist (1998); Female Artist of the Decade (1999); Hot 100 Song of the Year (2005); Hot 100 Airplay Song of the Year (2005); Female R&B/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year (2005); Female Billboard 200 Album Artist of the Year (2005); Rhythmic Top 40 Title of the Year (2005)
- Justin Bieber – 13 wins total; Top New Artist (2011); Top Social Artist (2011); Top Streaming Artist (2011); Top Digital Artist (2011); Top Pop Album (2011); Top Streaming Song, [Video] (2011); Billboard.com Fan Favorite Award (2011); Top Social Artist (2012); Milestone Award (2013); Top Male Artist (2013); Top Social Artist (2013); Top Social Artist (2014); Top Social Artist (2015)
- Adele – 13 wins total; Top Billboard 200 Album (2012); Top Pop Album (2012); Top Artist (2012); Top Female Artist (2012); Top Billboard 200 Artist (2012); Top Hot 100 Artist (2012); Top Digital Songs Artist (2012); Top Radio Songs Artist (2012); Top Digital Media Artist (2012); Top Pop Artist (2012); Top Streaming Song (2012); Top Alternative Song (2012); Top Pop Album (2013)
- R. Kelly – 12 wins total; #1 R&B Artist (1994); R&B Artist of the Year (1996); R&B Artist of the Year (1999); R&B/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year (2001); R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Artist of the Year (2001); R&B/Hip-Hop Album of the Year (2001); R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Artist of the Year (2001); R&B/Hip-Hop Single of the Year (2001); Hot 100 Producer of the Year (2003); R&B Producer of the Year (2003); Hot 100 Songwriter of the Year (2003); R&B Songwriter of the Year (2003)
- Rihanna – 11 wins total; Female Artist of the Year (2006); Female Hot 100 Artist of the Year (2006); Pop 100 Artist of the Year (2006); Top Female Artist (2011); Top Radio Songs Artist (2011); Top Rap Song (Eminem Featuring Rihanna) (2011); Top Streaming Artist (2012); Top Radio Songs Artist (2013); Top R&B Artist (2013); Top R&B Album (2013); Top R&B Song (2013)
- Lil Jon – 11 wins total; This count includes 6 Billboard Music Awards he won with the East Side Boyz; R&B/Hip Hop Group of the Year (2003); Independent Album Artist of the Year (2003); Independent Album of the Year (2003); Hot 100 Producer (2004); Hot 100 Single of the Year (2004); Mainstream Top 40 Single of the Year (2004); Hot 100 Airplay Single of the Year (2004); Independent Albums Artist of the Year (2004); Independent Album of the Year (2004); Rap Song of the Year (2005); Top Dance/Electronic Song (2015)
- Mary J. Blige – 10 wins total; R&B Album of the Year (1995); R&B/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year (2006); Female R&B/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year (2006); Hot 100 Airplay Song of the Year (2006); R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Artist of the Year (2006); R&B Albums Artist of the Year (2006); R&B/Hip-Hop Album of the Year (2006); R&B/Hip-Hop Song of the Year (2006); R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay Song of the Year (2006); Videoclip of the Year (2006)
- Janet Jackson – 10 wins total; #1 Hot 100 Singles Artist (1990); #1 R&B Artist (1990); #1 R&B Singles Artist (1990); #1 R&B Albums Artist (1990); #1 Dance Club Play Artist (1990); #1 Hot Dance 12-inch Singles Sales Artist (1990); #1 R&B Album (1990); #1 Pop Album (1990); Artist Achievement Award (1995); Artist Achievement Award (2001)
- Eminem – 10 wins total; Album of the Year (2002); R&B/Hip-Hop Album of the Year (2002); Top Artist (2011); Top Male Artist (2011); Top Billboard 200 Album (2011); Top Rap Artist (2011); Top Rap Song (2011); Top Rap Album (2011); Top Rap Artist (2014); Top Rap Album (2014)
- Destiny’s Child – 10 wins total; Artist of the Year (2000); Duo/Group of the Year (2000); Hot 100 Singles Artist of the Year (2000); Hot 100 Singles Duo or Group of the Year (2000); Artist of the Year (2001); Artist of the Year – Duo/Group (2001); Hot 100 Singles Artist of the Year (2001); Soundtrack Single of the Year (2001); Artist Achievement Award (2004); R&B/Hip-Hop Group of the Year (2005)
- Carrie Underwood – 10 wins total; Top-Selling Hot 100 Song of the Year (2005); Country Single Sales Artist of the Year (2005); Top-Selling Country Single of the Year (2005); Album of the Year (2006); Country Album of the Year (2006); Female Billboard 200 Albums Artist of the Year (2006); Female Country Artist of the Year (2006); New Country Artist of the Year (2006); Milestone Award (2014); Top Christian Song (2015)
- 50 Cent – 10 wins total; Artist of the Year (2003); R&B Artist of the Year (2003); Rap Artist of the Year (2003); Ringtone of the Year (2004); Artist of the Year (2005); Album of the Year (2005); Hot 100 Artist of the Year (2005); Ringtone of the Year (2205); R&B/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year (2005); Rap Artist of the Year (2005)
