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CHART-TOPPING ARTISTS KENDRICK LAMAR, BRUNO MARS AND ED SHEERAN LEAD THE “2018 BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS” NOMINATIONS WITH 15 EACH!
Other Top Nominees Include Post Malone with 13, Imagine Dragons with 11, Drake with 9 and Justin Bieber and Cardi B with 8
The “2018 Billboard Music Awards” will broadcast LIVE from the U.S. on MONDAY, 21 MAY, 8:00 AM on BLUE ANT ENTERTAINMENT
SANTA MONICA, CA (April 17, 2018) – dick clark productions announced nominees for the “2018 Billboard Music Awards,” which will honor the year’s most successful artists in 57 categories of music. Kendrick Lamar, Bruno Mars and Ed Sheeran lead the pack with 15 nominations each, followed by Post Malone with 13, Imagine Dragons with 11, Drake with 9 and Justin Bieber and Cardi B with 8. The “2018 Billboard Music Awards” will broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, USA on Monday, 21 May at 8:00 AM on Blue Ant Entertainment.
THE “2018 BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS” NOMINEES:
NOMINATIONS BY CATEGORY
ARTIST AWARDS
Top Artist:
• Drake
• Kendrick Lamar
• Bruno Mars
• Ed Sheeran
• Taylor Swift
Top New Artist:
• 21 Savage
• Camila Cabello
• Cardi B
• Khalid
• Kodak Black
Billboard Chart Achievement Award (Voting details to be released in the coming weeks):
• Camila Cabello
• Cardi B
• Drake
• Sam Hunt
• Ed Sheeran
Top Male Artist:
• Drake
• Kendrick Lamar
• Bruno Mars
• Post Malone
• Ed Sheeran
Top Female Artist:
• Camila Cabello
• Cardi B
• Halsey
• Demi Lovato
• Taylor Swift
Top Duo/Group:
• The Chainsmokers
• Coldplay
• Imagine Dragons
• Migos
• U2
Top Billboard 200 Artist:
• Drake
• Kendrick Lamar
• Ed Sheeran
• Chris Stapleton
• Taylor Swift
Top Hot 100 Artist:
• Imagine Dragons
• Kendrick Lamar
• Bruno Mars
• Post Malone
• Ed Sheeran
Top Streaming Songs Artist:
• Cardi B
• Drake
• Kendrick Lamar
• Post Malone
• Ed Sheeran
Top Song Sales Artist:
• Imagine Dragons
• Kendrick Lamar
• Bruno Mars
• Post Malone
• Ed Sheeran
Top Radio Songs Artist:
• Halsey
• Imagine Dragons Bruno Mars Charlie Puth
• Ed Sheeran
Top Social Artist (Voting details to be released in the coming weeks):
• Justin Bieber
• BTS
• Ariana Grande
• Demi Lovato
• Shawn Mendes
Top Touring Artist:
• Coldplay
• Guns N’ Roses
• Bruno Mars
• Ed Sheeran
• U2
Top R&B Artist:
• Chris Brown
• Khalid
• Bruno Mars
• SZA
• The Weeknd
Top R&B Male Artist:
• Khalid
• Bruno Mars
• The Weeknd
Top R&B Female Artist:
• Beyoncé
• Rihanna
• SZA
Top R&B Tour:
• Bruno Mars
• Lionel Richie
• The Weeknd
Top Rap Artist:
• Drake
• Kendrick Lamar
• Lil Uzi Vert
• Migos
• Post Malone
Top Rap Male Artist:
• Drake
• Kendrick Lamar
• Post Malone
Top Rap Female Artist:
• Bhad Bhabie
• Cardi B
• Nicki Minaj
Top Rap Tour:
• J. Cole
• JAY-Z
• Kendrick Lamar
Top Country Artist:
• Kane Brown
• Luke Combs
• Sam Hunt
• Thomas Rhett
• Chris Stapleton
Top Country Male Artist:
• Sam Hunt
• Thomas Rhett
• Chris Stapleton
Top Country Female Artist:
• Kelsea Ballerini
• Miranda Lambert
• Maren Morris
Top Country Duo/Group Artist:
• Florida Georgia Line
• Old Dominion
• Zac Brown Band
Top Country Tour:
• Luke Bryan
• Florida Georgia Line
• Tim McGraw & Faith Hill
Top Rock Artist:
• Imagine Dragons
• Linkin Park
• Portugal. The Man
• Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
• twenty one pilots
Top Rock Tour:
• Coldplay
• Guns N’ Roses
• U2
Top Latin Artist:
• J Balvin
• Daddy Yankee
• Luis Fonsi
• Ozuna
• Romeo Santos
Top Dance/Electronic Artist:
• The Chainsmokers
• Calvin Harris
• Kygo
• Marshmello
• ODESZA
Top Christian Artist:
• Elevation Worship
• Hillsong UNITED
• Hillsong Worship
• MercyMe
• Zach Williams
Top Gospel Artist:
• Anthony Brown & group therAPy
• Travis Greene
• J.J. Hairston & Youthful Praise
• Tasha Cobbs Leonard
• Tamela Mann
ALBUM AWARDS
Top Billboard 200 Album:
• Drake “More Life”
• Kendrick Lamar “DAMN.”
• Post Malone “Stoney”
• Ed Sheeran “÷ (Divide)”
• Taylor Swift “reputation”
Top Selling Album:
• Kendrick Lamar “DAMN.”
• P!nk “Beautiful Trauma”
• Ed Sheeran “÷ (Divide)”
• Chris Stapleton “From A Room: Volume 1”
• Taylor Swift “reputation”
Top Soundtrack:
• “Black Panther”
• “The Fate of the Furious: The Album”
• “The Greatest Showman”
• “Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2: Awesome Mix Vol. 2”
• “Moana”
Top R&B Album:
• Khalid “American Teen”
• Bruno Mars “24K Magic”
• SZA “Ctrl”
• The Weeknd “Starboy”
• XXXTENTACION “17”
Top Rap Album:
• Drake “More Life”
• Kendrick Lamar “DAMN.”
• Lil Uzi Vert “Luv Is Rage 2”
• Migos “Culture”
• Post Malone “Stoney”
Top Country Album:
• Kane Brown “Kane Brown”
• Luke Combs “This One’s For You”
• Thomas Rhett “Life Changes”
• Chris Stapleton “From A Room: Volume 1”
• Brett Young “Brett Young”
Top Rock Album:
• Imagine Dragons “Evolve”
• Linkin Park “One More Light”
• Panic! At The Disco “Death Of A Bachelor”
• Portugal. The Man “Woodstock”
• U2 “Songs of Experience”
Top Latin Album:
• Nicky Jam “Fénix”
• Christian Nodal “Me Dejé Llevar”
• Ozuna “Odisea”
• Romeo Santos “Golden”
• Shakira “El Dorado”
Top Dance/Electronic Album:
• Avicii “AVĪCI (01)”
• The Chainsmokers “Memories…Do Not Open”
• Calvin Harris “Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1”
• Kygo “Stargazing”
• ODESZA “A Moment Apart”
Top Christian Album:
• Elevation Worship “There Is A Cloud”
• Hillsong UNITED “Wonder”
• Hillsong Worship “Let There Be Light”
• Alan Jackson “Precious Memories Collection”
• MercyMe “Lifer”
Top Gospel Album:
• Anthony Brown & group therAPy “A Long Way From Sunday”
• Travis Greene “Crossover: Live From Music City”
• J.J. Hairston & Youthful Praise “You Deserve It”
• Tasha Cobbs Leonard “Heart. Passion. Pursuit.”
• Marvin Sapp “Close”
SONG AWARDS
Top Hot 100 Song:
• Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber “Despacito”
• Kendrick Lamar “HUMBLE.”
• Bruno Mars “That’s What I Like”
• Post Malone ft. 21 Savage “Rockstar”
• Ed Sheeran “Shape Of You”
Top Streaming Song (Audio):
• Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber “Despacito”
• Kendrick Lamar “HUMBLE.”
• Lil Uzi Vert “XO TOUR Llif3”
• Post Malone ft. 21 Savage “Rockstar”
• Post Malone ft. Quavo “Congratulations”
Top Streaming Song (Video):
• Cardi B “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)”
• Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber “Despacito”
• Lil Pump “Gucci Gang”
• Bruno Mars “That’s What I Like”
• Ed Sheeran “Shape of You”
Top Selling Song:
• Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber “Despacito”
• Sam Hunt “Body Like A Back Road”
• Imagine Dragons “Believer”
• Imagine Dragons “Thunder”
• Ed Sheeran “Perfect”
Top Radio Song:
• The Chainsmokers & Coldplay “Something Just Like This”
• Imagine Dragons “Believer”
• Bruno Mars “That’s What I Like”
• Charlie Puth “Attention”
• Ed Sheeran “Shape of You”
Top Collaboration:
• Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug “Havana”
• The Chainsmokers & Coldplay “Something Just Like This”
• Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber “Despacito”
• French Montana ft. Swae Lee “Unforgettable”
• Post Malone ft. 21 Savage “Rockstar”
Top R&B Song:
• Childish Gambino “Redbone”
• DJ Khaled ft. Rihanna & Bryson Tiller “Wild Thoughts”
• Khalid “Young Dumb & Broke”
• Bruno Mars “That’s What I Like”
• Bruno Mars ft. Cardi B “Finesse”
Top Rap Song:
• Cardi B “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)”
• DJ Khaled ft. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance The Rapper & Lil Wayne “I’m the One”
• French Montana ft. Swae Lee “Unforgettable”
• Kendrick Lamar “HUMBLE.”
• Post Malone ft. 21 Savage “Rockstar”
Top Country Song:
• Kane Brown ft. Lauren Alaina “What Ifs”
• Sam Hunt “Body Like A Back Road”
• Dustin Lynch “Small Town Boy”
• Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line “Meant To Be”
• Brett Young “In Case You Didn’t Know”
Top Rock Song:
• Imagine Dragons “Believer”
• Imagine Dragons “Thunder”
• Linkin Park ft. Kiiara “Heavy”
• Portugal. The Man “Feel It Still”
• The Revivalists “Wish I Knew You”
Top Latin Song:
• J Balvin & Willy William ft. Beyoncé “Mi Gente”
• Becky G ft. Bad Bunny “Mayores”
• Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber “Despacito”
• Maluma “Felices Los 4”
• Wisin ft. Ozuna “Escápate Conmigo”
Top Dance/Electronic Song:
• The Chainsmokers & Coldplay “Something Just Like This”
• Clean Bandit ft. Sean Paul & Anne-Marie “Rockabye”
• Cheat Codes ft. Demi Lovato “No Promises”
• Kygo & Selena Gomez “It Ain’t Me”
• Zedd & Alessia Cara “Stay”
Top Christian Song:
• Elevation Worship “O Come To The Altar”
• Hillsong Worship “What A Beautiful Name”
• Lecrae ft. Tori Kelly “I’ll Find You”
• MercyMe “Even If”
• Zach Williams “Old Church Choir”
Top Gospel Song:
• Anthony Brown & group therAPy “Trust In You”
• J.J. Hairston & Youthful Praise “You Deserve It”
• Travis Greene “You Waited”
• Tamela Mann “Change Me”
• Charlie Wilson “I’m Blessed”
NOMINATIONS IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER (BY FIRST NAME):
“Black Panther” (1): Top Soundtrack
“Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2: Awesome Mix Vol. 2” (1): Top Soundtrack
“Moana” (1): Top Soundtrack
“The Fate of the Furious: The Album” (1): Top Soundtrack
“The Greatest Showman” (1): Top Soundtrack
21 Savage (5): Top New Artist, Top Hot 100 Song, Top Streaming Song (Audio), Top Collaboration, Top Rap Song
Alan Jackson (1): Top Christian Album
Alessia Cara (1): Top Dance/Electronic Song
Anne-Marie (1): Top Dance/Electronic Song
Anthony Brown & group therAPy (3): Top Gospel Artist, Top Gospel Album, Top Gospel Song
Ariana Grande (1): Top Social Artist
Avicii (1): Top Dance/Electronic Album
Bad Bunny (1): Top Latin Song
Bebe Rexha: (1): Top Country Song
Becky G (1): Top Latin Song
Beyoncé (2): Top R&B Female Artist, Top Latin Song
Bhad Bhabie (1): Top Rap Female Artist
Brett Young (2): Top Country Album, Top Country Song
Bruno Mars (15): Top Artist, Top Male Artist, Top Hot 100 Artist, Top Song Sales Artist, Top Radio Songs Artist, Top Touring Artist, Top R&B Artist, Top R&B Male Artist, Top R&B Tour, Top R&B Album, Top Hot 100 Song, Top Streaming Song (Video), Top Radio Song, Top R&B Song (x2)
Bryson Tiller (1): Top R&B Song
BTS (1): Top Social Artist
Calvin Harris (2): Top Dance/Electronic Artist, Top Dance/Electronic Album
Camila Cabello (4): Billboard Chart Achievement Award, Top New Artist, Top Female Artist, Top Collaboration
Cardi B (8): Billboard Chart Achievement Award, Top New Artist, Top Female Artist, Top Rap Female Artist, Top Streaming Song (Video), Top R&B Song, Top Rap Song, Top Streaming Songs Artist
Chance The Rapper (1): Top Rap Song
Charlie Puth (2): Top Radio Songs Artist, Top Radio Song
Charlie Wilson (1): Top Gospel Song
Cheat Codes (1): Top Dance/Electronic Song
Childish Gambino (1): Top R&B Song
Chris Brown (1): Top R&B Artist
Chris Stapleton (5): Top Billboard 200 Artist, Top Country Artist, Top Country Male Artist, Top Country Album, Top Selling Album
Christian Nodal (1): Top Latin Album
Clean Bandit (1): Top Dance/Electronic Song
Coldplay (6): Top Duo/Group, Top Touring Artist, Top Rock Tour, Top Radio Song, Top Collaboration, Top Dance/Electronic Song
Daddy Yankee (7): Top Latin Artist, Top Hot 100 Song, Top Streaming Song (Audio), Top Streaming Song (Video), Top Selling Song, Top Collaboration, Top Latin Song
Demi Lovato (3): Top Female Artist, Top Social Artist, Top Dance/Electronic Song
DJ Khaled (2): Top R&B Song, Top Rap Song
Drake (9): Top Artist, Billboard Chart Achievement Award, Top Male Artist, Top Billboard 200 Artist, Top Rap Artist, Top Rap Male Artist, Top Billboard 200 Album, Top Rap Album, Top Streaming Songs Artist
Dustin Lynch (1): Top Country Song
Ed Sheeran (15): Top Artist, Billboard Chart Achievement Award, Top Male Artist, Top Billboard 200 Artist, Top Hot 100 Artist, Top Streaming Song, Top Song Sales Artist, Top Radio Songs Artist, Top Touring Artist, Top Billboard 200 Album, Top Selling Album, Top Hot 100 Song, Top Streaming Song (Video), Top Selling Song, Top Radio Song
Elevation Worship (3): Top Christian Artist, Top Christian Album, Top Christian Song
Faith Hill (1): Top Country Tour
Florida Georgia Line (3): Top Country Duo/Group Artist, Top Country Tour, Top Country Song
French Montana (2): Top Collaboration, Top Rap Song Guns N’ Roses (2): Top Touring Artist, Top Rock Tour Halsey (2): Top Female Artist, Top Radio Artist
Hillsong UNITED (2): Top Christian Artist, Top Christian Album
Hillsong Worship (3): Top Christian Artist, Top Christian Album, Top Christian Song
Imagine Dragons (11): Top Duo/Group, Top Hot 100 Artist, Top Song Sales Artist, Top Radio Songs Artist, Top Rock Artist, Top Rock Album, Top Selling Song (x2), Top Radio Song, Top Rock Song (x2)
J Balvin (2): Top Latin Artist, Top Latin Song
J. Cole (1): Top Rap Tour
JAY-Z (1): Top Rap Tour
J.J. Hairston & Youthful Praise (3): Top Gospel Artist, Top Gospel Album, Top Gospel Song Justin Bieber (8): Top Social Artist, Top Hot 100 Song, Top Streaming Song (Audio), Top Streaming Song (Video), Top Selling Song, Top Collaboration, Top Rap Song, Top Latin Song Kane Brown (3): Top Country Artist, Top Country Album, Top Country Song
Kelsea Ballerini (1): Top Country Female Artist
Kendrick Lamar (15): Top Artist, Top Male Artist, Top Billboard 200 Artist, Top Hot 100 Artist, Top Streaming Songs Artist, Top Song Sales Artist, Top Rap Artist, Top Rap Male Artist, Top Rap Tour, Top Billboard 200 Album, Top Rap Album, Top Selling Song, Top Hot 100 Song, Top Streaming Song (Audio), Top Rap Song
Khalid (5): Top New Artist, Top R&B Artist, Top R&B Male Artist, Top R&B Album, Top R&B Song
Kiiara (1): Top Rock Song
Kodak Black (1): Top New Artist
Kygo (3): Top Dance/Electronic Artist, Top Dance/Electronic Album, Top Dance/Electronic Song,
Lauren Alaina (1): Top Country Song
Lecrae (1): Top Christian Song
Lil Pump (1): Top Streaming Song (Video)
Lil Uzi Vert (3): Top Rap Artist, Top Rap Album, Top Streaming Song (Audio)
Lil Wayne (1): Top Rap Song
Linkin Park (3): Top Rock Artist, Top Rock Album, Top Rock Song
Lionel Richie (1): Top R&B Tour
Luis Fonsi (7): Top Latin Artist, Top Hot 100 Song, Top Streaming Song (Audio), Top Streaming Song (Video), Top Selling Song, Top Collaboration, Top Latin Song
Luke Bryan (1): Top Country Tour
Luke Combs (2): Top Country Artist, Top Country Album
Maluma (1): Top Latin Song
Maren Morris (1): Top Country Female Artist Marshmello (1): Top Dance/Electronic Artist Marvin Sapp (1): Top Gospel Album
MercyMe (3): Top Christian Artist, Top Christian Album, Top Christian Song
Migos (3): Top Duo/Group, Top Rap Artist, Top Rap Album
Miranda Lambert (1): Top Country Female Artist
Nicki Minaj (1): Top Rap Female Artist
Nicky Jam (1): Top Latin Album
ODESZA (2): Top Dance/Electronic Artist, Top Dance/Electronic Album
Old Dominion (1): Top Country Duo/Group Artist
Ozuna (3): Top Latin Artist, Top Latin Album, Top Latin Song
P!NK (1): Top Selling Album
Panic! At The Disco (1): Top Rock Album
Portugal. The Man (3): Top Rock Artist, Top Rock Album, Top Rock Song
Post Malone (13): Top Male Artist, Top Hot 100 Artist, Top Streaming Songs Artist, Top Song Sales Artist, Top Rap Artist, Top Rap Male Artist, Top Billboard 200 Album, Top Rap Album, Top Hot 100 Song, Top Streaming Song (Audio) (x2), Top Collaboration, Top Rap Song
Quavo (2): Top Streaming Song (Audio), Top Rap Song Rihanna (2): Top R&B Female Artist, Top R&B Song Romeo Santos (2): Top Latin Artist, Top Latin Album
Sam Hunt (5): Billboard Chart Achievement Award, Top Country Artist, Top Country Male Artist, Top Selling Song, Top Country Song
Sean Paul (1): Top Dance/Electronic Song Selena Gomez (1): Top Dance/Electronic Song Shakira (1): Top Latin Album
Shawn Mendes (1): Top Social Artist
Swae Lee (2): Top Collaboration, Top Rap Song
SZA (3): Top R&B Artist, Top R&B Female Artist, Top R&B Album
Tamela Mann (2): Top Gospel Artist, Top Gospel Song
Tasha Cobbs Leonard (2): Top Gospel Artist, Top Gospel Album
Taylor Swift (5): Top Artist, Top Female Artist, Top Billboard 200 Artist, Top Billboard 200 Album, Top Selling Album
The Chainsmokers (6): Top Duo/Group, Top Dance/Electronic Artist, Top Dance/Electronic Album, Top Radio Song, Top Collaboration, Top Dance/Electronic Song
The Revivalists (1): Top Rock Song
The Weeknd (4): Top R&B Artist, Top R&B Male Artist, Top R&B Tour, Top R&B Album Thomas Rhett (3): Top Country Artist, Top Country Male Artist, Top Country Album Tim McGraw (1): Top Country Tour
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers (1): Top Rock Artist
Tori Kelly (1): Top Christian Song
Travis Greene (3): Top Gospel Artist, Top Gospel Album, Top Gospel Song
twenty one pilots (1): Top Rock Artist
U2 (4): Top Duo/Group, Top Touring Artist, Top Rock Tour, Top Rock Album
Willy William (1): Top Latin Song Wisin (1): Top Latin Song XXXTENTACION (1): Top R&B Album
Young Thug (1): Top Collaboration
Zac Brown Band (1): Top Country Duo/Group Artist
Zach Williams (2): Top Christian Artist, Top Christian Song
Zedd (1): Top Dance/Electronic Song
The “2018 Billboard Music Awards” nominations include a cross section of artists with many seeing more nods than ever. Lamar, Mars and Sheeran received nominations for Top Artist, Top Male Artist, Top Hot 100 Artist, Top Hot 100 Song and Top Songs Sales Artist, among others. Post Malone received 13 nominations including Top Male Artist, Top Hot 100 Artist, Top Rap Artist, Top Billboard 200 Album, plus two nominations in the Top Streaming Song (Audio) category. Imagine Dragons received 11 nominations, including Top Duo/Group, Top Hot 100 Artist, Top Rock Artist, and two nominations in the Top Rock Song and Top Selling Song categories. Additional top nominees include Drake with 9, Justin Bieber and Cardi B with 8, and Daddy Yankee and Luis Fonsi with 7 nominations. In addition to Cardi B, other top female nominees include Taylor Swift with 5 and Camila Cabello with 4 nominations.
Voting for the two fan voted categories, Billboard Chart Achievement Award and Top Social Artist, will open in the coming weeks and additional details will be available soon.
2018 TOP NOMINEE CHART FACTS:
Justin Bieber
Even without a new album, 15-time Billboard Music Award winner Justin Bieber was a chart superstar in 2017 thanks to featured vocals on two of the year’s No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hits. He teamed with DJ Khaled, Quavo, Chance the Rapper and Lil Wayne on “I’m the One,” which
became only the 28th song in the Hot 100’s history to debut in the top slot. The next week, Bieber replaced himself at No. 1 – for the second time in his career – with “Despacito,” his remixed smash with Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee. The trio conquered the Hot 100’s summit for a record- tying 16 weeks, matching Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men’s “One Sweet Day” (in 1995-96) for the longest reign at No. 1 ever on the chart.
Cardi B
Cardi B cashed in big in 2017, as she became only the third act ever, and the first rapper, to place her first three Billboard Hot 100 chart entries in the top 10 simultaneously, joining only The Beatles and Ashanti in achieving the feat. Cardi B’s debut hit, “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves),” spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100, also making her just the second female rapper to top the tally without any other billed artists, following Lauryn Hill, with “Doo Wop (That Thing)” in 1998. Following her “Bodak” breakthrough, Cardi B nabbed a No. 1 in early 2018 on the Hot R&B/Hip- Hop Songs chart with her Bruno Mars collaboration “Finesse.”
Daddy Yankee
Daddy Yankee’s team-up with Luis Fonsi on “Despacito” vaulted to history on the Billboard Hot 100, as the song, remixed with Justin Bieber, led for 16 weeks, equaling Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men’s “One Sweet Day” (in 1995-96) for the longest term on top in the chart’s history. “Despacito” also broke the No. 1 longevity record on Hot Latin Songs, besting “Bailando,” by Enrique Iglesias featuring Descemer Bueno and Gente de Zona (which led for 41 weeks in 2014- 15). “Despacito,” the first predominantly Spanish-language No. 1 on the Hot 100 since Los Del Rio’s “Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)” in 1996, additionally became the longest-leading No. 1 on the all-genre Digital Song Sales (17 weeks) and Streaming Songs (16 weeks) charts.
Drake
Seemingly, only one person can break a Drake chart record … Drake. The superstar rewrote his Billboard Hot 100 record for the most entries by an artist in a single week, as his More Life album release propelled him to 24 simultaneous titles, three more than his then-record set in 2016. More Life’s arrival also pushed Drake ahead of label mate and frequent collaborator Lil Wayne for the most Hot 100 entries by any solo artist. In 2018, the prolific MC, whose 13 Billboard Music Award wins in 2017 set a single-night record, has added jewels to his chart crown. “God’s Plan” joined his 2016 smash “One Dance” (featuring WizKid and Kyla) with double-digit weeks atop the Hot 100, making him the first male soloist with at least two songs (with lead-artist billing on both) that have each led for at least 10 weeks.
Luis Fonsi
Luis Fonsi made history on the Billboard Hot 100 when his Daddy Yankee collaboration “Despacito,” remixed with Justin Bieber, surged to a 16-week domination, tying Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men’s “One Sweet Day” (in 1995-96) for the longest stay at No. 1 ever on the chart. On Hot Latin Songs, “Despacito” also broke barriers, passing prior record-holder “Bailando,” by Enrique Iglesias featuring Descemer Bueno and Gente de Zona (41 weeks at No. 1 in 2014-15) for the longest command since the list’s 1986 launch. “Despacito” became the first predominantly Spanish-language No. 1 on the Hot 100 since Los Del Rio’s “Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)” in 1996, as well as the longest-ruling leader on the all-genre Digital Song Sales (17 weeks) and Streaming Songs (16 weeks) surveys.
Imagine Dragons
Five-time Billboard Music Award winners Imagine Dragons returned in a big way in the past year, as the band’s album Evolve debuted at No. 1 on the Top Rock Albums chart. The set has generated three No. 1s on the Alternative Songs airplay chart (“Believer,” “Thunder” and “Whatever It Takes”), making it the first album to achieve the triple-threat feat this decade. Evolve also marked the band’s first album with two top five-charting hits on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 chart (“Believer” and “Thunder”).
Kendrick Lamar
It’s been a DAMN. fine year for Kendrick Lamar, as the hip-hop superstar clocked his third consecutive No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart with DAMN. The album spent four weeks atop the tally and saw all 14 of its tracks reach the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The set also yielded Lamar’s first Hot 100 No. 1, “Humble.” Following his success with DAMN., Lamar returned as the curator and producer of Black Panther: The Album, which generated two more Hot 100 top 10s for him: “All the Stars,” with SZA, and “Pray for Me,” with The Weeknd.
Bruno Mars
Almost everything that Bruno Mars touches on the charts turns to gold, a flair that continued thanks to his third LP, 24K Magic. As the set produced top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 in the No. 4-peaking title cut, the No. 1 “That’s What I Like” and, in early 2018, “Finesse,” remixed with Cardi B, Mars became the first male to pull at least three Hot 100 top 10s from each of his first three proper LPs in over 30 years (since Lionel Richie in 1982-86). “Finesse” also topped the Pop Songs airplay chart, earning Mars a record-breaking honor: the track became his ninth No. 1 on the list, pushing him past Justin Timberlake for the most leaders among males in the chart’s 25- year history.
Post Malone
On the heels of his 2016 debut set Stoney, Post Malone erupted in mainstream popularity and accomplished two career firsts in rapid succession. The rapper/singer earned his first top 10 song on the Billboard Hot 100 in July 2017 with “Congratulations,” featuring Quavo. He followed with “rockstar,” featuring 21 Savage, which debuted at No. 2 and, in October, became his first No. 1, as it eventually ruled for eight weeks. Post Malone’s next new release, the Ty Dolla $ign-assisted “Psycho,” matched “rockstar” with a No. 2 opening on the Hot 100 in March, making the Texas native one of only nine artists, and two rappers (joining Eminem), to have debuted multiple songs in the chart’s top two spots.
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran muscled to the best shape of career so far with his third LP, ÷ (Divide). The set debuted as his second No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, while lead single “Shape of You” launched as the pop singer-songwriter’s first No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song went on to rule the Hot 100 for 12 weeks and log 33 total weeks in the top 10, the most for any title in the chart’s history. In December, the album’s third single, “Perfect,” remixed with Beyoncé, began a six-week Hot 100 rule. Notably, thanks to the ballad, the superstars combined for the first Hot 100 No. 1 of the 2010s credited equally to a solo male and female.
“Billboard Music Awards” nominees are based on key fan interactions with music, including album and digital song sales, streaming, radio airplay, touring and social engagement, tracked by Billboard and its data partners, including Nielsen Music and Next Big Sound. The finalists and award winners are determined using data reflecting a 12-month tracking period. Since 1940, the Billboard charts have been the go-to guide for ranking the popularity of artists, songs and albums, and are the ultimate measure of success in music.
The “2018 Billboard Music Awards” is produced by dick clark productions. Allen Shapiro, Mike Mahan, Mark Bracco, Barry Adelman and Robert Deaton are Executive Producers.
For additional information on the “2018 Billboard Music Awards,” visit www.billboardmusicawards.com or check out the Billboard hub at www.billboard.com/bbma.
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