The 2018 Billboard Music Awards take place May 20, 2018 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The 2018 ceremony will be hosted by Kelly Clarkson. This year, the BBMA will air on NBC for the first time ever. On Tuesday, April 18, the nominations for the top awards were announced on NBC’s Today and Facebook.
Nominees for the Billboard Music Awards are selected based on album and digital song sales, radio airplay, streaming, touring, social engagement, and other factors tracked by Billboard over a yearly period.
This year’s award for Top Artist is between Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Bruno Mars, Ed Sheeran, and Taylor Swift. Swift is also up for Top Female Artist, along with Camila Cabello, Cardi B, Halsey, and Demi Lovato. The Top Male Artist will go to either Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Bruno Mars, Post Malone, or Ed Sheeran.
The full list of nominations can be seen below.
Billboard Music Awards 2018 Nominations
Top Artist
- Drake
- Kendrick Lamar
- Bruno Mars
- Ed Sheeran
- Taylor Swift
Top Female Artist
- Camila Cabello
- Cardi B
- Halsey
- Demi Lovato
- Taylor Swift
Top Male Artist
- Drake
- Kendrick Lamar
- Bruno Mars
- Post Malone
- Ed Sheeran
Top Selling Album
- Kendrick Lamar, DAMN.
- Pink, Beautiful Trauma
- Ed Sheeran, Divide
- Chris Stapleton, From a Room: Volume 1
- Taylor Swift, Reputation
Top Hot 100 Song
- Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee, “Despacito (feat. Justin Bieber)”
- Kendrick Lamar, “HUMBLE.”
- Bruno Mars, “That’s What I Like”
- Post Malone, “Rockstar (feat. 21 Savage)”
- Ed Sheeran, “Shape of You”
Top New Artist
- 21 Savage
- Camila Cabello
- Cardi B
- Khalid
- Kodak Black
Top Country Song
- Kane Brown, “What Ifs (feat. Lauren Alaina)”
- Sam Hunt, “Body Like a Back Road”
- Dustin Lynch, “Small Town Boy”
- Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line, “Meant to Be”
- Brett Young, “In Case You Didn’t Know”
- 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
- Justin Bieber
- BTS
- Ariana Grande
- Demi Lovato
- Shawn Mendes
Billboard Chart Achievement Award
- Camila Cabello
- Cardi B
- Drake
- Sam Hunt
- Ed Sheeran
- 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
- Cardi B
- Nicki Minaj
- Bhad Bhabie
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
- Old Dominion
- Zac Brown Band
- Florida Georgia Line
Top Country Tour
- Luke Bryan
- Florida Georgia Line
- Tim McGraw & Faith Hill
Top Rock Artist
- Imagine Dragons
- Linkin Park
- Portugal. the Man
- Tom Petty
- Twenty One Pilots
Top Rock Tour
- Coldplay
- Guns N’ Roses
- U2
Top Latin Artist
- J Balvin
- Daddy Yankee
- Luis Fonsi
- Ozuna
- Romeo Santos
- 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
Top Billboard 200 Album
- Drake, More Life
- Kendrick Lamar, DAMN.
- Post Malone, Stoney
- Ed Sheeran, Divide
- Taylor Swift, Reputation
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
