In 1984, Michael Jackson set the record for having the most American Music Award nominations with 11 nods. Well, in 2016 Drake crushed Jackson’s 32-year-old record with a high mark of 13 nods.
The “Hotline Bling” rapper leads the 2016 AMAs this year with nods in categories including Artist of the Year, Favorite Male Artist and Favorite Album. If he wins in any category, it will be Drake’s first AMA ever.
Rihanna was just behind Drake with seven nods, followed by Adele and Justin Bieber who both picked up five.
The competition for the coveted Artist of the Year award is steep this year, with nominees like Drake, Adele, Beyonce, Bieber, Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande, Rihanna, Twenty One Pilots, Carrie Underwood and The Weeknd; it’s hard to pick a guaranteed winner.
The AMAs winners are based off of fan votes. From Monday, Nov. 14 to Thursday, Nov. 17, fans will be able to vote on who they believe Artist of the Year should be, and during this time, it will cut the number of nominees from 10 to five. The winner will be determined by the total of votes received throughout the entire voting period.
If Bieber wins Artist of the Year, he will tie with Taylor Swift for the most Artist of the Year wins, which is three. Also, with Bieber’s eight past wins and this year’s five nods, he just needs to win one to become one of the top 10 AMA winners of all time.
Like Artist of the Year, the category New Artist of the Year has some tough competition. The Chainsmokers will face off against DNCE, Alessia Cara, Shawn Mendes and Zayn Malik aka ZAYN.
AMAs nominees are based on key fan interactions as reflected in “Billboard” Magazine and on Billboard.com, including album and digital sales, radio airplay, streaming, social activity and touring.
Winners are selected by the fans by voting at amavote.com or by posting a tweet that includes the nominee’s Twitter handle, the category name and #AMAs within the post(s). Voting started on Oct. 10 for all categories except New Artist of the Year Un-leashed by T-Mobile, which will open on Nov. 2. Fans are only allowed to vote once per day, per platform.
The AMAs will be broadcast live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Nov. 20 at 8 p.m. on ABC.
Artist of the Year
Adele
Beyonce
Justin Bieber
Drake
Selena Gomez
Ariana Grande
Rihanna
Twenty One Pilots
Carrie Underwood
The Weeknd
New artist of the Year Un-leashed by T-Mobile
Alessia Cara
The Chainsmokers
DNCE
Shawn Mendes
ZAYN
Collaboration of the Year
The Chainsmokers featuring Daya – “Don’t Let Me Down”
Drake featuring Wizkid & Kyla – “One Dance”
Fifth Harmony featuring Ty Dolla $ign – “Work From Home”
Rihanna featuring Drake – “Work”
Meghan Trainor featuring John Legend – “Like I’m Gonna Lose You”
Tour of the Year
Beyonce
Madonna
Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band
Video of the Year
Justin Bieber – “Sorry”
Desiigner – “Panda”
Rihanna featuring Drake – “Work”
Favorite Male Artist – Pop/Rock
Justin Bieber
Drake
The Weeknd
Favorite Female Artist – Pop/Rock
Adele
Selena Gomez
Rihanna
Favorite Duo or Group – Pop/Rock
The Chainsmokers
DNCE
Twenty One Pilots
Favorite Album – Pop/Rock
Adele – “25”
Justin Bieber – “Purpose”
Drake – “Views”
Favorite Song – Pop/Rock
Adele – “Hello”
Justin Bieber – “Love Yourself”
Drake featuring Wizkid & Kyla – “One Dance”
Favorite Male Artist – Country
Luke Bryan
Thomas Rhett
Blake Shelton
Favorite Female Artist – Country
Kelsea Ballerini
Cam
Carrie Underwood
Favorite Duo or Group – Country
Florida Georgia Line
Old Dominion
Zac Brown Band
Favorite Album – Country
Luke Bryan – “Kill the Lights”
Chris Stapleton – “Traveller”
Carrie Underwood – “Storyteller”
Favorite Song – Country
Florida Georgia Line – “H.O.L.Y.”
Tim McGraw – “Humble And Kind”
Thomas Rhett – “Die A Happy Man”
Favorite Artist – Rap
Drake
Fetty Wap
Future
Favorite Album – Rap/Hip-Hop
Drake – “Views”
Drake & Future – “What A Time To Be Alive”
Fetty Wap – “Fetty Wap”
Favorite Song – Rap/Hip-Hop
Desiigner – “Panda”
Drake – “Hotline Bling”
Fetty Wap – “679”
Favorite Male Artist – Soul/R&B
Chris Brown
Bryson Tiller
The Weeknd
Favorite Female Artist – Soul/R&B
Beyonce
Janet Jackson
Rihanna
Favorite Album – Soul/R&B
Beyonce – “Lemonade”
Rihanna – “Anti”
Bryson Tiller – “T R A P S O U L”
Favorite Song – Soul/R&B
Drake featuring Wizkid & Kyla – “One Dance”
Rihanna featuring Drake – “Work”
Bryson Tiller – “Don’t”
Favorite Artist – Alternative Rock
Coldplay
Twenty One Pilots
X Ambassadors
Favorite Artist – Adult Contemporary
Adele
Rachel Platten
Meghan Trainor
Favorite Artist – Latin
J Balvin
Enrique Iglesias
Nicky Jam
Favorite Artist – Contemporary Inspirational
Lauren Daigle
Hillsong UNITED
Chris Tomlin
Favorite Artist – Electronic Dance Music (EDM)
The Chainsmokers
Calvin Harris
Major Lazer
Top Soundtrack
“Purple Rain”
“Star Wars: The Force Awakens”
“Suicide Squad: The Album”
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