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2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists Revealed

The Weeknd leads with 16 nods; DaBaby (11), Pop Smoke (10), and Gabby Barrett (9) among top finalists.

By: Apr. 29, 2021
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2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists Revealed  Image

dick clark productions and NBC today announced the finalists for the "2021 Billboard Music Awards", which honor the year's most successful artists in 51 categories across all genres of music. The annual live broadcast showcases spectacular performances, unexpected collaborations, buzzworthy pop culture moments that keeps fans talking all year, and the prestigious ICON Award, which honors record-breaking artists and their impact on music. The BBMAs will broadcast live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, May 23 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on NBC.

"The List Live" Finalist Announcement:

  • Finalists were revealed during the exclusive live stream "The List Live," hosted by Access Hollywood's Zuri Hall and comedian LaLa Milan, and aired on BBMAs, Billboard, E!, and NBC social media pages earlier this morning.
  • Some of the biggest names in music, pop culture, and fashion stopped by to announce this year's finalists.
  • Presenters included: Anitta, FINNEAS, Luis Fonsi, Rob Gronkowski, Paris Hilton, Leslie Jordan, Tate McRae, and Jay Pharoah. Watch the replay HERE.

2021 BBMA Finalist Highlights:

  • The Weeknd leads the pack as a finalist in 16 categories, including Top Artist, Top Male Artist, Top Hot 100 Artist, Top Streaming Songs Artist, and Top Song Sales Artist. His 2020 album After Hours received multiple nods, including Top Billboard 200 Album and Top R&B Album, with the hit single "Blinding Lights" recognized in five categories.
  • DaBaby is the second-top finalist (11), including recognition for the Top Hot 100 Artist, Top Rap Artist, and Top Rap Album categories. He is also a multi-finalist in the Top Streaming Song category for "Rockstar" and "Whats Poppin," and could take home his first BBMA trophy.
  • Late rappers Pop Smoke and Juice WRLD received multiple honors, marking the first time in a decade that two of the top ten finalists received posthumous recognition. Pop Smoke is a finalist in 10 categories, including Top Billboard 200 Album for his posthumously released debut album Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon; while Juice WRLD is a finalist in seven categories, including Top Rap Album for Legends Never Die.
  • "I Hope" singer Gabby Barrett is a first-time finalist and achieved nods in nine categories, including Top New Artist, becoming the female artist with the most nods this year.
  • Megan Thee Stallion is the female artist with the second-most nods this year with seven, including Top Female Artist and Top Rap Female Artist. She could receive her first ever BBMA at this year's show.

This year's awards are based on the chart period of March 21, 2020 through April 3, 2021. "Billboard Music Awards'' finalists and winners are based on key fan interactions with music, including album and digital song sales, streaming, radio airplay, and social engagement, tracked by Billboard and its data partners, including MRC Data. Fan-voted categories include Top Social Artist and Top Collaboration.

For more than 30 years, the BBMAs has celebrated music's greatest achievements, honoring the hottest names in music today. Unique among music awards shows, finalists are determined by performance on the Billboard Charts. 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 "2021 Billboard Music Awards" is produced by dick clark productions. Barry Adelman and Robert Deaton are executive producers.

For more information visit: visit billboardmusicawards.com.

FINALISTS BY CATEGORY

ARTIST AWARDS

Top Artist

Drake
Juice WRLD
Pop Smoke
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd

Top New Artist

Gabby Barrett
Doja Cat
Jack Harlow
Pop Smoke
Rod Wave

Top Male Artist

Drake
Juice WRLD
Lil Baby
Pop Smoke
The Weeknd

Top Female Artist

Billie Eilish
Ariana Grande
Dua Lipa
Megan Thee Stallion
Taylor Swift

Top Duo/Group

AC/DC
AJR
BTS
Dan + Shay
Maroon 5

Top Billboard 200 Artist

Drake
Juice WRLD
Pop Smoke
Post Malone
Taylor Swift

Top Hot 100 Artist

DaBaby
Drake
Dua Lipa
Pop Smoke
The Weeknd

Top Streaming Songs Artist

DaBaby
Drake
Lil Baby
Pop Smoke
The Weeknd

Top Song Sales Artist

Justin Bieber
BTS
Megan Thee Stallion
*Morgan Wallen
The Weeknd

Top Radio Songs Artist

Justin Bieber
Lewis Capaldi
Dua Lipa
Harry Styles
The Weeknd

Top Social Artist (Fan Voted)

BLACKPINK
BTS
Ariana Grande
SB19
Seventeen

Top R&B Artist

Jhené Aiko
Justin Bieber
Chris Brown
Doja Cat
The Weeknd

Top R&B Male Artist

Justin Bieber
Chris Brown
The Weeknd

Top R&B Female Artist

Jhené Aiko
Doja Cat
SZA

Top Rap Artist

DaBaby
Drake
Juice WRLD
Lil Baby
Pop Smoke

Top Rap Male Artist

Juice WRLD
Lil Baby
Pop Smoke

Top Rap Female Artist

Cardi B
Megan Thee Stallion
Saweetie

Top Country Artist

Gabby Barrett
Kane Brown
Luke Combs
Chris Stapleton
*Morgan Wallen

Top Country Male Artist

Luke Combs
Chris Stapleton
*Morgan Wallen

Top Country Female Artist

Gabby Barrett
Maren Morris
Carrie Underwood

Top Country Duo/Group

Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Maddie & Tae

Top Rock Artist

AC/DC
AJR
Five Finger Death Punch
Machine Gun Kelly
twenty one pilots

Top Latin Artist

Anuel AA
Bad Bunny
J Balvin
Maluma
Ozuna

Top Latin Male Artist

Bad Bunny
J Balvin
Ozuna

Top Latin Female Artist

Becky G
Karol G
Rosalía

Top Latin Duo/Group

Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga
Eslabón Armado
Los Dos Carnales

Top Dance/Electronic Artist

The Chainsmokers
Kygo
Lady Gaga
Marshmello
Surf Mesa

Top Christian Artist

Casting Crowns
Elevation Worship
for KING & COUNTRY
Carrie Underwood
Zach Williams

Top Gospel Artist

Kirk Franklin
Koryn Hawthorne
Tasha Cobbs Leonard
Maverick City Music
Kanye West


ALBUM AWARDS

Top Billboard 200 Album

Juice WRLD "Legends Never Die"
Lil Baby "My Turn"
Pop Smoke "Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon"
Taylor Swift "folklore"
The Weeknd "After Hours"

Top R&B Album

Jhené Aiko "Chilombo"
Chris Brown & Young Thug "Slime & B"
Doja Cat "Hot Pink"
Kehlani "It Was Good Until It Wasn't"
The Weeknd "After Hours"

Top Rap Album

DaBaby "BLAME IT ON BABY"
Juice WRLD "Legends Never Die"
Lil Baby "My Turn"
Lil Uzi Vert "Eternal Atake"
Pop Smoke "Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon"

Top Country Album

Gabby Barrett "Goldmine"
Sam Hunt "SOUTHSIDE"
Chris Stapleton "Starting Over"
Carrie Underwood "My Gift"
*Morgan Wallen "Dangerous: The Double Album"

Top Rock Album

AC/DC "Power Up"
Miley Cyrus "Plastic Hearts"
Glass Animals "Dreamland"
Machine Gun Kelly "Tickets to My Downfall"
Bruce Springsteen "Letter to You"

Top Latin Album

Anuel AA "Emmanuel"
Bad Bunny "El Último Tour Del Mundo"
Bad Bunny "Las que no iban a salir"
Bad Bunny "YHLQMDLG"
J Balvin "Colores"

Top Dance/Electronic Album

DJ Snake "Carte Blanche"
Gryffin "Gravity"
Kygo "Golden Hour"
Lady Gaga "Chromatica"
Kylie Minogue "Disco"

Top Christian Album

Bethel Music "Peace"
Elevation Worship "Grave Into Gardens"
Carrie Underwood "My Gift"
We The Kingdom "Holy Water"
Zach Williams "Rescue Story"

Top Gospel Album

Koryn Hawthorne "I AM"
Tasha Cobbs Leonard "Royalty: Live at the Ryman"
Maverick City Music "Maverick City Vol. 3 Part 1"
Maverick City Music "Maverick City Vol. 3 Part 2"
Kierra Sheard "Kierra"

SONG AWARDS

Top Hot 100 Song Presented by Rockstar

24kGoldn ft. iann dior "Mood"
Gabby Barrett ft. Charlie Puth "I Hope"
Chris Brown & Young Thug "Go Crazy"
DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch "ROCKSTAR"
The Weeknd "Blinding Lights"

Top Streaming Song

Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion "WAP"
DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch "ROCKSTAR"
Future ft. Drake "Life Is Good"
Jack Harlow ft. DaBaby, Tory Lanez, & Lil Wayne "WHATS POPPIN"
The Weeknd "Blinding Lights"

Top Selling Song

Gabby Barrett ft. Charlie Puth "I Hope"
BTS "Dynamite"
Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion "WAP"
Megan Thee Stallion "Savage"
The Weeknd "Blinding Lights"

Top Radio Song

Gabby Barrett ft. Charlie Puth "I Hope"
Chris Brown & Young Thug "Go Crazy"
Dua Lipa "Don't Start Now"
Harry Styles "Adore You"
The Weeknd "Blinding Lights"

Top Collaboration (Fan Voted)

24kGoldn ft. iann dior "Mood"
Gabby Barrett ft. Charlie Puth "I Hope"
Chris Brown & Young Thug "Go Crazy"
DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch "ROCKSTAR"
Jack Harlow ft. DaBaby, Tory Lanez, & Lil Wayne "WHATS POPPIN"

Top R&B Song

Jhené Aiko ft. H.E.R. "B.S."
Justin Bieber ft. Quavo "Intentions"
Chris Brown & Young Thug "Go Crazy"
Doja Cat "Say So"
The Weeknd "Blinding Lights"

Top Rap Song

24kGoldn ft. iann dior "Mood"
Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion "WAP"
DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch "ROCKSTAR"
Jack Harlow ft. DaBaby, Tory Lanez, & Lil Wayne "WHATS POPPIN"
Megan Thee Stallion "Savage"

Top Country Song

Jason Aldean "Got What I Got"
Gabby Barrett "I Hope"
Lee Brice "One of Them Girls"
*Morgan Wallen "Chasin' You"
*Morgan Wallen "More Than My Hometown"

Top Rock Song

AJR "Bang!"
All Time Low ft. blackbear "Monsters"
Glass Animals "Heat Waves"
Machine Gun Kelly ft. blackbear "my ex's best friend"
twenty one pilots "Level of Concern"

Top Latin Song

Bad Bunny "Yo Perreo Sola"
Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez "Dákiti"
Black Eyed Peas & J Balvin "RITMO (Bad Boys For Life)"
Maluma & The Weeknd "Hawái"
Ozuna x Karol G x Myke Towers "Caramelo"

Top Dance/Electronic Song

Lady Gaga "Stupid Love"
Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande "Rain on Me"
SAINt JHN "Roses (Imanbek Remix)"
Surf Mesa ft. Emilee "ily (i love you baby)"
Topic & A7S "Breaking Me"

Top Christian Song

Elevation Worship ft. Brandon Lake "Graves Into Gardens"
for KING & COUNTRY, Kirk Franklin & Tori Kelly "TOGETHER"
Kari Jobe, Cody Carnes, & Elevation Worship "The Blessing (Live)"
Tauren Wells ft. Jenn Johnson "Famous For (I Believe)"
Zach Williams & Dolly Parton "There Was Jesus"

Top Gospel Song

Koryn Hawthorne "Speak To Me"
Jonathan McReynolds & Mali Music "Movin' On"
Marvin Sapp "Thank You For It All"
Tye Tribbett "We Gon' Be Alright"
Kanye West ft. Travis Scott "Wash Us In The Blood"



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