Kendrick Lamar And Drake Lead Billboard 2018 Music Awards Nominations
Looks like Kendrick Lamar is having the best week ever. Following on the heels of his Pulitzer Prize win yesterday, the hip-hop star is also leading the pack of Billboard 2018 Music Awards, with 15 nominations under his belt including for Top Artist, Top Billboard 200 Album, Top Hot 100 Song and Top Selling Album.
Both Bruno Mars and Ed Sheeran are in close competition with Lamar, with 15 nominations each, followed by Post Malone with 13, Imagine Dragons with 11, Drake with 9 and Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift with 5 nominations.
The number to beat is 13 by Drake, who holds the record for the artist with the most wins in a single night. Drake is up for many of the major categories and he just broke the Beatles chart record for the shortest time between UK number one debuts for his singles ‘Nice For What’ and ‘God’s Plan’.
Thanks to streaming and collaborative tracks, some artists who didn’t put out albums this year are part of the nominees including Beyoncé for ‘Mi Gente’ by J Balvin and Willy William and Justin Bieber for ‘Despacito’ both nominated for Top Latin Song,
Other highlights include a posthumous nomination for Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers for Top Rock Artist and U2’s Songs of Experience for Top Rock Album.
Rising R&B star Khalid and singer Bebe Rexha announced the nominees for the major categories on Tuesday morning (17 April) on the US show, the Today show including top artist, top Hot 100 song and top new artist. The remainder of the nominations were announced via live stream on Billboard’s Facebook page.
This year marks the first time the 2018 Billboard Music Awards will air on NBC, broadcasting live from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, 20 May that will commemorate 60 years of Billboard charts.
Voting for the two fan voted categories, Billboard Chart Achievement Award and Top Social Artist, will open in the coming weeks. See below for the full list of nominees.
Explore our Kendrick Lamar Artist Page.
Billboard 2018 Music Awards Nominations
Top Artist:
Drake
Kendrick Lamar
Bruno Mars
Ed Sheeran
Taylor Swift
Top New Artist:
21 Savage
Camila Cabello
Cardi B
Khalid
Kodak Black
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 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:
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
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’