The nominees for the 2019 Billboard Music Awards have been revealed and Cardi B leads the pack with 21 nominations across 18 categories.
The rapper is up for top artist, top female artist and top rap artist and will also compete against herself in three categories — top Hot 100 song, top selling song and top collaboration for I like it with Bad Bunny and J Blavin and Girls Like You with Maroon 5.
The American singer, rapper and songwriter just misses out on the record for most nominations which was set by Drake and The Chainsmokers who each had 22 nominations in 2017.
Other front runners in the line-up include Post Malone who was in the UAE last year for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and Canadian rap king Drake.
It's also good news for Lady Gaga who is up for top song sales artist and nominated alongside co-star Bradley Cooper for top soundtrack, the chart achievement award and top selling song for the duo's work on A Star is Born. Travis Scott, Ariana Grande and the late XXXTentacion are also up for multiple accolades.
Many nominated artists took to social media to react to the news with K-Pop band GOT7 giving a shoutout to their fans, collectively called iGOT7 and Maroon 5 writing they were "SO honoured" to be shortlisted for seven awards.
GOT7 is nominated for 2019 Billboard Music Awards!
— GOT7 (@GOT7Official) April 4, 2019
It's a great honor to be nominated, thank you I GOT7 for making everything possible! 🐥💚#GOT7 #갓세븐#IGOT7 #아가새#BBMAs #GOT7BBMAs https://t.co/lnlo0A6KBr
We’re SO honored to have 7 nominations at the 2019 @BBMAs! Make sure to watch May 1 at 8/7c on NBC. #BBMAs pic.twitter.com/AWFkknLKGN
— Maroon 5 (@maroon5) April 4, 2019
Based on album and digital song sales, streaming, radio airplay, touring and social engagements, this year’s BBMA’s will also have two fan-voted categories. One of these, top social artist, sees three K-Pop bands nominated with BTS, GOT7 and EXO joining Ariana Grande and Louis Tomlinson in the shortlist.
Here is a special look at the 2019 @BBMAs nominees! #BBMAs - Team KC pic.twitter.com/PAkF7OTV13
— Kelly Clarkson (@kellyclarkson) April 4, 2019
This year’s annual music awards ceremony will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 1 when last year’s host Kelly Clarkson will return to oversee the show.
