2018 Artist of the Year Nominees Include Drake, Imagine Dragons, Post Malone, Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift
The “2018 American Music Awards” Returns to Blue Ant Entertainment on Wednesday, 10 October, Live from the U.S at 8:00 A.M.
As the kick-off to this year’s highly anticipated “2018 American Music Awards,” chart-topping artists Kane Brown and Ella Mai, singer and American Music Award winner Normani and award winning singer/songwriter Bebe Rexha announced the nominations from YouTube Space LA. The event was livestreamed on the official American Music Awards YouTube channel and included a panel discussion about the nominations with the presenting talent and Billboard correspondent Chelsea Briggs. Hosted by Tracee Ellis Ross, the “2018 American Music Awards” will broadcast LIVE from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Wednesday, 10 October at 8:00 AM on Blue Ant Entertainment available on SKYcable channels 53(SD) and 196(HD), SKYdirect channel 35, Destiny Cable channel 53, and Cablelink channels 37(SD) and 313(HD).
Cardi B and Drake lead this year’s nominees, with eight possible wins for each. Ed Sheeran and Post Malone each earned six nominations. Camila Cabello, nominated five times this year, could win her first AMA as a solo artist.
The Artist of the Year nominees are Drake, Imagine Dragons, Post Malone, Ed Sheeran, and Taylor Swift.
The American Music Awards, the world’s largest fan-voted awards show, is where music enthusiasts watch their favorite artists and pop culture icons come together to honor idols, newcomers and record-breakers in the contemporary music scene. From Pop and Rock, to Country, Hip Hop and beyond, this year’s show will celebrate some of the best moments in music with appearances by today’s brightest stars and live performances from the biggest names in the industry.
American Music Awards nominees are based on key fan interactions as reflected on Billboard.com, including streaming, album and digital song sales, radio airplay, social activity and touring. These measurements are tracked by Billboard and its data partners, including Nielsen Music and Next Big Sound, and reflect the time period of September 15, 2017 through August 9, 2018. The American Music Awards winners are voted entirely by fans.
2018 AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS TOP NOMINATED ARTISTS CHART FACTS:
§ Camila Cabello
Five-time American Music Award nominee Camila Cabello had quite the amazing year. Not only did her debut solo album Camila bow at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, but it entered atop the chart the very same week that its massive lead single, “Havana,” featuring Young Thug, hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Amazingly, it marked the first time a soloist topped both lists at the same with their first No. 1s on both charts since 2003. Cabello followed up “Havana” with a second hit from the album, “Never Be the Same,” which hit the top 10 in May. Both tracks also reached No. 1 on the Pop Songs airplay chart.
§ Cardi B
First-time American Music Award nominee Cardi B made quite the impression in the past year. In October of 2017, her smash solo single “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, making Cardi the first female rapper to top the list without the assistance of any other credited acts since 1998. Further, when Cardi hit No. 1 for a second time, in 2018, with “I Like It,” alongside Bad Bunny and J Balvin, she made history as the first female rapper with two Hot 100 No. 1s. Cardi’s debut studio album, Invasion of Privacy, also set records when it debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart earlier in 2018. It earned the biggest on-demand audio streaming week ever for a debut studio album in the U.S., and the largest ever for an album by a woman, according to Nielsen Music.
§ Drake
Five-time American Music Award winner Drake comes into the 2018 AMAs with eight nominations, including Artist of the Year. And, what a year Drake has had. He notched his eighth No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 albums chart with Scorpion, and set the all-time record for the largest on-demand audio streaming week ever for an album in the U.S., according to Nielsen Music. The same week Scorpion stung at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, Drake set a new record for the most concurrently charting songs in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, with seven. He beat the record previously held by The Beatles, set in 1964, when the Fab Four had five songs in the top 10 at the same time.
§ Khalid
Breakout R&B star Khalid comes into the 2018 American Music Awards with four nominations. He first started to make waves in mid-2016 courtesy of his single “Location,” which turned into a viral smash, ultimately reaching No. 2 on Billboard’s Hot R&B Songs chart. His debut album, American Teen, has spent 16 weeks at No. 1 on the R&B Albums chart, and has yet to leave the top five of the list after more than 75 weeks on the tally. The set launched another hit in “Young Dumb & Broke,” which racked up a whopping 11 weeks atop the Hot R&B Songs chart. Khalid continued to keep busy in 2018, debuting eight songs on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 chart, including the top 10 hit “Love Lies” with Khalid.
§ Post Malone
A six-time nominee at the 2018 AMAs, Post Malone has been untouchable in the last year, charting more than a dozen top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including his first two No. 1s: “Rockstar,” featuring 21 Savage, and “Psycho,” featuring Ty Dolla $ign. His second album, beerbongs & bentleys, gave the artist his first No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, where it ruled for three weeks. Post Malone also made news in 2018 on the charts with his debut album, Stoney, broke a longevity record set by Michael Jackson. In August, Stoney spent its 77th week in the top 10 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, beating the record for the most weeks in the top 10 for an album that was previously held by Jackson’s Thriller, with 76 weeks in 1983 and 1984.
§ Bruno Mars
Eight-time American Music Award winner Bruno Mars has been a hits-making machine since his debut full-length album Doo-Wops & Hooligans in 2010. The current four-time nominee’s latest release, 24K Magic, continued his magic touch, as the album spent 40 weeks in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 chart and launched a quartet of hit singles. Among them were the No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 smash “That’s What I Like,” the album’s title track, and his breakout collaboration with Cardi B, “Finesse.” The latter spent 12 weeks at No. 1 on the Hot R&B Songs chart and has earned more than a half-billion on-demand streams in the U.S., according to Nielsen Music.
§ Ed Sheeran
American Music Award winner, and current six-time nominee Ed Sheeran had a rather “Perfect” year. He kicked off 2018 with a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Perfect,” thanks to a little help from a remix of the track guest-starring Beyoncé. “Perfect” proved to be so popular, it remained on the chart for over a full year. It was the second No. 1 on the Hot 100 for Sheeran, and both tunes came from his blockbuster album ÷ (Divide). After 79 weeks on the Billboard 200 chart, the former No. 1 album has yet to depart the weekly top 40 of the list. Sheeran has also been tireless on the road, with his ongoing ÷ World Tour. The trek is scheduled to end in March 2019 after playing more than 200 shows and visiting six continents.
§ Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift — a 19-time American Music Award winner and current four-time nominee — closed out 2017 in grand fashion with the arrival of her record-breaking album reputation. The set sold 1.22 million copies in its first week in the U.S., making Swift the only artist to achieve four million-selling weeks in Nielsen Music history. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, marking her fifth leader on the tally, and launched the No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hit “Look What You Made Me Do,” as well as the No. 1 Pop Songs single “Delicate.” Swift’s massive reputation Stadium Tour, in support of the album, broke Swift’s own record as the highest-grossing U.S. tour ever by a woman, according to Billboard Boxscore.
The “2018 American Music Awards” is produced by dick clark productions. Barry Adelman, Mark Bracco and Tracee Ellis Ross are Executive Producers. Larry Klein is Producer.
For the latest American Music Awards news, exclusive content and more, be sure to follow Blue Ant Entertainment on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/blueantentertainment, @BlueAntEntertainment on Instagram, and @BlueAntEnt on Twitter. Join the conversation by using the official hashtag for the show, #AMAs.
See the full list of the American Music Awards 2018 nominees below.
“2018 AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS” NOMINEES
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
• Drake
• Imagine Dragons
• Post Malone
• Ed Sheeran
• Taylor Swift
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY CAPITAL ONE SAVOR CARD
• Camila Cabello
• Cardi B
• Khalid
• Dua Lipa
• XXXTENTACION
COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR
• Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug “Havana”
• Post Malone ft. 21 Savage “Rockstar”
• Bruno Mars & Cardi B “Finesse”
• Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line “Meant To Be”
• Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey “The Middle”
TOUR OF THE YEAR
• Beyoncé & JAY-Z
• Bruno Mars
• Ed Sheeran
• Taylor Swift
• U2
FAVORITE MUSIC VIDEO
• Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug “Havana”
• Cardi B “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)”
• Drake “God’s Plan”
FAVORITE SOCIAL ARTIST
• BTS
• Cardi B
• Ariana Grande
• Demi Lovato
• Shawn Mendes
FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – POP/ROCK
• Drake
• Post Malone
• Ed Sheeran
FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST – POP/ROCK
• Camila Cabello
• Cardi B
• Taylor Swift
FAVORITE DUO OR GROUP – POP/ROCK
• Imagine Dragons
• Maroon 5
• Migos
FAVORITE ALBUM – POP/ROCK
• Drake “Scorpion”
• Ed Sheeran “÷ (Divide)”
• Taylor Swift “reputation”
FAVORITE SONG- POP/ROCK
• Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug “Havana”
• Drake “God’s Plan”
• Ed Sheeran “Perfect”
FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – COUNTRY
• Kane Brown
• Luke Bryan
• Thomas Rhett
FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST – COUNTRY
• Kelsea Ballerini
• Maren Morris
• Carrie Underwood
FAVORITE DUO or GROUP – COUNTRY
• Dan + Shay
• Florida Georgia
• Line LANCO
FAVORITE ALBUM – COUNTRY
• Kane Brown “Kane Brown”
• Luke Combs “This One’s For You”
• Thomas Rhett “Life Changes”
FAVORITE SONG - COUNTRY
• Kane Brown “Heaven”
• Dan + Shay “Tequila”
• Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line “Meant To Be”
FAVORITE ARTIST – RAP/HIP-HOP
• Cardi B
• Drake
• Post Malone
FAVORITE ALBUM – RAP/HIP-HOP
• Drake “Scorpion”
• Lil Uzi Vert “Luv Is Rage 2”
• Post Malone “beerbongs & bentleys”
FAVORITE SONG – RAP/HIP-HOP
• Cardi B “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)”
• Drake “God’s Plan”
• Post Malone ft. 21 Savage “Rockstar”
FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – SOUL/R&B
• Khalid
• Bruno Mars
• The Weeknd
FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST – SOUL/R&B
• Ella Mai
• Rihanna
• SZA
FAVORITE ALBUM – SOUL/R&B
• Khalid “American Teen”
• SZA “CTRL”
• XXXTENTACION “17”
FAVORITE SONG – SOUL/R&B
• Khalid “Young Dumb & Broke”
• Ella Mai “Boo’d Up”
• Bruno Mars & Cardi B “Finesse”
FAVORITE ARTIST - ALTERNATIVE ROCK
• Imagine Dragons
• Panic! At The Disco
• Portugal. The Man
FAVORITE ARTIST - ADULT CONTEMPORARY
• Shawn Mendes
• P!NK
• Ed Sheeran
FAVORITE ARTIST - LATIN
• J Balvin
• Daddy Yankee
• Ozuna
FAVORITE ARTIST - CONTEMPORARY INSPIRATIONAL
• Lauren Daigle
• MercyMe
• Zach Williams
FAVORITE ARTIST - ELECTRONIC DANCE MUSIC (EDM)
• The Chainsmokers
• Marshmello
• Zedd
FAVORITE SOUNDTRACK
• “Black Panther: The Album, Music From And Inspired By”
• “The Greatest Showman”
• “The Fate of the Furious: The Album”
NOMINATIONS IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER (BY FIRST NAME):
21 Savage (2): Collaboration of the Year; Favorite Song – Rap/Hip-Hop
Ariana Grande (1): Favorite Social Artist
Bebe Rexha (2): Collaboration of the Year; Favorite Song – Country
Beyoncé (1): Tour of the Year
“Black Panther: The Album, Music From And Inspired By” (1): Favorite Soundtrack
Bruno Mars (4): Collaboration of the Year; Tour of the Year; Favorite Male Artist – Soul/R&B; Favorite Song – Soul/R&B
BTS (1): Favorite Social Artist
Camila Cabello (5): New Artist of the Year presented by Capital One Savor Card; Collaboration of the Year; Favorite Music Video; Favorite Female Artist – Pop/Rock; Favorite Song – Pop/Rock
Cardi B (8): New Artist of the Year presented by Capital One Savor Card; Collaboration of the Year; Favorite Music Video; Favorite Female Artist – Pop/Rock; Favorite Artist – Rap/Hip-Hop; Favorite Song – Rap/Hip-Hop; Favorite Song – Soul/R&B; Favorite Social Artist
Carrie Underwood (1): Favorite Female Artist – Country
Daddy Yankee (1): Favorite Artist – Latin
Dan + Shay (2): Favorite Duo or Group – Country; Favorite Song – Country
Demi Lovato (1): Favorite Social Artist
Drake (8): Artist of the Year; Favorite Music Video; Favorite Male Artist – Pop/Rock; Favorite Album – Pop/Rock; Favorite Song – Pop/Rock; Favorite Artist – Rap/Hip-Hop; Favorite Album – Rap/Hip-Hop; Favorite Song – Rap/Hip-Hop
Dua Lipa (1): New Artist of the Year presented by Capital One Savor Card
Ed Sheeran (6): Artist of the Year; Tour of the Year; Favorite Male Artist – Pop/Rock; Favorite Album – Pop/Rock; Favorite Song – Pop/Rock; Favorite Artist – Adult Contemporary
Ella Mai (2): Favorite Female Artist – Soul/R&B; Favorite Song – Soul/R&B
Florida Georgia Line (3): Collaboration of the Year; Favorite Duo or Group – Country; Favorite Song – Country
Grey (1): Collaboration of the Year
Imagine Dragons (3): Artist of the Year; Favorite Duo or Group – Pop/Rock; Favorite Artist – Alternative Rock
JAY-Z (1): Tour of the Year
J Balvin (1): Favorite Artist – Latin
Kane Brown (3): Favorite Male Artist – Country; Favorite Album – Country; Favorite Song – Country
Kelsea Ballerini (1): Favorite Female Artist – Country
Khalid (4): New Artist of the Year presented by Capital One Savor Card; Favorite Male Artist – Soul/R&B; Favorite Album – Soul/R&B; Favorite Song – Soul/R&B
LANCO (1): Favorite Duo or Group – Country
Lauren Daigle (1): Favorite Artist – Contemporary Inspirational
Lil Uzi Vert (1): Favorite Album – Rap/Hip-Hop Luke Bryan (1): Favorite Male Artist – Country Luke Combs (1): Favorite Album – Country
Maren Morris (2): Collaboration of the Year; Favorite Female Artist – Country
Maroon 5 (1): Favorite Duo or Group – Pop/Rock
Marshmello (1): Favorite Artist – Electronic Dance Music (EDM) MercyMe (1): Favorite Artist – Contemporary Inspirational Migos (1): Favorite Duo or Group – Pop/Rock
Ozuna (1): Favorite Artist – Latin
Panic! At The Disco (1): Favorite Artist – Alternative Rock
P!NK (1): Favorite Artist – Adult Contemporary
Portugal. The Man (1): Favorite Artist – Alternative Rock
Post Malone (6): Artist of the Year; Collaboration of the Year; Favorite Male Artist – Pop/Rock; Favorite Artist
– Rap/Hip-Hop; Favorite Album – Rap/Hip-Hop; Favorite Song – Rap/Hip-Hop
Rihanna (1): Favorite Female Artist – Soul/R&B
Shawn Mendes (2): Favorite Artist – Adult Contemporary; Favorite Social Artist
SZA (2): Favorite Female Artist – Soul/R&B; Favorite Album – Soul/R&B
Taylor Swift (4): Artist of the Year; Tour of the Year; Favorite Female Artist – Pop/Rock; Favorite Album – Pop/Rock
The Chainsmokers (1): Favorite Artist – Electronic Dance Music (EDM)
“The Fate of the Furious: The Album” (1): Favorite Soundtrack
“The Greatest Showman” (1): Favorite Soundtrack
The Weeknd (1): Favorite Male Artist – Soul/R&B
Thomas Rhett (2): Favorite Male Artist – Country; Favorite Album – Country
U2 (1): Tour of the Year
XXXTENTACION (2): New Artist of the Year presented by Capital One Savor Card; Favorite Album – Soul/R&B
Young Thug (3): Collaboration of the Year; Favorite Music Video; Favorite Song – Pop/Rock
Zach Williams (1): Favorite Artist – Contemporary Inspirational
Zedd (2): Collaboration of the Year; Favorite Artist – Electronic Dance Music (EDM)
NOMINATIONS BY NUMERICAL ORDER:
Cardi B (8): New Artist of the Year presented by Capital One Savor Card; Collaboration of the Year; Favorite Music Video; Favorite Female Artist – Pop/Rock; Favorite Artist – Rap/Hip-Hop; Favorite Song – Rap/Hip-Hop; Favorite Song – Soul/R&B; Favorite Social Artist
Drake (8): Artist of the Year; Favorite Music Video; Favorite Male Artist – Pop/Rock; Favorite Album – Pop/Rock; Favorite Song – Pop/Rock; Favorite Artist – Rap/Hip-Hop; Favorite Album – Rap/Hip-Hop; Favorite Song – Rap/Hip-Hop
Ed Sheeran (6): Artist of the Year; Tour of the Year; Favorite Male Artist – Pop/Rock; Favorite Album – Pop/Rock; Favorite Song – Pop/Rock; Favorite Artist – Adult Contemporary
Post Malone (6): Artist of the Year; Collaboration of the Year; Favorite Male Artist – Pop/Rock; Favorite Artist
– Rap/Hip-Hop; Favorite Album – Rap/Hip-Hop; Favorite Song – Rap/Hip-Hop
Camila Cabello (5): New Artist of the Year presented by Capital One Savor Card; Collaboration of the Year; Favorite Music Video; Favorite Female Artist – Pop/Rock; Favorite Song – Pop/Rock
Bruno Mars (4): Collaboration of the Year; Tour of the Year; Favorite Male Artist – Soul/R&B; Favorite Song – Soul/R&B
Khalid (4): New Artist of the Year presented by Capital One Savor Card; Favorite Male Artist – Soul/R&B; Favorite Album – Soul/R&B; Favorite Song – Soul/R&B
Taylor Swift (4): Artist of the Year; Tour of the Year; Favorite Female Artist – Pop/Rock; Favorite Album – Pop/Rock
Florida Georgia Line (3): Collaboration of the Year; Favorite Duo or Group – Country; Favorite Song – Country
Imagine Dragons (3): Artist of the Year; Favorite Duo or Group – Pop/Rock; Favorite Artist – Alternative Rock
Kane Brown (3): Favorite Male Artist – Country; Favorite Album – Country; Favorite Song – Country
Young Thug (3): Collaboration of the Year; Favorite Music Video; Favorite Song – Pop/Rock
21 Savage (2): Collaboration of the Year; Favorite Song – Rap/Hip-Hop
Bebe Rexha (2): Collaboration of the Year; Favorite Song – Country
Dan + Shay (2): Favorite Duo or Group – Country; Favorite Song – Country Ella Mai (2): Favorite Female Artist – Soul/R&B; Favorite Song – Soul/R&B Maren Morris (2): Collaboration of the Year; Favorite Female Artist – Country Shawn Mendes (2): Favorite Artist – Adult Contemporary; Favorite Social Artist SZA (2): Favorite Female Artist – Soul/R&B; Favorite Album – Soul/R&B Thomas Rhett (2): Favorite Male Artist – Country; Favorite Album – Country
XXXTENTACION (2): New Artist of the Year presented by Capital One Savor Card; Favorite Album – Soul/R&B
Zedd (2): Collaboration of the Year; Favorite Artist – Electronic Dance Music (EDM)
Ariana Grande (1): Favorite Social Artist
Beyoncé (1): Tour of the Year
“Black Panther: The Album, Music From And Inspired By” (1): Favorite Soundtrack
BTS (1): Favorite Social Artist
Carrie Underwood (1): Favorite Female Artist - Country
Daddy Yankee (1): Favorite Artist – Latin
Demi Lovato (1): Favorite Social Artist
Dua Lipa (1): New Artist of the Year presented by Capital One Savor Card
Grey (1): Collaboration of the Year
JAY-Z (1): Tour of the Year
J Balvin (1): Favorite Artist – Latin
Kelsea Ballerini (1): Favorite Female Artist – Country
LANCO (1): Favorite Duo or Group – Country
Lauren Daigle (1): Favorite Artist – Contemporary Inspirational
Lil Uzi Vert (1): Favorite Album – Rap/Hip-Hop Luke Bryan (1): Favorite Male Artist – Country Luke Combs (1): Favorite Album – Country Maroon 5 (1): Favorite Duo or Group – Pop/Rock
Marshmello (1): Favorite Artist – Electronic Dance Music (EDM) MercyMe (1): Favorite Artist – Contemporary Inspirational Migos (1): Favorite Duo or Group – Pop/Rock
Ozuna (1): Favorite Artist – Latin
Panic! At The Disco (1): Favorite Artist – Alternative Rock
P!NK (1): Favorite Artist – Adult Contemporary Portugal. The Man (1): Favorite Artist – Alternative Rock Rihanna (1): Favorite Female Artist – Soul/R&B
The Chainsmokers (1): Favorite Artist – Electronic Dance Music (EDM)
“The Fate of the Furious: The Album” (1): Favorite Soundtrack
“The Greatest Showman” (1): Favorite Soundtrack The Weeknd (1): Favorite Male Artist – Soul/R&B U2 (1): Tour of the Year
Zach Williams (1): Favorite Artist – Contemporary Inspirational
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About the American Music Awards
The American Music Awards, the world’s largest fan-voted award show, features performances from today’s hottest artists and presents fan-voted awards in the music genres of Pop/Rock, Alternative Rock, Country, Rap/Hip-Hop, Soul/R&B, Adult Contemporary, Contemporary Inspirational, Latin, EDM and Soundtrack, and the categories of Artist of the Year, New Artist of the Year presented by Capital One Savor Card, Collaboration of the Year, Tour of The Year and Favorite Music Video. The American Music Awards pays tribute to today’s most influential and iconic artists. The show is produced by dick clark productions and is seen in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. For more information, visit www.theamas.com, www.dickclark.com or abc.go.com/shows/american-music-awards.
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