2021 Billboard Music Awards finalists revealed

The Weeknd leads with 16 nods

Dick Clark Productions and NBC have announced the finalists for the 2021 Billboard Music Awards (BBMA), 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 23rd at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT on NBC.

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, including Anitta, FINNEAS, Luis Fonsi, Rob Gronkowski, Paris Hilton, Leslie Jordan, Tate McRae, and Jay Pharoah.

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 with 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.

Unique among awards shows, Billboard Music Awards (BBMA) finalists are determined by performance on the Billboard Charts, and are not chosen by a voting committee or membership organization. Therefore, Morgan Wallen is a finalist this year based on charting after his Dangerous: The Double Album made history many times over. However, he will not be included on the show in any capacity as his recent conduct doesn’t align with the “core values” of Dick Clark Productions or NBC.

“It is heartening and encouraging to hear that Morgan is taking steps in his anti-racist journey and starting to do some meaningful work. We plan to evaluate his progress and will consider his participation in future shows,” Dick Clark Productions shares in announcing the nominations.

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.

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

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”

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”

Buddy Iahn
Buddy Iahn

Buddy Iahn founded The Music Universe when he decided to juxtapose his love of web design and music. As a lifelong drummer, he decided to take a hiatus from playing music to report it. The website began as a fun project in 2013 to one of the top independent news sites. Email: info@themusicuniverse.com