LOS ANGELES (CelebrityAccess) — Rap continues to dominate the music awards scene as Cardi B and Drake topped the list of nominees for the 2018 American Music Awards.
Tied for eight nominations each, the two rappers were ahead of Ed Sheeran and Post Malone, who each earned six nominations. Camila Cabello, nominated five times this year, could win her first AMA as a solo artist.
Drake, on the strength of his latest album “Scorpion,” which featured three No. 1 hits, is in the running for artist of the year alongside Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Imagine Dragons and Post Malone.
Cardi B picked up nominations for new artist of the year, favorite female artist, and favorite social artist but was snubbed in the favorite rap/hip-hop album over her album “Invasion of Privacy.”
The late rapper XXXTentacion picked up nods for new artist of the year and favorite soul/R&B album for his 2017 debut, “17.”
The nominees for the awards, which are billed as the “largest fan-voted awards show” are selected based on 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.
Hosted by Tracee Ellis Ross, the “2018 American Music Awards” will broadcast live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Tuesday, October 9 at 8:00pm ET on ABC.
“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”