Drake up for 8 Billboard Music Awards as Zach Bryan, Taylor Swift top finalists
Brock Wilson | CBC News | Posted: November 25, 2024 5:56 PM | Last Updated: November 25
Bryan leads all artists with 21 entries, followed by Swift, who has 17
Canadian rapper Drake and Taylor Swift will vie for the chance to be the Billboard Music Awards' most decorated artist of all time.
The finalists for the awards were announced Monday, with country artist Zach Bryan's 21 entries across 18 categories leading the pack, followed by Swift's 17 entries across 16 categories. Drake is up for eight awards.
Heading into this year's BBMAs, Taylor Swift and Drake are tied for the most wins of all time, with 39 trophies each.
The performers are also tied for the most top artist wins with three. They're both nominated for top artist again this year — along with Bryan, Sabrina Carpenter and Morgan Wallen.
Wallen has 15 entries in 13 categories, while Carpenter is in fourth place in terms of most mentions this year, with nine.
Multiple Canadians up for awards
In addition to top artist, Drake is also up for top male artist, Top 200 Billboard artist, Top 200 Billboard album, top rap artist, top rap male artist, top rap album and top R&B song.
Other Canadians up for awards include The Weeknd and Tate McRae. The Weeknd is up for four awards: top Billboard Global 200 artist and top Billboard global (excluding U.S.) artist, top R&B artist and top male R&B artist.
McRae is up for three awards: top radio song, top Billboard Global 200 song and top Billboard global (excluding U.S.) song, all for her hit Greedy.
New awards, familiar broadcaster
Three new awards were added this year: top hard rock album, top hard rock artist, and top hard rock song. HARDY is up for each of the three categories, while Falling in Reverse and Linkin Park are represented in two of them.
After delivering a streaming-only event last year, the awards will return to Fox for the first time since 2006. The BBMAs were previously televised on Fox from 1990 to 2006.
The show will also be available to stream on Paramount+, while fans using Amazon devices can tune in through their free Fire TV Channels app.
Comedian and actress Michelle Buteau will host this year's event, which airs on Thursday, Dec. 12.