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Everything you need to know about the 2021 Billboard Music Awards

d=”attachment_60819357″ align=”alignnone” width=”728″]The Weeknd at Bumbershoot 2015 Photo By: Kayla Johnson The Weeknd at Bumbershoot 2015[F/caption]

Last Thursday, dick clark productions and NBC announced the 2021 Billboard Music Awards (BBMA) finalists honoring the most successful artists across 51 different categories and all music genres.

When are the Billboard Music Awards?

The Billboard Music Awards will broadcast live from the Microsoft Theater in L.A. on Sunday, May 23 at 8 p.m. ET, 5 p.m. PT exclusively on NBC.

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2021 BBMA Finalists – Highlights

The finalist list was announced by Access Hollywood’s Zuri Hall and comedian LaLa Milan. You can watch a replay of the announcement here.

The Weeknd is a finalist in a whopping 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 is a finalist for Top Billboard 200 Album and Top R&B Album, with the hit single “Blinding Lights” a finalist in 5 categories.

DaBaby is a finalist in 11 categories, including Top Hot 100 Artist, Top Rap Artist, and Top Rap Album. He is also a multi-finalist in the Top Streaming Song category for “Rockstar” and “What’s Poppin.” 

Both Pop Smoke and Juice WRLD received multiple posthumous honors, which is the first time in 10 years that 2 out of the top 10 finalists are receiving posthumous recognition. Pop Smoke is a finalist in 10 categories including for his album Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon while Juice WRLD is a finalist in 7 categories including Top Rap Album for Legends Never Die.

Body-ody-ody rapper Megan Thee Stallion is a finalist in 7 categories including Top Female Artist and Top Rap Female Artist. She could receive her first-ever BBMA this year!

2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists – Full List

Without further ado, here’s the full list of 2021 Billboard Music Awards finalists:

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2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: Top Artist 

Drake

Juice WRLD

Pop Smoke

Taylor Swift

The Weeknd

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2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: Top New Artist 

Gabby Barrett

Doja Cat

Jack Harlow

Pop Smoke

Rod Wave

2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: Top Male Artist 

Drake

Juice WRLD

Lil Baby

Pop Smoke

The Weeknd

2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: Top Female Artist 

Billie Eilish

Ariana Grande

Dua Lipa

Megan Thee Stallion

Taylor Swift

2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: Top Duo/Group

AC/DC

AJR

BTS

Dan + Shay

Maroon 5

2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: Top Billboard 200 Artist

Drake

Juice WRLD

Pop Smoke

Post Malone

Taylor Swift

2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: Top Billboard 100 Artist 

DaBaby

Drake

Dua Lipa

Pop Smoke

The Weeknd

2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: Top Streaming Songs Artist

DaBaby

Drake

Lil Baby

Pop Smoke

The Weeknd

2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: Top Song Sales Artist

Justin Bieber

BTS

Megan Thee Stallion

Morgan Wallen

The Weeknd

2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: Top Radio Songs Artist

Justin Bieber

Lewis Capaldi

Dua Lipa

Harry Styles

The Weeknd

2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: Top Social Artist (Fan-Voted)

BLACKPINK

BTS

Ariana Grande

SB19

Seventeen

2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: Top R&B Artist

Jhené Aiko

Justin Bieber

Chris Brown

Doja Cat

The Weeknd

2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: Top R&B Male Artist

Justin Bieber

Chris Brown

The Weeknd

2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: Top R&B Female Artist

Jhené Aiko

Doja Cat

SZA

2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: Top Rap Artist

DaBaby

Drake

Juice WRLD

Lil Baby

Pop Smoke

2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: Top Rap Male Artist

Juice WRLD

Lil Baby

Pop Smoke

2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: Top Rap Female Artist

Cardi B

Megan Thee Stallion

Saweetie

2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: Top Country Artist

Gabby Barrett

Kane Brown

Luke Combs

Chris Stapleton

Morgan Wallen

2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: Top Country Male Artist

Luke Combs

Chris Stapleton

Morgan Wallen

2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: Top Country Female Artist

Gabby Barrett

Maren Morris

Carrie Underwood

2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: Top Country Duo/Group

Dan + Shay

Florida Georgia Line

Maddie & Tae

2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: Top Rock Artist

AC/DC

AJR

Five Finger Death Punch

Machine Gun Kelly

twenty one pilots

2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: Top Latin Artist

Anuel AA

Bad Bunny

J Balvin

Maluma

Ozuna

2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: Top Latin Male Artist

Bad Bunny

J Balvin

Ozuna

2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: Top Latin Female Artist

Becky G

Karol G

Rosalía

2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: Top Latin Duo/Group

Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga

Eslabón Armado

Los Dos Carnales

2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: Top Dance/Electronic Artist

The Chainsmokers

Kygo

Lady Gaga

Marshmello

Surf Mesa

2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: Top Christian Artist

Casting Crowns

Elevation Worship

for KING & COUNTRY

Carrie Underwood

Zach Williams

2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: Top Gospel Artist

Kirk Franklin

Koryn Hawthorne

Tasha Cobbs Leonard

Maverick City Music

Kanye West

2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: 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

2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: 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

2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: 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

2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: Top Country Album

Gabby Barrett, Goldmine

Sam Hunt, Southside

Chris Stapleton, Starting Over

Carrie Underwood, My Gift

Morgan Wallen, Dangerous: The Double Album

2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: 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

2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: 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

2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: Top Dance/Electronic Album

DJ Snake, Carte Blanche

Gryffin, Gravity

Kygo, Golden Hour

Lady Gaga, Chromatica

Kylie Minogue, Disco

2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: Top Christian Album

Bethel Music, Peace

Elevation Worship, Grave Into Gardens

Carrie Underwood, My Gift

We The Kingdom, Holy Water

Zach Williams, Rescue Story

2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: 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

2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: 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”

2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: 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”

2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: 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”

2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: 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”

2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: 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”

2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: 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”

2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: 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”

2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: 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”

2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: 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”

2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: 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”

2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: 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”

2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: 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”

2021 Billboard Music Awards Finalists: 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”

Are any of your favorite artists missing from this list? Let us know on Twitter.

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