Billboard Music Awards Nominees Announced
The 2016 Billboard Music Awards nominees have been revealed, and Taylor Swift sweeps the categories with eight! She's up for Top Artist, Top Female Artist, Top Billboard 200 Artist, Top Billboard 100 Artist, Top Radio Songs Artists, Top Social Media Artist, Top Touring Artist and Top Billboard 200 Album.
Additionally, Sam Hunt is nominated in each of the three country music categories including Top Country Artist, Top Country Song for "Break Up in a Small Town" and "Take Your Time," as well as Top Country Album for Montevallo. Joey + Rory are also up for a Billboard Music Award, nominated in the category of Top Christian Album for Hymns That Are Important to Us.
Ludacris and Ciara will host the 2016 Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas on May 22. According to Billboard, the Billboard Music Awards finalists are based on "key fan interactions with music." This includes album and digital song sales, radio airplay, streaming, touring and social interactions on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Spotify and other online destinations for music.
"These measurements are tracked year-round by Billboard and its data partners, including Nielsen Music and Next Big Sound," Billboard reports. Meanwhile, the awards are based on tracking dates March 23, 2015 through March 17, 2016 and Billboard chart dates April 11, 2015 through April 2, 2016.
2016 Billboard Music Awards Nominees (Country):
Top Country Artist
Zac Brown Band
Luke Bryan
Sam Hunt
Chris Stapleton
Carrie Underwood
Top Country Album
Chris Stapleton, Traveller
Luke Bryan, Kill the Lights
Sam Hunt, Montevallo
Zac Brown Band, Jekyll + Hyde
Carrie Underwood, Storyteller
Top Country Song
Sam Hunt, “Break Up in a Small Town”
Sam Hunt, “Take Your Time”
Little Big Town, “Girl Crush”
Thomas Rhett, “Die a Happy Man”
Chris Young, “I’m Comin’ Over"
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