Taylor Swift, the renowned artist, is leading the nominations for the highly anticipated 2023 Billboard Music Awards. Scheduled for November 19th, the event will see Swift competing in an impressive 20 categories. As the top female recipient in Billboard Music Awards history, with a staggering 29 wins, Swift has the chance to surpass Drake and become the overall leader. Drake, who has won 34 BBMAs, is also a finalist for 14 more awards this year. Additionally, Swift has the opportunity to break Drake’s record for the most wins in one night, as Drake received 13 awards at the 2017 show.
Following closely behind Swift are Morgan Wallen and SZA, who each have 17 nominations. The Weeknd comes in next with 16, followed by Drake and Zach Bryan with 14. Luke Combs has 10 nominations, while 21 Savage, Metro Boomin, and Miley Cyrus each have nine. Beyoncé and Rema have seven, while Bad Bunny and Peso Pluma have six. Ariana Grande, David Guetta, Eslabon Armado, Karol G, NewJeans, and Selena Gomez round out the list with five nominations each.
This year’s Billboard Music Awards will showcase a fresh and innovative awards show concept, aiming to captivate fans with music performances and exclusive content. This content will include behind-the-scenes moments, winner celebrations, and performances from some of the biggest artists in the world. In an unprecedented collaboration, the BBMAs and Spotify ‘Fans First’ will provide fans with up-close-and-personal experiences with their favorite artists. The BBMAs and Billboard social channels, as well as BBMAs.watch, will feature performances and award announcements throughout the evening.
The names of the performers at the 2023 BBMAs will be gradually revealed on the BBMAs social channels, beginning on November 6th. Among the finalists, Zach Bryan stands out as the leading first-time BBMA finalist. Other first-time finalists include Bailey Zimmerman, Coi Leray, Fifty Fifty, Fuerza Regida, Grupo Frontera, Jelly Roll, Ice Spice, Metro Boomin, NewJeans, Peso Pluma, and Oliver Anthony Music. This year, nine new awards have been introduced, including four in the burgeoning K-pop field and two in the popular Afrobeats genre.
Numerous award shows have recently started to incorporate categories recognizing African music, with Wizkid winning the inaugural favorite Afrobeats artist award at the American Music Awards in November 2022. “Calm Down” by Rema & Selena Gomez also won the first-ever best Afrobeats award at last month’s MTV Video Awards. The nominees for the first-ever Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance will be announced on November 10th.
In addition to the new categories, the BBMAs are introducing awards for top Hot 100 songwriter, top Hot 100 producer, and top rock duo/group. Last year, there were two rock categories: top rock artist and top rock tour. Country, rock, and Latin are the only genres with a category for top duos/groups. As a result, country and Latin have seven categories, one more than R&B and rap, which have six each. Rock follows with five categories, while K-pop has four. Dance/electronic, Christian, and gospel each have three categories, and Afrobeats has two.
Among the finalists for the upcoming 2023 BBMAs are several all-time winners, including the late Whitney Houston, who is a finalist for top gospel album. Houston, who has received 16 BBMAs throughout her career, is only surpassed by Taylor Swift and Adele among female artists. The Weeknd, who has amassed an impressive 20 BBMAs, has 16 nominations this year. Beyoncé, who has received 13 BBMAs, is a finalist in seven categories. Bad Bunny leads the Latin artists with 10 BBMAs and six nominations this year. Kanye West, with 17 BBMAs to his name, has one nomination this year, while Rihanna, who has received 12 BBMAs, has two. Elton John, an enduring presence in the music industry, is a finalist in two categories this year.
What sets the Billboard Music Awards apart is its unique approach to determining winners. The recipients are chosen based on performance metrics from the year-end Billboard charts, the authoritative measure of success in the music industry. The eligibility dates for this year’s awards align with Billboard’s year-end charts tracking period, which covers consumption from November 19, 2022, to October 21, 2023.
The 2023 Billboard Music Awards is produced by Dick Clark Productions and is presented by Marriott Bonvoy, Marriott’s renowned travel program and marketplace. As part of a special collaboration, one performance and two acceptance speeches will take place at exceptional hotel brands within the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio. Additionally, a select group of fans will have the opportunity to attend five BBMAs performances through Marriott Bonvoy Moments. Further surprises include Lexus, which will be treating a lucky fan to an exclusive VIP experience and a private luxury ride to the iconic performance. Fans can stay updated on the BBMAs by following them on various social media platforms and can also visit the official website for the latest news and updates.
With anticipation building, the complete list of 2023 Billboard Music Awards finalists has been unveiled. The awards cover a wide range of categories, showcasing the talent and accomplishments of artists from various genres. A few new categories have been added this year, reflecting the evolving music landscape and recognizing exceptional performers in K-pop, Afrobeats, and other genres. The stage is set for an unforgettable evening celebrating the best in music.
