NEW YORK — Rap has easily dominated the pop charts and on streaming services in the last few years, and that’s reflected at the 2018 American Music Awards.

Drake and Cardi B are the leading nominees with eight each. The AMAs will air live Oct. 9 from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

Drake, with the top-selling album “Scorpion” and three No. 1 hits, will compete for artist of the year alongside Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Imagine Dragons and Post Malone.

Rapper-singer XXXTentacion, a streaming juggernaut before his death in June and afterward, earned nominations for new artist of the year and favourite soul/R&B album for his 2017 debut, “17.”

Cardi B’s “Invasion of Privacy” was surprisingly shut of the favourite rap/hip-hop album category, where nominees include Drake, Malone and Lil Uzi Vert.

Mesfin Fekadu, The Associated Press


Artist of the Year

Drake

Imagine Dragons

Post Malone

Ed Sheeran

Taylor Swift

 

 

New Artist of the Year

Camila Cabello

Cardi B

Khalid

Dua Lipa

XXXTentacion

 

 

Collaboration of the Year

Camila Cabello “Havana (feat. Young Thug)”

Post Malone, “Rock Star (feat. 21 Savage)”

Bruno Mars and Cardi B, “Finesse”

Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line, “Meant to Be”

Zedd, Maren Morris and Grey, “The Middle”

Ed Sheeran, DivideAsylum Records/Atlantic Records.

 

Favorite Music Video

Camila Cabello “Havana (feat. Young Thug)”

Cardi B, “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)”

Drake, “God’s Plan”

 

 

Tour of the Year

Beyoncé and Jay-Z

Bruno Mars

Ed Sheeran

Taylor Swift

U2

 

 

Favorite Soundtrack

Black Panther

The Greatest Showman

The Fate of the Furious

 

 

Favorite Male Artist – Pop/Rock

Drake

Post Malone

Ed Sheeran

 

 

Favorite Female Artist – Pop/Rock

Camila Cabello

Cardi B

Taylor Swift

Drake, ScorpionInstagram

 

 

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 “Havana (feat. Young Thug)”

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 and Florida Georgia Line, “Meant to Be”

 

 

Favorite Artist – Rap/Hip-Hop

Cardi B

Drake

Post Malone

 

 

Favorite Album – Rap/Hip-Hop

Drake, Scorpio

Lil Uzi Ver, 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, “Rock Star (feat. 21 Savage)”

 

 

Favorite Male Artist – Soul/R&B

Khalid

Bruno Mars

The Weeknd

 

 

Favorite Female Artist – Soul/R&B

Ella Mai

Rihanna

SZA

Bruno Mars, 24K MagicAtlantic Records

 

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 and Cardi B, “Finesse”

 

 

Favorite Artist – Alternative Rock

Imagine Dragons

Panic! at the Disco

Portugal. The Man

 

 

Favorite Artist – Adult Contemporary

Shawn Mendes

Pink

Ed Sheeran

 

 

Favorite Artist – Latin

J Balvin

Daddy Yankee

Ozuna

 

 

Favorite Artist – Contemporary Inspirational

Lauren Daigle

MercyMe

Zach Williams

 

 

Favorite Artist – Electronic Dance Music

The Chainsmokers

Marshmello

Zedd

 

 

Favorite Social Artist

BTS

Cardi B

Ariana Grande

Demi Lovato

Shawn Mendes

Filed under: 2018, AMA's, Cardi B, Drake, nominations