The Weeknd, Pop Smoke Among Winners At Billboard Music Awards

LOS ANGELES, CA — Pop Smoke, who was fatally shot at age 20 in the Hollywood Hills in February 2020, was named top new artist, top rap artist and top male rap artist at Sunday's Billboard Music Awards, while his "Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon" won top rap album.

The Weeknd carried a leading 16 nominations into the show and had already won seven awards by the time the off-air winners were announced Sunday morning. The Weeknd won top male artist, top radio songs artist, top R&B artist, top R&B male artist, top R&B album, top radio song and top R&B song.

The Weeknd made headlines earlier this year when -- despite being considered a heavy favorite -- he was completely ignored by the Recording Academy and received no Grammy nominations. But he's exacting some revenge with the Billboard Music Awards, which will be presented at the Microsoft Theater in downtown Los Angeles in a ceremony hosted by Nick Jonas.

The Weeknd's 16 nominations easily led all artists, with DaBaby a distant second with 11 nods, Pop Smoke with 10 and Gabby Barrett with nine.

The Weeknd and Pop Smoke were both nominated for top artist, along with Drake, Juice WRLD and Taylor Swift. The nomination for Juice WRLD is also posthumous. He died from a drug-related seizure at age 21 in December 2019.

The Weeknd, Pop Smoke, Juice WRLD, Drake and Lil Baby were all nominated for top male artist. Swift won for top female artist, beating out Billie Eilish, Ariana Grande, Dua Lipa and Megan Thee Stallion.

The awards are based on the chart period of March 21, 2020, through April 3, 2021. Nominees and winners are chosen "based on key fan interactions with music, including album and digital song sales, streaming, radio airplay and social engagement."

Country singer Morgan Wallen, who has been under fire and largely shunned by the music industry after being caught on camera using racial epithets, had multiple nominations in country categories and won for top country album, top country artist, top country male artist. The nominations prompted Dick Clark Productions, which sponsors the awards, to issue a statement noting the nominations were based on "charting."

"As his recent conduct does not align with our core values, we will not be including him on the show in any capacity -- performing, presenting, accepting," according to the company. "It is heartening and encouraging to hear that Morgan is taking steps in his anti-racist journey and starting to do some meaningful work. We plan to evaluate his progress and will consider his participation in future shows."

The Weeknd will be among those performing at the event, along with Pink, Alicia Keys, Bad Bunny, BTS, AJR, DJ Khaled with H.E.R. and Migos, Duran Duran, twenty one pilots, Glass Animals, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis with Sounds of Blackness and Ann Nesby, Karol G, Doja Kat and SZA.

Pink will also receive the "Icon Award," which honors artists "who have achieved excellence on the Billboard charts and have made an indelible mark on music itself." Drake will receive the "Artist of the Decade" award, which is based on "activity on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart and the Billboard 200 albums tally, as well as social media data and touring revenue from Billboard Boxscore" over the past decade. Rapper/activist Trae Tha Truth will receive the Billboard "Change Maker Award," which "honors the artist or group that speaks truth to power through their music, celebrity and community."

Here is a complete list of nominees, with winners noted:

Top Artist

• Drake
• Juice WRLD
• Pop Smoke
• Taylor Swift
• The Weeknd
• Top New Artist
• Gabby Barrett
• Doja Cat
• Jack Harlow
• Pop Smoke (winner)
• Rod Wave

Top Male Artist

• Drake
• Juice WRLD
• Lil Baby
• Pop Smoke
• The Weeknd (winner)

Top Female Artist

• Billie Eilish
• Ariana Grande
• Dua Lipa
• Megan Thee Stallion
• Taylor Swift (winner)

Top Duo/Group

• AC/DC
• AJR
• BTS (winner)
• Dan + Shay
• Maroon 5

Top Billboard 200 Artist

• Drake
• Juice WRLD
• Pop Smoke
• Post Malone
• Taylor Swift (winner)

Top Hot 100 Artist

• DaBaby
• Drake
• Dua Lipa
• Pop Smoke
• The Weeknd

Top Streaming Songs Artist

• DaBaby
• Drake (winner)
• Lil Baby
• Pop Smoke
• The Weeknd

Top Song Sales Artist

• Justin Bieber
• BTS (winner)
• Megan Thee Stallion
• Morgan Wallen
• The Weeknd

Top Radio Songs Artist

• Justin Bieber
• Lewis Capaldi
• Dua Lipa
• Harry Styles
• The Weeknd (winner)

Top Social Artist (Fan Voted)

• BLACKPINK
• BTS (winner)
• Ariana Grande
• SB19
• Seventeen

Top R&B Artist

• Jhene Aiko
• Justin Bieber
• Chris Brown
• Doja Cat
• The Weeknd (winner)

Top R&B Male Artist

• Justin Bieber
• Chris Brown
• The Weeknd (winner)

Top R&B Female Artist

• Jhene Aiko
• Doja Cat (winner)
• SZA

Top Rap Artist

• DaBaby
• Drake
• Juice WRLD
• Lil Baby
• Pop Smoke (winner)

Top Rap Male Artist

• Juice WRLD
• Lil Baby
• Pop Smoke (winner)
• Top Rap Female Artist
• Cardi B
• Megan Thee Stallion (winner)
• Saweetie

Top Country Artist

• Gabby Barrett
• Kane Brown
• Luke Combs
• Chris Stapleton
• Morgan Wallen (winner)

Top Country Male Artist

• Luke Combs
• Chris Stapleton
• Morgan Wallen (winner)

Top Country Female Artist

• Gabby Barrett
• Maren Morris
• Carrie Underwood
• Top Country Duo/Group
• Dan + Shay
• Florida Georgia Line (winner)
• Maddie & Tae

Top Rock Artist

• AC/DC
• AJR
• Five Finger Death Punch
• Machine Gun Kelly
• twenty-one pilots
• Top Latin Artist
• Anuel AA
• Bad Bunny
• J Balvin
• Maluma
• Ozuna

Top Latin Male Artist

• Bad Bunny (winner)
• J Balvin
• Ozuna

Top Latin Female Artist

• Becky G
• Karol G (winner)
• Rosalia

Top Latin Duo/Group

• Banda MS de Sergio Lizarraga
• Eslabon Armado
• Los Dos Carnales

Top Dance/Electronic Artist

• The Chainsmokers
• Kygo
• Lady Gaga (winner)
• Marshmello
• Surf Mesa

Top Christian Artist

• Casting Crowns
• Elevation Worship (winner)
• for KING & COUNTRY
• Carrie Underwood
• Zach Williams

Top Gospel Artist

• Kirk Franklin
• Koryn Hawthorne
• Tasha Cobbs Leonard
• Maverick City Music
• Kanye West (winner)

ALBUM AWARDS

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"

Top R&B Album

• Jhene Aiko, "Chilombo"
• Chris Brown & Young Thug, "Slime & B"
• Doja Cat, "Hot Pink"
• Kehlani, "It Was Good Until It Wasn't"
• The Weeknd, "After Hours" (winner)

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" (winner)

Top Country Album

• Gabby Barrett, "Goldmine"
• Sam Hunt, "SOUTHSIDE"
• Chris Stapleton, "Starting Over"
• Carrie Underwood, "My Gift"
• Morgan Wallen, "Dangerous: The Double Album" (winner)

Top Rock Album

• AC/DC, "Power Up"
• Miley Cyrus, "Plastic Hearts"
• Glass Animals, "Dreamland"
• Machine Gun Kelly, "Tickets to My Downfall" (winner)
• Bruce Springsteen, "Letter to You"

Top Latin Album

• Anuel AA, "Emmanuel"
• Bad Bunny, "El Ultimo Tour Del Mundo"
• Bad Bunny, "Las que no iban a salir"
• Bad Bunny, "YHLQMDLG" (winner)
• J Balvin, "Colores"

Top Dance/Electronic Album

• DJ Snake, "Carte Blanche"
• Gryffin, "Gravity"
• Kygo, "Golden Hour"
• Lady Gaga, "Chromatica" (winner)
• Kylie Minogue, "Disco"

Top Christian Album

• Bethel Music, "Peace"
• Elevation Worship, "Grave Into Gardens"
• Carrie Underwood, "My Gift" (winner)
• We The Kingdom, "Holy Water"
• Zach Williams, "Rescue Story"

Top Gospel Album

• Koryn Hawthorne, "I AM"
• Tasha Cobbs Leonard, "Royalty: Live at the Ryman"
• Maverick City Music, "Maverick City Vol. 3 Part 1" (winner)
• Maverick City Music, "Maverick City Vol. 3 Part 2"
• Kierra Sheard, "Kierra"

SONG AWARDS

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"

Top Streaming Song

• Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion, "WAP"
• DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch, "ROCKSTAR" (winner)
• Future ft. Drake, "Life Is Good"
• Jack Harlow ft. DaBaby, Tory Lanez, & Lil Wayne, "WHATS POPPIN"
• The Weeknd, "Blinding Lights"

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"

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" (winner)

Top Collaboration (Fan Voted)

• 24kGoldn ft. iann dior, "Mood"
• Gabby Barrett ft. Charlie Puth, "I Hope" (winner)
• Chris Brown & Young Thug, "Go Crazy"
• DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch, "ROCKSTAR"
• Jack Harlow ft. DaBaby, Tory Lanez, & Lil Wayne, "WHATS POPPIN"

Top R&B Song

• Jhene 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" (winner)

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"

Top Country Song

• Jason Aldean, "Got What I Got"
• Gabby Barrett, "I Hope" (winner)
• Lee Brice, "One of Them Girls"
• Morgan Wallen, "Chasin' You"
• Morgan Wallen, "More Than My Hometown"

Top Rock Song

• AJR, "Bang!" (winner)
• 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"

Top Latin Song

• Bad Bunny, "Yo Perreo Sola"
• Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez, "Dakiti" (winner)
• Black Eyed Peas & J Balvin, "RITMO (Bad Boys For Life)"
• Maluma & The Weeknd, "Hawai"
• Ozuna x Karol G x Myke Towers, "Caramelo"

Top Dance/Electronic Song

• Lady Gaga, "Stupid Love"
• Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande, "Rain on Me"
• SAINt JHN, "Roses (Imanbek Remix)" (winner)
• Surf Mesa ft. Emilee, "ily (i love you baby)"
• Topic & A7S, "Breaking Me"

Top Christian Song

• Elevation Worship ft. Brandon Lake, "Graves Into Gardens" (winner)
• 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"

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" (winner)

—City News Service