Billboard Music Awards 2016: What Time Does It Start? Who’s Performing?
The 2016 Billboard Music Awards take place this Sunday and the show promises performances galore –with the lineup including Kesha who was recently brought back into the fold, Madonna, Rihanna, Britney Spears and many others – a bevy of awards, and some timely tributes. It also looks like viewers may want to have some tissues handy. Marco Bracco, the executive producer of the telecast, told Billboard that “the show is going to be filled with a lot of emotion.”
As for how artists become finalists in the award categories, the magazine reports that “Billboard Music Awards finalists are determined based on album and digital song sales, radio airplay, streaming, touring and social interactions.” The awards are based on the reporting period of March 23, 2015 through March 17, 2016 and are tracked by Billboard and its data partners.
Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s Billboard Music Awards, including where and when to tune in, who will perform, who’s nominated and more details.
What time are the Billboard Music Awards?
The 24th annual edition of the Billboard Music Awards telecast airs on ABC, and for the first time it will be broadcast live across U.S. time zones from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, beginning at 8 p.m. ET.
Who’s hosting?
Ludacris returns for his third year in a row hosting the show. Ciara will cohost the telecast.
Who’s presenting?
Presenters include Jessica Alba, Kristen Bell, 2016 Miss America winner Betty Cantrell, Lauren Cohan, Kathryn Hahn, Wiz Khalifa, Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher, Idina Menzel, Keke Palmer, Rebecca Romijn, Serayah, Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, Lindsey Vonn and Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz.
Who’s performing?
Justin Bieber, DNCE, Shawn Mendes, Fifth Harmony with Ty Dolla $ign, The Go-Go’s, Ariana Grande, Troye Sivan, Meghan Trainer, Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani, Nick Jonas featuring Tove Lo, Rihanna and Demi Lovato are all on the bill.
There are some special sets planned as well. Britney Spears, who will be the recipient of the Billboard Millennium Award, opens the show with a medley. Madonna will pay tribute to Prince, though the details have been kept under wraps. Celine Dion, who will receive the Icon Award, will perform on TV for the first time since she lost her husband René Angélil and her brother Daniel Dion both to cancer in January. Dion is slated to sing Queen’s “The Show Must Go On.” Meanwhile, Pink has apparently been rehearsing a secret performance of “Just Like Fire,” for several days, according to Bracco. “She has done incredible award performances – she has flown through the air, there have been acrobatics and fire – but it’s all going to come together in this performance,” he said.
Adele will also debut the music video for “Send My Love (to Your New Lover)” during the telecast.
Who’s nominated?
Top Artist
Adele
Justin Bieber
Drake
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd
Top New Artist
Fetty Wap
OMI
Charlie Puth
Silentó
Bryson Tiller
Top Male Artist
Justin Bieber
Drake
Fetty Wap
Ed Sheeran
The Weeknd
Top Female Artist
Adele
Selena Gomez
Ariana Grande
Rihanna
Taylor Swift
Top Duo/Group
Maroon 5
One Direction
Twenty One Pilots
The Rolling Stones
U2
Top Billboard 200 Artist
Adele
Justin Bieber
Drake
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd
Top Hot 100 Artist
Justin Bieber
Drake
Fetty Wap
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd
Top Song Sales Artist
Adele
Justin Bieber
Drake
Fetty Wap
The Weeknd
Top Radio Songs Artist
Justin Bieber
Ellie Goulding
Ed Sheeran
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd
Top Streaming Songs Artist
Justin Bieber
Drake
Fetty Wap
Silentó
The Weeknd
Top Social Media Artist
Justin Bieber
Selena Gomez
Ariana Grande
Demi Lovato
Taylor Swift
Top Touring Artist
Madonna
One Direction
The Rolling Stones
Taylor Swift
U2
Top R&B Artist
Chris Brown
Jeremih
Rihanna
Bryson Tiller
The Weeknd
Top Rap Artist
Drake
Fetty Wap
Future
Wiz Khalifa
Silentó
Top Country Artist
Zac Brown Band
Luke Bryan
Sam Hunt
Chris Stapleton
Carrie Underwood
Top Rock Artist
Fall Out Boy
Ellie King
Twenty One Pilots
Walk the Moon
X Ambassadors
Top Latin Artist
Banda Sinaloense MS De Sergio Lizárraga
Juan Gabriel
Nicky Jam
Ariel Camacho y Los Plebes del Rancho
Romeo Santos
Top Dance/Electronic Artist
The Chainsmokers
DJ Snake
David Guetta
Major Lazer
Zedd
Top Christian Artist
Casting Crowns
Lauren Daigle
Hillsong United
MercyMe
Chris Tomlin
Top Gospel Artist
Anthony Brown and Group Therapy
Tasha Cobbs
Kirk Franklin
Travis Greene
Marvin Sapp
Top Billboard 200 Album
Adele, 25
Justin Bieber, Purpose
Ed Sheeran, x
Taylor Swift, 1989
The Weeknd, Beauty Behind the Madness
Top Soundtrack
Empire: Original Soundtrack From Season 1
Fifty Shades of Grey
Furious 7
Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix Vol. 1
Pitch Perfect 2
Top R&B Album
Chris Brown, Royalty
Rihanna, Anti
Bryson Tiller, T R A P S O U L
Tyrese, Black Rose
The Weeknd, Beauty Behind the Madness
Top Rap Album
Drake, If You’re Reading This it’s too Late
Drake & Future, What a Time to be Alive
Dr. Dre, Compton
Kendrick Lamar, To Pimp a Butterfly
Meek Mills, Dreams Worth More Than Money
Top Country Album
Chris Stapleton, Traveller
Luke Bryan, Kill the Lights
Sam Hunt, Montevallo
Zac Brown Band, Jekyll + Hyde
Carrie Underwood, Storyteller
Top Rock Album
Alabama Shakes, Sound & Color
David Bowie, Blackstar
Coldplay, A Head Full of Dreams
Mumford & Sons, Wilder Mind
Twenty One Pilots, Blurryface
Top Latin Album
Juan Gabriel, Los Dúo
Juan Gabriel, Mis Número 1…40 AniversarioI
Maná, Cama Incendiada
Gerardo Ortiz, Hoy Mas Fuerte
Romeo Santos, Formula, Vol. 2
Top Dance/Electronic Album
David Guetta, Listen
Major Lazer, Peace is the Mission
Odesza, In Return
Skrillex & Diplo, Skrillex and Diplo Present Jack U
Zedd, True Colors
Top Christian Album
Lauren Daigle, How Can it Be
Hillsong United, Empires
Joey + Rory, Hymns that are Important to Us
TobyMac, This is Not a Test
Chris Tomlin, Adore: Christmas Songs of Worship
Top Gospel Album
Anthony Brown & Group Therapy, Everyday Jesus
Tasha Cobbs, One Place Live
Kirk Franklin, Losing my Religion
Jonathan McReynolds, Life Music: Stage Two
Marvin Sapp, You Shall Live
Top 100 Song
Adele “Hello”
Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth “See You Again”
OMI “Cheerleader”
Rachel Platten “Fight Song”
The Weeknd “The Hills”
Top 100 Song
Adele “Hello”
Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth “See You Again”
Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars “Uptown Funk!”
Walk the Moon “Shut Up and Dance”
The Weeknd “Can’t Feel My Face”
Top Streaming Song (Audio)
Justin Bieber “Sorry”
Justin Bieber “What Do You Mean”
Fetty Wap “Trap Queen”
The Weeknd “The Hills”
Drake “Hotline Bling”
Top Streaming Song (Video)
Fetty Wap “Trap Queen”
Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth “See You Again”
Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars “Uptown Funk!”
Silentó “Watch Me”
The Weeknd “The Hills”
Top R&B Song
Alessia Cara “Here”
Omarion ft. Chris Brown and Jhené Aiko “Post to Be”
The Weeknd “Can’t Feel My Face”
The Weeknd “Earned It (Fifty Shades of Grey)”
The Weeknd “The Hills”
Top Rap Song
Drake “Hotline Bling”
Fetty Wap “Trap Queen”
Fetty Wap “679” ft. Remy Boyz
Silentó “Watch Me”
Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth “See You Again”
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’ve Comin’ Over”
Top Rock Song
Fall Out Boy “Uma Thurman”
Ellie King “Ex’s & Oh’s”
Twenty One Pilots “Stressed Out”
Walk the Moon “Shut Up and Dance”
X Ambassadors “Renegades”
Top Latin Song
J Balvin “Ginza”
Ariel Camacho y Los Plebes del Rancho “Te Metiste”
Nicky Jam & Enrique Iglesias ” El Perdon”
Maluma “Borro Cassette”
Romeo Santos “Propuesta Indecente”
Top Dance/Electronic Song
The Chainsmokers ft. Rozes “Roses”
DJ Snake & AlunaGeorge “You Know You Like It”
David Guetta ft. Nicki Minaj, Bebe Rexha & Afrojack “Hey Mamma”
Major Lazer & DJ Snake ft. MØ “Lean On”
Skrillex & Diplo “Where Are Ü Now” with Justin Bieber
Top Christian Song
Hillsong United “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)”
Hillsong United “Touch the Sky”
MercyMe “Flawless”
Needtobreathe ft. Gavin DeGraw “Brother”
Chris Tomlin “Good Good Father”
Top Gospel Song
Anthony Brown and Group Therapy “Worth”
Erica Campbell ft. Big Shizz “I luh God”
Kirk Franklin “Wanna Be Happy?”
Travis Greene “Intentional”
Brian Courtney Wilson “Worth Fighting For”