LOS ANGELES – Puerto Rican rapper and singer Bad Bunny has picked up the most nominations for this year’s American Music Awards (AMAs), leading rapper Drake and pop superstars Beyonce and Taylor Swift on the list of contenders unveiled on Thursday the 13th. october.
Bad Bunny has received a total of eight AMA nominations and will compete for Entertainer of the Year against British singers Adele and Harry Styles and Canadian musician The Weeknd.
Drake, Beyonce and Swift are also up for Entertainer of the Year and have received six nominations each.
Nominations are based on performance on the Billboard music charts, streaming and album sales, radio airplay, and social media engagement.
The winners will be determined by fan votes and will be announced at a ceremony in Los Angeles on November 20. The event will be broadcast live on the Walt Disney Co.’s ABC network.
Other Bad Bunny nods included Favorite Male Pop Artist, Favorite Music Video, and Favorite Touring Artist. The singer set a record this year for the highest-grossing tour by a Latin artist in history.
His album Un Verano Sin Ti just topped the Billboard charts for a 13th week.
If Bad Bunny wins all eight awards for which he is eligible, he will tie 1980s superstars Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston for the most AMA wins in a single year.
Organizers added a category for favorite K-pop artist this year. The contenders are BTS, Blackpink, Seventeen, Tomorrow x Together and Twice.
First-time AMA nominees included rapper Jack Harlow, K-pop group Blackpink and Scandinavian DJ group Swedish House Mafia.
In the country music categories, Chris Stapleton, Luke Combs and Morgan Wallen are among the nominees for Favorite Male Country Artist. Carrie Underwood, Maren Morris and Miranda Lambert will compete for Favorite Female Country Artist.
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