Taylor Swift versus Adele. Justin Bieber versus Drake. These music powerhouses can only face off on Sunday, May 22nd at the Billboard Music Awards! The three-hour show is back and celebrating the biggest names in music.
Billboard Music Awards nominees are based on fan interactions with music, including album and digital songs sales, radio airplay, streaming, touring and social interactions on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Spotify and other popular online destinations for music.
So can Taylor Swift break her own records of most BMA wins? Will first time nominee The Weeknd take home gold? And will country crooner Sam Hunt breakout with his own wins?
Let’s make some predictions in the top categories…
TOP ARTIST:
Adele
Justin Bieber
Drake
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd
PREDICTION: Taylor Swift. Although Adele may have beat her in sales, Taylor is Queen of social media, touring and overall media coverage. You couldn’t turn on your TV or computer without some sort of T Swift headline. Whether it was a date night with her new beau Calvin Harris, which superstar shared the stage with her on her 1989 tour, her open letter to Apple or her new platinum locks, Tay Tay was everywhere!
TOP NEW ARTIST:
Fetty Wap
OMI
Charlie Puth
Silento
Bryson Tiller
PREDICTION: Charlie Puth, but possibly Fetty Wap. They both killed it in music this year and had quite the hit with “See You Again” and “Trap Queen.” I can’t decide between the two.
TOP MALE ARTIST:
Justin Bieber
Drake
Fetty Wap
Ed Sheeran
The Weeknd
PREDICTION: Justin Bieber. This album Purpose is very good. I admit, I sing the songs in my car.
TOP FEMALE ARTIST:
Adele
Selena Gomez
Ariana Grande
Rihanna
Taylor Swift
PREDICTION: Taylor Swift. Not only did she have one of the highest selling records, tours and top 100 songs, BUT she really did have an amazing year! New romance, taking down Apple, cover of Vogue, and of course best dance moves on a treadmill, there’s nothing T Swift can’t do.
TOP DUO/GROUP:
Maroon 5
One Direction
Twenty One Pilots
The Rolling Stones
U2
PREDICTION: One Direction. After losing Zayn, the band is still going strong and their legions of fans can attest to that!
TOP SOCIAL MEDIA ARTIST:
Justin Bieber
Selena Gomez
Ariana Grande
Demi Lovato
Taylor Swift
PREDICTION: Selena Gomez or Taylor Swift. By the numbers, Selena wins with 78.1 million Instagram followers versus Taylor’s 76.4. BUT who can beat Taylor’s Meredith and Olivia cat-tastic posts?! Although ex-bf Bieber may be the dark horse in all this since he does have 67.3 Million followers with plenty throwback Jelena posts (one now hold the record for most likes on Instagram) and his shirtless shots.
TOP TOURING ARTIST:
Madonna
One Direction
The Rolling Stones
Taylor Swift
U2
PREDICTION: Taylor Swift. Hands Down. It was the tour of the year, bringing some of the biggest stars to the stage and creating the hastag #squadgoals. With every city, Taylor surprised fans with another squad member! My personal highlight: when Lisa Kudrow joined the stage to make a Smelly Cat duet. Game. Set. Match.
TOP R&B ARTIST:
Chris Brown
Jeremih
Rihanna
Bryson Tiller
The Weeknd
PREDICTION: The Weeknd. I didn’t even buy his album but most of his songs became top hits so I feel like I know every song and every lyric.
TOP COUNTRY ARTIST:
Zac Brown Band
Luke Bryan
Sam Hunt
Chris Stapleton
Carrie Underwood
PREDICTION: Sam Hunt. He’s a first time nominee but has the most nominations of any country star this year. And while the Zac Brown Band has sold a lot, I think this is going to be Sam Hunt’s year. He’s the IT boy of country.
TOP BILLBOARD 200 ALBUM:
Adele “25”
Justin Bieber “Puprose”
Ed Sheeran “x”
Taylor Swift “1989”
The Weeknd “Beauty Behind the Madness”
PREDICTION: Adele “25”. With over 17 million copies sold and debuting at number one in over 25 makrkets, it’s Adele’s race to lose. However, Taylor Swtift’s “1989” has taken over the airwaves with multiple hits so if anyone can dethrone the UK singer it’s Tay Tay.
TOP HOT 100 SONG:
Adele “Hello”
Fetty Wap “Trap Queen”
Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth “See You Again”
The Weeknd “Can’t Feel My Face”
The Weeknd “The Hills”
PREDICTION: Adele “Hello”. Once again I’m going with the English superstar. I don’t think there’s anyone out there that doesn’t know that song. It dominated radio and downloads. And although The Weekend is nominated twice, neither of those songs reached the popularity of “Hello”. “See You Again” might have a chance to beat out Adele, since not only does it have the numbers but also the sentimentality of being about Paul Walker’s last ride in Fast and Furious.
