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“AS A FINALIST IN SEVEN CATEGORIES THIS YEAR, DRAKE COULD BREAK HIS OWN RECORD FOR MOST WINS OF ALL TIME (27)”

 
“TAYLOR SWIFT COULD TIE WITH DRAKE FOR MOST WINS OF ALL TIME (27) SHOULD SHE WIN IN ALL HER CATEGORIES”

 
“IF THE WEEKND OR JUSTIN BIEBER SWEEP IN ALL OF THEIR CATEGORIES, THEY COULD SURPASS TAYLOR SWIFT AND TAKE THE #2 SPOT FOR MOST WINS OF ALL TIME”

 
“FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A DECADE, TWO OF THE TOP 10 FINALISTS RECEIVED POSTHUMOUS HONORS - POP SMOKE (10) AND JUICE WRLD (7)”

 
“THE WEEKND COULD BREAK DRAKE’S RECORD FOR MOST WINS IN A SINGLE NIGHT”

 
“GABBY BARRETT IS A FIRST-TIME FINALIST AND THE FEMALE ARTIST WITH THE MOST NODS THIS YEAR (9)”

 
“DABABY, MEGAN THEE STALLION, LIL BABY, DOJA CAT and DUA LIPA COULD ALL WIN THEIR FIRST-EVER BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARD”

“BAD BUNNY IS THE FIRST LATIN ARTIST TO BECOME A FINALIST THREE TIMES IN THE SAME CATEGORY”

“BTS COULD WIN THEIR 5TH CONSECUTIVE AWARD IN THE TOP SOCIAL ARTIST CATEGORY”

 

ALL-TIME RECORD HOLDERS BY CATEGORY:
 
TOP ARTIST
50 Cent, Adele, Drake, Garth Brooks, Destiny’s Child, Taylor Swift and Usher are tied for the most wins in this category with 2 wins. Both Drake and Taylor Swift are finalists in this category again this year, giving them both the chance to have the most wins in this category should either of them take home the trophy.
 
TOP MALE ARTIST
Justin Bieber and Drake are tied for most wins (2) in this category after Drake took home his second trophy in 2019. He is a finalist again this year, giving him the chance to surpass Bieber.
 
TOP FEMALE ARTIST
Taylor Swift leads with 3 wins in this category. Taylor is up for the award again this year and will become the most decorated Top Female Artist with 4 wins in this category should she take home the trophy. Ariana Grande took home her first Top Female Artist trophy in 2019 and is a finalist again this year, along with Billie Eilish, who took home the trophy in 2020. If either of them win, they would tie with Adele with 2 awards in this category.
 
TOP DUO OR GROUP
One Direction holds the record for most wins in this category (3), followed by Imagine Dragons (2). BTS won this category for the first time in 2019 and they are finalists again this year. They would tie with Imagine Dragons with 2 wins for Top Duo or Group should they win. Dan + Shay, Maroon 5, AC/DC and AJR are also finalists this year and could be first-time winners in this category should any take home the trophy. 
 
TOP R&B ARTIST
R. Kelly has the most wins (4) for Top R&B Artist. He won the category in 1994, 1996, 1999 and 2001. Usher follows with 3 wins in 1998, 2004 and most recently in 2011. This year, Jhené Aiko, Justin Bieber, Chris Brown, Doja Cat and The Weeknd are finalists in this category.
 
TOP RAP ARTIST
Drake took home this award in 2016, 2017, and leads for most wins in this category with 3, after his 2019 win. Eminem and protégé 50 Cent are tied in this category with 2 wins each. Eminem won Top Rap Artist in 2011 and 2014, while 50 Cent won the award twice, years before his mentor, in 2003 and 2005. This year, Drake is up for the award again and could take home his 4th trophy in this category should he win. It could be the first win in this category for finalists DaBaby, Juice WRLD, Lil Baby and Pop Smoke.
 
TOP COUNTRY ARTIST
Garth Brooks has won this award three times in 1991, 1993 and 1998. Luke Combs became a first time Top Country Artist winner after taking home the trophy in 2019, and then again in 2020. He is a finalist again this year, giving him the chance to tie with Brooks for most wins in this category.
 
TOP ROCK ARTIST
twenty one pilots and Imagine Dragons were tied for the most wins with 2 each, but the latter became the record holder for most wins in this category after their 2019 win. This year, twenty one pilots have the chance to tie again should they win. AC/DC, AJR, Five Finger Death Punch and Machine Gun Kelly are also up for the award this year.
 
TOP LATIN ARTIST
Ozuna and Romeo Santos are currently tied with 2 wins each. Romeo Santos previously won Top Latin Artist back-to-back in 2015 and 2016. Ozuna took home the award for Top Latin Artist in 2018 and again in 2019. He is a finalist again this year, after having lost to Bad Bunny in 2020, and could claim the record for most wins in this category should he win.
 
TOP CHRISTIAN ARTIST
Lauren Daigle is currently the Top Christian Artist with the most wins of all time with 3 in this category after taking home the trophy in 2020. Up for the award this year are Casting Crowns, Elevation Worship, for KING & COUNTRY, Carrie Underwood and Zach Williams.
 
TOP GOSPEL ARTIST
Kirk Franklin and Tasha Cobbs Leonard are tied with 2 wins each in this category. Franklin won in 2016 and 2017, while Cobbs Leonard won in 2018 and 2019. Kanye West became a first time winner in this category in 2020. Franklin, Cobbs Leonard and West are all finalists again this year, giving West the chance to tie for most wins of all time. They are up against Koryn Hawthorne and Maverick City Music.
 
TOP DANCE/ELECTRONIC ARTIST
The Chainsmokers held on to their record for most wins in this category. The duo took home their fourth award and broke their own record after their 2020 win. They are finalists again this year and could win a fifth trophy. Other finalists in this category are Kygo, Lady Gaga, Marshmello and Surf Mesa.
 
 
TOP BBMA WINNERS OF ALL TIME (1990–2020):
 
1. Drake – 27 wins total; Top Rap Artist (2016); Top Artist (2017); Top Billboard 200 Artist (2017); Top Billboard 200 Album (2017); Top Rap Artist (2017); Top Male Artist (2017); Top Rap Album (2017); Top Hot 100 Artist (2017); Top Song Sales Artist (2017); Top Streaming Songs Artist (2017); Top Rap Tour (2017); Top Streaming Song [Audio] (2017); Top R&B Song (2017), Top R&B Collaboration (2017); Top Billboard 200 Artist (2018), Top Artist (2019), Top Male Artist (2019), Top Billboard 200 Artist (2019), Top Hot 100 Artist (2019), Top Streaming Songs Artist (2019), Top Song Sales Artist (2019), Top Radio Songs Artist (2019), Top Rap Artist (2019), Top Rap Male Artist (2019), Top Billboard 200 Album (2019), Top Rap Album (2019), Top Streaming Song (Video) (2019)
 
2. Taylor Swift – 23 wins total; Top Billboard 200 Artist (2011); Top Country Artist (2011); Top Country Album (2011); Woman of the Year (2012); Top Artist (2013); Top Female Artist (2013); Top Billboard 200 Artist (2013); Top Digital Songs Artist (2013); Top Country Artist (2013); Top Billboard 200 Album (2013); Top Country Album (2013); Top Country Song (2013); Top Artist (2015); Top Female Artist (2015); Top Billboard 200 Artist (2015); Top Hot 100 Artist (2015); Top Digital Songs Artist (2015); Top Billboard 200 Album (2015); Top Streaming Song [Video] (2015); Billboard Chart Achievement Award (2015); Top Touring Artist (2016); Top Female Artist (2018); Top Selling Album (2018)
 
3. Justin Bieber – 21 wins total; Top New Artist (2011); Top Social Artist (2011); Top Streaming Artist (2011); Top Digital Artist (2011); Top Pop Album (2011); Top Streaming Song, [Video] (2011); Billboard.com Fan Favorite Award (2011); Top Social Artist (2012); Milestone Award (2013); Top Male Artist (2013); Top Social Artist (2013); Top Social Artist (2014); Top Social Artist (2015); Top Male Artist (2016); Top Social Media Artist (2016); Top Hot 100 Song (2018); Top Streaming Song [Video] (2018); Top Selling Song (2018); Top Collaboration (2018); Top Latin Song (2018); Top Country Song (2020)
 
4. Garth Brooks – 20 wins total; #1 Albums Artist (1991); #1 Country Album (1991); #1 Country Singles Artists (1991); #1 Country Artist (1991); #1 Country Albums Artist (1991); # 1 Pop Artist (1992); #1 Country Artist (1993); #1 Pop Artist (1993); #1 Country Singles Artist (1993); #1 Country Albums Artist (1993); Country Album of the Year (1995); Artist Achievement Award (1997); Country Artist of the Year (1998); Country Album of the Year (1998); Male Album of the Year (1998); Male Albums Artist of the Year (1998); Country Singles Artist of the Year (1998); Country Albums Artist of the Year (1998); Male Artist of the Decade (1999); ICON Award (2020)
 
5. Adele – 18 wins total; Top Billboard 200 Album (2012); Top Pop Album (2012); Top Artist (2012); Top Female Artist (2012); Top Billboard 200 Artist (2012); Top Hot 100 Artist (2012); Top Digital Songs Artist (2012); Top Radio Songs Artist (2012); Top Digital Media Artist (2012); Top Pop Artist (2012); Top Streaming Song [Audio] (2012); Top Alternative Song (2012); Top Pop Album (2013); Top Artist (2016); Top Female Artist (2016); Top Billboard 200 Artist (2016); Top Billboard 200 Album (2016); Top Selling Song (2016)
 
Usher – 18 wins total; Artist of the Year (1998); R&B Artist of the Year (1998); Hot 100 Singles Artist of the Year (1998); Artist of the Year (2004); R&B/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year (2004); Hot 100 Artist of the Year (2004); Hot 100 Single of the Year (2004); Mainstream Top 40 Artist of the Year (2004); Mainstream Top 40 Single of the Year (2004); Billboard 200 Album of the Year (2004); R&B/Hip-Hop Album of the Year (2004); R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Artist of the Year (2004); Billboard 200 Artist of the Year (2004); Hot 100 Airplay Single of the Year (2004); Rap Song of the Year (2005); Top R&B Artist (2011); Top R&B Song (2011); Top R&B Album (2011)
 
6. Whitney Houston – 16 wins total; #1 R&B Singles Artist (1991); #1 R&B Albums Artist (1991); #1 R&B Artist (1991); #1 R&B Album (1991); #1 Hot 100 Singles Artist (1993); #1 Hot 100 Single (1993); Single With Most Weeks at #1 (1993); #1 R&B Single (1993); #1 R&B Singles Artist (1993); #1 R&B Album (1993); #1 World Artist (1993); #1 World Single (1993); #1 Album (1993); #1 Soundtrack Album (1993); #1 Album With Most Weeks at No. 1 (1993); Billboard Millennium Award (2012)
 
7. Mariah Carey – 15 wins total; #1 Hot 100 Singles Artist (1991); #1 Album (1991); #1 Adult Contemporary Artist (1991); #1 Pop Artist (1991); #1 Female Artist (1994); Special Hot 100 Singles Award - Most Weeks at No. 1 on The Billboard Hot 100 (1996); Hot 100 Singles Artist of the Year (1996); Special Billboard Hot 100 Award for the most No.1s ever by a female artist (1998); Female Artist of the Decade (1999); Hot 100 Song of the Year (2005); Hot 100 Airplay of the Year (2005); Female R&B/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year (2005); Female Billboard 200 Album Artist of the Year (2005); Rhythmic Top 40 Title of the Year (2005), ICON Award (2019)
 
8. Beyoncé – 13 wins total; Hot 100 Female Artist of the Year (2003); New R&B Artist of the Year (2003); New Female Artist of the Year (2003); Special Hot 100 Award for Most Weeks at No. 1 (2003); Billboard Millennium Award (2011); Top R&B Album (2012); Top Female Artist (2017); Top Touring Artist (2017); Top R&B Artist (2017); Top R&B Tour (2017); Top R&B Album (2017), Top R&B Tour (2019), Top Rap Tour (2019)
 
9. R. Kelly – 12 wins total; #1 R&B Artist (1994); R&B Artist of the Year (1996); R&B Artist of the Year (1999); R&B/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year (2001); R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Artist of the Year (2001); R&B/Hip-Hop Album of the Year (2001); R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Artist of the Year (2001); R&B/Hip-Hop Single of the Year (2001); Hot 100 Producer of the Year (2003); R&B Producer of the Year (2003); Hot 100 Songwriter of the Year (2003); R&B Songwriter of the Year (2003)
 
Rihanna – 12 wins total; Female Artist of the Year (2006); Female Hot 100 Artist of the Year (2006); Pop 100 Artist of the Year (2006); Top Female Artist (2011); Top Radio Songs Artist (2011); Top Rap Song (2011); Top Streaming Artist (2012); Top Radio Songs Artist (2013); Top R&B Artist (2013); Top R&B Album (2013); Top R&B Song (2013); Billboard Chart Achievement Award (2016)
 
10. Janet Jackson – 11 wins total; #1 Hot 100 Singles Artist (1990); #1 R&B Artist (1990); #1 R&B Singles Artist (1990); #1 R&B Albums Artist (1990); #1 Dance Club Play Artist (1990); #1 Hot Dance 12-inch Singles Sales Artist (1990); #1 R&B Album (1990); #1 Pop Album (1990); Artist Achievement Award (1995); Artist Achievement Award (2001); ICON Award (2018)
 
Carrie Underwood – 11 wins total; Country Single Sales Artist of the Year (2005), Top-Selling Country Single of the Year (2005), Top-Selling Hot 100 Song of the Year (2005), Album of the Year (2006), Country Album of the Year (2006), Female Billboard 200 Albums Artist of the Year (2006), Female Country Artist of the Year (2006), New Country Artist of the Year (2006), Milestone Award (2014), Top Christian Song (2015), Top Country Female Artist (2019)
 
11. 50 Cent – 10 wins total; Artist of the Year (2003); R&B Artist of the Year (2003); Rap Artist of the Year (2003); Ringtone of the Year (2004); Album of the Year (2005); Artist of the Year (2005); Hot 100 Artist of the Year (2005); R&B/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year (2005), Rap Artist of the Year (2005); Ringtone of the Year (2005);
 
Destiny’s Child – 10 wins total; Artist of the Year (2000); Duo/Group of the Year (2000); Hot 100 Singles Artist of the Year (2000); Hot 100 Singles Duo or Group of the Year (2000); Artist of the Year (2001); Artist of the Year - Duo/Group (2001); Hot 100 Singles Artist of the Year (2001); Soundtrack Single of the Year (2001); Artist Achievement Award (2004); R&B/Hip-Hop Group of the Year (2005)
 
Eminem – 10 wins total; Album of the Year (2002); R&B/Hip-Hop Album of the Year (2002); Top Artist (2011); Top Billboard 200 Album (2011); Top Male Artist (2011); Top Rap Album (2011); Top Rap Artist (2011); Top Rap Song (2011); Top Rap Album (2014); Top Rap Artist (2014)
 
Mary J. Blige – 10 wins total; R&B Album of the Year (1995); Female R&B/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year (2006); Hot 100 Airplay Song of the Year (2006); R&B Albums Artist of the Year (2006); R&B/Hip-Hop Album of the Year (2006); R&B/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year (2006); R&B/Hip-Hop Song Airplay of the Year (2006); R&B/Hip-Hop Song of the Year (2006); R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Artist of the Year (2006); Videoclip of the Year (2006)