Hip-hop stars Cardi B and Drake led the 2018 American Music Awards nominations Wednesday, setting the stage to potentially win eight awards apiece.
Cardi B, whose inescapable hit "Bodak Yellow" has made her a ubiquitous star this year, is a first-time AMA nominee. She is up for honors in the following categories: new artist, collaboration, music video, pop/rock female artist, rap/hip-hop artist, rap/hip-hop song, soul/R&B song and social artist.
The new artist of the year nominees are Cardi B, Camila Cabello, Khalid, Dua Lipa and a posthumous nod for rapper XXXTentacion, who died in June.
Drake is joined by Imagine Dragons, Post Malone, Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift in the category of artist of the year _ the AMA's top honor.
He's also up for awards in the music video, male pop/rock artist, pop/rock album, pop/rock song, rap/hip-hop artist, rap/hip-hop album and rap/hip-hop song categories.
Sheeran and Malone each earned six nominations, and Fifth Harmony alum Cabello, who is up for five AMAs, could win her first as a solo artist.
The music genres in contention include pop/rock, country, rap/hip-hop, soul/R&B, alternative rock, adult contemporary, Latin, contemporary inspirational and EDM.
The ceremony also doles out awards for collaboration, music video, tour of the year and film soundtrack. (See the list of nominees below.)
Meanwhile, Swift is poised to break a few records herself. The "Delicate" singer could surpass Whitney Houston's record for most AMA wins by a female artist (21) if she clinches three of the four awards she's nominated for.
She could also break her own record for the most wins in the artist of the year category if she wins that award for the fourth time, organizers said in a statement.
Nominees are selected based on key fan interactions as reflected on Billboard.com, including streaming, album and digital song sales; radio airplay; social activity; and touring. The measurements are tracked by Billboard and its data partners, including Nielsen Music and Next Big Sound, for the period between Sept. 15, 2017, and Aug. 9, 2018, organizers said.
Fans vote for the winners and began doing so on Wednesday in all categories except for the new artist, social artist and collaboration categories. Voting in those categories will open Sept. 24.
The 2018 American Music Awards will broadcast live on ABC from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Oct. 9.
Tracee Ellis Ross, star of TV's "black-ish," will host the festivities.
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Drake
Imagine Dragons
Post Malone
Ed Sheeran
Taylor Swift
NEW ARTIST
Camila Cabello
Cardi B
Khalid
Dua Lipa
XXXTENTACION
MUSIC VIDEO
Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug, "Havana"
Cardi B, "Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)"
Drake, "God's Plan"
