TORONTO — Canadian rapper Drake is up for five Billboard Music Awards, including Top Male Artist.
Finalists for the annual awards were announced Wednesday.
Lorde and Imagine Dragons lead with 12 nods apiece, followed by Justin Timberlake with 11, Katy Perry with 10 and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis with eight.
Drake is challenged in the Top Male Artist category by Timberlake, Bruno Mars, Luke Bryan and Eminem.
The Toronto native is also up for Top Billboard 200 Album and Top Rap Album (Nothing Was the Same), Top R&B Song (“Hold On, We’re Going Home”).
Drake is taking on Pitbull, Eminem, Jay Z and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis for Top Rap Artist.
Canadian pop star Justin Bieber has a single nomination — for Top Social Artist. He’s challenged by Miley Cyrus, One Direction, Rihanna and Taylor Swift.
Robin Thicke, who is half-Canadian, has several nominations including Top R&B Artist, R&B Album, R&B Song, Top 100 Song, Digital Song, Radio Song and Streaming Song.
The fan-voted Milestone Award will be presented to Imagine Dragons, John Legend, Luke Bryan, OneRepublic, Ellie Goulding or Carrie Underwood.
First-time nominees include Lorde, Avicii, Capital Cities, Zedd and Sidewalk Prophets.
The Billboard Music Awards will be handed out May 18 in Las Vegas.
Winners are determined based on album and singles sales, radio airplay, touring and social interactions online.
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