Adele**, LMFAO**, Rihanna**, Lady Gaga** and Lil Wayne** lead the finalists for the 2012 Billboard Music Awards, which will take place at Las Vegas' MGM Grand and be broadcast live Sunday May 20, 8/7c on ABC.
Adele takes the lead as a finalist in 18 award categories, including Top Artist, Top Female Artist and Top Billboard 200 Artist. "Rolling In The Deep," the lead single from her blockbuster sophomore album "21," places the U.K. singer as a contender in seven song categories.
Meanwhile, LMFAO is a finalist in 17 award categories, although the electro-pop duo actually scored 22 entries compared to Adele's 20. LMFAO and Adele will square off in the Top Hot 100 Artist category, which also includes Bruno Mars, Katy Perry and Rihanna.
Speaking of Rihanna, the pop superstar is a finalist in 13 categories this year, after leading the pack with 18 category appearances in 2011. Lady Gaga and Lil Wayne each snagged a spot in 10 categories, and will both compete against Adele, Rihanna and Katy Perry for the prestigious Top Artist prize. And the Top New Artist category features a diverse collection of fresh talent, with Bad Meets Evil, Big Sean, Foster The People, Scotty McCreery and Wiz Khalifa serving as the 2012 finalists.
The awards will reflect Billboard's chart rankings based on key fan interactions with music, including album sales and downloads, track downloads, radio airplay and touring as well as streaming and social interactions on Facebook, Twitter, Vevo, Youtube, Spotify and other popular online destinations for music. These measurements are tracked year-round by Billboard and its data partners, including Nielsen Entertainment and Next Big Sound. The awards will be based on the reporting period of March 1, 2011 through February 29, 2012. Top artists will be recognized in a variety of genres, including R&B, Rap, Pop, Country, Rock, Latin and Alternative.
Music fans can also follow news about the show and related events on Twitter at @Billboard or on Facebook.
Tickets for the 2012 Billboard Music Awards are now on sale at Ticketmaster.com and MGMGrand.com. The 2012 Billboard Music Awards will be co-executive produced by Richard D. Beckman, CEO of Prometheus Global Media and Don Mischer Productions.
the full list of 2012 Billboard Music Awards finalists below:
ARTIST AWARDS:
Top Artist:
Adele**
Lady Gaga**
Lil Wayne**
Katy Perry**
Rihanna**
Top New Artist:
Bad Meets Evil**
Big Sean**
Foster the People**
Scotty McCreery**
Wiz Khalifa**
Top Male Artist:
Justin Bieber**
Chris Brown**
Drake**
Lil Wayne**
Bruno Mars**
Top Female Artist:
Adele**
Lady Gaga**
Nicki Minaj**
Katy Perry**
Rihanna**
Top Duo/Group:
The Black Eyed Peas**
Coldplay**
Lady Antebellum**
LMFAO**
Maroon 5**
Top Billboard 200 Artist:
Adele
Justin Bieber
Michael Buble
Lady Gaga
Lil Wayne
Top Hot 100 Artist:
Adele
LMFAO
Bruno Mars
Katy Perry
Rihanna
Top Digital Songs Artist:
Adele
LMFAO
Bruno Mars
Katy Perry
Rihanna
Top Radio Songs Artist:
Adele
Katy Perry
Bruno Mars
Nicki Minaj
Rihanna
Top Touring Artist:
Bon Jovi
Taylor Swift
Take That
U2
Roger Waters
Top Social Artist:
Justin Bieber
Eminem
Lady Gaga
Rihanna
Shakira
Top Streaming Artist:
Lil Wayne
LMFAO
Nicki Minaj
Bruno Mars
Rihanna
Top Digital Media Artist:
Adele
Justin Bieber
Lady Gaga
Lil Wayne
Rihanna
Top Pop Artist:
Adele
Lady Gaga
LMFAO
Katy Perry
Rihanna
Top R&B Artist:
Beyonce
Chris Brown
Cee Lo Green
Miguel
Rihanna
Top Rap Artist:
Drake
Lil Wayne
LMFAO
Nicki Minaj
Wiz Khalifa
Top Country Artist:
Jason Aldean
Zac Brown Band
Lady Antebellum
Blake Shelton
Taylor Swift
Top Rock Artist:
The Black Keys
Coldplay
Foster The People
Foo Fighters
Mumford & Sons
Top Alternative Artist:
The Black Keys
Coldplay
Foster The People
Foo Fighters
Mumford & Sons
Top Latin Artist:
Mana
Pitbull
Prince Royce
Romeo Santos
Shakira
Top Dance Artist:
David Guetta
Lady Gaga
LMFAO
Rihanna
Britney Spears
Top Christian Artist:
Casting Crowns
MercyMe
Skillet
Laura Story
Chris Tomlin
Next Page: Album Awards List**
ALBUM AWARDS:
Top Billboard 200 Album:
Adele "21"
Michael Buble "Christmas"
Drake "Take Care"
Lady Gaga "Born This Way"
Lil Wayne "Tha Carter IV"
Top Pop Album
Adele "19"
Adele "21"
Michael Buble "Christmas"
Lady Gaga "Born This Way"
Justin Bieber "Under The Mistletoe"
Top R&B Album
Beyonce "4"
Mary J. Blige "My Life II…The Journey Continues (Act 1)"
Chris Brown "F.A.M.E."
Jennifer Hudson "I Remember Me"
Rihanna "Talk That Talk"
Top Rap Album:
Bad Meets Evil "Hell: The Sequel"
Drake "Take Care"
Jay Z & Kanye West "Watch The Throne"
Lil Wayne "Tha Carter IV"
LMFAO "Sorry For Party Rocking"
Top Country Album:
Jason Aldean "My Kinda Party"
The Band Perry "The Band Perry"
Luke Bryan "Tailgates & Tanlines'
Lady Antebellum "We Own The Night"
Scotty McCreery "Clear As Day"
Top Rock Album:
Coldplay "Mylo Xyloto"
Foo Figthers "Wasting Light:
Foster The People "Torches"
Mumford & Sons "Sigh No More"
Nickelback "Here And Now"
Top Alternative Album:
Coldplay "Mylo Xyloto"
Foo Figthers "Wasting Light:
Foster The People "Torches"
Mumford & Sons "Sigh No More"
Nickelback "Here And Now"
Top Latin Album:
Camila "Dejarte De Amar"
Cristian Castro "Viva El Principe"
Mana "Drama Y Luz"
Prince Royce "Prince Royce"
Romeo Santos "Formula: Vol. 1"
Top Dance Album:
David Guetta "Nothing But The Beat"
Lady Gaga "Born This Way"
Lady Gaga "The Fame"
LMFAO "Sorry For Party Rocking"
Skrillex "Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites"
Top Christian Album:
Casting Crowns "Come To The Well"
Casting Crowns "Until The Whole World Hears"
Skillet "Awake"
Laura Story "Blessings"
Various Artists "Wow Hits 2012"
Next Page: Song Awards List**
SONG AWARDS:
Top Hot 100 Song:
Adele "Rolling in the Deep"
LMFAO Feat. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock "Party Rock Anthem"
Maroon 5 Featuring Christina Aguilera "Moves Like Jagger"
Katy Perry Feat. Kanye West "E.T."
Pitbull Feat. Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer "Give Me Everything"
Top Digital Song:
Adele "Rolling in the Deep"
LMFAO Feat. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock "Party Rock Anthem"
LMFAO "Sexy And I Know It"
Maroon 5 Featuring Christina Aguilera "Moves Like Jagger"
Katy Perry Feat. Kanye West "E.T."
Top Radio Song:
Adele "Rolling in the Deep"
LMFAO Feat. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock "Party Rock Anthem"
Maroon 5 Featuring Christina Aguilera "Moves Like Jagger"
Pitbull Feat. Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer "Give Me Everything"
Rihanna Feat. Calvin Harris "We Found Love"
Top Streaming Song (Audio):
Adele "Rolling in the Deep"
David Guetta Feat. Usher "Without You"
Lil Wayne "How To Love"
LMFAO Feat. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock "Party Rock Anthem"
Nicki Minaj "Super Bass
Top Streaming Song (Video):
Adele "Someone Like You"
LMFAO Feat. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock "Party Rock Anthem"
LMFAO "Sexy And I Know It"
Bruno Mars "The Lazy Song"
Nicki Minaj "Super Bass"
Top Pop Song:
Adele "Rolling in the Deep"
LMFAO Feat. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock "Party Rock Anthem"
LMFAO "Sexy And I Know It"
Maroon 5 Featuring Christina Aguilera "Moves Like Jagger"
Katy Perry Feat. Kanye West "E.T."
Top R&B Song:
Chris Brown "She Ain't You"
Cee Lo Green "Fk You (Forget You)
Jeremih Feat. 50 Cent "Down On Me"
Miguel "Sure Thing"
Kelly Rowland Feat. Lil Wayne "Motivation"
Top Rap Song:
Flo Rida "Good Feeling"
LMFAO Feat. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock "Party Rock Anthem"
LMFAO "Sexy And I Know It"
Nicki Minaj "Super Bass"
Pitbull Feat. Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer "Give Me Everything"
Top Country Song:
Jason Aldean "Dirt Road Anthem"
Luke Bryan "Country Girl (Shake It For Me)"
Eli Young Band "Crazy Girl"
Lady Antebellum "Just A Kiss"
Blake Shelton "Honey Bee"
Top Rock Song:
Adele "Rolling In The Deep"
Adele "Someone Like You"
Coldplay "Paradise"
Foo Fighters "Walk"
Foster The People "Pumped Up Kicks"
Top Alternative Song:
Adele "Rolling In The Deep"
AWOLNATION "Sail"
Coldplay "Paradise"
Foster The People "Pumped Up Kicks"
Mumford & Sons "The Cave"
Top Latin Song:
Don Omar & Lucenzo "Danza Kuduro"
Don Omar "Taboo"
Pitbull "Bon Bon"
Prince Royce "Corazon Sin Cara"
Romeo Santos Feat. Usher "Promise"
Top Dance Song:
Dev "In The Dark"
David Guetta Feat. Usher "Without You"
LMFAO Feat. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock "Party Rock Anthem"
LMFAO "Sexy And I Know It"
Britney Spears "Til The World Ends"
Top Christian Song:
Casting Crowns "Glorious Day (Living He Loved Me)"
Jamie Grace Feat. TobyMac "Hold Me"
Mandisa "Stronger"
Laura Story "Blessings"
Matthew West "Strong Enough"
