The Weeknd leads Billboard Music Awards nominations

The Weeknd has been nominated for 19 Billboard Awards. The 'Hills' hitmaker leads the nominations, with nods in 16 categories, for the annual awards ceremony which will take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on May 22. He is up for awards including Top Artist, Top Male Artist, Top R&B Artist, Top Billboard 200 Album and Top R&B Album. The singer - whose real name is Abel Tesfaye - also has three tracks in the Top R&B song shortlist category and has been nominated twice for Top Hot 100 Song. Justin Bieber has been nominated 12 times in 11 categories, Drake and Fetty Wap have received 11 nods each in 10 categories, while Taylor Swift and Adele are both finalists for eight awards. David Bowie, who died in January, has received a posthumous nomination for his final album 'Blackstar'. He will compete against Coldplay's 'A Head Full Of Dreams', Mumford & Sons' 'Wilder Mind', Alabama Shakes' 'Sound & Colour' and twenty one pilots' 'Blurryface' for Top Rock Album. One Direction - who are currently on an indefinite hiatus - have received only two nods; Best Group/Duo and Best Touring Act, with their album 'Made in the AM', failing to pick up any nominations. Meanwhile, Ciara and Ludacris previously revealed they will co-host the 2016 Billboard Music Awards. Ludacris - whose real name is Christopher Bridges - said: "It is my honour to host the Billboard Music Awards for the third year and a pleasure to host with my good friend Ciara. "I'm looking forward to another great show in a new and exciting venue." Ciara - taking over from Chrissy Teigen, who presented with Ludacris last year - added: "The Billboard Music Awards is one of best awards shows to honour chart success. My great friend Ludacris and I have also shared songs together on the Billboard chart. I look forward to sharing the stage with him on this special night. It will definitely be a night to remember!" 2016 Billboard Music Awards Nominees Top Artist: Adele Justin Bieber Drake Taylor Swift The Weeknd Top New Artist: Fetty Wap OMI Charlie Puth Silentó Bryson Tiller Top Male Artist: Justin Bieber Drake Fetty Wap Ed Sheeran The Weeknd Top Female Artist: Adele Selena Gomez Ariana Grande Rihanna Taylor Swift Top Duo/Group: Maroon 5 One Direction twenty one pilots The Rolling Stones U2 Top Billboard 200 Artist: Adele Justin Bieber Drake Taylor Swift The Weeknd Top Hot 100 Artist: Justin Bieber Drake Fetty Wap Taylor Swift The Weeknd Top Song Sales Artist: Adele Justin Bieber Drake Fetty Wap The Weeknd Top Radio Songs Artist: Justin Bieber Ellie Goulding Ed Sheeran Taylor Swift The Weeknd Top Streaming Songs Artist: Justin Bieber Drake Fetty Wap Silentó The Weeknd Top Social Media Artist: Justin Bieber Selena Gomez Ariana Grande Demi Lovato Taylor Swift Top Touring Artist: Madonna One Direction The Rolling Stones Taylor Swift U2 Top R&B Artist: Chris Brown Jeremih Rihanna Bryson Tiller The Weeknd Top Rap Artist: Drake Fetty Wap Future Wiz Khalifa Silentó Top Country Artist: Zac Brown Band Luke Bryan Sam Hunt Chris Stapleton Carrie Underwood Top Rock Artist: Fall Out Boy Elle King twenty one pilots Walk the Moon X Ambassadors Top Latin Artist: Banda Sinaloense MS De Sergio Lizárraga Juan Gabriel Nicky Jam Ariel Camacho y Los Plebes del Rancho Romeo Santos Top Dance/Electronic Artist: The Chainsmokers DJ Snake David Guetta Major Lazer Zedd Top Christian Artist: Casting Crowns Lauren Daigle Hillsong United MercyMe Chris Tomlin Top Gospel Artist: Anthony Brown and group therAPy Tasha Cobbs Kirk Franklin Travis Greene Marvin Sapp Top Billboard 200 Album: Adele, '25' Justin Bieber, 'Purpose' Ed Sheeran, 'x' Taylor Swift, '1989' The Weeknd, 'Beauty Behind The Madness' Top Soundtrack: 'Empire: Original Soundtrack from Season 1' 'Fifty Shades of Grey' 'Furious 7' 'Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix Vol. 1' 'Pitch Perfect 2' Top R&B Album: Chris Brown, 'Royalty' Rihanna, 'Anti' Bryson Tiller, 'T R A P S O U L' Tyrese, 'Black Rose' The Weeknd, 'Beauty Behind The Madness' Top Rap Album: Drake, 'If You're Reading This It's Too Late' Drake & Future, 'What A Time To Be Alive' Dr. Dre, 'Compton' Kendrick Lamar, 'To Pimp A Butterfly' Meek Mill, 'Dreams Worth More Than Money' Top Country Album: Chris Stapleton, 'Traveller' Luke Bryan, 'Kill The Lights' Sam Hunt, 'Montevallo' Zac Brown Band, 'Jekyll + Hyde' Carrie Underwood, 'Storyteller' Top Rock Album: Alabama Shakes, 'Sound & Color' David Bowie, 'Blackstar' Coldplay, 'A Head Full Of Dreams' Mumford & Sons, 'Wilder Mind' twenty one pilots, 'Blurryface' Top Latin Album: Juan Gabriel, 'Los Dúo' Juan Gabriel, 'Mis Número 1...40 Aniversario' Mana, 'Cama Incendiada' Gerardo Ortiz, 'Hoy Más Fuerte' Romeo Santos, 'Formula, Vol. 2' Top Dance/Electronic Album: David Guetta, 'Listen' Major Lazer, 'Peace Is The Mission' ODESZA, 'In Return' Skrillex & Diplo, 'Skrillex and Diplo Present Jack Ü' Zedd, 'True Colors' Top Christian Album: Lauren Daigle, 'How Can It Be' Hillsong UNITED, 'Empires' Joey + Rory, 'Hymns That Are Important To Us' TobyMac, 'This Is Not A Test' Chris Tomlin, Adore: 'Christmas Songs of Worship' Top Gospel Album: Anthony Brown & group therAPy, 'Everyday Jesus' Tasha Cobbs, 'One Place Live' Kirk Franklin, 'Losing My Religion' Jonathan McReynolds, 'Life Music: Stage Two' Marvin Sapp, 'You Shall Live' 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' Top Selling Song: Adele, 'Hello' Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth, 'See You Again' OMI, 'Cheerleader' Rachel Platten, 'Fight Song' The Weeknd, 'The Hills' Top Radio Song: Adele 'Hello' Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth, 'See You Again' Mark Ronson Featuring Bruno Mars, 'Uptown Funk!' Walk the Moon, 'Shut Up And Dance' The Weeknd, 'Can't Feel My Face' Top Streaming Song (Audio): Justin Bieber, 'Sorry' Justin Bieber, 'What Do You Mean' Fetty Wap, 'Trap Queen' The Weeknd, 'The Hills' Drake, 'Hotline Bling' Top Streaming Song (Video): Fetty Wap, 'Trap Queen' Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth, 'See You Again' Mark Ronson Featuring Bruno Mars, 'Uptown Funk!' Silentó, 'Watch Me' The Weeknd, 'The Hills' Top R&B Song: Alessia Cara 'Here' Omarion Featuring Chris Brown & Jhene Aiko, 'Post To Be' The Weeknd, 'Can't Feel My Face' The Weeknd, 'Earned It (Fifty Shades of Grey)' The Weeknd, 'The Hills' Top Rap Song: Drake, 'Hotline Bling' Fetty Wap, 'Trap Queen' Fetty Wap, '679' feat. Remy Boyz Silentó, 'Watch Me' Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth, 'See You Again' Top Country Song: Sam Hunt, 'Break Up In A Small Town' Sam Hunt, 'Take Your Time' Little Big Town, 'Girl Crush' Thomas Rhett, 'Die A Happy Man' Chris Young, 'I'm Comin' Over' Top Rock Song: Fall Out Boy, 'Uma Thurman' Elle King, 'Ex's & Oh's' twenty one pilots, 'Stressed Out' Walk the Moon, 'Shut Up And Dance' X Ambassadors, 'Renegades' Top Latin Song: J Balvin 'Ginza' Ariel Camacho y Los Plebes del Rancho, 'Te Metiste' Nicky Jam & Enrique Iglesias, 'El Perdon' Maluma, 'Borro Cassette' Romeo Santos, 'Propuesta Indecente' Top Dance/Electronic Song: The Chainsmokers Featuring ROZES, 'Roses' DJ Snake & AlunaGeorge, 'You Know You Like It' David Guetta feat. Nicki Minaj, Bebe Rexha & Afrojack, 'Hey Mama' Major Lazer & DJ Snake Featuring MØ, 'Lean On' Skrillex & Diplo, 'Where Are Ü Now' with Justin Bieber Top Christian Song: Hillsong UNITED, 'Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)' Hillsong UNITED, 'Touch The Sky' MercyMe, 'Flawless' NEEDTOBREATHE Featuring Gavin DeGraw, 'Brother' Chris Tomlin, 'Good Good Father' Top Gospel Song: Anthony Brown and group therAPy, 'Worth' Erica Campbell feat. Big Shizz, 'I Luh God' Kirk Franklin, 'Wanna Be Happy?' Travis Greene, 'Intentional' Brian Courtney Wilson, 'Worth Fighting For'