News: Adele, Rihanna, Chris Brown, Bruno Mars Lead Billboard Music Award Nominees

Njai Joszor 4/20/2012 9:27:47 AM

Nominations have been announced for this year's Billboard Music Awards.

Adele, Rihanna, Bruno Mars and Chris Brown are among those with leading nominations in categories including Top Hot 100 Artist, Top R&B Artist and Top Male Artist. R&B talents including Miguel and Cee Lo Green are also nominated.

Adele takes the lead 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 as well.

Rihanna has a total of 13 nominations this year, after leading last year's awards with a total of 18 nods.

Chris Brown picked up two nominations including Top R&B Artist. He shares that category with Beyonce, Cee Lo Green, Miguel, and Rihanna.

Bruno Mars is also a leading nominee with five nominations, including Top Streaming Artist, Top Male Artist and Top Hot 100 Artist.

Billboard Music Award nominations are 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. They are based on a reporting period of March 1, 2011 through February 29, 2012.

The 2012 Billboard Music Awards will air live from Las Vegas' MGM Grand Sunday, May 20 at 8/7c on ABC.

See a complete list of nominees below.

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!
Ni cki 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:
Dav! id Guett a
Lady Gaga
LMFAO
Rihanna
Britney Spears

Top Christian Artist:
Casting Crowns
MercyMe
Skillet
Laura Story
Chris Tomlin