Ed Sheeran, Kendrick Lamar and Bruno Mars lead Billboard Music Award nominations

Ed Sheeran, Kendrick Lamar and Bruno Mars lead the nominations for the 2018 Billboard Music Awards with 15 nods each.
All three are up for Best Artist and will compete with Drake, who has a total of nine nominations, and Taylor Swift, who has five.
U2’s live performances were rewarded with nods for Top Touring Artist and Top Rock Tour. They’re up against Guns N’ Roses, who toured the world with a reunited line-up of singer Axl Rose, guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan.

Ed Sheeran has also been nominated for Top Male Artist, Top Touring Artist and Top Hot 100 Artist. He faces stiff competition for all of these awards from Bruno Mars, who won in all six of his categories at the Grammy Awards in January.
Fresh from becoming the first non-jazz or classical artist to be awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Music for his album DAMN., Kendrick Lamar’s fourth studio album is in the running for Top Selling Album, Top Rap Album and Top Billboard 200 Album.
Beyonce has not made the list of nominees for Top Female Artist, which will be contested by Camila Cabello, Cardi B, Halsey, Demi Lovato and Swift. Queen Bey does face a showdown with SZA and Rihanna for Top R&B Artist.

Linkin Park received a nomination for Best Rock Artist following the death of singer Chester Bennington last July. Meanwhile, 68-year-old singer Lionel Richie proved his staying power with a nomination in the category for Top R&B Tour.
The ceremony for the 2018 Billboard Music Awards will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday May 20.
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