Drake breaks MJ’s record at the AMAs

Canadian singer, songwriter, actor and hip-hop star Drake is on a roll. Fact is, he just broke another record. He leads this year’s nominations at the American Music Awards (AMAs) with 13 nods, a few of them double calls in a single category and including the big plum, Artist of the Year. This is two nominations more than what Michael Jackson (MJ) got for himself and his historic album Thriller in 1984.

This makes the soft-spoken Drake the most nominated artist in a single year in the history of the AMAs. If he wins in any of them, it will be his very first American Music Award trophy. I guess this also means he can now look forward to a few Grammys next year for his album Views and several hit singles.

Recall that around July this year, Drake joined that very exclusive club of long staying at the top of Billboard’s Hot 100 artists. This is because his made for grooving single One Dance featuring Wizkid and Kyla remained at the No. 1 slot for 11 consecutive weeks. One Dance made it to 12 weeks and has since then sashayed back and forth to No. 1 and below but never leaving the Top 10.

At the same time, Views, the album that features One Dance, was No. 1 in the Top 200 Albums for several weeks and has also remained in the Top 10. Not only that, Views is one of only three albums that have already sold a million copies this year. The other two are 21 by Adele and Lemonade by Beyonce, both of whom also boast of AMA nominations.

Hot on Drake’s heels is Rihanna with seven nominations. She is followed by Adele and Justin Bieber with five each, Beyoncé and The Chainsmokers with four and three each for Bryson Tiller, twenty one pilots, Carrie Underwood, Fetty Wap and The Weeknd.

Here now is the complete list of nominations for the 2016 American Music Awards. The show will be broadcast live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Nov. 20 at 8 p.m., which means we will be getting it here on the morning of Nov. 21. That is if a local channel picks it up. Let’s hope one of them does. We cannot vote for our favorites but we really do enjoy watching the AMA show.

• Artist of the Year: Adele, Beyoncé, Justin Bieber, Drake, Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande, Rihanna, twenty one pilots, Carrie Underwood,  The Weeknd.

• New Artist of the Year (Unleashed by T-Mobile): Alessia Cara, The Chainsmokers, DNCE, Shawn Mendes, Zayn.

• Collaboration of the Year: The Chainsmokers feat. Daya, Don’t Let Me Down; Drake feat. Wizkid & Kyla, One Dance; Fifth Harmony feat. Ty Dolla $ign, Work From Home; Rihanna feat. Drake, Work; Meghan Trainor feat. John Legend, Like I’m Gonna Lose You.

• Tour of the Year: Beyoncé, Madonna, Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band.

• Video of the Year: Justin Bieber, Sorry; Desiigner, Panda; Rihanna feat. Drake, Work.

Favorite Pop/Rock

• Male Artist: Justin Bieber, Drake, The Weeknd.

• Female Artist: Adele; Selena Gomez; Rihanna.

• Duo or Group: The Chainsmokers; DNCE; twenty one pilots.

• Album: Adele, 25; Justin Bieber, Purpose; Drake, Views.

• Song: Adele, Hello; Justin Bieber, Love Yourself; Drake feat. Wizkid & Kyla, One Dance.

Favorite Country

• Male Artist: Luke Bryan; Thomas Rhett; Blake Shelton.

• Female Artist: Kelsea Ballerini; Cam; Carrie Underwood.

• Duo or Group: Florida Georgia Line; Old Dominion; Zac Brown Band.

• Album: Luke Bryan, Kill The Lights; Chris Stapleton, Traveller; Carrie Underwood, Storyteller.

• Song: Florida Georgia Line, H.O.L.Y.; Tim McGraw, Humble And Kind; Thomas Rhett, Die A Happy Man.

Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop

• Artist: Drake, Fetty Wap, Future.

• Album: Drake, Views; Drake & Future, What A Time To Be Alive; Fetty Wap, Fetty Wap.  Song:  Desiigner, Panda; Drake, Hotline Bling; Fetty Wap, 679.

Favorite Soul/R&B

• Male Artist: Chris Brown; Bryson Tiller; The Weeknd.

• Female Artist: Beyoncé, Janet Jackson, Rihanna.

• Album: Beyoncé, Lemonade; Rihanna, ANTI; Bryson Tiller, Don’t.

• Song: Drake feat. Wizkid & Kyla, One Dance; Rihanna feat. Drake, Work; Bryson Tiller, Don’t.

• Favorite Artist Alternative Rock: Coldplay; twenty one pilots; X Ambassadors.

• Favorite Artist Latin: J Balvin; Enrique Iglesias; Nicky Jam.

• Favorite Artist Contemporary Inspirational: Lauren Daigle; Hillsong United; Chris Tomlin.

• Favorite Artist Electronic Dance Music (EDM): The Chainsmokers; Calvin Harris; Major Lazer.

• Top Soundtrack: Purple Rain, Star Wars:  The Force Awakens, Suicide Squad: The Album.