The walls between genres are coming down. You can make a good case that no artist better exemplified that trend in the past year than Drake. The Canadian style-shifter is a finalist in three distinct genres in the 2023 Billboard Music Awards – rap, dance/electronic and R&B. (He is also a finalist in such categories as Top Hot 100 Artist and Top Billboard 200 Artist, which measure performance on those all-genre charts, but those aren’t genre-specific categories).
While Drake is this year’s only artist who is a finalist in three distinct genres, 10 other artists are finalists in two distinct genres. These range from music legend Elton John, who really should get an award just for continuing to set records 53 years after his U.S. breakthrough, to a new arrival, Coi Leray, who just may wind up with a Grammy nomination for best new artist on Nov. 10. Elton was nominated in that category back in the day, as was Drake.
The finalists for this year’s BBMAs were revealed on Thursday (Oct. 26). If you missed the announcement, Taylor Swift is the top finalist, with 20 entries. Morgan Wallen and SZA are runners-up, with 17 entries each; followed by The Weeknd (16); Drake and Zach Bryan (14); Luke Combs (10); 21 Savage, Metro Boomin and Miley Cyrus (nine each); and Beyoncé and Rema (seven each).
The eligibility dates for this year’s awards are aligned with Billboard’s year-end charts tracking period, which measures music consumption from the charts dated Nov. 19, 2022 through Oct. 21, 2023. Performances and awards will roll out across the BBMAs and Billboard social channels, as well as via BBMAs.watch on Sunday, Nov. 19.
Here’s a full list of artists who are 2023 BBMA finalists in multiple genres. Note: This shows only their nominations in genre-specific categories, not in categories that are open to all genres.
Beyoncé
R&B: Top R&B Artist, Top R&B Female Artist, Top R&B Touring Artist, Top R&B Album (RENAISSANCE)
Dance/Electronic: Top Dance/Electronic Artist, Top Dance/Electronic Album (RENAISSANCE)
Drake
Rap: Top Rap Artist, Top Rap Male Artist, Top Rap Touring Artist, Top Rap Album (Her Loss, collab with 21 Savage), Top Rap Song (“Rich Flex,” collab with 21 Savage),
Dance/Electronic: Top Dance/Electronic Artist, Top Dance/Electronic Album (Honestly, Nevermind)
R&B: Top R&B Album (Honestly, Nevermind)
21 Savage
Rap: Top Rap Artist, Top Rap Male Artist, Top Rap Album (Her Loss, collab with Drake), Top Rap Song (“Rich Flex,” collab with Drake)
R&B: Top R&B Song (“Creepin,’” collab with Metro Boomin and The Weeknd)
Zach Bryan
Country: Top Country Artist, Top Country Male Artist, Top Country Album (American Heartbreak), Top Country Song (“Something in the Orange”)
Rock: Top Rock Artist, Top Rock Album (American Heartbreak), Top Rock Song (“Something in the Orange” and “I Remember Everything,” collab with Kacey Musgraves
Shakira
Latin: Top Latin Female Artist, Top Latin Song (“TQG,” collab with Karol G)
Dance/Electronic: Top Dance/Electronic Song (“Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53,” collab with Bizarrap)
Elton John
Rock: Top Rock Touring Artist
Dance/Electronic: Top Dance/Electronic Song (“Hold Me Closer,” collab with Britney Spears)
Metro Boomin
Rap: Top Rap Artist, Top Rap Album (HEROES & VILLAINS)
R&B: Top R&B Song (“Creepin,’” collab with 21 Savage and The Weeknd)
Coi Leray
Dance/Electronic: Top Dance/Electronic Song (“Baby Don’t Hurt Me,” collab with David Guetta & Anne-Marie)
Rap: Top Rap Song (“Players”)
Steve Lacy
Rock: Top Rock Artist, Top Rock Album (Gemini Rights), Top Rock Song (“Bad Habit”)
R&B: Top R&B Album (Gemini Rights)
Elevation Worship
Christian: Top Christian Artist, Top Christian Album (LION)
Gospel: Top Gospel Artist, Top Gospel Song (“More Than Able” featuring Chandler Moore & Tiffany Hudson)
Brandon Lake
Christian: Top Christian Artist, Top Christian Album (House of Miracles), Top Christian Song (“Gratitude”)
Gospel: Top Gospel Song (Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin’s “Fear Is Not My Future” also featuring Chandler Moore)
