Drake, The Chainsmokers lead 2017 Billboard Music Awards nominations

By Charlie Monforte

Drake and The Chainsmokers are leading to be top winners in the 2017 Billboard Music Awards scheduled on May 21. Each got 22 nominations of the 52 awards on Billboard's list.

Drake is gearing to grab the Top Artist, Top Male Artist and Top Billboard 200 Artist, while The Chainsmokers trains sight to get the plum Top Artist, Top Duo/Group and Top 100 Artist, reports Billboard on its official website.

On Billboard's count, following Drake and The Chainsmokers are Twenty One Pilots with 17 nominations, Rihanna with 14, The Weeknd with 13 and Beyonce with 8.

Billboard said that the nominees were selected based on key fan interactions with music. Interaction indicators include album and digital songs sales, streaming, radio airplay, touring and social engagement.

These measurements are tracked year-round, from March 18, 2016 through March 16, 2017.

Among those nominated are- for Top Artist: Adele, Beyonce, Justin Bieber, The Chainsmokers, Drake, Ariana Grande, Shawn Mendes, Rihanna, Twenty One Pilots, and The Weeknd; for Top New Artist: Alessia Cara, Desiigner, Lil Uzi Vert, Lukas Graham, and Zayn; for Top Male Artist: Justin Bieber, Drake, Future, Shawn Mendes, and The Weeknd; for Top Female Artist: Adele, Beyonce, Ariana Grande, Rihanna, and Sia; for Top Duo/Group: The Chainsmokers, Coldplay, Florida Georgia Line, Guns N' Roses, and Twenty One Pilots; and for Top Rap Artist: J. Cole, Desiigner, Drake, Future, and Rae Sremmurd.

The other awards are Billboard Chart Achievement Award Presented by Xfinity, Top Billboard 200 Artist, Top Hot 100 Artist, Top Song Sales Artist, Top Radio Songs Artist, Top Streaming Songs Artist, Top Social Artist, Top Touring Artist, Top R&B Artist, Top R&B Tour, Top Rap Tour, Top Country Artist, Top Rock Artist, Top Rock Tour, Top Latin Artist, Top Dance/Electronic Artist, Top Christian Artist, Top Gospel Artist, Top Billboard 200 Album, Top Soundtrack/Cast Album, Top R&B Album, Top Rap Album, Top Country Album, Top Rock Album, Top Latin Album, Top Dance/Electronic Album, Top Christian Album, Top Gospel Album, Top Hot 100 Song, Top Selling Song, Top Radio Song, Top Streaming Song (Audio), Top Streaming Song (Video), Top Collaboration, Top R&B Song, Top R&B Collaboration, Top Rap Song, Top Rap Collaboration, Top Country Song, Top Country Collaboration, Top Rock Song, Top Latin Song:, Top Dance/Electronic Song, Top Christian Song, and Top Gospel Song.