Pop star Taylor Swift and British soul singer Sam Smith, who were among the top-selling musical acts in the US last year, led the nominations for the 2015 Billboard Music Awards finalists.
Taylor Swift earned four nominations for the 2015 Billboard Awards, including nods for top artist, best album for her ‘1989,’ and best female artist.
Swift will go head to head with British soul singer Sam Smith, who was also nominated in four categories, among them top artist, best male artist, and best album for his ‘In the Lonely Hour.’
The two will also go up against each other for top Hot 100 song, with Swift’s ‘Shake it Off’ pitted against ‘Stay With Me’ by Smith.
Pop princess Katy Perry, British band One Direction and singer Ariana Grande also won nominations for top artist.
Perry and Grande will compete with Swift, Meghan Trainor and Australian rapper Iggy Azalea for best female artist, while Smith is up against Drake, Pharrell Williams, Ed Sheeran and Justin Timberlake for top male artist.
Azalea, 24, earned 12 nominations, including best new artist, in which she’ll compete with Smith, Trainor, Australian boy band 5 Seconds of Summer and Irish singer Hozier.
The awards will be held at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on May 17.
