iHeartRadio Music Awards unveil list of 2018 nominees

Now that 2017 has come to an end, iHeartMedia is ready to celebrate the artists that were widely played on their radio stations throughout the year. On Wednesday (Jan. 10), iHeartMedia announced the nominees for the 2018 iHeartRadio Music Awards. Leading the pack with a total of seven nominations are Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee for their summer slam hit, “Despacito.” The song is nominated for “Song of the Year,” “Best Collaboration,” “Latin Song of the Year,” “Latin Artist of the Year,” “Best Lyrics,” “Best Music Video,” and “Best Remix.”

Coming in behind Daddy Yankee and Fonsi are Rihanna, Bruno Mars, DJ Khaled, Khalid, Shawn Mendes, Taylor Swift, The Chainsmokers, Ed Sheeran, and Camila Cabello with a total of five nominations a piece.

In addition to the typical categories such as “Song of the Year,” “Artist of the Year,” and others, this year will mark the addition of four new categories. “Best Remix,” “Best Boy Band,” “Cutest Musician’s Pet,” and “Best Solo Breakout” will make their debut at this year’s event. All four categories will be voted on by the fans. Voting for the socially elected categories began on Wednesday and will conclude on March 4.

In what may be hard for a “fan army” to process, all four One Direction guys (Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan) are nominated for the “Best Solo Breakout” category.

In trying to put the power of vote in the hands of the fans, fans will also get the chance to vote for the “Social Star Award” and the “Best Fan Army.” Voting for those two categories began on Tuesday and will conclude on March 11. Fans can vote through iHeartRadio’s social site, on the iHeartRadio app, or on the iHeartRadio website here.

This year’s awards show will also mark the first time that seven different awards are handed out during the seven days leading up to the live show. Each night at 8 p.m. ET, an artist will be presented with their award and will be given the opportunity to make an acceptance speech.

The 2018 iHeartRadio Music Awards will take place Sunday, March 11 from The Forum in Los Angeles. The event will air live on TBS, TNT, and truTV beginning at 8 p.m. ET. The show will also be simulcast on iHeartMedia’s stations nationwide, as well as on iHeartRadio, their all-in-one digital music and live streaming radio service.

As with the past years, the show will feature live performances, once-in-a-lifetime artist collaborations, celebrity guest appearances, and live award presentations. The complete list of nominees can be seen below.

Song of the Year

• Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee – “Despacito (ft. Justin Bieber)”
• Ed Sheeran – “Shape of You”
• The Chainsmokers and Coldplay – “Something Just Like This”
• Bruno Mars – “That’s What I Like”
• DJ Khaled  – “Wild Thoughts (ft. Rihanna and Bryson Tiller)”

Female Artist of the Year

• Alessia Cara​
• Halsey
• Pink
• Rihanna
• Taylor Swift

Male Artist of the Year

• Bruno Mars
• Charlie Puth
• Ed Sheeran
• Shawn Mendes
• The Weeknd

Best Duo/Group of the Year

• Imagine Dragons
• Maroon 5
• Migos
• Portugal. The Man
• The Chainsmokers

Best Collaboration

• Maroon 5 – “Don’t Wanna Know (ft. Kendrick Lamar)”
• Zedd and Alessia Cara – “Stay”
• Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee – “Despacito (ft. Justin Bieber)”
• The Chainsmokers and Coldplay – “Something Just Like This”
• DJ Khaled  – “Wild Thoughts (ft. Rihanna and Bryson Tiller)”

Best New Pop Artist

• Camila Cabello
• Julia Michaels
• Liam Payne
• Logic
• Niall Horan

Alternative Rock Song of the Year

• Imagine Dragons – “Believer”
• Portugal. The Man – “Feel It Still”
• Imagine Dragons – “Thunder”
• Thirty Seconds to Mars – “Walk on Water”
• The Revivalists – “Wish I Knew You”

Alternative Rock Artist of the Year

• Cage the Elephant
• Imagine Dragons
• Judah & the Lion
• Kings of Leon
• Portugal. The Man

Best New Rock/Alternative Rock Artist

• Greta Van Fleet
• Judah & the Lion
• K.Flay
• Rag ‘n’ Bone Man
• The Revivalists

Rock Song of the Year

• Nothing More – “Go to War”
• Papa Roach – “Help”
• Foo Fighters – “Run”
• Theory of a Deadman – “Rx (Medicate)”
• Stone Sour – “Song #3”

Rock Artist of the Year

• Foo Fighters
• Highly Suspect
• Metallica
• Papa Roach
• Royal Blood

Country Song of the Year

• Sam Hunt – “Body Like a Back Road”
• Jon Pardi – “Dirt on My Boots”
• Luke Combs – “Hurricane”
• Dustin Lynch – “Small Town Boy”
• Thomas Rhett – “Unforgettable”

Country Artist of the Year

• Blake Shelton
• Jason Aldean
• Luke Bryan
• Sam Hunt
• Thomas Rhett

Best New Country Artist

• Brett Young
• Jon Pardi
• Kane Brown
• Lauren Alaina
• Luke Combs

Dance Song of the Year

• Kygo and Selena Gomez – “It Ain’t Me”
• Cheat Codes – “No Promises (ft. Demi Lovato)”
• Clean Bandit – “Rockabye (ft. Anne-Marie featuring Sean Paul)”
• The Chainsmokers and Coldplay – “Something Just Like This”
• Zedd and Alessia Cara – “Stay”

Dance Artist of the Year

• Calvin Harris
• Cheat Codes
• Kygo
• The Chainsmokers
• Zedd

Hip-Hop Song of the Year

• Migos – “Bad and Boujee (ft. Lil Uzi Vert)”
• Cardi B – “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)”
• Kendrick Lamar – “HUMBLE.”
• Post Malone – “Rockstar”
• DJ Khaled  – “Wild Thoughts (ft. Rihanna and Bryson Tiller)”

Hip-Hop Artist of the Year

• DJ Khaled
• Drake
• Future
• Kendrick Lamar
• Migos

Best New Hip-Hop Artist

• 21 Savage
• Cardi B
• GoldLink
• Lil Uzi Vert
• Playboi Carti

R&B Song of the Year

• Jacquees – “B.E.D.”
• Khalid – “Location”
• SZA – “Love Galore (ft. Travis Scott)”
• Childish Gambino – “Redbone”
• Bruno Mars – “That’s What I Like”

R&B Artist of the Year

• Bruno Mars
• Childish Gambino​
• Khalid
• Rihanna
• The Weeknd

Best New R&B Artist

• 6LACK
• Kehlani
• Kevin Ross​
• Khalid
• SZA

Latin Song of the Year

• Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee – “Despacito”
• Nicky Jam – “El Amante”
• CNCO – “Hey DJ”
• J Balvin – “Mi Gente (ft. Willy William)”
• Enrique Iglesias – “Súbeme La Radio”

Latin Artist of the Year

• CNCO
• J Balvin
• Luis Fonsi
• Nicky Jam
• Shakira

Best New Latin Artist

• Abraham Mateo
• Bad Bunny
• Danny Ocean
• Karol G
• Ozuna

Regional Mexican Song of the Year

• Christian Nodal – “Adios Amor”
• Banda Carnaval – “Ella Es Mi Mujer”
• Calibre 50 – “Las Ultras”
• Gerardo Ortiz – “Regresa Hermosa”
• Calibre 50 – “Siempre Te Voy A Querer”

Regional Mexican Artist of the Year

• Banda Carnaval
• Banda Los Recoditos
• Banda Sinaloense MS de Sergio Lizarraga
• Calibre 50
• Gerardo Ortiz

Best New Regional Mexican Artist

• Christian Nodal
• Edwin Luna y La Trakalosa de Monterrey
• El Fantasma
• Ulices Chaidez y Sus Plebes

Producer of the Year

• Andrew “Pop” Wansel and Warren “Oak” Felder
• Andrew Watt
• Benny Blanco
• Justin Tranter
• Steve Mac

Best Lyrics (Socially Voted Category)

• Cardi B – “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)”
• Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee – “Despacito”
• Shawn Mendes – “There’s Nothing Holding Me Back”
• Taylor Swift – “Look What You Made Me Do”
• Ed Sheeran – “Perfect”
• Niall Horan – “Slow Hands”

Best Cover Song (Socially Voted Category)

• Shawn Mendes – “All We Got”
• HAIM – “Bad Liar”
• Niall Horan – “Issues”
• Khalid – “Lost”
• Camila Cabello and Machine Gun Kelly – “Say You Won’t Let Go”
• Harry Styles – “The Chain”
• Ed Sheeran – “Touch”
• Thirty Seconds to Mars – “The Tribute Song”

Best Fan Army presented by Taco Bell (Socially Voted Category)

• Ariana Grande – Arianators
• Justin Bieber – Beliebers
• BTS – BTS Army
• Camila Cabello – Camilizers
• EXO – EXO-L
• Fifth Harmony – Harmonizers
• Demi Lovato – Lovatics
• Shawn Mendes – Mendes Army
• Little Mix – Mixers
• Selena Gomez – Selenators
• Miley Cyrus – Smilers
• Taylor Swift – Swifties

Best Music Video (Socially Voted Category)

• Selena Gomez – “Bad Liar”
• Cardi B – “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)”
• Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee – “Despacito”
• DJ Khaled – “I’m the One (ft. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Lil Wayne and Chance the Rapper)”
• Taylor Swift – “Look What You Made Me Do”
• Miley Cyrus – “Malibu”
• Dua Lipa – “New Rules”
• Ed Sheeran – “Shape of You”
• Harry Styles – “Sign of the Times”
• Demi Lovato – “Sorry Not Sorry”
• Katy Perry – “Swish Swish (ft. Nicki Minaj)”
• Bruno Mars – “That’s What I Like”
• Shawn Mendes – “There’s Nothing Holding Me Back”

Social Star Award (Socially Voted Category)

• Andrew Huang
• Anitta
• Christian Collins
• Conor Maynard
• dodie
• Gabbie Hanna
• JoJo Siwa
• Mariah Belgrod
• Max & Harvey
• RoomieOfficial

Cutest Musician’s Pet (Socially Voted Category)

• Batman – Demi Lovato
• Bear Rexha – Bebe Rexha
• Nugget – Katy Perry
• Olivia – Taylor Swift
• Pig Pig – Miley Cyrus
• Toulouse – Ariana Grande

Best Boy Band (Socially Voted Category)     ​

• AJR
• BTS
• CNCO
• In Real Life
• PRETTYMUCH
• The Vamps
• Why Don’t We

Best Solo Breakout (Socially Voted Category)

• Camila Cabello
• Harry Styles
• Liam Payne
• Louis Tomlinson
• Niall Horan

Best Remix (Socially Voted Category)

• Katy Perry – “Bon Appétit (ft. Migos)” – 3LAU
• Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee – “Despacito (ft. Justin Bieber)”
• Blackbear – “do re mi (ft. Gucci Mane)”
• Justin Bieber and BloodPop – “Friends (ft. Julia Michaels)”
• Camila Cabello – “Havana (ft. Daddy Yankee)”
• Lorde – “Homemade Dynamite (ft. Khalid, Post Malone and SZA)”
• Francis & The Lights – “May I Have This Dance (ft. Chance The Rapper)”
• J Balvin & Willy William – “Mi Gente (ft. Beyoncé)”
• CNCO and Little Mix – “Reggaetón Lento”