NBC and dick clark productions announced on Tuesday, Jan. 16, that the 2018 Billboard Music Awards will take place on Sunday, May 20 with a live coast-to-coast coverage of the awards show.
The three-hour live telecast will air starting at 8:00 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST. It marks the first telecast of the awards show on NBC after it acquired rights to the Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs) in a multi-year deal with dick clark productions in November. ABC used to broadcast the BBMAs since 2011 from the live event held at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. A pre-show also happens in every BBMAs at the T-Mobile Magenta Carpet.
Executive producers of the Billboard Music Awards include Robert Deaton, Allen Shapiro, Mark Bracco, Mike Mahan, and Barry Adelman. They will be working closely with show producers dick clark productions, which is a member of the U.S. holding company Eldridge Industries, whose other assets include the Hollywood Reporter-Billboard Media Group.
The hosts and performers at the 2018 Billboard Music Awards have yet to be announced. In 2017, Vanessa Hudgens and Ludacris hosted the awards. Cher, Celine Dion, Miley Cyrus, and Bruno Mars performed on stage.
Likewise, the names of the nominees have yet to be revealed. In a press release for the previous awards show, the final contenders were based on key interactions with music fans. Other bases for the finalists include digital and album songs sales, streaming, radio airplay, and touring and social engagement. Billboard and its data partners Next Big Sound and Nielsen Music track these metrics over a 12-month period. The data coverage for this year's music awards ends in March.
It remains to be seen if last year's winners will once again make it to this year's Billboard Music Awards. In 2017, 31-year-old Canadian rapper Drake was the big winner after he took home 13 awards for his catchy song "Hotline Bling," which has seen its share of hilarious memes following the release of the music video. Drake, born Aubrey Drake Graham, received the award for Top Male Artist, Top Billboard 200 Artist, Top Hot 100 artist, Top Song Sales Artist, Top Rap Artist, and Top Artist, to name a few.
Beyoncé also won five awards including Top Female Artist, Top Touring Artist, Top R&B Artist, Top R&B Tour, and Top R&B album for Lemonade. Twenty One Pilots won the Billboard Chart Achievement Award, Top Duo/Group, Top Radio Songs Artist, Top Rock Artist, and Top Rock Song for "Heathens."
