THE WEEKND DOMINATES 2016 BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS NOMINATIONS

The Weeknd photographed on Aug. 8, 2015 at Ludlow Studios in New York City.

MILLER MOBLEY

The Weeknd could have a big weekend at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards. The Canadian hitmaker is a finalist 19 times in 16 categories.

Justin Bieber follows The Weeknd -- he's a finalist 12 times, in 11 categories. Drake and Fetty Wap are both finalists 11 times, in 10 categories. Taylor Swift and Adele are both finalists for 8 awards.

Ludacris and Ciara will host the 2016 Billboard Music Awards at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on May 22.

Meanwhile the pair announced the nominees yesterday and Ciara certainly made sure her message was loud and clear when she refused to read out her ex-lover Future's name as she announced the nominees for the top rap artist category for the Billboard Music Awards .

The Never Ever singer lived up to her song's name as she shared an awkward on-air moment with co-presenter Ludacris on Good Morning America. Everything seemed to be going swimmingly as the saucy Body Party warbler started to announce the names of Drake and Fetty Wap, before she suddenly fell silent.

She leaned to her right as the camera panned away, and her obliging sidekick duly stepped in to read Future's name.

Once that awkward moment was out of the way the sexy 30-year-old stepped in again, announcing nominees Wiz Khalifa and the unfortunately named Silento.

The rap star, who is the father of her son Future Jr. was engaged to the singer in October 2013, but they called off the engagement in August the following year.

See the full list of finalists below.

Top Artist:
Adele
Justin Bieber
Drake
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd

Top New Artist:
Fetty Wap
OMI
Charlie Puth
​Silentó
Bryson Tiller

Top Male Artist:
Justin Bieber
Drake
Fetty Wap
Ed Sheeran
The Weeknd

Top Female Artist:
Adele
Selena Gomez
​Ariana Grande
Rihanna
Taylor Swift

Top Duo/Group:
Maroon 5
One Direction
twenty one pilots
The Rolling Stones
U2

Top Billboard 200 Artist:
Adele
Justin Bieber
Drake
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd

Top Hot 100 Artist:
Justin Bieber
Drake
Fetty Wap
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd

Top Song Sales Artist:
Adele
Justin Bieber
Drake
Fetty Wap
The Weeknd

Top Radio Songs Artist:
Justin Bieber
Ellie Goulding
Ed Sheeran
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd

Top Streaming Songs Artist:
Justin Bieber
Drake
Fetty Wap
​Silentó
The Weeknd

Top Social Media Artist:
Justin Bieber
Selena Gomez
​Ariana Grande
Demi Lovato
Taylor Swift

Top Touring Artist:
Madonna
One Direction
The Rolling Stones
Taylor Swift
U2

Top R&B Artist:
Chris Brown
​Jeremih
Rihanna
Bryson Tiller
The Weeknd

Top Rap Artist:
Drake
Fetty Wap
Future
Wiz Khalifa
Silentó

Top Country Artist:
Zac Brown Band
Luke Bryan
Sam Hunt
Chris Stapleton
Carrie Underwood

Top Rock Artist:
Fall Out Boy
Elle King
twenty one pilots
Walk the Moon
X Ambassadors

Top Latin Artist:
Banda Sinaloense MS De Sergio Lizárraga
Juan Gabriel
Nicky Jam
Ariel Camacho y Los Plebes del Rancho
Romeo Santos

Top Dance/Electronic Artist:
The Chainsmokers
DJ Snake
David Guetta
Major Lazer
​Zedd

Top Christian Artist:
Casting Crowns
Lauren Daigle
​Hillsong United
MercyMe
Chris Tomlin

Top Gospel Artist:
Anthony Brown and group therAPy
Tasha Cobbs
Kirk Franklin
Travis Greene
Marvin Sapp

Top Billboard 200 Album:
Adele, 25
Justin Bieber, Purpose
Ed Sheeran, x
Taylor Swift, 1989
The Weeknd, Beauty Behind The Madness

Top Soundtrack:
Empire: Original Soundtrack from Season 1
Fifty Shades of Grey
Furious 7
Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix Vol. 1
Pitch Perfect 2

Top R&B Album:
Chris Brown, Royalty
Rihanna, Anti
Bryson Tiller, T R A P S O U L
​Tyrese, Black Rose
The Weeknd, Beauty Behind The Madness

Top Rap Album:
Drake, If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late
Drake & Future, What A Time To Be Alive
Dr. Dre, Compton
Kendrick Lamar, To Pimp A Butterfly
Meek Mill, Dreams Worth More Than Money

Top Country Album:
Chris Stapleton, Traveller
Luke Bryan, Kill The Lights
Sam Hunt, Montevallo
Zac Brown Band, Jekyll + Hyde
Carrie Underwood, Storyteller

Top Rock Album:
Alabama Shakes, Sound & Color
David Bowie, Blackstar
Coldplay, A Head Full Of Dreams
Mumford & Sons, Wilder Mind
twenty one pilots, Blurryface

Top Latin Album:
Juan Gabriel, Los Dúo
Juan Gabriel, Mis Número 1…40 Aniversario
​Mana, Cama Incendiada
Gerardo Ortiz, Hoy Más Fuerte
Romeo Santos, Formula, Vol. 2

Top Dance/Electronic Album:
David Guetta, Listen
Major Lazer, Peace Is The Mission
​ODESZA, In Return
​Skrillex & Diplo, Skrillex and Diplo Present Jack Ü
​Zedd, True Colors

Top Christian Album:
Lauren Daigle, How Can It Be
​Hillsong UNITED, Empires
Joey + Rory, Hymns That Are Important To Us
​TobyMac, This Is Not A Test
Chris Tomlin, Adore: Christmas Songs of Worship

Top Gospel Album:
Anthony Brown & group therAPy, Everyday Jesus
Tasha Cobbs, One Place Live
Kirk Franklin, Losing My Religion
Jonathan McReynolds, Life Music: Stage Two
Marvin Sapp, You Shall Live

Top Hot 100 Song:
Adele, “Hello”
Fetty Wap, “Trap Queen”
Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth, “See You Again”
The Weeknd, “Can’t Feel My Face”
The Weeknd, “The Hills”

Top Selling Song:
Adele, “Hello”
Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth, “See You Again”
OMI, “Cheerleader”
Rachel Platten, “Fight Song”
The Weeknd, “The Hills”

Top Radio Song:
Adele “Hello”
Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth, “See You Again”
Mark Ronson Featuring Bruno Mars, “Uptown Funk!”
Walk the Moon, “Shut Up And Dance”
The Weeknd, “Can’t Feel My Face”

Top Streaming Song (Audio):
Justin Bieber, “Sorry”
Justin Bieber, “What Do You Mean”
​Fetty Wap, “Trap Queen”
The Weeknd, “The Hills”
Drake, “Hotline Bling”

Top Streaming Song (Video):
​Fetty Wap, “Trap Queen”
Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth, “See You Again”
Mark Ronson Featuring Bruno Mars, “Uptown Funk!”
​Silentó, “Watch Me”
The Weeknd, “The Hills”

Top R&B Song:
Alessia Cara “Here”
​Omarion Featuring Chris Brown & Jhene Aiko, “Post To Be”
The Weeknd, “Can’t Feel My Face”
The Weeknd, “Earned It (Fifty Shades of Grey)”
The Weeknd, “The Hills”

Top Rap Song:
Drake, “Hotline Bling”
​Fetty Wap, “Trap Queen”
​Fetty Wap, “679” feat. Remy Boyz
​Silentó, “Watch Me”
Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth, “See You Again”

Top Country Song:
Sam Hunt, “Break Up In A Small Town”
Sam Hunt, “Take Your Time”
Little Big Town, “Girl Crush”
Thomas Rhett, “Die A Happy Man”
Chris Young, “I’m Comin’ Over”

Top Rock Song:
Fall Out Boy, “Uma Thurman”
Elle King, “Ex’s & Oh’s”
twenty one pilots, “Stressed Out”
Walk the Moon, “Shut Up And Dance”
X Ambassadors, “Renegades”

Top Latin Song:
J Balvin “Ginza”
Ariel Camacho y Los Plebes del Rancho, “Te Metiste”
Nicky Jam & Enrique Iglesias, “El Perdon”
​Maluma, “Borro Cassette”
Romeo Santos, “Propuesta Indecente”

Top Dance/Electronic Song:
The Chainsmokers Featuring ROZES, “Roses”
DJ Snake & AlunaGeorge, “You Know You Like It”
David Guetta feat. Nicki Minaj, Bebe Rexha & Afrojack, “Hey Mama”
Major Lazer & DJ Snake Featuring MØ, “Lean On”
Skrillex & Diplo, “Where Are Ü Now” with Justin Bieber

Top Christian Song:
​Hillsong UNITED, “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)”
​Hillsong UNITED, “Touch The Sky”
​MercyMe, “Flawless”
NEEDTOBREATHE Featuring Gavin DeGraw, “Brother”
Chris Tomlin, “Good Good Father”

Top Gospel Song:
Anthony Brown and group therAPy, “Worth”
Erica Campbell feat. Big Shizz, “I Luh God”
Kirk Franklin, “Wanna Be Happy?”
Travis Greene, “Intentional”
Brian Courtney Wilson, “Worth Fighting For”