K-pop boy bands BTS, EXO, GOT7 received nominations for the 2020 Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs), a repeat of what happened last year.
The BBMAs announced the nominees in 55 categories for this year’s ceremony, which will be held on Oct. 14 at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles and to be hosted again by Kelly Clarkson.
BTS, EXO and GOT7 are nominated again for the second straight year for the fan-voted Top Social Artist award along with Billie Eilish and Ariana Grande.
This is BTS’ fourth year to be nominated for Top Social Artist and they won the award in the last three years in 2017, 2018 and 2019. This is the second year that EXO and GOT7 got BBMA nominations and for the same category, too.
For the second straight year, BTS got nominated for Top Duo/Group along with Dan + Shay, Jonas Brothers, Maroon 5 and Panic! At The Disco.
BTS got their first nomination for the category last year and won the award. Other nominees for Top Duo/Group last year were Dan + Shay, Imagine Dragons, Maroon 5 and Panic! At The Disco.
Despite the nominations, BTS ARMYs were not happy that BTS were snubbed in other categories like the Top Tourist Artist award and Top Billboard 200 Album.
The nominees for Top Tourist Artist award this year are Elton John, Metallica, P!nk, The Rolling Stones and Ed Sheeran while vying for the Top Billboard 200 Album award are Billie Eilish, Ariana Grande, Khalid, Post Malone and Taylor Swift.
According to BBMA, this year’s awards are based on the chart period from March 23, 2019 through March 14, 2020.
BTS released “Map of the Soul: 7” last February, which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard 200. Their previous album, “Map of the Soul: Persona,” released in April 2019, also debuted at No. 1 on Billboard 200.
Winners for the Billboard Chart Achievement Award, Top Social Artist and Top Collaboration are fan-voted and voting will open on Oct. 1.
Nominees are selected “based on key interactions with music fans, as well as album and digital songs sales, radio airplay, streaming, touring and social engagement, tracked by Billboard and its data partners, including Nielsen Music and Next Big Sound,” according to the BBMAs website.