Music Odds: Adele, Drake Headline 2016 AMA Nominees

The AMAs (November 20th at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles) are an award show by the people and for the people. Having the public vote for their favourite artist, song, or album turns the AMAs into a giant popularity contest. In fact, fans can vote for New Artist of the Year 100 times per day at AMAvote.com. Or you can tweet your vote that includes the nominee’s Twitter handle, the category name and #AMAs within the post(s).

The the results often drastically diverge from The Grammy Awards. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing, and the AMAs are sure step up on the VMAs.

Plus, these days, the awards are almost secondary to the spectacle; the show has become more about the live performances than trophies.

But trophies will be handed out nonetheless. This year, Canadian artist Drake (who’s never won an AMA) broke a 32-year-old record for the most nominations with 13 nods – including one for Favorite Male Artist – beating Michael Jackson’s previous record of 11 from 1984. Even if Drake doesn’t take home Favorite Male Artist, it will still head north of the border; fellow Canadians Justin Bieber and The Weeknd are the other nominees. (Hey, what happened to the “American” part of this award? Will we have to change the spelling to “Favourite Male Artist” next year?)

For the biggest award of all, Artist of the Year, the ten nominees will soon be narrowed to five based on voting which ends on November 17th. As you’ll see below, a certain British songstress is likely to not only make the shortlist, but also take home the mildly coveted award.

Between the acceptance speeches, there will be some solid performances by the likes of Green Day, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, The Chainsmokers, Shakira, John Legend, and more.

Who will pick up some hardware at this year’s American Music Awards? Who will put on the best (or strangest) show? Below are the odds and our predictions on who will get gifted a glass spike from the fans.

2016 American Music Awards’ Odds

Artist Of The Year

(Will be narrowed down to 5)

• Adele: 7/3
• Beyoncé 17/3
• Justin Bieber: 6/1
• Drake: 7/1
• Carrie Underwood: 12/1
• Rihanna: 15/1
• Ariana Grande: 15/1
• The Weeknd: 30/1
• Selena Gomez: 30/1
• Twenty One Pilots: 80/1

Our Prediction: Adele

New Artist of the Year

• Shawn Mendes: 7/3
• DNCE: 3/1
• Zayn: 5/1
• The Chainsmokers: 17/3
• Alessia Cara: 6/1

Our Prediction: Shawn Mendes

Collaboration of the Year

• Rihanna Featuring Drake, “Work”: 2/1
• Fifth Harmony Featuring Ty Dolla $ign, “Work From Home”: 4/1
• Meghan Trainor Featuring John Legend, “Like I’m Gonna Lose You”: 4/1
• Drake Featuring Wizkid and Kyla, “One Dance”: 5/1
• The Chainsmokers Featuring Daya, “Don’t Let Me Down”: 9/1

Our Prediction: Work

Tour of the Year

• Beyoncé: 1/1
• Madonna: 2/1
• Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band: 5/1

Our Prediction: Madonna

Video of the Year

• Justin Bieber, “Sorry”: 1/1
• Rihanna Featuring Drake, “Work”: 2/1
• Desiigner, “Panda”: 17/3

Our Prediction: Justin Bieber “Sorry”

Favorite Male Artist – Pop/Rock

• Justin Bieber: 1/1
• Drake: 2/1
• The Weeknd: 5/1

Our Prediction: Justin Bieber

Favorite Female Artist – Pop/Rock

• Adele: 2/3
• Selena Gomez: 4/1
• Rihanna: 4/1

Our Prediction: Adele

Favorite Duo or Group – Pop/Rock

• DNCE: 3/2
• Twenty One Pilots: 2/1
• The Chainsmokers: 3/1

Our Prediction: DNCE

Favorite Album – Pop/Rock

• Adele, 25: 5/6
• Justin Bieber, Purpose: 3/1
• Drake, Views: 4/1

Our Prediction: 25

Favorite Song – Pop/Rock

• Adele, “Hello”: 2/3
• Justin Bieber, “Love Yourself”: 7/2
• Drake Featuring Wizkid & Kyla, “One Dance”: 5/1

Our Prediction: Hello

Favorite Male Artist – Country

• Luke Bryan: 2/3
• Blake Shelton: 3/1
• Thomas Rhett: 17/3

Our Prediction: Luke Bryan

Favorite Female Artist – Country

• Carrie Underwood: 2/3
• Kelsea Ballerini: 4/1
• Cam: 9/2

Our Prediction: Carrie Underwood

Favorite Duo or Group – Country

• Florida Georgia Line: 2/3
• Zac Brown Band: 4/1
• Old Dominion: 9/2

Our Prediction: Florida Georgia Line

Favorite Album – Country

• Carrie Underwood, Storyteller: 9/11
• Chris Stapleton, Traveller: 3/1
• Luke Bryan, Kill the Lights: 4/1

Our Prediction: Storyteller

Favorite Song – Country

• Thomas Rhett, “Die A Happy Man”: 1/1
• Florida Georgia Line, “H.O.L.Y.”: 7/3
• Tim McGraw, “Humble And Kind”: 4/1

Our Prediction: Die A Happy Man

Favorite Artist – Rap/Hip-Hop

• Drake: 2/3
• Fetty Wap: 4/1
• Future: 9/2

Our Prediction: Drake

Favorite Album – Rap/Hip-Hop

• Drake, Views: 2/3
• Drake & Future, What A Time To Be Alive: 4/1
• Fetty Wap, Fetty Wap: 9/2

Our Prediction: Views

Favorite Song – Rap/Hip-Hop

• Drake, “Hotline Bling”: 9/11
• Desiigner, “Panda”: 3/1
• Fetty Wapp, “679”: 4/1

Our Prediction: Hotline Bling

Favorite Male Artist – Soul/R&B

• The Weeknd: 2/3
• Bryson Tiller: 3/1
• Chris Brown: 17/3

Our Prediction: The Weeknd

Favorite Female Artist – Soul/R&B

• Beyoncé: 9/11
• Rihanna: 3/1
• Bryson Tiller: 4/1

Our Prediction: Beyoncé

Favorite Album – Soul/R&B

• Beyoncé, Lemonade: 2/3
• Rihanna, Anti: 4/1
• Bryson Tiller, TRAPSOUL: 9/2

Our Prediction: Lemonade

Favorite Song – Soul/R&B

• Rihanna Featuring Drake, “Work”: 1/1
• Drake Featuring Wizkid and Kyla, “One Dance”: 2/1
• Bryson Tiller, “Don’t”: 8/1

Our Prediction: Work

Favorite Artist – Alternative Rock

• Twenty One Pilots: 9/11
• Coldplay: 3/1
• X Ambassadors: 9/2

Our Prediction: Twenty One Pilots

Favorite Artist – Adult Contemporary

• Adele: 7/13
• Meghan Trainor: 4/1
• Rachel Platten: 17/3

Our Prediction: Adele

Favorite Artist – Latin

• Enrique Iglesias: 2/3
• J Balvin: 4/1
• Nicky Jam: 4/1

Our Prediction: Enrique Iglesias

Favorite Artist – Contemporary Inspirational

• Hillsong United: 1/1
• Chris Tomlin: 3/1
• Lauren Daigle: 4/1

Our Prediction: Hillsong United

Favorite Artist – Electronic Dance Music (EDM)

• The Chainsmokers: 1/1
• Calvin Harris: 2/1
• Major Lazer: 5/1

Our Prediction: The Chainsmokers

Top Soundtrack

• Suicide Squad: 3/2
• Purple Rain: 2/1
• Star Wars: The Force Awakens: 3/1

Our Prediction: Purple Rain

Side Props

(Caveat: these are a little less scientific. But that makes them all the more fun!)

Odds on the best performance of the night:

• Lady GaGa: 4/1
• Shakira: 5/1
• Bruno Mars: 5/1
• The Chainsmokers: 7/1
• Green Day: 9/1
• Sting: 10/1
• John Legend: 12/1
• Shawn Mendes: 12/1

Odds on the most bizarre performance of the night:

• The Chainsmokers: 2/3
• Lady GaGa: 5/1
• Nicki Minaj: 5/1
• Green Day: 11/1

Odds Adele wins every award she is nominated for: 3/2

Odds on Beyoncé getting political: 1/1

Odds on Justin Bieber crying: 9/1

Odds that Drake will mention “The Six”: 2/1

Odds Nicki Minaj will call someone out: 3/1

Odds that a presenter or performer will get kissed on the lips: 4/1

Feature photo credit: Egghead06 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons