Bruno Mars Leads AMA Nominations But Where Are The Female Artists?

The American Music Awards nominees were finally announced on Thursday. Bruno Mars is leading the nominations with eight nods, followed by Ed Sheeran, Kendrick Lamar and The Weeknd with five nominations.

The ‘AMA’ nominees list revealed a huge lack of female artists nominated. Halsey took social media to express her thoughts on the issue.

Bruno Mars is taking on his ’24K’

Two-time AMA nominee Ciara appeared on ‘Good Morning America’ to announce the early nominees’ list for the 45th American Music Awards on Thursday

Bruno Mars came as the artist with the most nominations with eight nods. Including Artist of The Year, Video of the Year, Favorite Male Artist, Favorite Album, Favorite Song, Favorite Artist Adult Contemporary.

Following Mars are The Chainsmokers, Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Ed Sheeran and The Weeknd all earned five nominations apiece.

And with four nominations each follow Justin Bieber, Daddy Yankee and Luis Fonsi, including favorite pop/rock song for their hit collaboration, ‘Despacito.‘

Country singer Keith Urban leads country artists with three nominations. While nominees for the new artist of the year are James Arthur, Niall Horan, Julia Michaels, Post Malone and Rae Sremmurd.

Alessia Cara, Lady Gaga, and Rihanna are nominated for favorite female artist-pop/rock. Rihanna will also face Beyoncé and Kehlani in the favorite female soul/R&B category.

The American Music Awards nominees are selected through measurements on fan interactions across Billboard Magazine and Billboard.com. It includes figures from music sales, touring, streaming and radio airplay and social activity in a year time.

The 2017 American Music Awards will broadcast live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, November 19.

Halsey on the lack of female artists nominees

While Halsey was one of a handful of artists to be nominated for this year’s American Music Awards, she’s speaking out on why she’s disappointed with lack of female artists nominations and how she thinks it was a “missed opportunity.”

The singer was nominated for Favorite Song in Pop/Rock and Collaboration of the Year with The Chainsmokers. She’s joined in the category by Justin Bieber, Ed Sheeran, Drake, and The Weeknd, who were all nominated as well.

Halsey took to Twitter to express how disappointed she is that more women were not nominated. With an all-male lineup for categories like Artist of the year, Video of the Year, Favorite Album for Pop/Rock, and others.

“Really honored to have received an AMA nomination but really disappointed to hear near exclusively male names… such a missed opportunity,” she wrote. ”

“So many incredible female artists have released this year. Hoping the coming award shows give them the credit that is due to them.¨

The singer has previously been outspoken about her feminism, and gratitude for powerful female performers who have laid the path for her.

“It wouldn’t be possible for me to do what I do without the foundation you laid for unapologetic women who are artistic and have a personality, ” she said in an interview with Teen Vogue earlier this year.

“You set it up pretty damn good for female artists down the line who had their own brand and sensibility.”

Really honored to have received an @AMAs nomination but really disappointed to hear near exclusively male names… such a missed opportunity

— h (@halsey) October 12, 2017

so many incredible female artists have released this year. hoping the coming award shows give them the credit that is due to them.

— h (@halsey) October 12, 2017

Where are the women?

For the first time since 2002, when the Artist of the Year took its current form, there are no women in the running for the top prize at the AMA.

Both Bruno Mars and Ed Sheeran were nominated for Artist Of The Year as well as Video Of The Year for their respective hits ‘That’s What I Like’ and ‘Shape Of You‘.

Other nominees in the same category included Drake, who’s also in the running in both the pop/rock and rap fields. Rapper Kendrick Lamar, as well as EDMC duo The Chainsmokers.

But no women were nominated for the top prizes. In fact, they were left out of most categories in this year’s AMA’s dude battle.

Also, only two female artists Halsey and Rihanna nabbed two nominations. Halsey made it in the favorite pop/rock song and collaboration of the year categories for ‘Closer,’. She didn’t land any solo nominations despite having had a chart-topping album earlier this year. As for Riri, she nabbed favorite female soul/R&B category and best female artist.

The move comes as something off since women have frequently been Artist Of The Year. Taylor Swift won three times and Ariana Grande took the prize last year.

This year’s notable omissions included Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Lorde, Demi Lovato, Lana Del Rey and Kesha, all of whom released new songs and albums this year.

The shocking nominations come amid growing attention to gender inequality in the United States, particularly in the entertainment industry. Amid mounting allegations that Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein preyed for years on young women.