The Kid LAROI, Masked Wolf Among Contenders for 2022 Billboard Music Awards

This year’s Billboard Music Awards has a strong Australian theme, with homegrown hip-hop stars The Kid LAROI and Masked Wolf amassing multiple nominations.

Los Angeles-based Sydney artist LAROI (real name Charlton Howard) has eight chances, including top rap album for his Billboard 200 leader F*ck Love, and top Hot 100 song for “Stay,” his smash collaboration with Justin Bieber.

This time, two of the five of the acts nominated for top new artist hail from the land Down Under: LAROI and Masked Wolf.

They’ll face off in that category with Olivia Rodrigo, Givēon and Pooh Shiesty.

The Wolf man has several chances for BBMAs silverware. His viral hit “Astronaut In The Ocean” is also nominated for top rap song and top viral song, one of five new categories on the night.

Just days after scooping their first Grammy Award, Rüfüs Du Sol is in the hunt once again, earning a BBMA nomination for top dance/electronic album with Surrender, their ARIA Albums Chart leading fourth studio album.

And there’s a chance for BBMA glory for PNAU, whose U.K. and Australian-chart leading remix of Elton John & Dua Lipa’s “Cold Heart” is up for top dance/electronic song.

This year’s awards are based on the tracking period of March 26, 2021, through March 17, 2022.

The new categories unveiled this year include top Billboard Global 200 song, and top Billboard Global Excl U.S. song. LAROI is nominated in both categories for “Stay”.

Australian artists are in the thick of the U.S. awards circuit.

Rüfüs du Sol won their first Grammy on April 3, scooping best dance/electronic recording for “Alive.”

And when the 2022 A2IM Libera Awards are presented this June, there’s a good chance Amyl And The Sniffers’ name will be read out.

The punk rockers are up for two awards, while Hiatus Kaiyote, Tkay Maidza, Courtney Barnett, Logic1000 and King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard are also shortlisted.

The 2022 BBMAs will be presented Sunday, May 15 (Monday, May 16 in Australia) from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Check out the full nominations here.