Success rules at the Billboard Music Awards. Popularity isn’t a factor. This awards show is based solely on gross sales, total airplay and performance pay. You can’t be a nobody with a cool haircut to cut it at the Billboard Awards. You have to be somebody–somebody who’s sold a lot of CDs; somebody whose songs have been downloaded many, many, many times; somebody who just got back from a sold-out world tour. You have to be that kind of somebody.

When you realize the criteria for being a Billboard Music Awards winner, you can see that only the hardest working, most in-demand performers have a serious chance of winning. In this age of social media, hype and massive spin, that’s sort of refreshing. No amount of tattoos or hair gel will get you a Billboard Music Award. You’ve got to get one the old-fashioned way. You have to earn it, as John Houseman would have said. You have to be on top of the Nielson year-end music charts.

There’s not much room for second-guessing here. Digits rule. Numbers like those racked up in 2015 by British songbird Adele. She only managed to have the year’s top-selling CD that broke plenty of records. As soon as it was released, it was instantly the best-selling album of the year. It broke the record for single-week sales record for an album. For accomplishing that feat, Adele is likely to earn several awards this year, including Top Artist, Top Female Artist, Top Billboard 200 Album for 25, and the Top Hot 100 Song for “Hello.”

Of course, Taylor Swift will be lurking in the wings. She’ll likely receive the award for top touring artist for her world tour behind her 2014 Grammy winning album 1989. Plus, some of the songs that were released form that album in 2015 will more than likely receive nominations, such as “Wildest Dreams” and “Out Of The Woods.” The Weeknd’s hit record Beauty Behind the Madness came in at number 1 and had three top 10 hits, including his number 1 smash hit “Can’t Feel My Face.” Beliebers were all over Justin Bieber’s CD “Purpose,” which also debuted at number 1 and had 3 of its own top ten hits, including “Sorry” and “What Do You Mean?” that hung at the top of the chart for quite some time. Both of those performers should receive numerous nods, such as Top Male Artist and Top Artist.

The country competition should be brisk as well. Luke Bryan will probably have to battle Carrie Underwood in the Top Country Artist category and for the Top Country Album.

If you’d like to be there for all the thrills, glitz and excitement of the Billboard Music Awards 2016, visit VIP Concierge. We’ve got tickets reserved just for you. The show will be on May 22 in the city that never sleeps,Las Vegas. The performances will be dynamite, and if you’re into celebrity watching, you’ll see more stars than on a cloud free night in August.