“Pretty girl from Joburg,” Grammy Award winner, hitmaker—whatever you want to call her, Tyla is an overall superstar in her prime.
The nominees for this year's Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs) have been announced, and Tyla is her own competition with eight nominations, three of which are in one category: Top Afrobeats. A look into a prediction of what award she might win.
She is nominated for:
– Top R&B Artist, alongside Brent Faiyaz, Tommy Richman, SZA, and The Weeknd
– Top R&B Song for “Water,” alongside Muni Long, SZA, Tommy Richman, and 4batz
– Top R&B Album for Tyla, with contenders such as Chris Brown, Partynextdoor, Brent Faiyaz, and Bryson Tiller
– Top R&B Female Artist, alongside Muni Long and SZA
– Top Afrobeats Artist, alongside Asake, Burna Boy, Rema, and Tems
– Top Afrobeats Song for “Water,” “Truth or Dare,” and “Jump” (featuring Gunna and Skillibeng)
According to the BBMAs, the finalists are based on key interactions with music fans, as well as album and digital song sales, radio airplay, streaming, touring, and social engagement, tracked by Billboard and its data partners, including Nielsen Music and Next Big Sound. The awards are based on a 12-month reporting period.
Here’s what we have considered as we make these predictions:
Since the release of her debut single “Water” in July 2023, the song has seen a lot of success.
By October, “Water” had reached 1 million streams on Spotify, featuring a viral dance challenge that took the world by storm and a remix with US rapper Travis Scott, as well as Marshmello.
The number one hit carried through to 2024 after she released her debut self-titled album Tyla in March, which sky rocketed over the year and achieved Gold certification in the US in October after selling over 500,000 units. It also went Platinum in Brazil, with “Truth or Dare” and “Jump” certified Gold.
These notable achievements bring us to our predictions, considering the criteria for the BBMAs and Tyla having such a fruitful year—her music topping the charts and her self-titled album going Gold and Platinum in two countries.
With a whopping 8 nominations at the upcoming Billboard Music Awards, Tyla is undoubtedly one of the artists to watch. But how many awards will she actually take home?
Out of all these nominations, she might walk away with at least 3 awards.
Here are our predictions for each nomination and why:
Top R&B Song for “Water” is one award Tyla is likely to walk away with. The success of this banger is undeniable; it has had the longest run out of all her songs, and it has been a favourite for Gen Z with the viral “Water” TikTok challenge and a nod from Travis Scott, as well as DJ Marshmello, who gave their own flair in remixing the song.
Top Afrobeats Artist: She has proven to triumph, winning over other fan favourites such as Ayra Starr, Asake, Burna Boy, Rema, and Tems at the European Music Awards (EMAs) in October for Best African Act, even though that was up to the public.
These artists are the same contenders in the BBMAs Top Afrobeats Artist category.
Top Afrobeats Song for “Water,” “Truth or Dare,” and “Jump” (featuring Gunna and Skillibeng): If there’s one award she’s guaranteed to take home, it’s this one.
“Water” stands a bigger chance, according to Billboard charts, having earned over 2 billion streams worldwide by the beginning of November.
“Jump” is another chart favourite, so the options definitely secure a win.
IOL Entertainment