ENTERTAINMENT

Lorde, Imagine Dragons top Billboard Music Award nominees

The Associated Press Published Wednesday, April 9, 2014 9:08AM EDT

In this Nov. 8, 2013, file photo, singer Lorde poses for a portrait in New York. (Photo by Victoria Will/Invision/AP, File)

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NEW YORK -- Newcomers Lorde and Imagine Dragons are the top contenders at next month's Billboard Music Awards.

The breakthrough acts are finalists in 12 categories, thanks to Lorde's Grammy-winning multiplatinum hit "Royals" and Imagine Dragons' "Radioactive," also a multiplatinum Grammy winner. Those smashes are nominated for top Hot 100 song against Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines," Katy Perry's "Roar" and Miley Cyrus' "Wrecking Ball."

Imagine Dragons is also up for top artist and will battle Cyrus, Perry, Bruno Mars and Justin Timberlake, who is nominated for 11 awards.

Timberlake's "The 20/20 Experience," last year's bestselling album, will compete against efforts from Beyonce, Eminem, Drake and Luke Bryan for top Billboard 200 album.

The 2014 Billboard Music Awards will air live on ABC from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 18.