Nickelback, Blige Bag Billboard Nods

Los Angeles (E! Online) - Nickelback has all the right reasons to be among the top contenders for the 2006 Billboard Music Awards—namely, the Canadian rock outfit outsold virtually everyone else.

The band tied with Mary J. Blige, T.I. and Rascal Flatts as finalists in a leading five categories for the awards show that rewards commercial over critical success.

Powered by the monster hit release All the Right Reasons, Nickelback scored nods for Artist of the Year and Duo/Group of the Year (both of which also include Rascal Flatts), as well as Album of the Year, Rock Album of the Year and Rock Artist of the Year.

Chris Brown rounds out the race for Artist of the Year. The R&B newcomer is also up for Male Artist of the Year and New Artist of the Year.

Nickelback's competition for Album of the Year category is Carrie Underwood's Some Hearts (the former American Idol champ is contending in four categories, including Country Artist of the Year) and the Disney Channel-spawned smash High School Musical soundtrack.

Rascal Flatts is also up for Country Artist, Country Duo/Group and Country Album.

On the strength of The Breakthrough, Blige bagged nods for Female Artist of the Year (opposite Underwood and Beyoncé Knowles), R&B/Hip-Hop Artist (against T.I. and

Jamie Foxx), Female R&B/Hip-Hop Artist, R&B/Hip-Hop Album and R&B/Hip-Hop Single for "Be Without You."

T.I.'s King qualified for R&B/Hip-Hop Album and Rap Album, and the rapper is also up for Male/R&B Hip-Hop Artist and Rap Artist.

The BMAs will be cohosted by

Britney Spears and her current partner in crime on the party scene,

Paris Hilton.

This year's festivities, to be held live from Las Vegas' MGM Grand Garden Arena next Monday on Fox, is slated to feature such performers as Blige, the Killers,

Janet Jackson, Fergie, Ludacris, Gwen Stafani, the Fray, Pharrell and Young Jeezy.

Tony Bennett will be feted with the Century Award, which pays tribute to the storied career of a classic artist. Past recipients include

Tom Petty,

Annie Lennox,

James Taylor,

Emmylou Harris and George Harrison.

Because the prizes are based on the "record-buying, Internet-downloading and radio-listening public's favorite songs, albums and performers" as determined by Nielsen SoundScan and Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems, there aren't nominees "competing" in the traditional sense. Instead, finalists and winners are determined by the trade magazine's Dec. 23 "Year in Music" issue, tracking sales from December 2005 through November 2006.

Here's a complete list of the finalists: 

Artist of the Year: Chris Brown, Nickelback, Rascal FlattsMale Artist of the Year: Chris Brown, Ne-Yo, Sean PaulFemale Artist of the Year: Beyoncé,

Mary J. Blige, RihannaDuo/Group of the Year: Nickelback, The Pussycat Dolls, Rascal FlattsNew Artist of the Year: Chris Brown, The Fray, Ne-YoAlbum of the Year: All the Right Reasons, Nickelback; High School Musical soundtrack; Some Hearts, Carrie UnderwoodHot 100 Single of the Year: "Bad Day," Daniel Powter; "Promiscuous,"

Nelly Furtado featuring Timbaland; "Temperature," Sean PaulPop Single of the Year: "Hips Don't Lie," Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean; "Promiscuous," Nelly Furtado featuring Timbaland; "Temperature," Sean PaulSoundtrack Album of the Year: Get Rich or Die Tryin'; High School Musical; Walk the LineR&B/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year: Mary J. Blige, Jamie Foxx, T.I.Male R&B/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year: Jamie Foxx, Ne-Yo, T.I.Female R&B/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year: Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, Mariah CareyDuo/Group R&B/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year: Dem Franchize Boyz, The Isley Brother, Three 6 MafiaR&B/Hip-Hop Album of the Year: The Breakthrough, Mary J. Blige; King, T.I.; Unpredictable, Jamie FoxxR&B/Hip-Hop Single of the Year: "Be Without You," Mary J. Blige; "So Sick," Ne-Yo; "Unpredictable," Jamie Foxx featuring LudacrisRap Artist of the Year: Sean Paul, T.I., Yung JocRap Album of the Year: Tha Carter, Vol. 2, Lil Wayne; Curtain Call: The Hits, Eminem; King, T.I.Rap Single of the Year: "It's Goin' Down," Yung Joc; "Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It," Dem Franchize Boyz featuring Lil Peanut & Charlay; "Snap Yo Fingers," Lil Jon featuring E-40 & Sean Paul of the YoungBloodzCountry Artist of the Year:

Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, Carrie UnderwoodMale Country Artist of the Year: Kenny Chesney,

Toby Keith, Tim McGrawFemale Country Artist of the Year:

Faith Hill, Carrie Underwood, Gretchen WilsonDuo/Group Country Artist of the Year: Brooks & Dunn, Rascal Flatts, SugarlandCountry Album of the Year: Me and My Gang, Rascal Flatts; Some Hearts, Carrie Underwood; The Road and the Radio, Kenny ChesneyCountry Single of the Year: "If You're Going Through Hell (Before the Devil Even Knows)," Rodney Atkins; "Summertime," Kenny Chesney; "The World," Brad PaisleyModern Rock Artist of the Year: AFI, Red Hot Chili Peppers, ShinedownModern Rock Single of the Year: "Animal I Have Become," Three Days Grace; "Dani California," Red Hot Chili Peppers; "The Kill (Bury Me)," 30 Seconds to MarsRock Artist of the Year: Disturbed, Nickelback, ShinedownRock Single of the Year: "Animal I Have Become," Three Days Grace; "Dani California," Red Hot Chili Peppers; "Speak," GodsmackRock Album of the Year: All the Right Reasons, Nickelback; Back to Bedlam, James Blunt; Stadium Arcadium, Red Hot Chili Peppers