Rap chart-topper Drake on Monday earned a record 13 nominations for the American Music Awards, topping the mark set by the late king of pop, Michael Jackson.

The Toronto rapper, whose Views has been the top-selling album released this year in the United States, was in the running for artist of the year and raked in other nominations thanks to his slew of collaborations.

But on the same day as his nomination glory, Drake postponed the final three performances of his Summer Sixteen tour under doctors' orders, his spokesperson says.

"Drake suffered a severe ankle injury during the tour which he did his best to power through. By doing this, he made his injury worse," the spokesperson says.

Drake, whose hits such as Hotline Bling have won him an avid fan base, had been due to play two nights in New York's Barclays Center before closing his tour on Saturday in nearby Newark.

The rapper, who turns 30 later this month, beat the nomination record set by Jackson, who in 1984 was in line for 11 awards amid the colossal success of his Thriller album.

Winners of the American Music Awards are based on fan voting in contrast to the more prestigious Grammy Awards, for which the Recording Academy surveys industry professionals.

Boy band One Direction, who was never nominated for a Grammy, won artist of the year at the past two American Music Awards.

ABC television, which will broadcast the awards gala in Los Angeles on Nov 20, announced the nominations.

The other nominees for artist of the year include ballad singer Adele, whose 25 released last year is the strongest-selling album in years and considered a Grammy front-runner, and pop diva Beyonce.

(China Daily 10/12/2016 page18)