The Hotline Bling star's domination of so many categories, including Artist of the Year, Favourite Male Artist Pop/Rock, and Favourite Album Pop/Rock, meant he surpassed Michael Jackson's previous nominations record of 11.
He will compete against rumoured girlfriend Rihanna, who surprisingly earned the second highest number of nominations with seven, in the prestigious Artist of the Year category. Beyonce earned just four nominations overall for her critically acclaimed surprise album Lemonade.
Also on a shortlist for the top honour, which will be narrowed down to five artists before the ceremony at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on 20 November (16) are Adele, Beyoncé, Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande, Twenty One Pilots, Carrie Underwood and The Weeknd.
Adele and Justin Bieber picked up five nominations each, with Beyonce on four alongside The Chainsmokers.
Despite going up against each other for the event's main prize, Drake and Rihanna also received nods for their collaboration on the hit track Work.
The song is nominated in three categories, Video of the Year, Collaboration of the Year and Favourite Song Soul/R&B.
Drake's album Views is also up for two awards, earning nominations for best album in the Pop/Rock and the Hip Hop/Rap category.
He will duke it out with Justin Bieber and The Weeknd in the Best Male Artist Pop/Rock category
The Canadian rapper, who is yet to win an American Music Award, was also nominated in the Favourite Song Pop/Rock category for his track One Dance, featuring Wizkid & Kyla. Adele's Hello and Justin's track Love Yourself are also nominated for that award.
The nominations were announced on U.S. TV show Good Morning America by singers Joe Jonas and Rachel Platten, as well as on a Facebook livestream.
