Since 2007, the American Music Award winners have been decided by the public. Nominees are determined by music industry sales and radio airplay along with television presence and social media involvement. Voting occurs online after nominations are made public.http://abc.go.com/shows/american-music-awards/about-the-show In 2010, fans were allowed to continue voting for the T-Mobile Breakthrough Artist of the Year award through the first hour of the show, while voting for all other categories ended earlier.http://abc.go.com/shows/american-music-awards/about-the-show

The American Music Awards (AMA's) bring pop, rock, country, rap, hip-hop, contemporary, soul, alternative and Latin music together under one roof for one night. The annual awards presentation is a Dick Clark Production which televises on ABC network channels and recognizes the best performers in the individual categories as well as names an Artist of the Year.http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/christina-aguilera-to-perform-at-the-38th-annual-american-music-awards-november-21-on-abc-105448943.html

The 2010 AMAs are the 38th annual presentation of the music awards which were created by Dick Clark in 1973. Clark was unhappy when the Grammy awards were moved from the ABC network to CBS and created the American Music Awards as a competing show. Michael Jackson and Donny Osmond co-hosted the 1973 show.http://www.last.fm/event/1741989+The+38th+Annual+American+Music+Awards In 1975, Jackson appeared on the awards show with sister Janet Jackson, then 12 years old.http://www.rollingstone.com/music/photos/53622/236277 In 1994, Whitney Houston won eight awards in one night, including the Award of Merit.http://www.rollingstone.com/music/photos/53622/236277/5 In 1999, Will Smith took home three awards for Big Willie Style.http://www.rollingstone.com/music/photos/53622/236277/7 In 2010, Smith's daughter, Willow, was named as a presenter for the event.http://celebrifi.com/gossip/Willow-Smith-among-AMA-presenters-4019990.html

In 2010, the event venue was the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles, California. In earlier years, the show took place at the Shrine Auditorium also in Los Angeles.http://new.music.yahoo.com/various-artists/news/american-music-awards-presented-tonight--12063151

• Artist of the Year
  • Justin Bieber -- WINNER
  • Ke$ha
  • Katy Perry
  • Lady Gaga
  • Eminem

• Breakthrough Artist Award
  • B.o.B
  • Justin Bieber -- WINNER
  • Taio Cruz
  • Jason Derulo
  • Ke$ha
  • Lady Antebellum
  • Travie McCoy
  • Mike Posner

Pop/Rock

• Favorite Male Artist
  • Justin Bieber -- WINNER
  • Eminem
  • Usher

Favorite Female Artist

• Ke$ha
• Lady Gaga -- WINNER
• Katy Perry

• Favorite Band, Duo or Group
  • Black Eyed Peas -- WINNER
  • Train
  • Lady Antebellum

• Favorite Album
  • My World 2.0 by Justin Bieber -- WINNER
  • Recovery by Eminem
  • Teenage Dream by Katy Perry

Country

• Favorite Male Artist
  • Jason Aldean
  • Luke Bryan
  • Brad Paisley -- WINNER

• Favorite Female Artist
  • Miranda Lambert
  • Taylor Swift -- WINNER
  • Carrie Underwood

• Favorite Band, Duo or Group
  • Rascal Flatts
  • Lady Antebellum -- WINNER
  • Zac Brown Band

• Favorite Album
  • Wide Open by Jason Aldean
  • Need You Now by Lady Antebellum
  • Play On by Carrie Underwood -- WINNER

Rap/Hip Hop

• Favorite Male Artist
  • B.o.B
  • Eminem -- WINNER
  • Drake

• Favorite Album
  • B.o.B. Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray by B.o.B
  • Thank Me Later by Drake
  • Recovery by Eminem -- WINNER

Soul/R&B

• Favorite Male Artist
  • Chris Brown
  • Trey Songz
  • Usher -- WINNER

• Favorite Female Artist
  • Sade
  • Alicia Keys
  • Rihanna -- WINNER

• Favorite Album
  • The Element of Freedom by Alicia Keys
  • Soldier of Love by Sade
  • Raymond v. Raymond by Usher -- WINNER

Soundtracks

• Favorite Soundtrack
  • Iron Man 2 by AC/DC
  • Glee: The Music, Volume 3 Showstoppers by Glee cast -- WINNER
  • The Twilight Saga: Eclipse by Various artists

Alternative

• Favorite Artist
  • Muse -- WINNER
  • Phoenix
  • Vampire Weekend

Adult

• Favorite Artist
  • Michael Buble -- WINNER
  • Lady Antebellum
  • Train

Latin

• Favorite Artist
  • Daddy Yankee
  • Enrique Iglesias
  • Shakira -- WINNER

Inspirational

• Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist
  • Casting Crowns
  • MercyMe -- WINNER
  • TobyMachttp://abc.go.com/shows/american-music-awards/nominees

• Artist of the Year: Taylor Swifthttp://abc.go.com/shows/american-music-awards/winners
• Pop/Rock Male Artist: Michael Jackson
• Pop/Rock Female Artist: Taylor Swift
• Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group: Black Eyed Peas
• Pop/Rock Album: Number Ones, Michael Jackson
• Country Male Artist: Keith Urban
• Country Female Artist: Taylor Swift
• Country Band/Duo/Group: Rascal Flatts
• Country Album: Fearless, Taylor Swift
• Soul/R&B Male Artist: Michael Jackson
• Soul/R&B Female Artist: Beyonce
• Soul/R&B Band/Duo/Group: Black Eyed Peas
• Soul/R&B Album: Number Ones, Michael Jackson
• Rap/Hip-Hop Male Artist: Jay-Z
• Rap/Hip-Hop Album: Blueprint 3, Jay-Z
• Adult Contemporary Artist: Taylor Swift
• Latin Music Artist: Aventura
• Alternative Rock Artist: Green Day
• Contemporary Inspirational Artist: Mary Mary
• Soundtracks Album: Twilight Soundtrack
• Breakthrough Artist: Gloriana

Pop/Rock Music

• Breakthrough Artist: Jonas Brothers
• Artist of the Year: Chris Brown
• Favorite Male Artist: Chris Brown
• Favorite Female Artist: Rihanna
• Favorite Band or Duo: Chris Daughtry
• Favorite Album: Alicia Keys - As I Am

Country Music

• Favorite Male Artist: Brad Paisley
• Favorite Female Artist: Taylor Swift
• Favorite Band or Duo: Rascal Flatts
• Favorite Album: Carrie Underwood

Rap/Hip-Hop Music

• Favorite Male Artist: Kanye West
• Favorite Band or Duo: Three 6 Mafia
• Favorite Album: Kanye West - Graduation

Soul/Rhythm & Blues Music

• Favorite Male Artist: Chris Brown
• Favorite Female Artist: Rihanna
• Favorite Album: Alicia Keys - As I Am

Soundtracks

• Favorite Album: Alvin And The Chipmunks

Alternative Rock Music

• Favorite Artist: Linkin Park

Adult Contemporary Music

• Favorite Artist: Jordin Sparks

Latin Music

• Favorite Artist: Enrique Iglesias

Contemporary Inspirational

• Favorite Artist: Third Day

• Breakthrough Artist: Chris Daughtry
• Best Pop/Rock Artist: Justin Timberlake
• Favorite Female Artist: Fergie
• Favorite Band or Group: Nickelback
• Favorite Album: Chris Daughtry