The American Music Awards, abbreviated as the AMAs, are given to top performers throughout the music industry on an annual basis. Awards are given in the Pop/Rock, Country, Rap/Hip-Hop, Soul/R&B, Alternative, Adult Contemporary, Latin, Soundtracks and Contemporary Inspirational genres of music. In addition to the awards in each of the genres, an Artist of the Year is named from all groups combined.http://abc.go.com/shows/american-music-awards/about-the-show

The awards are ultimately voted on by fans, but the nominees are chosen by their presence on Big Champagne's Ultimate Chart. Artists are ranked on the chart as a result of their music sales combined with their presence on the radio and television, internet streaming, and their involvement with the public through social media.http://abc.go.com/shows/american-music-awards/about-the-show In 2007, Dick Clark Productions, which leads the event, moved to a fan based voting system which is conducted through online voting through the ABC website.http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/christina-aguilera-to-perform-at-the-38th-annual-american-music-awards-november-21-on-abc-105448943.html

The American Music Awards were established in 1973, by Dick Clark, to compete with the Grammys after the move of that year's show to Nashville, Tennessee led to CBS picking up the telecast instead of ABC which had broadcast the shows in the preceding years.http://www.last.fm/event/1741989+The+38th+Annual+American+Music+Awards Michael Jackson co-hosted the first event with Donny Osmond.http://www.last.fm/event/1741989+The+38th+Annual+American+Music+Awards In 2009, after his death, Jackson received four AMAs.http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-ama-awards,0,1954635.story Roberta Flack won the first award given in 1973.http://www.chiff.com/pop-culture/american-music-awards.htm

Each year, ABC announces performers for the event, often utilizing nominees or those who are releasing albums in the time frame of the event. Additional entertainers are named as presenters to hand out the awards.http://abc.go.com/shows/american-music-awards/performers

Winners will be noted as they are announced

• 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

• • 2000: Norm MacDonald hosted the 27th Annual American Music Awards
  • 2001: Britney Spears and LL Cool J hosted the 28th Annual American Music Awards
  • 2002: Jenny McCarthy hosted the 29th Annual American Music Awards
  • 2003: Ozzy Osbourne hosted the 30th Annual American Music Awards
  • 2003: Jimmy Kimmel hosted the 31st Annual American Music Awards
  • 2004: Jimmy Kimmel hosted the 32nd Annual American Music Awards
  • 2005: Cedric, the Entertainer hosted the 33rd Annual American Music Awards
  • 2006: Jimmy Kimmel hosted the 34th Annual American Music Awards
  • 2007: Jimmy Kimmel hosted the 35th Annual American Music Awards
  • 2008: Jimmy Kimmel hosted the 36th Annual American Music Awards