Season 36
The American Music Awards show is one of several annual major American music awards shows (among the others are the Billboard Music Awards, the Grammy Awards, and the Country Music Association Awards) which honours outstanding achievements in the record industry.
The awards were created in 1973 by Dick Clark as competition to the Grammys. They are broadcast annually in the USA on ABC.
The American Music Awards airs in South Africa on M-Net the day after the awards ceremony in the USA.
The 36th Annual American Music Awards aired on M-Net on Monday 24 November 2008, at 20h30. The special was two hours long.
2008 Awards
The 2008 American Music Awards aired in the USA on Sunday 23 November, 2008 at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, California. The ceremony was hosted by Jimmy Kimmel for the fourth time in a row.
The winners of the awards were chosen by the American public in a wide variety of genres. These genres include Pop/Rock, Country, Soul/Rhythm & Blues, Rap/Hip-Hop, Latin Music, Contemporary Inspirational, Adult Contemporary and Alternative Music.
Alicia Keys lead the pack this year with five nominations: Favorite Female Artist in both the Pop/Rock and Soul/R&B categories, two Favorite Album nominations for her album, As I Am, in the Pop/Rock and Soul/R&B categories as well as an Artist of the Year nod.
Coldplay garnered four nominations this year: Favorite Artist in the Alternative Rock category, Favorite Band Duo or Group and Favorite album, for Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends, in the Pop/Rock category and Artist of the Year.
The Eagles also earned four nominations: Favorite Band Duo or Group and Favorite Album in the Pop/Rock category, Favorite Artist in the Adult Contemporary category and Artist of the Year.
In addition to Alicia Keys, Coldplay and Eagles, Lil Wayne and Chris Brown round out the 2008 Artist of the Year nominees.
Performers
Mariah Carey
Jonas Brothers
The Fray
Ne-Yo
New Kids on the Block
P!nk
Pussycat Dolls
Rihanna
Taylor Swift
Alicia Keys
Annie Lennox
Kanye West
Leona Lewis
Coldplay
Miley Cyrus
Presenters
Ashley Tisdale
David Archuleta
Demi Lovato
T-Pain
2008 Winners
POP/ROCK
Favorite Male Artist
Chris Brown
Kid Rock
Usher
Favorite Female Artist
Mariah Carey
Rihanna
Alicia Keys
Favorite Band/Duo/Group
Coldplay
Eagles
Daughtry
Favorite Album
Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends - Coldplay
Long Road out of Eden - Eagles
As I Am - Alicia Keys
COUNTRY MUSIC
Favorite Male Artist
Garth Brooks
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
Favorite Female Artist
Carrie Underwood
Reba McEntire
Taylor Swift
Favorite Band/Duo/Group
Brooks & Dunn
Rascal Flatts
Sugarland
Favorite Album
The Ultimate Hits - Garth Brooks
Still Feels Good - Rascal Flatts
Carnival Ride - Carrie Underwood
RAP/HIP-HOP MUSIC
Favorite Male Artist
Flo Rida
Kanye West
Lil Wayne
Favorite Band/Duo/Group
G-Unit
Three 6 Mafia
Wu-Tang Clan
Favorite Album
American Gangster - Jay-Z
Tha Carter III - Lil Wayne
Graduation - Kanye West
SOUL/RHYTHM & BLUES MUSIC
Favorite Male Artist
Chris Brown
J Holiday
Usher
Favorite Female Artist
Mary J. Blige
Rihanna
Alicia Keys
Favorite Album
Growing Pains - Mary J. Blige
E=MC² - Mariah Carey
As I Am - Alicia Keys
SOUNDTRACKS
Favorite Album
Alvin and the Chipmunks
Juno
Mamma Mia!
ALTERNATIVE ROCK MUSIC
Favorite Artist
Coldplay
Foo Fighters
Linkin Park
ALTERNATIVE CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
Favorite Artist
Daughtry
Eagles
Jordin Sparks
LATIN MUSIC
Favorite Artist
Enrique Iglesias
Juanes
Wisin & Yandel
CONTEMPORARY INSPIRATIONAL
Favorite Artist
Casting Crowns
MercyMe
Third Day
T-MOBILE BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST
Colbie Caillat
Flo Rida
Jonas Brothers
Paramore
The-Dream
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Lil Wayne
Chris Brown
Alicia Keys
Coldplay
Eagles
About the Awards
Winners of the American Music Awards are selected by the public. A national sampling of approximately 20,000, taking into account geographic location, age, sex and ethnic origin, are sent ballots by the National Family Opinion, Inc. firm under the supervision of Broadcast Research and Consulting, Inc.
Names of the nominees on the ballot were compiled from data supplied by the music industry trade publication, Radio & Records and Nielsen Soundscan, which tracks retail music sales.
Results of the voting, tabulated by the Ernst & Young LLP accounting firm, are not announced until the envelopes are opened during the presentation ceremonies.