Season 37
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 37th Annual American Music Awards aired on M-Net on Monday 23 November 2009, at 21h30. The special was two hours long.
2009 Awards
Recording artists Paula Abdul, Adam Lambert and Snoop Dogg revealed the American Music Awards (AMAs) nominees on Tuesday 13 October, 2009 from the Beverly Hills Hotel.
For the third year, winners were determined by online voting at www.ama.abc.com and www.amavote.com, the official voting locations.
Artists were honoured in the categories of Pop/Rock, Country, Rap/Hip-Hop, Soul/R&B, Alternative, Adult Contemporary, Latin and Contemporary Inspirational.
Taylor Swift lead the nominations race this year with six (6) total nominations, Michael Jackson followed with five (5) nominations, Eminem followed with four (4) nominations and Beyonce, Black Eyed Peas, Lady Gaga, Kings of Leon and T.I. collected three (3) nominations.
Lady Gaga, Eminem, Kings of Leon, Michael Jackson and Taylor Swift made up the roster of 2009 Artist of the Year nominees.
Performers
Adam Lambert
Alicia Keys
Black Eyed Peas
Carrie Underwood
Daughtry
Eminem
Green Day
Jay-Z
Jennifer Lopez
Keith Urban
Kelly Clarkson
Lady GaGa
Mary J. Blige
Rihanna
Shakira
2009 Winners
POP or ROCK MUSIC
Favorite Male Artist
Eminem
Michael Jackson
T.I.
Favorite Female Artist
Beyonce
Lady Gaga
Taylor Swift
Favorite Band, Duo or Group
Black Eyed Peas
Kings of Leon
Nickelback
Favorite Album
Lady Gaga / Fame
Michael Jackson / Number Ones
Taylor Swift / Fearless
COUNTRY MUSIC
Favorite Male Artist
Jason Aldean
Darius Rucker
Keith Urban
Favorite Female Artist
Reba McEntire
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood
Favorite Band, Duo or Group
Rascal Flatts
Sugarland
Zac Brown Band
Favorite Album
Rascal Flatts/ Unstoppable
Taylor Swift / Fearless
Zac Brown Band / Foundation
RAP/HIP-HOP MUSIC
Favorite Male Artist
Eminem
Jay-Z
T.I.
Favorite Album
Eminem / Relapse
Jay-Z / Blueprint 3
T.I. / Paper Trail
SOUL/RHYTHM & BLUES MUSIC
Favorite Male Artist
Jamie Foxx
Michael Jackson
Maxwell
Favorite Female Artist
Beyonce
Keyshia Cole
Keri Hilson
Favorite Band, Duo or Group
Black Eyed Peas
Day26
Mary Mary
Favorite Album
Beyonce / I AmSasha Fierce
Black Eyed Peas / The E.N.D.
Michael Jackson / Number Ones
SOUNDTRACKS
Favorite Album
Hannah Montana: The Movie
Hannah Montana 3
Twilight Soundtrack
ALTERNATIVE ROCK MUSIC
Favorite Artist
Green Day
Kings of Leon
Shinedown
ADULT CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
Favorite Artist
Daughtry
Jason Mraz
Taylor Swift
LATIN MUSIC
Favorite Artist
Aventura
Luis Fonsi
Wisin Y Yandel
CONTEMPORARY INSPIRATIONAL
Favorite Artist
Jeremy Camp
Brandon Heath
Mary Mary
T-MOBILE BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST
Pop/Rock Breakthrough Artist
Kings of Leon
Lady Gaga
Country Breakthrough Artist
Gloriana
Zac Brown Band
Soul/R&B Breakthrough Artist
Keri Hilson
Jermiah
Rap/Hip-Hop Breakthrough Artist
Drake
Kid Cudi
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Alternative - Kings of Leon
Country - Taylor Swift
Pop/Rock - Lady Gaga
Rap/Hip-Hop - Eminem
Soul/R&B - Michael Jackson
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.