Season 39
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 previously aired in South Africa on M-Net the day after the awards ceremony in the USA. As of 2011 they air live on Channel O, with a repeat that night on Vuzu.
The 39th Annual American Music Awards aired live on Channel O on Monday 21 November 2011, at 03h00. They repeated on Vuzu on Monday 21 November 2011, at 20h30. The special was three hours long.
2011 Awards
The American Music Awards are fan-voted and have consistently been one of the United States' most-watched television awards event over the past few years.
Much of this has to do with the stunning line-up of current, chart-topping talent that performs each year – and 2011 was no different.
Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson, Mary J. Blige, Christina Aguilera, Pitbull and Maroon 5 all took to the stage at the Nokia Theatre in LA.
They were joined by LMFAO, Chris Brown and Marc Anthony in creating a brilliant night's entertainment – and the presence of Anthony's ex-wife Jennifer Lopez only adding to the star-wattage at this year's event.
The leading nominee at this year's awards was Adele, who was up for Favorite Rock/Pop Female Artist, Adult Contemporary Artist, Album with her "21" and Artist of the Year.
Katy Perry was one of several artists up for three American Music Awards – in the running for Artist of the Year, Pop or Rock music: Favorite female Artist and Adult Contemporary Music: Favorite Artist.
Other multi-nominees were Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift and Rihanna.
In the rap/hip hop categories, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj and Kanye West earned nods for Favorite Artist while "Watch The Throne" by West and Jay-Z, "The Carter IV" by Lil Wayne, and "Pink Friday" from Nicki Minaj were nominated for Favorite album.
The awards ceremony was hosted by fellow nominees Nicki Minaj and rapper Pitbull.
2011 Performers
Chris Brown
David Guetta (featuring Usher)
Jennifer Lopez
Justin Bieber
Katy Perry
Kelly Clarkson
Lady Gaga
LMFAO
Marc Anthony
Maroon 5 (featuring Christina Aguilera)
Mary J. Blige
Nicki Minaj
Pitbull
Rihanna
Taylor Swift
2011 Winners
Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist
Adele
Katy Perry
Lady Gaga
Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist
Justin Bieber
Bruno Mars
Pitbull
Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group
LMFAO
Maroon 5
OneRepublic
Favorite Pop/Rock Album
Adele - 21
Rihanna - Loud
Lady Gaga - Born This Way
Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist
Lil Wayne
Nicki Minaj
Kanye West
Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album
Lil Wayne - Tha Carter IV
The Throne - Watch the Throne
Nicki Minaj - Pink Friday
Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist
Chris Brown
Trey Songz
Usher
Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist
Rihanna
Beyoncé
Kelly Rowland
Favorite Soul/R&B Album
Chris Brown - F.A.M.E.
Rihanna - Loud
Beyoncé - 4
Favorite Alternative Artist
Foo Fighters
Black Keys
Mumford & Sons
Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist
Adele
Bruno Mars
Katy Perry
Favorite Latin Artist
Pitbull
Enrique Iglesias
Jennifer Lopez
Favorite Country Female Artist
Sara Evans
Miranda Lambert
Taylor Swift
Favorite Country Male Artist
Jason Aldean
Brad Paisley
Blake Shelton
Favorite Country Band/Duo/Group
Zac Brown Band
Lady Antebellum
The Band Perry
Favorite Country Album
Jason Aldean - My Kinda Party
Taylor Swift - Speak Now
The Band Perry - The Band Perry
Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist
Casting Crowns
Tobymac
Third Day
Artist of the Year
Adele
Lady Gaga
Katy Perry
Lil Wayne
Taylor Swift
Sprint New Artist of the Year
POP/ROCK
Foster The People
Hot Chelle Rae (Overall Winner - Sprint New Artist of the Year)
COUNTRY
The Band Perry
Thompson Square
SOUL/R&B
Marsha Ambrosius
Miguel
RAP/HIP-HOP
LMFAO
Wiz Khalifa
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.