Nicki Minaj and Rihanna lead nominations for 2012 AMAs
Nicki Minaj and Rihanna lead the nominations for the 2012 American Music Awards (AMAs).
The two singers are each in the running for four awards, with Drake, Justin Bieber, Maroon 5, One Direction and Usher following narrowly behind with three nods apiece.
Justin, Rihanna, Maroon 5, Drake and Katy Perry will battle it out for the coveted Artist of the Year prize, while J. Cole, fun., Gotye, Carly Rae Jepsen and One Direction are all up for New Artist of the Year.
Nicki's four nominations are for Favorite Female Artist - Pop/Rock, Favorite Artist - Rap/ Hip Hop, Favorite Album - Pop/Rock and Favorite Album - Rap/ Hip Hop for 'Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded'.
As well as Artist of the Year, Rihanna is also up for Favorite Female Artist - Pop/Rock, Favorite Female Artist - Soul/R&B and Favorite Album - Soul/R&B for 'Talk That Talk'.
A new category has been introduced this year, Favorite Artist - Electronic Dance Music (EDM), in which David Guetta, Calvin Harris and Skrillex will do battle.
Christina Aguilera - who announced the nominations in Los Angeles today - is the first performer to be announced for the ceremony, which takes place at Los Angeles' Nokia theater on November 18.
Voting opens online for the awards today.
ARTIST OF THE YEAR:
Justin Bieber
Drake
Maroon 5
Katy Perry
Rihanna
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR:
J. Cole
fun.
Gotye
Carly Rae Jepsen
One Direction
FAVORITE MALE ARTIST - POP/ROCK:
Justin Bieber
Flo Rida
Pitbull
Usher
FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST - POP/ROCK:
Kelly Clarkson
Nicki Minaj
Katy Perry
Rihanna
FAVORITE BAND, DUO OR GROUP - POP/ROCK:
fun.
Maroon 5
One Direction
The Wanted
FAVORITE ALBUM - POP/ROCK:
Justin Bieber, 'Believe'
Maroon 5, 'Overexposed'
Nicki Minaj, 'Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded'
One Direction, 'Up All Night'
FAVORITE MALE ARTIST - COUNTRY:
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Eric Church
FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST - COUNTRY:
Miranda Lambert
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood
FAVORITE BAND, DUO or GROUP - COUNTRY:
Zac Brown Band
Lady Antebellum
Rascal Flatts
FAVORITE ALBUM - COUNTRY:
Luke Bryan, 'Tailgates & Tanlines'
Lionel Richie, 'Tuskegee'
Carrie Underwood, 'Blown Away'
FAVORITE ARTIST - RAP/HIP-HOP:
Drake
Nicki Minaj
Tyga
FAVORITE ALBUM - RAP/HIP-HOP:
J. Cole, 'Cole World: The Sideline Story'
Drake, 'Take Care'
Nicki Minaj, 'Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded'
FAVORITE MALE ARTIST - SOUL/R&B:
Chris Brown
Trey Songz
Usher
FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST - SOUL/R&B:
Beyoncé
Mary J. Blige
Rihanna
FAVORITE ALBUM - SOUL/R&B:
Chris Brown, 'Fortune'
Rihanna, 'Talk That Talk'
Usher, 'Looking 4 Myself'
FAVORITE ARTIST - ALTERNATIVE ROCK:
The Black Keys
Gotye
Linkin Park
FAVORITE ARTIST - ADULT CONTEMPORARY:
Adele
Kelly Clarkson
Train
FAVORITE ARTIST - LATIN:
Don Omar
Pitbull
Shakira
FAVORITE ARTIST - CONTEMPORARY INSPIRATIONAL:
Jeremy Camp
Newsboys
tobyMac
FAVORITE ARTIST - ELECTRONIC DANCE MUSIC (EDM):
David Guetta
Calvin Harris
Skrillex
