Will Smith, Celine Dion Lead AMA Nominations Pack

The nominations for the 26th annual American Music Awards were announced in Los Angeles yesterday.

Celine Dion and Will Smith led the pack with K-Ci & JoJo, Puff Daddy, the Backstreet Boys, Brandy, Next, Third Eye Blind and Brian McKnight among those with multiple nominations. Aerosmith, The Beastie Boys, Eric Clapton, Green Day, Lauryn Hill, Matchbox 20, Natalie Imbruglia, 'N Sync, Mase, Aaliyah, Janet Jackson, Escape, LSG, Master P and Pearl Jam also got nods.

While the Grammy winners are determined by committees of music industry peers, it's the fans that vote on the AMAs. The nominations are determined by data from the sales tracking tool SoundScan and the music industry trade magazine "Radio & Records." Ballots are then sent to a national sampling of 20,000 consumers.

The winners will be announced January 11 at an awards show broadcast live on ABC from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

The nominees include:

POP/ROCK

Favorite

Male Artist

• Eric Clapton
• Puff Daddy
• Will Smith

Favorite Female Artist

• Brandy
• Celine Dion
• Shania Twain

Favorite Band, Duo, Group

• Aerosmith
• Backstreet Boys
• Matchbox 20

Favorite Album

• Let's Talk About Love (Celine Dion)
• Big Willie Style (Will Smith)
• Come On Over (Shania Twain)

Favorite New Artist

• Natalie Imbruglia
• 'N Sync
• Third Eye Blind

SOUL/RHYTHM & BLUES

Favorite Male Artist

• Mase
• Brian McKnight
• Will Smith

Favorite Female Artist

• Aaliyah
• Brandy
• Janet Jackson

Favorite Band, Duo, Group

• K-Ci & JoJo
• Next
• Escape

Favorite Album