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
Favorite New Artist
- Lauryn Hill
- LSG
- Next
ADULT CONTEMPORARY
Favorite Artist
- Backstreet Boys
- Celine Dion
- Shania Twain
SOUNDTRACK
Favorite Soundtrack
- Armageddon
- City of Angels
- Titanic
RAP/HIP-HOP
Favorite Artist
- Beastie Boys
- Master P
- Puff Daddy
ALTERNATIVE MUSIC
Favorite Artist
- Green Day
- Pearl Jam
- Third Eye Blind