American Music Awards

The AMAs was created by Dick Clark in 1973 to compete with the Grammy Awards after the move of that year's show to Nashville, Tennessee led to CBS (which has broadcast all Grammy Award shows since then) picking up the Grammy telecasts after its first two in 1971 and 1972 were broadcast on ABC. In 2014, American network Telemundo acquired the rights to produce a Spanish-language version of the American Music Awards and launched the Latin American Music Awards in 2015.[3][4]

Until the 2005 edition, both the winners and the nominations were selected by members of the music industry, based on commercial performance, such as sales and airplay. Since the 2006 edition, winners have been determined by a poll of the public and fans, who can vote through the AMAs website, while nominations have remained based on sales, airplay, now including activity on social networks, and video viewing. Before 2010, had nominations based only on sales and airplay and nominated every work, even if old. The Grammys have nominations based on vote of the Academy and only nominate a work from their eligibility period that changes often.[5][6][7]

The first hosts for the first telecast of the AMAs were Helen Reddy, Roger Miller, and Smokey Robinson. Helen Reddy not only hosted the show but also became the first female artist to win an AMA for Favorite Pop/Rock Female artist. For the first decade or so, the AMAs had multiple hosts, each representing a genre of music. For instance, Glen Campbell would host the country portion (Campbell, in fact, has co-hosted the AMAs more times than any other host or co-host), while other artists would co-host to represent their genre. In recent years, however, there has been one single host.

In 1991, Keenen Ivory Wayans became the first Hollywood actor to host the AMAs.

From its inception in 1973 until 2003, the AMAs have been held in mid- to late-January, but were moved to November (usually the Sunday before Thanksgiving) beginning in 2003 so as not to further compete with other major awards shows (such as the Golden Globe Awards and the Academy Awards) and allows for ABC to have a well-rated awards show during November sweeps.

For the 2008 awards, Jimmy Kimmel hosted for the fourth consecutive year. In 2009–2012, there was no host for the first time in history. Instead, the AMAs followed the Grammys' lead in having various celebrities give introductions. However, rapper Pitbull hosted the 2013 ceremony and 2014 ceremony. Jennifer Lopez hosted the 2015 show.[8] Gigi Hadid and Jay Pharoah hosted the 2016 show. Tracee Ellis Ross hosted the show in 2017 and 2018. Ciara hosted the 2019 show.

Between 2012 and 2014, as part of a marketing strategy for Samsung, the American Music Awards used the lock screen wallpaper of Samsung Galaxy smartphones rather than envelopes to reveal winners. A magnetic screen cover on each phone kept the wallpaper image with the winner's name secret until opened.[9]

In August 2018, Dick Clark Productions announced a two-year sponsorship and content partnership with YouTube Music.[10]

The record for the most American Music Awards won in a single year is held by Michael Jackson (in 1984) and Whitney Houston (in 1994), each with 8 awards to their credit (including the Award of Merit, with which both artists were honored in the respective years).

• Michael Jackson 8 (1984)
• Whitney Houston 8 (1994)

The following list shows the artists with most wins in each category, adapted from the AMAs official website.[13]

• Artist of the Year: Taylor Swift (5 wins)
• Song of the Year: Kenny Rogers (5 wins)

The Song of the Year record holder accounts for all previous single category winners.

• Favorite Male Artist – Pop/Rock: (Tie) Barry Manilow, Eric Clapton, Michael Bolton, Michael Jackson and Justin Bieber (3 wins each)
• Favorite Female Artist – Pop/Rock: Taylor Swift, Whitney Houston, Olivia Newton-John (4 wins each)
• Favorite Duo or Group – Pop/Rock: Aerosmith, The Black Eyed Peas, Hall & Oates and One Direction (3 wins each)
• Favorite Album – Pop/Rock: Taylor Swift, Michael Jackson, Justin Bieber (3 wins each)
• Favorite Male Artist – Country: Garth Brooks (8 wins)
• Favorite Female Artist – Country: Reba McEntire (10 wins)
• Favorite Duo or Group – Country: Alabama (17 wins)
• Favorite Album – Country: Carrie Underwood (6 wins)
• Favorite Artist – Rap/Hip-Hop: Eminem (4 wins)

The Favorite Artist – Rap/Hip-Hop record holder accounts for all previous Favorite Female Artist – Rap/Hip-Hop and Favorite Male Artist – Rap/Hip-Hop category winners.

• Favorite Album – Rap/Hip-Hop: Nicki Minaj (3 wins)
• Favorite Male Artist – Soul/R&B: Luther Vandross (7 wins)
• Favorite Female Artist – Soul/R&B: Rihanna (7 wins)
• Favorite Album – Soul/R&B: Michael Jackson (4 wins)
• Favorite Artist – Alternative Rock: Linkin Park (6 wins)
• Favorite Artist – Adult Contemporary: Celine Dion (4 wins)
• Favorite Artist – Latin Music: Enrique Iglesias (7 wins)
• Favorite Artist – Contemporary Inspirational: Casting Crowns (4 wins)
• Favorite Artist – Electronic Dance Music: Marshmello, Calvin Harris and The Chainsmokers (2 wins each)

The American Music Award of Merit has been awarded to thirty two artists, the latest being Sting (2016).[14]

The International Artist Award of Excellence is described as "an award which recognizes artists whose popularity and impact cross national boundaries and is only given when there is a deserving recipient who is worthy of recognition for their accomplishments" and has been awarded to seven artists:[15]

• Michael Jackson (1993)
• Rod Stewart (1994)
• Led Zeppelin (1995)
• Bee Gees (1997)
• Aerosmith (2001)
• Beyoncé (2007)
• Whitney Houston (2009)

The AMAs' producer Larry Klein stated: "The first-ever Icon Award was created to honor an artist whose body of work has made a profound influence over pop music on a global level."[16]

• Rihanna (2013)

At the 2014 award ceremony, the Dick Clark Award for Excellence was given for the first time.[17] It was created to recognize "an artist who achieves a groundbreaking feat or creates a landmark work. It is to be bestowed upon someone whose spirit and excellence capture the visionary passion that Dick Clark himself incorporated into everything he did."[18]

• Taylor Swift (2014)

• Michael Jackson (1989)
• Prince (1990)
• Mariah Carey (2000 and 2008)
• Katy Perry (2011)

• Diana Ross (2017)

• 1990s: Garth Brooks (2000)[19][20]
• 2010s: Taylor Swift (2019)[21]

In 2000, the year Brooks won the award, the AMAs held a poll to elect the Artist of the Decade for each previous decade of the Rock & Roll era. According to some sources, the result of this poll is not counted in the total of AMAs won by these artists.[22][23][24] The results were Elvis Presley (1950s), The Beatles (1960s), Stevie Wonder (1970s) and Michael Jackson (1980s).

Poll

• 1950s: Elvis Presley
• 1960s: The Beatles
• 1970s: Stevie Wonder
• 1980s: Michael Jackson

• Michael Jackson won the Artist of the Century award in the 29th American Music Awards held on January 9, 2002.[25]

The American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Video was first awarded in 1984, but discontinued since 1988.

The American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Male Video Artist was first awarded in 1985, but discontinued since 1987.

The American Music Award for Favorite Video Artist was first awarded in 1985, but discontinued since 1987.

The American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group Video Artist was first awarded in 1985, but discontinued since 1987.

The American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock New Artist was first awarded in 1989, but discontinued since 2003.

The American Music Award for Favorite Country Video was first awarded in 1984, but discontinued since 1988.

• Two-time nominees: Alabama, Hank Williams Jr., Reba McEntire and Willie Nelson

The American Music Award for Favorite Country Male Video Artist was first awarded in 1985, but discontinued since 1987.

• Two-time nominees: Hank Williams Jr.

The American Music Award for Favorite Country Female Video Artist was first awarded in 1985, but discontinued since 1987.

• Three-time nominees: Anne Murray
• Two-time nominees: Janie Fricke

The American Music Award for Favorite Country Band/Duo/Group Video Artist was first awarded in 1985, but discontinued since 1987.

• Two-time nominees: Alabama and The Oak Ridge Boys

The American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Video was first awarded in 1984, but discontinued since 1988.

The American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Male Video Artist was first awarded in 1985, but discontinued since 1987.

The American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Female Video Artist was first awarded in 1985, but discontinued since 1987.

The American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Band/Duo/Group Video Artist was first awarded in 1985, but discontinued since 1987.

The American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B New Artist was first awarded in 1989, but discontinued since 2003.

The American Music Award for Favorite Heavy Metal/Hard Rock Artist was first awarded in 1989, but discontinued since 1997.

The American Music Award for Favorite Heavy Metal/Hard Rock Album was first awarded in 1989, but discontinued since 1992.

The American Music Award for Favorite Heavy Metal/Hard Rock New Artist was first awarded in 1990, but discontinued since 1993.

The American Music Award for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop New Artist was first awarded in 1990, but discontinued since 1994.

The American Music Award for Favorite Dance Artist was first awarded in 1990, but discontinued since 1992.

The American Music Award for Favorite Dance Song was first awarded in 1990, but discontinued since 1992.

The American Music Award for Favorite Dance New Artist was first awarded in 1990, but discontinued since 1992.