The 2012 American Music Award nominations were announced on Tuesday. Rihanna and Nicki Minaj lead the pack with 4 nominations each, Rihanna in the top category – artist of the year – where she will compete with Bieber, Katy Perry, pop-rockers Maroon 5 and Canadian rapper Drake.
She also won nods for female soul/R&B artist and album for “Talk That Talk,” and will battle Minaj, in the female pop/rock artist category.
Minaj scored two nods for her album “Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded” in both the pop/rock and rap/hip hop categories this year, as well as a nomination for favorite rap artist, alongside Drake and American newcomer Tyga.
Justin Bieber scored three nominations, as did One Direction, Drake, Maroon 5 and Usher.
The AMAs will air live on ABC on Sunday, November 18.
2012 American Music Award Nominees
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
