The American Music Awards nominees

The music awards season opens early this year in the US of A. The 30-year-old American Music Awards (AMA) is scheduled to name its choices for the most popular artists and recordings of 2003 on Sunday, Nov. 16 with a star-studded bash to be held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. The AMA is considered the forerunner of the Grammy Awards. In the years past, the AMA gave out its trophies a week or two ahead of the Grammys and the usual perception has been that the winners have a better chance of getting the awards at the Grammys.

The American Music Awards for accomplishments in the year 2002 was held only last January, so the announcement that there will be another show this November came as a big surprise. The reason for the change may be due to the fact that it has become difficult getting guests to perform or present trophies when the two events are held one after the other. If I remember right, there was even a row as to which one Michael Jackson should attend a year ago. Now while the Grammy is the record industry’s official award-giving body, the man behind the AMA happens to be Dick Clark, whose name is synonymous with the development of American popular music. In fact, he founded the AMA in 1973 as an alternative to the Grammys and then asked the fans to vote for their choices.

And that is the way things have been during the past 30 years. You may not get nominated for the Grammys but you can still strut your stuff at the AMA where the choices are deemed more popular. Well, if we are to go by the new November sked, then we will have the winners at the American Music Awards long before the Grammys announces its nominees late in December.

I do not know if we will be getting the ceremonies live on the morning of Monday, Nov. 17 on any of the cable or free TV channels. But since most of the artists involved also have big followings here, I decided it might interest their fans to know whom they might want to root for at the AMA. Here are the nominees:
• Favorite Pop or Rock ‘n Roll

Male: Clay Aiken; Kid Rock; John Mayer; Justin Timberlake

Female: Celine Dion; Avril Lavigne; Jennifer Lopez
• Band, Duo or Group: Fleetwood Mac; matchbox twenty; 3 Doors Down
• Album: Fallen by Evanescence; Come Away with Me by Norah Jones; Cocky by Kid Rock; Justified by Justin Timberlake
• Favorite Hip-Hop/R&B Music

Male: Ginuwine; Jaheim; R. Kelly; Luther Vandross

Female: Aaliyah; Ashanti; Beyonce
• Band, Duo or Group: B2K; Dru Hill; The Isley Brothers
• Album: Chapter II by Ashanti; Dangerously in Love by Beyonce; Chocolate Factory by R. Kelly; Dance with My Father by Luther Vandross
• Favorite Country Music

Male: Kenny Chesney; Alan Jackson; Toby Keith; Tim McGraw

Female: Faith Hill; Martina McBride; Shania Twain
• Band, Duo or Group: Alabama; Brooks & Dunn; Dixie Chicks
• Album: Unleashed by Toby Keith; Tim McGraw & the Dancehall Doctors by Tim McGraw; Melt by Rascal Flatts; Up! by Shania Twain
• Favorite Rap/ Hip-Hop

Male: Eminem; 50 Cent; Nelly, Sean Paul

Female: Missy Elliott; Eve; Lil’ Kim
• Band, Duo or Group: Black Eyed Peas; Bone Crusher; Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz
• Album: Under Construction by Missy Elliott; Get Rich or Die Tryin’ by 50 Cent; Dutty Rock by Sean Paul; 8 Mile motion picture soundtrack by Eminem.
• Favorite Artist, Alternative Music: Coldplay; Linkin Park; Metallica
• Favorite Artist, Adult Contemporary Music: Cher; Celine Dion; Norah Jones Favorite Artist, Latin Music: Kumbia Kings; Ricky Martin; Luis Miguel
• Favorite Artist, Contemporary Inspirational: Steven Curtis Chapman; MercyMe; Third Day
• Fan’s Choice Award: 50 Cent; Clay Aiken; Beyonce; matchbox twenty; Tim McGraw; Justin Timberlake
• Michael Jackson International Artist of the Year: Cher; Madonna; Shania Twain; Christina Aguilera; Justin Timberlake
• Coca-Cola New Music Award: Elcodrive of Boston; The Bomb Squad of New York; Relax to Paris of Sherman Oaks, California

Check out the winners at the AMA and then let us all find out how they will fare at next year’s Grammys.

Maksim In Town

Maksim, the young Croatian pianist who is turning heads because of his model looks and turning ears because of his exceptional blend of pop and classical music, is in town. Those who want to watch him do his Flight of a Bumble Bee and other pieces live can catch him tomorrow afternoon at Greenbelt 3 Park. The event is brought to you by Joey Rhythms 92.3, The Discovery Suites and the Yupangco Music Group and produced by Asian Events and EMI Philippines.