The American Music Awards are the only major pop music awards voted on by music fans. The awards will be telecast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles Sunday, November 21, 2010 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC Television.
My predictions are simply that...predictions. It will be up to the music fans to choose the actual winners. My predicted winner in each category is in bold type. I have included comments on each nominee. I am making predictions in the Pop/Rock and General categories.
Male Artist
- Justin Bieber - This is the year Justin Bieber truly spread his wings as a teen star with the release of the album My World 2.0. The American Music Awards is exactly the venue in which his phenomenal fan support will bring home a trophy.
- Eminem - 2010 was clearly a big year for Eminem. Thus far Recovery is the biggest selling album of the year and "Love the Way You Lie" is a song for the ages.
- Usher - With a little assist from will.i.am, "OMG" brought Usher to the top of the pop singles chart in high style this year. The club-oriented R&B of "DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love" has kept him on pop radio well into the fall.
Female Artist
- Ke$ha - By any analysis 2010 has been an amazing debut year for Ke$ha. Five top 10 solo hits culminating with a #1 debut for "We R Who We R" makes her arrival one of the top pop debuts of all time. However, is she truly personally popular enough to bring home an award like this?
- Lady Gaga - The momentum clearly slowed a bit in 2010 for Lady Gaga as we wait the arrival of her next album in 2011. However, few people seriously dispute her current status as the world's biggest pop star.
- Katy Perry - Katy Perry proved this year that she intends to stick around for awhile as a major force in the pop music industry. Back to back #1 hits with "California Gurls" and "Teenage Dream" make her one of the most successful pop stars of the year.
Band, Duo, Or Group
- Black Eyed Peas - 2009 was a career-making year for the Black Eyed Peas. The momentum slowed a bit this year, and it is likely to keep them from taking home this award. However they remain among the top level of pop stars.
- Lady Antebellum - With the song "Need You Now," Lady Antebellum blasted their way out of the confines of country music and landed in the pop mainstream. With the wind of one of the biggest selling albums of the year and one of the biggest pop singles of the year at their back, they should own this category.
- Train - Train returned in 2010 from near pop oblivion to own one of the biggest pop singles of the year with the help of a ukulele. "Hey, Soul Sister" was inescapable this year on pop radio.
Album
- Justin Bieber - My World 2.0 - This is the album that brought Justin Bieber critical respect and true devotion from his growing horde of fans. However, it does not look quite hefty enough to take home the accolade of the top album of the year.
- Eminem - Recovery - This ranks as one of the top albums of Eminem's career. That alone makes it one of the key releases of 2010. There is a feeling in the air that Recovery will be a major contender for album of the year at the next Grammy Awards, and it could kick off the campaign here with a big win.
- Katy Perry - Teenage Dream - This is a strong album from Katy Perry. However, I do not think she can shake the aura of being a "singles" artist enough to take home a victory for the top album of the year.
Breakthrough Artist
- Justin Bieber - This is a very tough category for 2010, but in the end Justin Bieber is a crowd favorite and should take home this trophy.
- B.o.B. - B.o.B. ushered in a new style blending pop and rap that proved it could be both achingly romantic on "Nothin' On You" as well as more dramatic and intense with "Airplanes."
- Taio Cruz - "Dynamite" has been inescapable on the radio this fall. However, Taio Cruz remains somewhat faceless to pop fans.
- Jason Derulo - There have been few more powerful recent debuts than the electronics-soaked, ultra-catchy "Whatcha Say," and Jason Derulo has kept chart momentum going all year long. However, the competition is just too stiff for it to be his year in this category.
- Ke$ha - Ke$ha is one of the primary competitors that could make the road to the win tough for Justin Bieber. Five top 10 smash hits and an image that is hard to escape makes her the definition of a breakthrough artist.
- Lady Antebellum - If voters trend in a more conservative direction, Lady Antebellum could take home this award. They are in a three-way battle with Justin Bieber and Ke$ha.
- Travie McCoy - "Billionaire" was clearly one of the most charming pop debuts of the year, but it's not enough to win this award.
Artist of the Year
- Justin Bieber - This is a big award to be taken home by a teenager, but then Justin Bieber is not any ordinary teenager. He is far from a shoo-in, but the crystal ball is looking good for Justin Bieber.
- Eminem - Eminem could be Justin Bieber's stiffest competition here. Two #1 singles with "Not Afraid" and "Love the Way You Lie" plus the current top selling album of the year Recovery all give him a strong argument that this award should be his. However, the fans will have their say.
- Ke$ha - There will be plenty of years in the future for Ke$ha to prove she has staying power. 2010 was a phenomenal debut year for Ke$ha, but I don't see her taking home this award.
- Lady Gaga - If Lady Gaga takes this award home it will be through a bit of coasting in 2010.
- Katy Perry - Katy Perry matches Eminem's singles chart success this year, but she doesn't generate the same fan enthusiasm as the Bieber.
