Nicki Minaj, Rihanna lead American Music Awards nominations

Highlights

• Nicki Minaj and Rihanna lead the nominations for the 2012 American Music Awards (AMAs).
• The two singers are each in the running for four awards, with Drake, Justin Bieber, Maroon 5, One Direction and Usher following narrowly behind with three nods apiece. Justin, Rihanna, Maroon 5, Drake and Katy Perry will battle it out for the coveted Artist of the Year prize, while J. Cole, fun., Gotye, Carly Rae Jepsen and One Direction are all up for New Artist of the Year.
• Nicki's four nominations are for Favorite Female Artist - Pop/Rock, Favorite Artist - Rap/ Hip Hop, Favorite Album - Pop/Rock and Favorite Album - Rap/ Hip Hop for Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded. As well as Artist of the Year, Rihanna is also up for Favorite Female Artist - Pop/Rock, Favorite Female Artist - Soul/R&B and Favorite Album - Soul/R&B for Talk That Talk.
• A new category has been introduced this year, Favorite Artist - Electronic Dance Music (EDM), in which David Guetta, Calvin Harris and Skrillex will do battle.
• Christina Aguilera - who announced the nominations in Los Angeles today (09.10.12) - is the first performer to be announced for the ceremony, which takes place at Los Angeles' Nokia theater on November 18.
• Voting opens online for the awards today (09.10.12).
• 2012 American Music Awards nominations list:
• 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