Top American Music Awards Nominations For 2014
Artist of the Year
Iggy Azalea leads this year's American Music Awards nominations with six, and that includes a nod for Artist Of the Year. That would make her the one to beat in the newly expanded category which now includes 10 nominees instead of just five. Three others in this category, John Legend, Katy Perry, and Pharrell Williams, each have five nominations overall.
Last year Taylor Swift took home Artist of the Year honors on the way to winning four awards.
New Artist of the Year
It has been a big year for new pop artists. All five of the nominees in this category have either had a number one album or a top five smash hit single. One of the most recent to emerge is Meghan Trainor who is currently riding the top of the charts with her breakthrough hit "All About That Bass." Iggy Azalea and Sam Smith should also be stiff competition in this category.
Both have appeared on three top 10 pop hit singles this year.
Single of the Year
This category has also expanded for 2014. There are now five nominees instead of just three. All of these songs were major #1 pop hit singles. However, it is difficult to see Pharrell Williams' 10 week chart topper "Happy" being denied its position as Single of the Year.
However, an Iggy Azalea sweep of the awards or sentiment for John Legend's long charting piano ballad "All Of Me" could be waiting in the wings.
Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist
With her recent selection as the star of next year's Super Bowl halftime show, Katy Perry is a strong contender in this category. She has enjoyed a big year with the mega-smash hit "Dark Horse" and a big concert tour. However, Iggy Azalea has emerged against all odds to be a true pop superstar placing "Fancy" at #1 and the follow up "Black Widow," interestingly enough originally a Katy Perry song, into the top 5.
Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist
Any of these three artists would have a strong legitimate claim to this award. Sam Smith appeared on two top 20 charting hits, Disclosure's "Latch" and Naughty Boy's "La La La," before beating both of those with his own #2 smash "Stay With Me." John Legend enjoyed his very first top 10 pop hit after a decade of critical acclaim. That hit, "All Of Me," also went all the way to #1.
Finally, Pharrell Williams continues to be everywhere with not only his own hits, but also working in production and songwriting with others and starring this fall on The Voice.
Favorite Pop/Rock Band, Duo or Group
Last year was definitely a banner year for Imagine Dragons, but despite that One Direction took home the crown. None of these artists has released a new album so far in 2014. However, they have been ever-present on the radio. Early in the year OneRepublic were enjoying one of their biggest hits of their career so far with "Counting Stars." It was followed by another top 20 smash "Love Runs Out." Perhaps 2014 is their year for this award.
In the past the top album award would be considered the biggest music award of the year. However, as the music market has become increasingly singles focused, and CD sales continue to fade, the shine has worn off albums as the key vehicle to release new music. All of this year's nominees were actually released in 2013. All have generated major pop hit singles, but it seems a toss-up as to who will win this category.
Sara Bareilles has become a mainstay of adult contemporary radio, and her Grammy Award Album Of the Year nominee The Blessed Unrest spun off the hit single "I Choose You" to follow up "Brave." However, a wave of sentiment for Katy Perry could give her the victory in this category.
- Iggy Azalea
- Beyonce
- Luke Bryan
- Eminem
- Imagine Dragons
- John Legend
- Lorde
- One Direction
- Katy Perry
- Pharrell Williams
Iggy Azalea leads this year's American Music Awards nominations with six, and that includes a nod for Artist Of the Year. That would make her the one to beat in the newly expanded category which now includes 10 nominees instead of just five. Three others in this category, John Legend, Katy Perry, and Pharrell Williams, each have five nominations overall.
Last year Taylor Swift took home Artist of the Year honors on the way to winning four awards.
New Artist of the Year
- 5 Seconds Of Summer
- Iggy Azalea
- Bastille
- Sam Smith
- Meghan Trainor
It has been a big year for new pop artists. All five of the nominees in this category have either had a number one album or a top five smash hit single. One of the most recent to emerge is Meghan Trainor who is currently riding the top of the charts with her breakthrough hit "All About That Bass." Iggy Azalea and Sam Smith should also be stiff competition in this category.
Both have appeared on three top 10 pop hit singles this year.
Single of the Year
- Iggy Azalea featuring Charli XCX - "Fancy"
- John Legend - "All Of Me"
- MAGIC! - "Rude"
- Katy Perry featuring Juicy J - "Dark Horse"
- Pharrell Williams - "Happy"
This category has also expanded for 2014. There are now five nominees instead of just three. All of these songs were major #1 pop hit singles. However, it is difficult to see Pharrell Williams' 10 week chart topper "Happy" being denied its position as Single of the Year.
However, an Iggy Azalea sweep of the awards or sentiment for John Legend's long charting piano ballad "All Of Me" could be waiting in the wings.
Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist
- Iggy Azalea
- Lorde
- Katy Perry
With her recent selection as the star of next year's Super Bowl halftime show, Katy Perry is a strong contender in this category. She has enjoyed a big year with the mega-smash hit "Dark Horse" and a big concert tour. However, Iggy Azalea has emerged against all odds to be a true pop superstar placing "Fancy" at #1 and the follow up "Black Widow," interestingly enough originally a Katy Perry song, into the top 5.
Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist
- John Legend
- Sam Smith
- Pharrell Williams
Any of these three artists would have a strong legitimate claim to this award. Sam Smith appeared on two top 20 charting hits, Disclosure's "Latch" and Naughty Boy's "La La La," before beating both of those with his own #2 smash "Stay With Me." John Legend enjoyed his very first top 10 pop hit after a decade of critical acclaim. That hit, "All Of Me," also went all the way to #1.
Finally, Pharrell Williams continues to be everywhere with not only his own hits, but also working in production and songwriting with others and starring this fall on The Voice.
Favorite Pop/Rock Band, Duo or Group
- Imagine Dragons
- One Direction
- OneRepublic
Last year was definitely a banner year for Imagine Dragons, but despite that One Direction took home the crown. None of these artists has released a new album so far in 2014. However, they have been ever-present on the radio. Early in the year OneRepublic were enjoying one of their biggest hits of their career so far with "Counting Stars." It was followed by another top 20 smash "Love Runs Out." Perhaps 2014 is their year for this award.
- Lorde - Pure Heroine
- One Direction - Midnight Memories
- Katy Perry - Prism
In the past the top album award would be considered the biggest music award of the year. However, as the music market has become increasingly singles focused, and CD sales continue to fade, the shine has worn off albums as the key vehicle to release new music. All of this year's nominees were actually released in 2013. All have generated major pop hit singles, but it seems a toss-up as to who will win this category.
- Sara Bareilles
- OneRepublic
- Katy Perry
Sara Bareilles has become a mainstay of adult contemporary radio, and her Grammy Award Album Of the Year nominee The Blessed Unrest spun off the hit single "I Choose You" to follow up "Brave." However, a wave of sentiment for Katy Perry could give her the victory in this category.
