NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED TODAY FOR THE �2006 AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS,� AIRING LIVE NOVEMBER 21 ON ABC

Mariah Carey, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Black Eyed Peas and Nickelback Lead with Three Nominations Each

Winners to Be Announced During Live Telecast November 21 on ABC

Nominees for the �2006 American Music Awards� were announced today at a press conference in Beverly Hills. Actress Carmen Electra and platinum recording artist and actor Tyrese made the announcement revealing the nominees in each of eight categories of music. Twenty awards will be given out representing the best of Pop/Rock, Country, Soul/Rhythm & Blues, Rap/Hip Hop, Latin, Alternative, Adult Contemporary and Contemporary Inspirational music. Winners will be announced from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, during the live, star-studded show, featuring celebrity presenters, live performances and other surprises, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21 (8:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

Mariah Carey, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Black Eyed Peas and Nickelback lead the nominations with three nods each. Carey, a nine-time American Music Award winner, was nominated for Favorite Female Artist in both the Pop/Rock and Soul/Rhythm & Blues categories, as well as Favorite Album in the Soul/Rhythm & Blues category for �The Emancipation of Mimi.� The Red Hot Chili Peppers received Pop/Rock nominations for Favorite Band, Duo or Group and Favorite Album for �Stadium Arcadium,� along with a nod for Favorite Artist in the Alternative Music Category. Hip/Hop Funk sensation The Black Eyed Peas are up for Favorite Band, Duo or Group and Favorite Album for �Monkey Business� in the Rap/Hip Hop category, along with a nomination in the Soul/Rhythm & Blues category for Favorite Band, Duo or Group. Nickelback�s hit album �All the Right Reasons� helped earn them three American Music Award nominations. The group is up for Favorite Album and Favorite Band, Duo or Group in the Pop/Rock category and will compete against the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Pearl Jam for Favorite Artist in the Alternative Music category.

Mary J. Blige, Kelly Clarkson, Eminem, Jamie Foxx, Pussycat Dolls, Rascal Flatts, T.I., Carrie Underwood and Kanye West each received two nominations. 2006 break-out artists Chamillionaire, Pussycat Dolls and Carrie Underwood are nominated for Favorite New Breakthrough Artist, which encompasses all genres of music.

The complete list of nominees, many of whom will attend the ceremonies either as presenters or performers, follows:

POP/ROCK

Favorite Male Artist: � Nick Lachey � Sean Paul � Kanye West

Favorite Female Artist: � Mariah Carey � Kelly Clarkson � Nelly Furtado

Favorite Band, Duo or Group: � Nickelback � Pussycat Dolls � Red Hot Chili Peppers

Favorite Album: � �All the Right Reasons� � Nickelback � �Stadium Arcadium� � Red Hot Chili Peppers � �High School Musical� � Various Artists

COUNTRY

Favorite Male Artist: � Kenny Chesney � Toby Keith � Keith Urban

Favorite Female Artist: � Faith Hill � Carrie Underwood � Gretchen Wilson

Favorite Band, Duo or Group: � Brooks & Dunn � Montgomery Gentry � Rascal Flatts

Favorite Album: � �Legend of Johnny Cash� � Johnny Cash � �Greatest Hits Volume 2� � Tim McGraw � �Me and My Gang� � Rascal Flatts

SOUL/RHYTHM & BLUES

Favorite Male Artist: � Chris Brown � Jamie Foxx � NE-YO

Favorite Female Artist: � Mary J. Blige � Mariah Carey � Keyshia Cole

Favorite Band, Duo or Group: � The Black Eyed Peas � The Isley Brothers � Jagged Edge

Favorite Album: � �The Breakthrough� � Mary J. Blige � �The Emancipation of Mimi� � Mariah Carey � �Unpredictable� � Jamie Foxx

RAP/HIP-HOP

Favorite Male Artist: � Eminem � T.I. � Kanye West

Favorite Band, Duo or Group: � The Black Eyed Peas � Dem Franchize Boyz � Three 6 Mafia

Favorite Album: � �Monkey Business� � The Black Eyed Peas � �Curtain Call� � Eminem � �King� � T.I.

ADULT CONTEMPORARY

Favorite Artist: � Michael Bubl� � Kelly Clarkson � Rob Thomas

ALTERNATIVE MUSIC

Favorite Artist: � Nickelback � Pearl Jam � Red Hot Chili Peppers

LATIN MUSIC

Favorite Artist: � Daddy Yankee � Don Omar � Shakira

CONTEMPORARY INSPIRATIONAL

Favorite Artist: � Aly & AJ � Casting Crowns � Kirk Franklin

FAVORITE NEW BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST (ALL GENRES) � Chamillionaire � Pussycat Dolls � Carrie Underwood

Winners of the American Music Awards are selected by the public. A national sampling of approximately 20,000, taking into account geographic location, age, sex and ethnic origin, will be sent ballots by the National Family Opinion, Inc. firm under the supervision of Broadcast Research and Consulting, Inc. Names of the nominees on the ballot were compiled from data supplied by the music industry trade publication, Radio & Records and Nielsen Soundscan, which tracks retail music sales. Results of the voting, tabulated by the Ernst & Young LLP accounting firm, are kept secret until envelopes are opened during the presentation ceremonies.

The �2006 American Music Awards� is a presentation of dick clark productions, inc. The executive producer is Allen Shapiro. Producer of the television special is Larry Klein, with Louis J. Horvitz directing. Writers will be Barry Adelman and Fred Bronson. Executive in charge of production is Bob Bardo. The associate producer is Don Harary. John Shaffner and Joe Stewart are the production designers. The talent executive is Carla Patterson. The executive in charge is Fran La Maina.

To request media credentials to cover this event, please visit http://www.dickclarkproductions.com/ama/and complete the credential application.