"THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS(R)" NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED

Nicki Minaj and Rihanna Individually Lead 2012 Nominations; Christina Aguilera Confirmed to Perform; New Electronic Dance Music Category Created; Winners Determined by Online Voting at amavote.com

Recording artist Christina Aguilera revealed the "The 40th Anniversary American Music Awards(R)" ("AMAs") nominations this morning from the J.W. Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE (see full list of nominees below). It was also announced that Christina Aguilera will be performing on this year's show which will be broadcast live from the NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE on SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18 (8:00-11:00 p.m., ET/PT) on ABC. Additional acts and presenters will be announced in the coming weeks. Tickets are now on sale (please visit www.ticketmaster.com or call 1-877-234-8425.).

For the fourth consecutive year, the live online pre-show "Coca-Cola Red Carpet LIVE! @ The 2012 AMAs" will stream live for fans worldwide starting at 5:00 p.m., ET / 2:00 p.m., PT and will be hosted by Lance Bass, Kimberly Cole, Brad Goreski and Tristan Wilds, among other hosts to be announced -- including a NOKIA correspondent. Viewers will be able to watch the live show on ABC.com, AMAs365.com, Cokemusic.com, Livestream, Ustream, YouTube and through AP Live Entertainment. Livestream and Ustream-powered video players will be made available to media partners, as well as for the websites and Facebook Pages of participating talent.

Nicki Minaj and Rihanna both lead this year with 4 nominations individually, while Drake, Justin Bieber, Maroon 5, One Direction and Usher follow with 3 nominations each and Carrie Underwood, Chris Brown, fun., Gotye, J.Cole, Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson, Luke Bryan and Pitbull collected 2 nominations. This year's 2012 Artist of the Year nominees are Justin Bieber, Drake, Maroon 5, Katy Perry and Rihanna. This year also marks the creation of the new Electronic Dance Music Category. Nominees include David Guetta, Calvin Harris and Skrillex.

For the sixth year, winners will be determined by online voting that starts today. Fans can vote at the Coca-Cola AMA voting website, amavote.com, as well as AMA.abc.com. Artists will be honored in the categories of Pop/Rock, Country, Rap/Hip-Hop, Soul/R&B, Alternative, Adult Contemporary, Latin, Contemporary Inspirational and -- for the first year ever -- Electronic Dance Music. Fans can go to the official homepage of "The 40th Anniversary American Music Awards," ama.abc.com, to find performer and presenter announcements, artist information and more.

"The 40th Anniversary American Music Awards" are produced by dick clark productions, inc. (DCP) Allen Shapiro and Orly Adelson will executive produce the show. Larry Klein will produce. The program will be broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format with 5.1 channel surround sound. A TV parental guideline will be assigned closer to the airdate.

Shapiro, Adelson, and Klein jointly stated: "The 40th American Music Awards will once again represent the epitome of pop culture, featuring today's biggest stars and music icons all on one stage."

Fans can go to ama.abc.com, AMAs365.com, follow the AMAs on Twitter @theamas, and like the AMAs on Facebook at facebook.com/amas to find performer and presenter announcements, artist information, Memes, Gifs and more. Starting tomorrow, fans will also be able to watch "AMAs On Demand," a weekly web series hosted by Lance Bass, Kimberly Cole and Megan Turney. The web series will be published weekly to YouTube (youtube.com/awardsshownetwork), ABC.com and other streaming partners and will cover all things "AMA," including breaking news, artist spotlights, retrospectives on fashion, acceptance speeches, red carpet and backstage interviews.

2012 AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS NOMINEES:

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

About the Voting -

American Music Awards(R) nominees are selected from both BigChampagne's Ultimate Chart and Mediabase. The Ultimate Chart is a ranked list of the most popular artists and songs based on a weighted combination of music sales, radio and TV broadcast, internet streaming and video viewing, and incorporating additional online metrics, including activity on social networks. Mediabase monitors more than 1,800 radio stations in 180 U.S. and Canadian markets, 24 hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week and provides vital airplay and programming information to more than 1,700 affiliate radio stations and every major broadcast group. Winners are chosen by public vote online.

About dick clark productions, inc. -

Founded in 1957, dick clark productions, inc. (dcp) is a leading independent producer of television programming. dcp produces perennial hits such as the "American Music Awards," "Golden Globe Awards," "Academy of Country Music Awards," and "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest." dcp also produces popular weekly television programming, including "So You Think You Can Dance," and owns and maintains one of the world's most unique and extensive entertainment libraries, which includes more than 30 years of "American Bandstand" footage. For additional information about dcp, please visit www.dickclarkproductions.com

About the American Music Awards -

In 1973 Dick Clark created the American Music Awards to pay tribute to popular musicians from various genres of music and to put audiences in touch with the latest phenomena in American music. Since its founding, the AMAs have honored and showcased the talents of some of the biggest names in the music industry. For press credential requests, please go to http://pmkbnc.wufoo.com/forms/2012-american-music-awards-media-application/. Archived footage and photography are available upon request.