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American Music Awards facts for kids

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American Music Awards
AMAs 2019.png
Logo as of 2019
Country United States
First awarded February 19, 1974; 51 years ago (1974-02-19)
Television coverage
Network ABC (1974–2022)
CBS (2024)

The American Music Awards (AMAs) is a big yearly music awards show in the United States. It has been put on by Dick Clark Productions since 1974.

From 1973 to 2005, music experts chose the winners and nominees. They looked at how well songs and albums sold and how often they were played. Since 2006, fans like you get to vote for the winners online! The show first aired on ABC. For 2024, CBS will show the awards.

Most recent American Music Award winners
← 2021 November 20, 2022 2024 →
  Taylor Swift at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards (3).png Dove Cameron 2019 by Glenn Francis.jpg
Award Artist of the Year New Artist of the Year
Winner Taylor Swift Dove Cameron
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Taylor Swift at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards (3).png
Award Collaboration of the Year Favorite Music Video
Winner Elton John

Dua Lipa
Cold Heart (Pnau remix)

Taylor Swift

All Too Well: The Short Film


Previous Artist of the Year

BTS

Artist of the Year

Taylor Swift

How the AMAs Started

The AMAs were created by Dick Clark in 1973. He wanted to make a new music awards show. This happened after the Grammy Awards moved their show to Nashville, Tennessee.

In 2014, a TV network called Telemundo decided to make a Spanish version. They launched the Latin American Music Awards in 2015.

From 1973 to 2005, music industry experts chose the winners. They looked at how many songs were sold or played on the radio. Since 2006, fans can vote for their favorite artists online. The nominees are still chosen based on sales, radio play, and how popular artists are on social media.

The cool award statue given to winners is made by a company called Society Awards.

Hosts and History of the Show

The very first AMAs in 1974 had three hosts: Helen Reddy, Roger Miller, and Smokey Robinson. Helen Reddy was also the first artist to win an AMA for Favorite Pop/Rock Female artist.

For many years, the AMAs had several hosts. Each host would represent a different type of music. For example, Glen Campbell often hosted the country music parts. In more recent years, there has usually been just one host for the whole show.

In 1991, Keenen Ivory Wayans became the first actor from Hollywood to host the AMAs.

The AMAs used to be held in January each year. But starting in 2003, they moved the show to November. This was done so the AMAs wouldn't compete with other big awards shows, like the Golden Globe Awards or the Academy Awards.

From 2009 to 2012, the show didn't have a single host. Instead, different famous people would introduce the awards. But then, Pitbull hosted in 2013 and 2014. Jennifer Lopez hosted in 2015, and Gigi Hadid and Jay Pharoah hosted in 2016. Tracee Ellis Ross hosted in 2017 and 2018, and Ciara hosted in 2019.

In March 2024, it was announced that CBS would be the new network to show the American Music Awards.

Ceremonies

Year Order Date of ceremony Host(s) Venue Network
1974 1 February 19, 1974 Roger Miller, Helen Reddy, Smokey Robinson Earl Carroll Theatre ABC
1975 2 February 18, 1975 Roy Clark, Helen Reddy, Sly Stone Santa Monica Civic Auditorium
1976 3 January 31, 1976 Glen Campbell, Aretha Franklin, Olivia Newton-John
1977 4 January 31, 1977 Glen Campbell, Helen Reddy, Lou Rawls
1978 5 January 16, 1978 Glen Campbell, Natalie Cole, David Soul
1979 6 January 12, 1979 Glen Campbell, Helen Reddy, Donna Summer
1980 7 January 18, 1980 Elton John, Toni Tennille, Natalie Cole ABC Studios
1981 8 January 30, 1981 Mac Davis, Crystal Gayle, Teddy Pendergrass
1982 9 January 25, 1982 Glen Campbell, Sheena Easton, Donna Summer Shrine Auditorium
1983 10 January 17, 1983 Mac Davis, Aretha Franklin, Melissa Manchester
1984 11 January 16, 1984 Lionel Richie
1985 12 January 28, 1985
1986 13 January 27, 1986 Diana Ross
1987 14 January 26, 1987
1988 15 January 25, 1988 Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb, Mick Fleetwood, Robin Gibb and Whitney Houston
1989 16 January 30, 1989 Anita Baker, Debbie Gibson, Kenny Rogers and Rod Stewart
1990 17 January 22, 1990 Alice Cooper, Anita Baker, Gloria Estefan, Naomi Judd and Wynonna Judd
1991 18 January 28, 1991 Keenen Ivory Wayans
1992 19 January 27, 1992 MC Hammer, Reba McEntire
1993 20 January 25, 1993 Bobby Brown, Gloria Estefan and Wynonna Judd
1994 21 February 7, 1994 Meat Loaf, Reba McEntire and Will Smith
1995 22 January 30, 1995 Queen Latifah, Tom Jones, Lorrie Morgan
1996 23 January 29, 1996 Sinbad
1997 24 January 27, 1997
1998 25 January 26, 1998 Drew Carey
1999 26 January 11, 1999 Brandy & Melissa Joan Hart
2000 27 January 17, 2000 Norm Macdonald
2001 28 January 8, 2001 Britney Spears and LL Cool J
2002 29 January 9, 2002 Jenny McCarthy and Sean Combs
2003 (Jan) 30 January 13, 2003 Jack Osbourne, Kelly Osbourne, Ozzy Osbourne and Sharon Osbourne
2003 (Nov) 31 November 16, 2003 Jimmy Kimmel
2004 32 November 14, 2004
2005 33 November 22, 2005 Cedric the Entertainer
2006 34 November 21, 2006 Jimmy Kimmel
2007 35 November 18, 2007 Peacock Theater
2008 36 November 23, 2008
2009 37 November 22, 2009 No host
2010 38 November 21, 2010
2011 39 November 20, 2011
2012 40 November 18, 2012
2013 41 November 24, 2013 Pitbull
2014 42 November 23, 2014
2015 43 November 22, 2015 Jennifer Lopez
2016 44 November 20, 2016 Gigi Hadid and Jay Pharoah
2017 45 November 19, 2017 Tracee Ellis Ross
2018 46 October 9, 2018
2019 47 November 24, 2019 Ciara
2020 48 November 22, 2020 Taraji P. Henson
2021 49 November 21, 2021 Cardi B
2022 50 November 20, 2022 Wayne Brady
2024 51 October 6, 2024 TBA CBS

Award Categories

The AMAs give out awards in many different music types. Here are some of the awards given out today:

Current Award Categories

  • Artist of the Year
  • New Artist of the Year
  • Collaboration of the Year
  • Favorite Music Video
  • Favorite Touring Artist
  • Favorite Pop Male Artist
  • Favorite Pop Female Artist
  • Favorite Pop Duo or Group
  • Favorite Pop Album
  • Favorite Pop Song
  • Favorite R&B Male Artist
  • Favorite R&B Female Artist
  • Favorite R&B Album
  • Favorite R&B Song
  • Favorite Country Male Artist
  • Favorite Country Female Artist
  • Favorite Country Duo or Group
  • Favorite Country Album
  • Favorite Country Song
  • Favorite Hip-Hop Artist
  • Favorite Hip-Hop Album
  • Favorite Hip-Hop Song
  • Favorite Latin Artist
  • Favorite Latin Duo or Group
  • Favorite Latin Album
  • Favorite Latin Song
  • Favorite Rock Artist
  • Favorite Rock Song
  • Favorite Rock Album
  • Favorite Inspirational Artist
  • Favorite Gospel Artist
  • Favorite Dance/Electronic Artist
  • Favorite Afrobeats Artist
  • Favorite K-Pop Artist
  • Favorite Soundtrack

Discontinued Awards

  • Single of the Year (2013–2015)
  • Fan's Choice Award (2003)
  • Favorite Social Artist (2018–2020)
  • Favorite Trending Song (2021)
  • Favorite Pop/Rock Video (1984–1988)
  • Favorite Pop/Rock Male Video Artist (1985–1987)
  • Favorite Pop/Rock Female Video Artist (1985–1987)
  • Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group Video Artist (1985–1987)
  • Favorite Pop/Rock New Artist (1989–Jan 2003)
  • Favorite Soul/R&B Band/Duo/Group (1974–Nov 2003, 2005–2006, 2009)
  • Favorite Soul/R&B Video (1984–1988)
  • Favorite Soul/R&B Male Video Artist (1985–1987)
  • Favorite Soul/R&B Female Video Artist (1985–1987)
  • Favorite Soul/R&B Band/Duo/Group Video Artist (1985–1987)
  • Favorite Soul/R&B New Artist (1989–Jan 2003)
  • Favorite Country Video (1984–1988)
  • Favorite Country Male Video Artist (1985–1987)
  • Favorite Country Female Video Artist (1985–1987)
  • Favorite Country Band/Duo/Group Video Artist (1985–1987)
  • Favorite Country New Artist (1989–Jan 2003)
  • Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Band/Duo/Group (2003–2008)
  • Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop New Artist (1990–1994)
  • Favorite Disco Male Artist (1979)
  • Favorite Disco Female Artist (1979)
  • Favorite Disco Band/Duo/Group (1979)
  • Favorite Disco Album (1979)
  • Favorite Disco Song (1979)
  • Favorite Heavy Metal/Hard Rock Artist (1989–1997)
  • Favorite Heavy Metal/Hard Rock Album (1989–1992)
  • Favorite Heavy Metal/Hard Rock New Artist (1990–1993)
  • Favorite Dance Artist (1990–1992)
  • Favorite Dance Song (1990–1992)
  • Favorite Dance New Artist (1990–1992)
  • Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist (1992–2020)
  • Favorite Adult Contemporary Album (1992–1994)
  • Favorite Adult Contemporary New Artist (1992–1994)

Most Wins

Taylor Swift holds the record for winning the most American Music Awards, with 40 awards!

The male artist with the most AMAs is Michael Jackson, who has won 26 awards. The group with the most AMAs is Alabama, with 18 awards.

Rank Artist Number of awards
1 Taylor Swift 40
2 Michael Jackson 26
3 Whitney Houston 22
4 Kenny Rogers 19
5 Alabama 18
Justin Bieber
6 Carrie Underwood 17
Garth Brooks
7 Reba McEntire 14
8 Rihanna 13
9 BTS 12
10 Beyoncé 11
Bruno Mars
Janet Jackson
Stevie Wonder

Most Wins in a Single Ceremony

Michael Jackson (in 1984) and Whitney Houston (in 1994) hold the record for winning the most AMAs in one year. They each won 8 awards, including a special "Award of Merit."

Most Wins by Category

Here are the artists who have won the most awards in specific categories:

Special Awards

The AMAs also give out special awards for amazing achievements in music.

Award of Merit

This award has been given to 32 artists. The most recent winner was Sting in 2016.

International Artist Award of Excellence

This award is for artists whose music is popular all over the world. It's only given to truly special artists. Seven artists have received it:

Icon Award

The Icon Award honors an artist whose work has had a huge impact on pop music around the globe.

Dick Clark Award for Excellence

This award started in 2014. It's given to an artist who does something truly amazing or creates a landmark work. It celebrates the passion of Dick Clark, who created the AMAs.

Award of Achievement

This award recognizes great achievements in music.

Lifetime Achievement Award

This award celebrates an artist's entire career and lasting impact on music.

Artist of the Decade

This award honors the top artist of a specific ten-year period.

In 2000, the AMAs also held a poll to find the Artist of the Decade for earlier years. The winners were Elvis Presley (1950s), The Beatles (1960s), Stevie Wonder (1970s), and Michael Jackson (1980s).

Artist of the Century

Michael Jackson won the Artist of the Century award in 2002.

Images for kids

See Also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Premios American Music para niños

  • Latin American Music Awards
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American Music Awards Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.