Michael Jackson's American Music Awards nominations: Unfair?

Music award shows are never the most current barometers of pop music. By the time the big galas get around to airing on television, many of the albums nominated date back to the prior calendar year.

The cut-off period for Grammy eligibility this year was Aug. 31, ensuring that all the major holiday releases, from Jay-Z to Leona Lewis, will not be represented when nominations are announced Dec. 2. But this year's American Music Awards completely throw the concept of an eligibility period out the window.

Michael Jackson's "Number Ones" will compete for favorite album in the pop/rock field against Lady Gaga's "The Fame" and Taylor Swift's "Fearless." Both of the latter have a decent shot at being represented at the upcoming Grammy Awards, but the latter won't feature any albums from Jackson.

That's because his "Number Ones" was released back in 2003. What's more, the album is simply a greatest hits compilation, featuring only a pair of songs actually released this decade. Regardless of retail impact, a 2009 award show should be restricted to albums actually recorded within its recent history. At last check, Jackson has already won plenty of American Music Award trophies for the songs on "Number Ones," including an artist of the century accolade in 2002.

A segment or two honoring Jackson would have been a better way to recognize the King of Pop's contributions to music. The MTV Video Music Awards opened with a tribute to the star, and the 2010 Grammy Awards will surely feature some sort of Jackson memorial. Yet giving the artist posthumous awards, especially when said artist hasn't released an album of new material since 2001, seems an unfair slight to today's current crop of pop stars.

If Jackson wins three or four of his five nominations (Pop & Hiss predicts a sweep), then the entire American Music Awards telecast will feel very much a tribute to Jackson. If reflecting the current sales landscape is purely the objective, then the American Music Awards succeeded at representing what is selling.

And yes, old and new fans are discovering Jackson's music in the wake of his June passing -- his "Number Ones" currently ranks as 2009's bestselling album, according to Nielsen SoundScan -- but an outpouring of sales and appreciation shouldn't come as unexpected after the death of such a legend.(To be fair, the American Music Awards are based on sales and radio data from Nielsen.)

In a fan-voted contest such as the American Music Awards, current pop stars such as Swift and Gaga probably don't stand a chance. Yet if fans thought it was an injustice that Kanye West had the audacity to interrupt Swift accepting a "Moon Man" at the MTV Video Music Awards, then they should be ready to riot if she's now losing awards to artists who haven't had a new song in nearly a decade.

-- Todd Martens

Photos: Michael Jackson at the 2002 American Music Awards. Credit: Getty Images. Taylor Swift at the 2009 MTV VMAs. Credit: Getty Images

Comments

[Jamo]

YAY! GO MJ.. Loves it! Sweep that award show clean!

[D]

It would be hilarious if Michael do win over Taylor Swift, Black Eyed Peas & Lady Gaga. The music industry is in terrible shape. No wonder Kanye got up on that stage at the VMAs and criticized the music fans horrible taste & how the record industry signing bad talent. I hope Michael sweep the AMAs, it would send a message to the industry that the world want more real talented artists.

[zhare]

steady laughing while surfacing....unbreakable

[Mike]

Hey, the Beatles are selling a lot of albums with the release of Rock Band and their remastered catalog. Let's nominate them, too! They were far more talented and influential than Michael Jackson.

If they want to use Nielsen ratings to help determine the nominations, that's fine, but some common sense rules should play into it, too. A recent recording date should be a requirement. Allowing for some time for marketing and fan base development, I think it would be reasonable to require a recording be made within the previous 3 years. And a greatest hits album should use the dates the songs were recorded.

Side note: Why ARE there now new songs on greatest hits albums?

[Jennifer]

I loved Michael and I was very sad that he died. But I blame Michael for his death. If he had been more interested in getting healthy and finding out why his body didn't go to sleep, rather than hiring all kinds of doctors to give him drugs to make him go to sleep, and if he was trying to get clean rather than getting more prescription drugs, he would still be alive and we wouldn't have to give him any posthumous awards. By giving him an award, what kind of example does that set for kids and people who loved Michael? We applaud you for killing yourself with your unhealthy lifestyle, so we'll give you an award for excellence? It's not the right timing. Maybe later, give him an award. But not this year. Sorry Michael.

[Stella R]

There hasn't been any 'real' music out since the 80's. That's why so many artist still sample it today. The younger generation is now very interested in the sound of 'Thriller' and his other hits, and might I add other artist from that era.

The artist of today have good voices but most are interchangeable and nothing special. The music industry has made it so that any uniquely talented person don't have a chance today if they don't have the right 'look' to go along with their voices. They are all in that 'cookie-cutter mode and quite frankly - interchangeable as I've said. So the world has missed out on what could have been because the industry wants all the money. No chance of individuality, thanks to the music industry every song and artist sound the same.

[dt]

Could it be the current crop of pop music isn't of the same caliber that MJ's represents? I think it speaks rather loudly that his music is still embraced 25 years after it's release. Do you honestly think in 25 years your children (at 30-35 years old)are going to want to listen to Taylor Swift or Gym Class Heroes? Not likely.

[passerby]

It is weird to see Michael Jackson competing awards with the likes Lady Gaga, Taylor swift, enimem etc...

MJ is in his own league, no one else.

[Pam]

I think it is fair that he is nominated for 5 awards because he is the best of all time. He set a standard that has hardly been met. I think they should also do a tribute to him. So many people turned their backs on him when he was falsely accused by those coocoo people...the trial was a joke....but not to him.
He deserves all the recognition he is receiving ... and then some.
Michael...your fans love you more.

[Jim]

Why are you such a hater? Take this Bulls**t article down now. This is ridiculous, the awards are based on public opinion and record sales get it? Your an idiot, how is this unfair? That a man who was in the business 40 yeas who had actual talent who who sing, dance, write song, and perform like no one else, and who has music that reaches all people of the world, and will live forever shouldn't be nominated? WTF Michael is The King and they should all bow down to his genius, he paved the way for all new pop artists. No one is doing anything new, Michael has done it all, and deserves many, many more awards. What is there a cut of point to how many awards you can win or does this ony apply to Michael in your sick little head? Isn't this amazing that his music is better than anything out today? Swift, Gaga won't be around for long, so who cares. This article is crap, hater!!!

[The Truth]

Michael Jackson owns the AMA's .. Michael jackson made the Pop Artists of today .. he is their Daddy!

And either his music is so good or the music of today is so bad that he still dwarfs any other artist nominated.

The show SHOULD be all about him. Just like it was in 1984. The love and adulation he recieved this year the year of his passing was equalled only by that year (the Thriller celebration era) and let's not hate because you only die once : (

[That guy]

Hey Mike, if the Beatles are so talented and influential .. WHY DO THEY SOUND SO OLD AND DATED, WHILE MJ STILL SOUNDS FRESH AND NEW??

[Leslie]

The AMAs are based on sales; what would be unfair would be to change the rules just because critics don't think older material such as MJ's should receive a nomination or award. His creative material earned it -- he made the sales and broke records doing so. I am so tired of the haters out here. I can't imagine what critics would say if Elvis or John Lennon sold older material like MJ did--they'd probably be celebrating this achievement!

[Baby Bella]

The AMA awards are comprised of the best-selling music from that year. The best-selling artist of 2009 is Michael Jackson. Period.

[vince]

it's a waste of an article. as you said, the awards represents sales and fan opinion.
this is the only awards show that counts for anything, because all award shows are broadcast on the air, to be seen by fans. fans are the only legit sign of an artist's success. so Michael deserves the awards. the other legit awards show is the world music awards.

[vince]

it's not the first time an award has been nominated for music released outside the time limit. but it is the umpteenth time some media has complained about Michael winning something or being nominated, or about something good happening for Michael Jackson. and the latter is what is getting tired. isn't an award about the merit of the music? you know that Michael's music has the highest merit of anything ever released. good music is good music, and Michael's music is excellent. news flash, if music is good, it is supposed to get rewarded, whether you like the artist or not. Michael is the most awarded artist of all time for a reason. this isn't about 'fairness'. it's about fairness. if Michael dominates, and other artists have weak music, then, there's only room for Michael to win and other artists to lose. it's called free market enterprise and capatalism. if you have a good car it will sell, if you have a bad car, your dealership will close down. so..like capitalism, the music award process, in this case, is the greatest thing on earth.

[vince]

this is envy of Michael Jackson, rearing it's ugly head again. he's the only one who always is the recipient of unwarranted complaints. plus, it's another media outlet that knows it will get traffic to its website, by doing this. congratulations, as you decide not to post my comments, and others, you got your traffic. which means you know MJ has fans and is worthy, and you are envious, and you like getting your money, as a media outlet, at Michael's expense, as usual.

[vince]

tom green, you can stop with the racim, now.

[Melissa]

I think it's great that he is back on top again. He never lost it. He was one of the best and that will be shown in the movie "This is it"! I think it's great. All your true fans love you and support you no matter what.

Love you Michael Jackson
Melissa

[paige]

michael jackson deserves every award he gets and i hope he wins all the ones he was nominated for , i have voted for him on all of them !
also the awards are based on sales and mj has more than enough recording breaking sales

[zipper]

There's nothing legitimate about the AMA's as far as I'm concerned. The "popularity" contest was created in the early 1970's by Dick Clark and ABC so that the latter could make money with it's own awards show. At the time another network controlled rights to the Grammys broadcast. There have even been some artists (Garth Brooks) who have rejected their AMA trophies due to perceived illegitimacy.

[Da-Regulata]

Are you kidding me? Unfair? More like even writing this article is unfair to Michael Jackson. Get over your holier than thou self.

[bloojay1]

If the AMA is based on record sales, then Michael should definitely get the awards. Michael could dance, sing & perform like no other singer, besides maybe Cher, who puts on some fantastic shows & can sing too, she's just not a dancer. MJ was probably the most talented entertainer/singer this world has seen. He could sing rock, soft rock, pop, you name it. Now, i'm white, if this matters to anyone, & I think MJ was on the top of this whole music industry. I miss him so much & I love what Irene wrote. So true. He'll be in history forever & it's too bad music has gotten to what it is, it sucks, in my opinion. Everything just sounds the same. You turn on the radio, & what do you hear? Most of the time, you don't even know who it is. MJ & all the other older singers, now they all had their own sound & you could tell right off who it was. I say, let MJ have his awards, even tho he's gone from us physically, he left us all a legacy of music & hopefully someday we'll have someone who at least tries to compose beautiful & meaningful music like Michael did....Michael will always have my heart.....

[Mechelle Smith]

Wow this is amazing the things people say on here. As most of you stated the AMA is based on sales and if MJ is selling more than this new artist today then so be it. Its up to us to buy the cd's and play the songs on the radio. Even before he was layed to rest people were still playing his hits. If the music he made 10, 20, or 30 years ago are better than today its sad. MJ was the King of pop and he desearve any award giving to him. SO what about Tayloe Swift and Lady GaGa. and if you have a problem with MJ being nominated go buy Taylor Swift cd to help. I thought you would make that face. You people are sad and just plain haters.

RIP MJ :'(

[Elmari]

Michael is the biggest selling artist of 2009. AMAs reflect radio airplay popularity and record sales. Don't be surprised if he gets a ton of World Music Awards, as well, because that is based on world record sales. Michael is the King. .. let's give him the respect he deserves!