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

[LostBoy68]

The poll should have a "who cares about the AMAs" button.

[Lauren]

Pathetic moaners. Michael deserves this more than anyone. He's the best. END OF.

[Chris Challans]

How is that unfair? No one who loses to Michael Jackson has the right to play that card. They should take it as a challenge. "Step your game up."

If anything, it's an indicator that his music stands the test of time. Putting him up against all these new artists, this is the cream of the crop, and they're no where near his caliber. People may cry foul etc., but forget that. Stop whining and do something about it. He set the bar. Can you reach?

If not, then give it up to the better artist: he just wiped the floor with your face, and cleaned up with some 20-year old songs.

[jennifer]

it is fair for jackson to be nominated at the AMA, the retail sales and popularity is what the show is about so it's fitting their criteria. It actually is an interesting reminder that no matter what recent artists do today legends like Jackson are timeless.

[XAVIER]

THE AMA NOMINEES AND EVENTUAL WINNERS ARE PICKED BY THE PEOPLE. IF THE PEOPLE VOTE FOR MICHAEL TO WIN THEN HE SHOULD WIN. DON'T FORGET THERE IS A WHOLE NEW UPCOMING GENERATION JUST NOW DISCOVERING HIM. DON'T BYPASS THEIR DESIRE TO VOTE FOR HIM JUST BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE WITNESSED THE MASTER ENTERTAINER AT WORK SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY ARE TOO YOUNG.

[MissDemeanor]

The rules ARE the rules. And Michael did not make them.

The AMA have ALWAYS been based on sales & airplay. So why is it unfair FOR THE BEST SELLING ARTIST of the year to get nominated?

Unless you want them to change the rules and give the awards to whomever shows up that night (and willing to kiss network ass), like the MTV awards?

[Briget]

"...then the entire American Music Awards telecast will feel very much a tribute to Jackson"
After being treated like a weirdo for the last years by nearly everybody it's more then fair.

[Tom Vjestica]

Its based on sales, and NOBODY will ever beat Michael on sales! Especially this year! and maybe even next year!

And nobody deserves it MORE than Michael Jackson!

[yutuoo]

Of course he deserves to be nominated. His WORK has qualiffied just like everybody else!!!

[Vanessa]

I love michael jackson but I totally agree with this. It feel like a consolation prize to me. Like oh he is dead...lets throw his name in there. I think that they should hold off the awards for him until we have bonfide new material from him. Not a 6 year old CD that most real fans had long before he died. I also don't think that the This Is It soundtrack should be in the running because again...its a greatest hits CD.

[meena76]

MJ rules for ever. What would have been unfair is if they did not nominate him. This is the happiest I have been in a long time. Really who is JaJa and swift. Lets see if we will here from them in 40 years.

[Malcy]

AMA is just following it's criteria for nominations. The scale of albums sold WORLD WIDE awards of MJ is unprecedented . If you Americans find MJ as a weirdo, the rest of the world doesn't.

[Lessley]

lmao..this author or blogger..[whatever you call your self] is typing like a TRUE HATER! but too bad your opinion doesn't matter. watch the MJ take all those awards he was nominated for!!..fckin hater. the man's work deserve to be recognized..just because hes gone doesn't mean we can't celebrate his work cus his work will FOREVER live. and michael will live through his work & his true FANS. and the fans votes are the once that matter here not your THOUGHTS !

[Karly]

what a hater.....come on! you should know better than this.
michael will always outshine every single 'artist' and these days there really isn't any good musicians. what unfair is putting michael with lady gaga. thats very disrespectful. she doesn't have any talent at all. but like it or not..what the people say is what matters. this is a real award show that honors real talent..and michael was the definition on TALENT. have a good day.

[Gandalf]

I mean, what's fair? Are any of the awards (music, film) fair? Frankly having a small group of elitists decide on who deserves a nomination or award doesn't seem fair either (ahem, Grammys), not as long as it's a public event that hinges on the rest of us actually caring about it. I mean look at the recent Nobel Peace prize... damn if that didn't catch everyone by surprise, including Obama himself.

The AMA's base nominations on sales, and frankly voting with a wallet seems as fair as any of the arbitrary metrics employed by the few. It is, after all, the music BUSINESS. I guess for suspense at the AMAs, they had to add the internet voting portion in. Otherwise all you have to do is look at the charts to know who wins (Michael Jackson DID have the best selling album this calendar year).

Anyhow, stop the faux indignant stance Mr. Martens & LA Times. Who are you standing up for?? The little guys like Eminem, Taylor Swift, and Lady Gaga? Yeah, they really need your help. And seriously, inciting riots if Taylor Swift doesn't win a AMA over Michael Jackson?? Really? Doesn't Los Angeles have enough bad history with riots already?

[heba]

l love you micheal so much

[nikki]

this is far from being unfair anyone that thinks it is has no brains or eye for talent

[terie]

It does not matter if he should or should not have been nominated ... the fact of the matter is that he HAS ... now it is up to the voting PUBLIC as to whether or not THEY think he deserves to win and in which catagory(s). The choices for the nominations have been made ... now it is up to us to voice OUR opinions by voting. IMO

[Jay B]

I'm a huge fan of MJ,but on one hand people might not of bought his album if he didn't die. But also you gotta say,if his music is still popular after 20,25,30 years...Then he definatly deserves it. His album is coming out on October 27th,if it sells out because he died,wouldn't take away the fact that people like or dislike his music. Think about when B.I.G. died,Diddy came out with the song"I'll Be Missing You",and it sold millions of copies,why?? because Biggie died,and that made people buy it.Diddy even beat Wu-Tang Clan for the Grammy,even though most knew Wu-Tang had the best Hip-Hop album that year. (That's why Ol' Dirty Bastard rushed the stage). And was that fair??? No! But by popular vote,they won,that's all that matters. So it's unfortunate that if MJ wins,as far as The American Music Awards is concerned, Taylor and GaGa never made an album this year. But again popularity wins!!! R.I.P. MJ.

[Kel]

I personally feel that it is, to some degree, unfair for MJ to ganer so many AMA nods... Artist of the Year is one I don't think he should be nominated for. Because he is niether an "Artist of the Year" (40 years of good music, mind you) and the Artists nominated alongside him in the category are more relevant. I feel like they can celibrate Michael in other ways. He already won an Artist of the Century award in '02, so to go back and nominate him for a mere Artist of the Year award doen't make much sense to me.

[BA for MJ]

There is nothing unfair about being recognized when your album hits number 1 on the charts and maintains itself there longer than any other artist - despite the original date of release!!!

The point is with MJ there is no other entertainer that can or will ever reach his heights, his achievements, surpass his talent - it is what it is - and IT needs to be recognized! IT demands to be recognized!!! So Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, and all you others - your OK but you are not Great.

So, let the MAN THROUGH because if you don't you are cutting off the hand that feeds you. Without MJ today's music would never be what it is or tries to be, at least.

All recognition to MJ is fair and worthy.

There is, there never was, and there never will be another Michael Jackson on this earth again. And for that sole fact he deserves every award!!!

[hahaha]

Every awards have its rules. So why is it unfair to follow the rules? If he wins, it means that the popularity love him. It's totally fair. BTW, He is way greater than other current artist. He is on top. so shut up all the haters. He deserves all these. The truth is we own him too much. He supposed to get all these before he died.

[pickyrat]

If the AMA was based on number of sales, and MJ album is the hottest album of the year, he should be awarded, no matter it's new or old. In the wake of his sudden death, I believe a lot of people, who had never been interested in his music, get curious and start listening to his music. I am one of them. I actually fall in love with his music. So do my todlers. I cannot say that I like all of his songs, but I like most of them. I can listen to his music hours without getting bored. Yes, I am a new fan of MJ. I have started collecting his albums. I think MJ's new fans contribute a lot to the sales of his albums. So I think it's fair to award him.
Speaking about new artists, I don't even care listen to their songs. I really don't understand why they are hits. If they cannot compete with MJ in sales, then they loose that game, no matter their songs are newer. A new song has the advantage that it's in-line with the listeners. However, if it lost in sales to an old song, it's a loser no matter what. That old song can actually sustain time to win both old and new audience. And it should be recognized.

[Angel]

He deserves all the tributes, accolades and awards that he should have been getting, especially over the last 15 years. What was unfair is the untruthful allegations that were looming larger than his talent and his music. At last, it is time to celebrate Michael and his music, even if it is through posthumous awards. I do hope he wins many more awards in the years to come. As a fan, I will be extremely proud, so will Michael I'm sure. Though, in the place he is in now, it probably doesn't matter. But vindication is enough...

[Nicole]

I can not believe this article...Are you kidding, I mean really...Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones and the other producers single handly save the music industry with the "Thriller" album. Will-I-Am recently said in an interview "Michael Jackson was the jolt needed in the music business". Michael Jackson has for years been saving the music industry, even "This Is It" has helped. You know they have said MJ's death help to save some magazines and news papers in print. Simple put MICHAEL JACKSON deserves all 5 awards.