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

[Toni Majic]

He is a greater star than those two will ever be. Lady GA GA?? she doesn't even compare or deserve to be on the same stage as Michael Jackson.

[melanie jordan]

It is completely fair. Michael Jackson impact on our cultural is a fact.
He saved the record industry on numerous occassions!

Besides, the last time - the American Music Awards was interesting was when
Michael won - numerous awards in one show for Thriller. and that was over 25 years ago.

I expect - that the AMA do a very special tribute to him, also.
It is the only reason - I will watch!

[maizieful]

Of course he should win. There isn't anyone who compares in talent and musical brilliance. We love him. The media tried to destroy him for years (good old Tom Sneedon, Diane Dimond, Martin Bashir, Maureen Orth, Evan Chandler ) and others..Sorry it didn't work. He's great, loved and respected. He owns the awards.

[Matrix]

Kel said:

>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 doesn't make much sense to me.<

EXACTLY. It's a moot point that he deserves all 5 awards. MJ has more talent in his sequined sock than today's pop entertainers have in their entire catalog. And he already got what was essentially a lifetime achievement award from the AMAs.

As such, I'd love to see them do a tribute to him instead, maybe show old clips of him at the AMAs, or performing on Dick Clark's show way back when.

[Teresa]

Michael Jackson is probably the most talented person we'll ever see. If his albums are selling best and he is rated as most popular even now then YES he deserves it and gaga and Swift do not. So they have to climb and scratch a little to get to the top next year? Who hasnt? I hope MJ wins all the ones he's up for.

[Cher]

The fact is that Michael Jackson has a number selling album. He qualifies regardless of how old it is. Regarless of how many months it got to number one. That is pretty amazing for anyone alive or dead to have a number selling album in a matter of 4 months. It is probably a record right there! He is the most popular artist of 2009; therefore, deserving of the award. No matter how many he has had in the past. It is a popularity thing and he is popular right now. Younger people are just discovering his music so for them it is new. The older people are probably replacing their casette tapes... People young and old love his music and always will. His fans love him....

[von]

i disagree. MJ should be honored in every possible way, this is the least they can do to the KING OF MUSIC plus lady gaga and taylor swift??? that's not even music, i mean britney spears sounds like a royal queen compared to those stupid teeny blah blahs! what you can call not fair is comparing michael to such garbage or nominating michael with new noise maker!

[mary grace uason]

michael jackson is the best!

[suzyghazali]

there's no comparison of MJ"s ingenious music talent to all the music we here now. The only thing we see on MTV now is only ladies dancing their boobs and booty out...no substance at all!...it feels like watching short pornographic movie with people singing instead of mourning!!...
the fact is MJ, alive or not, deserves all the awards there are in the music industry.Those who think he doesn't are just jealous of his achievements and that his fans love him more and more everyday...
Love u MJ, We miss u more an more everyday...

[suzyghazali]

Face it people, MJ's music is incredible! Despite the years, they were great to listen to then and are still great to listen to today...and nobody can sing his song like did,...definitely outshine all the crappy songs that are released by some artists today...

Miss u so much, MJ RIP

[Amal Hasan]

Voting for Michael Jackson,I'm his fan since i was 5 years old he deserves more than 5 awards guys.Michael Jackson is the best singer, intertener, and dancer at all time i love u Mj. I love u Michael Jackson and i'll love u 4ever. forever the king of pop

[Tulip]

Michael Jackson was a genius and he´d still be one if this tragedy didn´t happen!! How can a Lady Gaga be compared to a genius like MJ? Gaga is gaga, that´s about it. Blond & cheap. Needless to mention her lyrics or what you might want to call it.
I can´t understand why MJ shouldn´t get his award, even if he already received so many. He deserves even more than just awards.

[YANA]

Unfair? Yes, I think it's unfair for MJ to be nominated alongside with those people. This is why American music has gone from bad to worse these days.

[eileen rogers]

Give MJ a post-humous lifetime achievement award. With a film nice show of his recordings/dance. But let the field remain open for this year's best in talent. Michael always supported upcoming talent, so this would be his wish.

If his current single "This is IT" were to make it big (it won't, but it is a lovely remembrance of him) then he would deserve an award this year.

[selena vasquez]

I think that michael jackson should get an award even though because hes the greatest artist who ever lived. Hes way better than Lady gaga (come on she barely has any good songs duh!!)

[selena vasquez]

thats wats up!!!!

[Sue]

I never paid any attention to Michael Jackson until after he died. I was a folk rock Grateful Dead, Dylan, Springsteen Bob Marley fan. Never bought not even one record. I missed the whole thing! If there had not been such an INTERNATIONAL outpouring of grief on the part of his fans of ALL AGES and ALL RACES and ALL NATIONALITIES, I would not be aware of how truly gifted he was and of his immeasurable influence on AMERICAN MUSIC, dance and yes, film.

I still would not own Number Ones. But I do. I had to wait for it because Target and Best Buy couldn't keep his music on their shelves. So I am not the only person in the world who experienced this.

Michael Jackson deserves this award if it is in fact based on sales in the year 2009 and I think he may have singlehandedly jumpstarted the music industry by dying so young. I would hope that Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga should enjoy even a small part of the success he had. They are both young and very talented and I hope they have many more years and awards to look forward to. Had it not been for June 25, 2009. I would not have known about the greatest entertainer that ever lived.

[Rachael 9700]

Michael deserves any and all awards. It makes up for the years he was blackballed by Hollywood! He should have won an award for Stranger in Moscow, a great song. But no, everyone in Hollywood turned their back on him. It's true, it's just nobody has the guts to say it.

[Mimi Ayele]

Whoever wrote this article is a true hater of MJ. Listen, no MJ fans will riot against him. Believe this and rest your case. We his fans are strong and stand together to protect his legacy and his name, so shut up and find L.O.V.E in your heart because that is the only thing you can take when the day comes for you to pass away from this earth. Only your action and deeds and nothing else will go with you. Learn how to LOVE for your own sake, at least.

[Jack]

MICHAEL JACKSON SOLD MORE THEN THEM, SO HE WINS, NOTHING TO WHINE ABOUT.
this todd martens has nothing better to do then complain about the nomination of the greatest performer/artist ever?
get a life

[kimani joseph]

First I'd like to point out that this article is biased. shame on the media for irresponsible journalism FOR HATIN ON THE KING OF POP. Whether they like it or not MJ has a mass following all over the world coz of the love he spread through his music which has not been witnessed in current artists. Guys we go by the rules and so give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar If its record sells and voting that determine the winner then we all know who the winner is by now...RIP MICHAEL

[We Love Michael]

Of course it's fair! None of the other nominees would even be there if it weren't for Michael.

[Pina]

Yes, it's fair. Michael Jackson spent his entire life from 5 to 50 years old bringing the world joy through his music. He dedicated his ENTIRE life to the gift that God so richly blessed him with and thus blessed us with. Michael deserves EVERY award he's nominated for because he’s EANRED them. He has outsold every “popular” artist out there this year. Bye the way, Michael had two NEW songs in the Billboard one hundred in the 2000’s and was working on two new albums when he passed away. All of the music award shows should be paying tribute to him. Michael changed the face of music. To call him the King of Pop is not enough. He is the King of Music. He wrote, sang, danced, choreographed, produced, and arranged the most iconic music EVER. NO one has come close to doing what Michael Jackson has done in terms of music and humanitarian work. He was simply the best and his music stands the test of time. ALL of his albums could be played today and sound fresh - certainly better than anything that's out today. I hope Michael wins every award for which he's nominated. Long Live The King!!!!

[Janet]

Michael deserves every award in the book, as far as I'm concerned. He was the greatest talent that this world has seen in the last 45 years. If it wasn't for MJ, 75% of the so-called talent we have today would be selling french fries at McDonalds. He was the inspiration for so many, and his passing won't change that.

[Dawood]

P Diddy: "He showed that you can actually see the beat. He made the music come to life. He made me believe in magic."

Here I've tried to collect all notable tributes and quotes on Michael Jackson from peers: http://www.tributespaid.com/quotes-on/m/michael-jackson