American Music Awards: Performances as they happen

Pop & Hiss brings you instant reviews of all the performances at the 2008 American Music Awards, typos and all.

For a complete list of winners, click here.

For The Envelope's best & worst moments of the American Music Awards, click here.

Alicia Keys, Queen Latifah and Kathleen Battle: "Superwoman": And that brings the show to close with a lackluster bang. The AMAs would have been better to end with Kayne and his giant neon pin-ball machine. But the final performance kept in with the tone of the show, which was ballad-heavy, and offered few moments of excitement (see Kanye, or even Miley Cyrus). Keys, ultimately, won favorite album, and expect her "As I Am" to rack-up the Grammy nominations on Dec. 3. Queen Latifah added some much-welcome firepower to the ballad, but the dip into opera with Battle was an awkward award-show pairing that shouldn't have happened. C+

Sarah McLachlan and Pink: "In the Arms of An Angel": Go ahead, just try not to feel sad during this tune -- the musical equivalent of a Hallmark Precious Moments figurine. D

Kanye West: "Heartless": Just because the man is going all electronic is his vocal approach doesn't mean he's giving up the neon. Performing in front of a Las Vegas-meets-"Tron" back-drop, "Heartless" is epic in its minimalism -- it's whistling beat barely holding West in check. Half rapping and half ranting, anytime West would try to cut loose, the digital effects would rein his vocals in. It's the sound of heartache, geek style, complete with a Dr. Evil reference. A

Natasha Bedingfield, and then straight into Rihanna: The performances are coming quick now. First we get Bedingfield for no apparent reason (a favor to a record label? a reminder to Grammy voters?), and her "Pocketful of Sunshine" was a bucketful of forgettable fluff, especially coming after Lennox. Rihanna was cold and cool, as always, but love or hate "Good Girl Gone Bad," and it's not really an album worthy of eight singles, as is evidenced by the slow drama of "Rehab." Together: C-

Annie Lennox: "Why": And that's how a ballad is done. Lennox brought some grace to the AMAs, even if it was just to start  the hype for a 2009 greatest hits package. One of the starkest performances of the night, but also one of the most tension-filled. Lennox gripped the piano, and her vocal might briefly pierced some higher ranges but never gave in to flash. A

Surprise guest grade: Justin Timberlake. A surprise? Really? Is there an award show Justin Timberlake doesn't appear on? We like the guy, but: D

The Pussycat Dolls: Medley: Some spontaneity: One of the Dolls couldn't get her jacket off on a twirling stripper-pole move, and we'll refrain from Pussycat Doll/stripper jokes. While we no longer need to hear "When I Grow Up," a sympathy: C+

The Jonas Brothers: "Tonight": With its fizzy guitar riffs, the Jonas Brothers, like Cyrus, gave the show a jolt of caffeine. But Miley fared better. "Tonight" goes down easy, but it's kind of a mess, it's stop-and-start riffs and underlying electronics result only in aimless schizophrenia. C

Beyonce: "Single Ladies": Beyonce has a checkered award-show past. There was the Sugarland disaster at last year's AMAs, and then there was the weird spoken-word thing she did at this year's Grammys. But no such problems here. "Single Ladies" is a blast, and Beyonce and her dancing team are a joy to watch -- so much so that the fact that they don't even try to sing the tune isn't even bothersome. B+

The Fray: "You Found Me": Apparently the Fray are back, and I'm sure this whining, warbling ballad will inspire some tears on a very serious episode of "90210" in the near future. D

Mariah Carey: "I Stay in Love": As Mariah has dialed-down the theatrics, her ballads have come a bit back down to the earth. Mariah's restrained and professional on "Stay in Love," but the AMAs are seriously dragging with mid-tempo rockers and ballads. B-

Coldplay: "Lovers in Japan": Performing on a stage that looks like it's being taken over by a ticker-tape-parade was cute and pretty when Coldplay did it at the MTV Movie Awards, but hopefully Coldplay will have a new award-show get-up in time for Grammy. "Lovers in Japan" builds to a nice gallop, and Chris Martin -- even when he sounds slightly sloppy -- is still easy-going comfort, but the song doesn't quite hit the arena-rock magic that it hints at. C+

Live coverage of the American Music Awards has begun. Stay tuned for live performance reviews.

For now, click here for the latest from the red carpet.

Photo: Getty Images

The "American Music Awards," the award-show midpoint between the Country Music Assn. Awards and the Grammy nomination announcement, will be held this Sunday, broadcast live for those living on the East Coast. The show is packed with 19 performances, it's open to the public and its website comes complete with a little time-wasting widget to fiddle with (down below).

Airing on a crowded Sunday night -- the AMAs are on opposite a two-hour "24" movie, and this Britney Spears thing -- is it worth tuning in? Here's three reasons to watch, and three reasons to take a pass.

Reasons to watch:

1. Kanye West. The self-proclaimed voice of his generation, West is award-show gold. If he's not winning trophies, he's ranting about losing, and yet still turning in some of the finest live performances on television. See last year's Grammys, when he went all glow-in-the-dark with Daft Punk, or even this year's MTV VMAs, when he revealed the stark minimalism of "Love Lockdown." This weekend, the man has an album to sell, as "808s & Heartbreak" is out Tuesday, so expect the best. And maybe there will be a puppet. There need to be more puppets in pop music.

2. Jimmy Kimmel. When it comes to hosting music awards shows, few do it better than Kimmel. There's no self-importance that the night actually means something (it doesn't), and the comedian/host brings a tossed-off indifference to the whole proceedings. It's quite refreshing. Just look back to last year's AMAs, when Kimmel had to operate without a script due to the writers' strike. He commented that he was drunk, and seemed almost embarrassed for the performances he was introducing.

3. If you want to watch some music stuff on TV ... The AMAs will surely be more fun than the "TRL" finale, as Miley Cyrus will be actually performing as opposed to just making goofy faces in a photo booth. And it's still a week for Spears MTV special,  "Britney: For the Record," which is previewed on Show Tracker, and reveals that Britney is vulnerable, stressed-out and sometimes overworked, so you should buy her new album because she's really not that crazy.

Fresh from her Top 10 debut for her Target-only greatest hits package, pop star Christina Aguilera has been tapped to perform on the Dec. 3 CBS television special announcing this year's Grammy nominations. But the singer will get an award-show groove on earlier, performing Nov. 23, 2008, as part of the American Music Awards on ABC.

As previously noted, artists who perform at the Grammy nominations press conference are typically in line for a Grammy nomination. Aguilera will join such acts as the Foo Fighters, John Mayer and country princess Taylor Swift. But if Aguilera, who has four Grammys to her name, is to receive a nomination this year, it will stem from one of her singles, either the more recent, rock-leaning track "Keeps Gettin' Better" or the more moderate "Oh Mother," which was released late last year. 

This will be the first time in Grammy history that the nominations have been unveiled on a prime-time CBS special. "The Grammy Nominations Concert Live!! -- Countdown to Music's Biggest Night" is set to air live for viewers on the East Coast at 10 p.m., and will be held at the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles.

The American Music Awards just got a bit more British, adding Coldplay and Leona Lewis to its performance line-up, according to Billboard. The two join a bevy of previously announced performers, including Kanye West, Alicia Keys, Ne-Yo, the Pussycat Dolls, Taylor Swift and Annie Lennox.

The fan-voted extravaganza, as previously reported, is set for Nov. 23, and will be broadcast live for the East Coast from the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles. Voting is underway now at the AMA website, and will end on Nov. 7.

The gala is open to the public, and tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster. A mezzanine seat will run you $67.60, plus an $11.50 service charge. Or you can spring for the VIP package, which is priced at $1,040. But there's a catch: You need to buy 10 of those puppies.

So what's the service charge on 10 tickets price at $1,040 apiece? Just a cool $417.50, bringing the total cost to $10,822.45. And here's what it gets you: Access to a VIP lounge, a trip to the red carpet, a limo ride and into the official AMA party.

But really, in the grand Ticketmaster universe, that's not so bad. In fact, it's kind of a bargain.

To compare: A fancy $1,040 ticket to the AMAs carries a $41.75 service charge, and a box seat to see Madonna on Nov. 6 at Dodger Stadium (still available at $165.00), comes with a $21.30 "convenience" charge. To sum: The added charge on a Madonna ticket is about 12% of the total ticket cost, whereas the bonus fees on a four-figure AMA package are only about 4% of the total ticket cost.

But the cost of potentially seeing Kanye throw an award-show tantrum? Priceless.

--Todd Martens

Screenshot: www.ticketmaster.com

Following up his appearance at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards, rapper-turned-torch singer Kanye West has been tapped to appear at the upcoming American Music Awards, and singer-songwriter Annie Lennox will be recognized with an "award of merit." This will mark West's third appearance at a music award show in the last year, including his performance at the Grammy gala in February.

Set for Sunday, Nov. 23, the American Music Awards, which run the risk of being upstaged by the release of Guns N' Roses' "Chinese Democracy," have also tapped R&B singer Alicia Keys to perform. Another award-circuit regular, Keys, who is up for artist of the year at this year's AMAs, will be performing a sort of victory-lap for her 2007 album "As I Am." Expect the latter to also be rewarded come Grammy-nomination time, which will be unveiled on Dec. 3.

The Fray have also been announced as performers. The adult contempory rockers are due to release a long-awaited follow-up to 2005's "How to Save A Life" either the end of the year or early 2009.

The AMAs will be broadcast live on ABC at 8 p.m. -- taped delayed for the West Coast -- from the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles. Comedian Jimmy Kimmel will host.

--Todd Martens

Photo: Associated Press

Lil Wayne, Coldplay, Alicia Keys, Chris Brown and the Eagles will vie for artist of the year at the 2008 American Music Awards, which are set for Sunday, Nov. 23 at 8 p.m. R&B star Keys leads all nominees with five, stemming from her November 2007 release "As I Am," an album that hit stores too late in the year to be considered for last year's telecast.

Other top nominees include British rockers Coldplay and classic rockers the Eagles, each with four apiece. Rapper Lil Wayne, whose "The Carter III" is a prime contender for the top-selling album of 2008, scored three AMA nominations, including a nod for favorite R&B/hip-hop album. Winners for the AMAs will be voted upon online by fans for the second-straight year. Voting is underway now, and will end on Nov. 7 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time.

Comedian and talk-show host Jimmy Kimmel will return as host for the fifth time. Initial performers for the 2008 AMAs have also been lined up, and include Rihanna, who is nominated for favorite female artist (pop/rock), Ne-Yo, who will hype his recently released "Year of the Gentleman," Taylor Swift, who's up for favorite female artist (country), and boy/girl groups New Kids on the Block and the Pussycat Dolls, respectively.

Nominees for breakthrough artist include Colbia Caillat, known for her 2007 hit "Bubbly," Disney superstars the Jonas Brothers, hard rock act Paramore, producer-turned-singer/songwriter The-Dream and Flo Rida, who had one of last year's most ubiquitous singles in "Low." Paramore lost best new artist honors to Amy Winehouse, who is again nominated for zero AMAs, at this year's Grammy Awards.

In the pop field, Keys and Mariah Carey will compete with Rihanna for favorite female artist. Usher, Kid Rock and the aforementioned Brown are recognized as favorite male artist. Favorite band, duo or group consists of Coldplay, the Eagles and Daughtry, and favorite album nominees include Coldplay's "Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends, the Eagles' "Long Road Out of Eden" and Keys' "As I Am," the latter two having been released late last year.

Last year, Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, Linkin Park and Daughtry all tied with three nominations apiece. It was "American Idol's" Daughtry who took home the award for favorite pop/rock album as well as breakthrough artist, but his big night at the AMAs failed to translate into much recognition at the Grammy Awards.

Traditionally, the AMAs serve as a launching pad for artists to debut new singles or promote upcoming albums, and last year featured showcase performances from Duran Duran, Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys and an awkward pairing of Sugarland and Beyonce. But in 2007, the AMAs were perhaps more notable for being a scriptless award show, as host Kimmel announced early on that he was not allowed to write any jokes for the event due to the writers strike.

For those who are looking ahead to the Grammy Awards, the Recording Academy will announce its nominees on Dec. 4. The AMAs skew even more popular than the Grammys, as the initial nominee list is culled from Nielsen SoundScan data and trade publication Radio & Records, and are not necessarily a good barometer of what will be nominated for the Grammys. However, expect heavy lobbying for Keys' "As I Am" and the Eagles' "Long Road out of Eden," both of which fared well at the AMAs, and both of which come with plenty of Grammy clout.

A full list of nominations, as released this morning by ABC, is below.

American Music Awards: Red carpet arrivals

Live coverage of the American Music Awards has begun. Stay tuned for live performance reviews.

For now, click here for the latest from the red carpet.

Photo: Getty Images

The "American Music Awards," the award-show midpoint between the Country Music Assn. Awards and the Grammy nomination announcement, will be held this Sunday, broadcast live for those living on the East Coast. The show is packed with 19 performances, it's open to the public and its website comes complete with a little time-wasting widget to fiddle with (down below).

Airing on a crowded Sunday night -- the AMAs are on opposite a two-hour "24" movie, and this Britney Spears thing -- is it worth tuning in? Here's three reasons to watch, and three reasons to take a pass.

Reasons to watch:

1. Kanye West. The self-proclaimed voice of his generation, West is award-show gold. If he's not winning trophies, he's ranting about losing, and yet still turning in some of the finest live performances on television. See last year's Grammys, when he went all glow-in-the-dark with Daft Punk, or even this year's MTV VMAs, when he revealed the stark minimalism of "Love Lockdown." This weekend, the man has an album to sell, as "808s & Heartbreak" is out Tuesday, so expect the best. And maybe there will be a puppet. There need to be more puppets in pop music.

2. Jimmy Kimmel. When it comes to hosting music awards shows, few do it better than Kimmel. There's no self-importance that the night actually means something (it doesn't), and the comedian/host brings a tossed-off indifference to the whole proceedings. It's quite refreshing. Just look back to last year's AMAs, when Kimmel had to operate without a script due to the writers' strike. He commented that he was drunk, and seemed almost embarrassed for the performances he was introducing.

3. If you want to watch some music stuff on TV ... The AMAs will surely be more fun than the "TRL" finale, as Miley Cyrus will be actually performing as opposed to just making goofy faces in a photo booth. And it's still a week for Spears MTV special,  "Britney: For the Record," which is previewed on Show Tracker, and reveals that Britney is vulnerable, stressed-out and sometimes overworked, so you should buy her new album because she's really not that crazy.

Fresh from her Top 10 debut for her Target-only greatest hits package, pop star Christina Aguilera has been tapped to perform on the Dec. 3 CBS television special announcing this year's Grammy nominations. But the singer will get an award-show groove on earlier, performing Nov. 23, 2008, as part of the American Music Awards on ABC.

As previously noted, artists who perform at the Grammy nominations press conference are typically in line for a Grammy nomination. Aguilera will join such acts as the Foo Fighters, John Mayer and country princess Taylor Swift. But if Aguilera, who has four Grammys to her name, is to receive a nomination this year, it will stem from one of her singles, either the more recent, rock-leaning track "Keeps Gettin' Better" or the more moderate "Oh Mother," which was released late last year. 

This will be the first time in Grammy history that the nominations have been unveiled on a prime-time CBS special. "The Grammy Nominations Concert Live!! -- Countdown to Music's Biggest Night" is set to air live for viewers on the East Coast at 10 p.m., and will be held at the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles.

The American Music Awards just got a bit more British, adding Coldplay and Leona Lewis to its performance line-up, according to Billboard. The two join a bevy of previously announced performers, including Kanye West, Alicia Keys, Ne-Yo, the Pussycat Dolls, Taylor Swift and Annie Lennox.

The fan-voted extravaganza, as previously reported, is set for Nov. 23, and will be broadcast live for the East Coast from the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles. Voting is underway now at the AMA website, and will end on Nov. 7.

The gala is open to the public, and tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster. A mezzanine seat will run you $67.60, plus an $11.50 service charge. Or you can spring for the VIP package, which is priced at $1,040. But there's a catch: You need to buy 10 of those puppies.

So what's the service charge on 10 tickets price at $1,040 apiece? Just a cool $417.50, bringing the total cost to $10,822.45. And here's what it gets you: Access to a VIP lounge, a trip to the red carpet, a limo ride and into the official AMA party.

But really, in the grand Ticketmaster universe, that's not so bad. In fact, it's kind of a bargain.

To compare: A fancy $1,040 ticket to the AMAs carries a $41.75 service charge, and a box seat to see Madonna on Nov. 6 at Dodger Stadium (still available at $165.00), comes with a $21.30 "convenience" charge. To sum: The added charge on a Madonna ticket is about 12% of the total ticket cost, whereas the bonus fees on a four-figure AMA package are only about 4% of the total ticket cost.

But the cost of potentially seeing Kanye throw an award-show tantrum? Priceless.

--Todd Martens

Screenshot: www.ticketmaster.com

Following up his appearance at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards, rapper-turned-torch singer Kanye West has been tapped to appear at the upcoming American Music Awards, and singer-songwriter Annie Lennox will be recognized with an "award of merit." This will mark West's third appearance at a music award show in the last year, including his performance at the Grammy gala in February.

Set for Sunday, Nov. 23, the American Music Awards, which run the risk of being upstaged by the release of Guns N' Roses' "Chinese Democracy," have also tapped R&B singer Alicia Keys to perform. Another award-circuit regular, Keys, who is up for artist of the year at this year's AMAs, will be performing a sort of victory-lap for her 2007 album "As I Am." Expect the latter to also be rewarded come Grammy-nomination time, which will be unveiled on Dec. 3.

The Fray have also been announced as performers. The adult contempory rockers are due to release a long-awaited follow-up to 2005's "How to Save A Life" either the end of the year or early 2009.

The AMAs will be broadcast live on ABC at 8 p.m. -- taped delayed for the West Coast -- from the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles. Comedian Jimmy Kimmel will host.

--Todd Martens

Photo: Associated Press

Lil Wayne, Coldplay, Alicia Keys, Chris Brown and the Eagles will vie for artist of the year at the 2008 American Music Awards, which are set for Sunday, Nov. 23 at 8 p.m. R&B star Keys leads all nominees with five, stemming from her November 2007 release "As I Am," an album that hit stores too late in the year to be considered for last year's telecast.

Other top nominees include British rockers Coldplay and classic rockers the Eagles, each with four apiece. Rapper Lil Wayne, whose "The Carter III" is a prime contender for the top-selling album of 2008, scored three AMA nominations, including a nod for favorite R&B/hip-hop album. Winners for the AMAs will be voted upon online by fans for the second-straight year. Voting is underway now, and will end on Nov. 7 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time.

Comedian and talk-show host Jimmy Kimmel will return as host for the fifth time. Initial performers for the 2008 AMAs have also been lined up, and include Rihanna, who is nominated for favorite female artist (pop/rock), Ne-Yo, who will hype his recently released "Year of the Gentleman," Taylor Swift, who's up for favorite female artist (country), and boy/girl groups New Kids on the Block and the Pussycat Dolls, respectively.

Nominees for breakthrough artist include Colbia Caillat, known for her 2007 hit "Bubbly," Disney superstars the Jonas Brothers, hard rock act Paramore, producer-turned-singer/songwriter The-Dream and Flo Rida, who had one of last year's most ubiquitous singles in "Low." Paramore lost best new artist honors to Amy Winehouse, who is again nominated for zero AMAs, at this year's Grammy Awards.

In the pop field, Keys and Mariah Carey will compete with Rihanna for favorite female artist. Usher, Kid Rock and the aforementioned Brown are recognized as favorite male artist. Favorite band, duo or group consists of Coldplay, the Eagles and Daughtry, and favorite album nominees include Coldplay's "Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends, the Eagles' "Long Road Out of Eden" and Keys' "As I Am," the latter two having been released late last year.

Last year, Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, Linkin Park and Daughtry all tied with three nominations apiece. It was "American Idol's" Daughtry who took home the award for favorite pop/rock album as well as breakthrough artist, but his big night at the AMAs failed to translate into much recognition at the Grammy Awards.

Traditionally, the AMAs serve as a launching pad for artists to debut new singles or promote upcoming albums, and last year featured showcase performances from Duran Duran, Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys and an awkward pairing of Sugarland and Beyonce. But in 2007, the AMAs were perhaps more notable for being a scriptless award show, as host Kimmel announced early on that he was not allowed to write any jokes for the event due to the writers strike.

For those who are looking ahead to the Grammy Awards, the Recording Academy will announce its nominees on Dec. 4. The AMAs skew even more popular than the Grammys, as the initial nominee list is culled from Nielsen SoundScan data and trade publication Radio & Records, and are not necessarily a good barometer of what will be nominated for the Grammys. However, expect heavy lobbying for Keys' "As I Am" and the Eagles' "Long Road out of Eden," both of which fared well at the AMAs, and both of which come with plenty of Grammy clout.

A full list of nominations, as released this morning by ABC, is below.

'American Music Awards': Three reasons to watch, three reasons to avoid

The "American Music Awards," the award-show midpoint between the Country Music Assn. Awards and the Grammy nomination announcement, will be held this Sunday, broadcast live for those living on the East Coast. The show is packed with 19 performances, it's open to the public and its website comes complete with a little time-wasting widget to fiddle with (down below).

Airing on a crowded Sunday night -- the AMAs are on opposite a two-hour "24" movie, and this Britney Spears thing -- is it worth tuning in? Here's three reasons to watch, and three reasons to take a pass.

Reasons to watch:

1. Kanye West. The self-proclaimed voice of his generation, West is award-show gold. If he's not winning trophies, he's ranting about losing, and yet still turning in some of the finest live performances on television. See last year's Grammys, when he went all glow-in-the-dark with Daft Punk, or even this year's MTV VMAs, when he revealed the stark minimalism of "Love Lockdown." This weekend, the man has an album to sell, as "808s & Heartbreak" is out Tuesday, so expect the best. And maybe there will be a puppet. There need to be more puppets in pop music.

2. Jimmy Kimmel. When it comes to hosting music awards shows, few do it better than Kimmel. There's no self-importance that the night actually means something (it doesn't), and the comedian/host brings a tossed-off indifference to the whole proceedings. It's quite refreshing. Just look back to last year's AMAs, when Kimmel had to operate without a script due to the writers' strike. He commented that he was drunk, and seemed almost embarrassed for the performances he was introducing.

3. If you want to watch some music stuff on TV ... The AMAs will surely be more fun than the "TRL" finale, as Miley Cyrus will be actually performing as opposed to just making goofy faces in a photo booth. And it's still a week for Spears MTV special,  "Britney: For the Record," which is previewed on Show Tracker, and reveals that Britney is vulnerable, stressed-out and sometimes overworked, so you should buy her new album because she's really not that crazy.

Fresh from her Top 10 debut for her Target-only greatest hits package, pop star Christina Aguilera has been tapped to perform on the Dec. 3 CBS television special announcing this year's Grammy nominations. But the singer will get an award-show groove on earlier, performing Nov. 23, 2008, as part of the American Music Awards on ABC.

As previously noted, artists who perform at the Grammy nominations press conference are typically in line for a Grammy nomination. Aguilera will join such acts as the Foo Fighters, John Mayer and country princess Taylor Swift. But if Aguilera, who has four Grammys to her name, is to receive a nomination this year, it will stem from one of her singles, either the more recent, rock-leaning track "Keeps Gettin' Better" or the more moderate "Oh Mother," which was released late last year. 

This will be the first time in Grammy history that the nominations have been unveiled on a prime-time CBS special. "The Grammy Nominations Concert Live!! -- Countdown to Music's Biggest Night" is set to air live for viewers on the East Coast at 10 p.m., and will be held at the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles.

The American Music Awards just got a bit more British, adding Coldplay and Leona Lewis to its performance line-up, according to Billboard. The two join a bevy of previously announced performers, including Kanye West, Alicia Keys, Ne-Yo, the Pussycat Dolls, Taylor Swift and Annie Lennox.

The fan-voted extravaganza, as previously reported, is set for Nov. 23, and will be broadcast live for the East Coast from the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles. Voting is underway now at the AMA website, and will end on Nov. 7.

The gala is open to the public, and tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster. A mezzanine seat will run you $67.60, plus an $11.50 service charge. Or you can spring for the VIP package, which is priced at $1,040. But there's a catch: You need to buy 10 of those puppies.

So what's the service charge on 10 tickets price at $1,040 apiece? Just a cool $417.50, bringing the total cost to $10,822.45. And here's what it gets you: Access to a VIP lounge, a trip to the red carpet, a limo ride and into the official AMA party.

But really, in the grand Ticketmaster universe, that's not so bad. In fact, it's kind of a bargain.

To compare: A fancy $1,040 ticket to the AMAs carries a $41.75 service charge, and a box seat to see Madonna on Nov. 6 at Dodger Stadium (still available at $165.00), comes with a $21.30 "convenience" charge. To sum: The added charge on a Madonna ticket is about 12% of the total ticket cost, whereas the bonus fees on a four-figure AMA package are only about 4% of the total ticket cost.

But the cost of potentially seeing Kanye throw an award-show tantrum? Priceless.

--Todd Martens

Screenshot: www.ticketmaster.com

Following up his appearance at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards, rapper-turned-torch singer Kanye West has been tapped to appear at the upcoming American Music Awards, and singer-songwriter Annie Lennox will be recognized with an "award of merit." This will mark West's third appearance at a music award show in the last year, including his performance at the Grammy gala in February.

Set for Sunday, Nov. 23, the American Music Awards, which run the risk of being upstaged by the release of Guns N' Roses' "Chinese Democracy," have also tapped R&B singer Alicia Keys to perform. Another award-circuit regular, Keys, who is up for artist of the year at this year's AMAs, will be performing a sort of victory-lap for her 2007 album "As I Am." Expect the latter to also be rewarded come Grammy-nomination time, which will be unveiled on Dec. 3.

The Fray have also been announced as performers. The adult contempory rockers are due to release a long-awaited follow-up to 2005's "How to Save A Life" either the end of the year or early 2009.

The AMAs will be broadcast live on ABC at 8 p.m. -- taped delayed for the West Coast -- from the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles. Comedian Jimmy Kimmel will host.

--Todd Martens

Photo: Associated Press

Lil Wayne, Coldplay, Alicia Keys, Chris Brown and the Eagles will vie for artist of the year at the 2008 American Music Awards, which are set for Sunday, Nov. 23 at 8 p.m. R&B star Keys leads all nominees with five, stemming from her November 2007 release "As I Am," an album that hit stores too late in the year to be considered for last year's telecast.

Other top nominees include British rockers Coldplay and classic rockers the Eagles, each with four apiece. Rapper Lil Wayne, whose "The Carter III" is a prime contender for the top-selling album of 2008, scored three AMA nominations, including a nod for favorite R&B/hip-hop album. Winners for the AMAs will be voted upon online by fans for the second-straight year. Voting is underway now, and will end on Nov. 7 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time.

Comedian and talk-show host Jimmy Kimmel will return as host for the fifth time. Initial performers for the 2008 AMAs have also been lined up, and include Rihanna, who is nominated for favorite female artist (pop/rock), Ne-Yo, who will hype his recently released "Year of the Gentleman," Taylor Swift, who's up for favorite female artist (country), and boy/girl groups New Kids on the Block and the Pussycat Dolls, respectively.

Nominees for breakthrough artist include Colbia Caillat, known for her 2007 hit "Bubbly," Disney superstars the Jonas Brothers, hard rock act Paramore, producer-turned-singer/songwriter The-Dream and Flo Rida, who had one of last year's most ubiquitous singles in "Low." Paramore lost best new artist honors to Amy Winehouse, who is again nominated for zero AMAs, at this year's Grammy Awards.

In the pop field, Keys and Mariah Carey will compete with Rihanna for favorite female artist. Usher, Kid Rock and the aforementioned Brown are recognized as favorite male artist. Favorite band, duo or group consists of Coldplay, the Eagles and Daughtry, and favorite album nominees include Coldplay's "Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends, the Eagles' "Long Road Out of Eden" and Keys' "As I Am," the latter two having been released late last year.

Last year, Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, Linkin Park and Daughtry all tied with three nominations apiece. It was "American Idol's" Daughtry who took home the award for favorite pop/rock album as well as breakthrough artist, but his big night at the AMAs failed to translate into much recognition at the Grammy Awards.

Traditionally, the AMAs serve as a launching pad for artists to debut new singles or promote upcoming albums, and last year featured showcase performances from Duran Duran, Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys and an awkward pairing of Sugarland and Beyonce. But in 2007, the AMAs were perhaps more notable for being a scriptless award show, as host Kimmel announced early on that he was not allowed to write any jokes for the event due to the writers strike.

For those who are looking ahead to the Grammy Awards, the Recording Academy will announce its nominees on Dec. 4. The AMAs skew even more popular than the Grammys, as the initial nominee list is culled from Nielsen SoundScan data and trade publication Radio & Records, and are not necessarily a good barometer of what will be nominated for the Grammys. However, expect heavy lobbying for Keys' "As I Am" and the Eagles' "Long Road out of Eden," both of which fared well at the AMAs, and both of which come with plenty of Grammy clout.

A full list of nominations, as released this morning by ABC, is below.

Christina Aguilera signs on for award-show circuit

Fresh from her Top 10 debut for her Target-only greatest hits package, pop star Christina Aguilera has been tapped to perform on the Dec. 3 CBS television special announcing this year's Grammy nominations. But the singer will get an award-show groove on earlier, performing Nov. 23, 2008, as part of the American Music Awards on ABC.

As previously noted, artists who perform at the Grammy nominations press conference are typically in line for a Grammy nomination. Aguilera will join such acts as the Foo Fighters, John Mayer and country princess Taylor Swift. But if Aguilera, who has four Grammys to her name, is to receive a nomination this year, it will stem from one of her singles, either the more recent, rock-leaning track "Keeps Gettin' Better" or the more moderate "Oh Mother," which was released late last year. 

This will be the first time in Grammy history that the nominations have been unveiled on a prime-time CBS special. "The Grammy Nominations Concert Live!! -- Countdown to Music's Biggest Night" is set to air live for viewers on the East Coast at 10 p.m., and will be held at the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles.

The American Music Awards just got a bit more British, adding Coldplay and Leona Lewis to its performance line-up, according to Billboard. The two join a bevy of previously announced performers, including Kanye West, Alicia Keys, Ne-Yo, the Pussycat Dolls, Taylor Swift and Annie Lennox.

The fan-voted extravaganza, as previously reported, is set for Nov. 23, and will be broadcast live for the East Coast from the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles. Voting is underway now at the AMA website, and will end on Nov. 7.

The gala is open to the public, and tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster. A mezzanine seat will run you $67.60, plus an $11.50 service charge. Or you can spring for the VIP package, which is priced at $1,040. But there's a catch: You need to buy 10 of those puppies.

So what's the service charge on 10 tickets price at $1,040 apiece? Just a cool $417.50, bringing the total cost to $10,822.45. And here's what it gets you: Access to a VIP lounge, a trip to the red carpet, a limo ride and into the official AMA party.

But really, in the grand Ticketmaster universe, that's not so bad. In fact, it's kind of a bargain.

To compare: A fancy $1,040 ticket to the AMAs carries a $41.75 service charge, and a box seat to see Madonna on Nov. 6 at Dodger Stadium (still available at $165.00), comes with a $21.30 "convenience" charge. To sum: The added charge on a Madonna ticket is about 12% of the total ticket cost, whereas the bonus fees on a four-figure AMA package are only about 4% of the total ticket cost.

But the cost of potentially seeing Kanye throw an award-show tantrum? Priceless.

--Todd Martens

Screenshot: www.ticketmaster.com

Following up his appearance at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards, rapper-turned-torch singer Kanye West has been tapped to appear at the upcoming American Music Awards, and singer-songwriter Annie Lennox will be recognized with an "award of merit." This will mark West's third appearance at a music award show in the last year, including his performance at the Grammy gala in February.

Set for Sunday, Nov. 23, the American Music Awards, which run the risk of being upstaged by the release of Guns N' Roses' "Chinese Democracy," have also tapped R&B singer Alicia Keys to perform. Another award-circuit regular, Keys, who is up for artist of the year at this year's AMAs, will be performing a sort of victory-lap for her 2007 album "As I Am." Expect the latter to also be rewarded come Grammy-nomination time, which will be unveiled on Dec. 3.

The Fray have also been announced as performers. The adult contempory rockers are due to release a long-awaited follow-up to 2005's "How to Save A Life" either the end of the year or early 2009.

The AMAs will be broadcast live on ABC at 8 p.m. -- taped delayed for the West Coast -- from the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles. Comedian Jimmy Kimmel will host.

--Todd Martens

Photo: Associated Press

Lil Wayne, Coldplay, Alicia Keys, Chris Brown and the Eagles will vie for artist of the year at the 2008 American Music Awards, which are set for Sunday, Nov. 23 at 8 p.m. R&B star Keys leads all nominees with five, stemming from her November 2007 release "As I Am," an album that hit stores too late in the year to be considered for last year's telecast.

Other top nominees include British rockers Coldplay and classic rockers the Eagles, each with four apiece. Rapper Lil Wayne, whose "The Carter III" is a prime contender for the top-selling album of 2008, scored three AMA nominations, including a nod for favorite R&B/hip-hop album. Winners for the AMAs will be voted upon online by fans for the second-straight year. Voting is underway now, and will end on Nov. 7 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time.

Comedian and talk-show host Jimmy Kimmel will return as host for the fifth time. Initial performers for the 2008 AMAs have also been lined up, and include Rihanna, who is nominated for favorite female artist (pop/rock), Ne-Yo, who will hype his recently released "Year of the Gentleman," Taylor Swift, who's up for favorite female artist (country), and boy/girl groups New Kids on the Block and the Pussycat Dolls, respectively.

Nominees for breakthrough artist include Colbia Caillat, known for her 2007 hit "Bubbly," Disney superstars the Jonas Brothers, hard rock act Paramore, producer-turned-singer/songwriter The-Dream and Flo Rida, who had one of last year's most ubiquitous singles in "Low." Paramore lost best new artist honors to Amy Winehouse, who is again nominated for zero AMAs, at this year's Grammy Awards.

In the pop field, Keys and Mariah Carey will compete with Rihanna for favorite female artist. Usher, Kid Rock and the aforementioned Brown are recognized as favorite male artist. Favorite band, duo or group consists of Coldplay, the Eagles and Daughtry, and favorite album nominees include Coldplay's "Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends, the Eagles' "Long Road Out of Eden" and Keys' "As I Am," the latter two having been released late last year.

Last year, Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, Linkin Park and Daughtry all tied with three nominations apiece. It was "American Idol's" Daughtry who took home the award for favorite pop/rock album as well as breakthrough artist, but his big night at the AMAs failed to translate into much recognition at the Grammy Awards.

Traditionally, the AMAs serve as a launching pad for artists to debut new singles or promote upcoming albums, and last year featured showcase performances from Duran Duran, Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys and an awkward pairing of Sugarland and Beyonce. But in 2007, the AMAs were perhaps more notable for being a scriptless award show, as host Kimmel announced early on that he was not allowed to write any jokes for the event due to the writers strike.

For those who are looking ahead to the Grammy Awards, the Recording Academy will announce its nominees on Dec. 4. The AMAs skew even more popular than the Grammys, as the initial nominee list is culled from Nielsen SoundScan data and trade publication Radio & Records, and are not necessarily a good barometer of what will be nominated for the Grammys. However, expect heavy lobbying for Keys' "As I Am" and the Eagles' "Long Road out of Eden," both of which fared well at the AMAs, and both of which come with plenty of Grammy clout.

A full list of nominations, as released this morning by ABC, is below.

AMAs: Coldplay, Leona and the $1,040 ticket

The American Music Awards just got a bit more British, adding Coldplay and Leona Lewis to its performance line-up, according to Billboard. The two join a bevy of previously announced performers, including Kanye West, Alicia Keys, Ne-Yo, the Pussycat Dolls, Taylor Swift and Annie Lennox.

The fan-voted extravaganza, as previously reported, is set for Nov. 23, and will be broadcast live for the East Coast from the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles. Voting is underway now at the AMA website, and will end on Nov. 7.

The gala is open to the public, and tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster. A mezzanine seat will run you $67.60, plus an $11.50 service charge. Or you can spring for the VIP package, which is priced at $1,040. But there's a catch: You need to buy 10 of those puppies.

So what's the service charge on 10 tickets price at $1,040 apiece? Just a cool $417.50, bringing the total cost to $10,822.45. And here's what it gets you: Access to a VIP lounge, a trip to the red carpet, a limo ride and into the official AMA party.

But really, in the grand Ticketmaster universe, that's not so bad. In fact, it's kind of a bargain.

To compare: A fancy $1,040 ticket to the AMAs carries a $41.75 service charge, and a box seat to see Madonna on Nov. 6 at Dodger Stadium (still available at $165.00), comes with a $21.30 "convenience" charge. To sum: The added charge on a Madonna ticket is about 12% of the total ticket cost, whereas the bonus fees on a four-figure AMA package are only about 4% of the total ticket cost.

But the cost of potentially seeing Kanye throw an award-show tantrum? Priceless.

--Todd Martens

Screenshot: www.ticketmaster.com

Following up his appearance at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards, rapper-turned-torch singer Kanye West has been tapped to appear at the upcoming American Music Awards, and singer-songwriter Annie Lennox will be recognized with an "award of merit." This will mark West's third appearance at a music award show in the last year, including his performance at the Grammy gala in February.

Set for Sunday, Nov. 23, the American Music Awards, which run the risk of being upstaged by the release of Guns N' Roses' "Chinese Democracy," have also tapped R&B singer Alicia Keys to perform. Another award-circuit regular, Keys, who is up for artist of the year at this year's AMAs, will be performing a sort of victory-lap for her 2007 album "As I Am." Expect the latter to also be rewarded come Grammy-nomination time, which will be unveiled on Dec. 3.

The Fray have also been announced as performers. The adult contempory rockers are due to release a long-awaited follow-up to 2005's "How to Save A Life" either the end of the year or early 2009.

The AMAs will be broadcast live on ABC at 8 p.m. -- taped delayed for the West Coast -- from the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles. Comedian Jimmy Kimmel will host.

--Todd Martens

Photo: Associated Press

Lil Wayne, Coldplay, Alicia Keys, Chris Brown and the Eagles will vie for artist of the year at the 2008 American Music Awards, which are set for Sunday, Nov. 23 at 8 p.m. R&B star Keys leads all nominees with five, stemming from her November 2007 release "As I Am," an album that hit stores too late in the year to be considered for last year's telecast.

Other top nominees include British rockers Coldplay and classic rockers the Eagles, each with four apiece. Rapper Lil Wayne, whose "The Carter III" is a prime contender for the top-selling album of 2008, scored three AMA nominations, including a nod for favorite R&B/hip-hop album. Winners for the AMAs will be voted upon online by fans for the second-straight year. Voting is underway now, and will end on Nov. 7 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time.

Comedian and talk-show host Jimmy Kimmel will return as host for the fifth time. Initial performers for the 2008 AMAs have also been lined up, and include Rihanna, who is nominated for favorite female artist (pop/rock), Ne-Yo, who will hype his recently released "Year of the Gentleman," Taylor Swift, who's up for favorite female artist (country), and boy/girl groups New Kids on the Block and the Pussycat Dolls, respectively.

Nominees for breakthrough artist include Colbia Caillat, known for her 2007 hit "Bubbly," Disney superstars the Jonas Brothers, hard rock act Paramore, producer-turned-singer/songwriter The-Dream and Flo Rida, who had one of last year's most ubiquitous singles in "Low." Paramore lost best new artist honors to Amy Winehouse, who is again nominated for zero AMAs, at this year's Grammy Awards.

In the pop field, Keys and Mariah Carey will compete with Rihanna for favorite female artist. Usher, Kid Rock and the aforementioned Brown are recognized as favorite male artist. Favorite band, duo or group consists of Coldplay, the Eagles and Daughtry, and favorite album nominees include Coldplay's "Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends, the Eagles' "Long Road Out of Eden" and Keys' "As I Am," the latter two having been released late last year.

Last year, Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, Linkin Park and Daughtry all tied with three nominations apiece. It was "American Idol's" Daughtry who took home the award for favorite pop/rock album as well as breakthrough artist, but his big night at the AMAs failed to translate into much recognition at the Grammy Awards.

Traditionally, the AMAs serve as a launching pad for artists to debut new singles or promote upcoming albums, and last year featured showcase performances from Duran Duran, Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys and an awkward pairing of Sugarland and Beyonce. But in 2007, the AMAs were perhaps more notable for being a scriptless award show, as host Kimmel announced early on that he was not allowed to write any jokes for the event due to the writers strike.

For those who are looking ahead to the Grammy Awards, the Recording Academy will announce its nominees on Dec. 4. The AMAs skew even more popular than the Grammys, as the initial nominee list is culled from Nielsen SoundScan data and trade publication Radio & Records, and are not necessarily a good barometer of what will be nominated for the Grammys. However, expect heavy lobbying for Keys' "As I Am" and the Eagles' "Long Road out of Eden," both of which fared well at the AMAs, and both of which come with plenty of Grammy clout.

A full list of nominations, as released this morning by ABC, is below.

Kanye West, Alicia Keys to perform at AMAs

Following up his appearance at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards, rapper-turned-torch singer Kanye West has been tapped to appear at the upcoming American Music Awards, and singer-songwriter Annie Lennox will be recognized with an "award of merit." This will mark West's third appearance at a music award show in the last year, including his performance at the Grammy gala in February.

Set for Sunday, Nov. 23, the American Music Awards, which run the risk of being upstaged by the release of Guns N' Roses' "Chinese Democracy," have also tapped R&B singer Alicia Keys to perform. Another award-circuit regular, Keys, who is up for artist of the year at this year's AMAs, will be performing a sort of victory-lap for her 2007 album "As I Am." Expect the latter to also be rewarded come Grammy-nomination time, which will be unveiled on Dec. 3.

The Fray have also been announced as performers. The adult contempory rockers are due to release a long-awaited follow-up to 2005's "How to Save A Life" either the end of the year or early 2009.

The AMAs will be broadcast live on ABC at 8 p.m. -- taped delayed for the West Coast -- from the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles. Comedian Jimmy Kimmel will host.

--Todd Martens

Photo: Associated Press

Lil Wayne, Coldplay, Alicia Keys, Chris Brown and the Eagles will vie for artist of the year at the 2008 American Music Awards, which are set for Sunday, Nov. 23 at 8 p.m. R&B star Keys leads all nominees with five, stemming from her November 2007 release "As I Am," an album that hit stores too late in the year to be considered for last year's telecast.

Other top nominees include British rockers Coldplay and classic rockers the Eagles, each with four apiece. Rapper Lil Wayne, whose "The Carter III" is a prime contender for the top-selling album of 2008, scored three AMA nominations, including a nod for favorite R&B/hip-hop album. Winners for the AMAs will be voted upon online by fans for the second-straight year. Voting is underway now, and will end on Nov. 7 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time.

Comedian and talk-show host Jimmy Kimmel will return as host for the fifth time. Initial performers for the 2008 AMAs have also been lined up, and include Rihanna, who is nominated for favorite female artist (pop/rock), Ne-Yo, who will hype his recently released "Year of the Gentleman," Taylor Swift, who's up for favorite female artist (country), and boy/girl groups New Kids on the Block and the Pussycat Dolls, respectively.

Nominees for breakthrough artist include Colbia Caillat, known for her 2007 hit "Bubbly," Disney superstars the Jonas Brothers, hard rock act Paramore, producer-turned-singer/songwriter The-Dream and Flo Rida, who had one of last year's most ubiquitous singles in "Low." Paramore lost best new artist honors to Amy Winehouse, who is again nominated for zero AMAs, at this year's Grammy Awards.

In the pop field, Keys and Mariah Carey will compete with Rihanna for favorite female artist. Usher, Kid Rock and the aforementioned Brown are recognized as favorite male artist. Favorite band, duo or group consists of Coldplay, the Eagles and Daughtry, and favorite album nominees include Coldplay's "Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends, the Eagles' "Long Road Out of Eden" and Keys' "As I Am," the latter two having been released late last year.

Last year, Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, Linkin Park and Daughtry all tied with three nominations apiece. It was "American Idol's" Daughtry who took home the award for favorite pop/rock album as well as breakthrough artist, but his big night at the AMAs failed to translate into much recognition at the Grammy Awards.

Traditionally, the AMAs serve as a launching pad for artists to debut new singles or promote upcoming albums, and last year featured showcase performances from Duran Duran, Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys and an awkward pairing of Sugarland and Beyonce. But in 2007, the AMAs were perhaps more notable for being a scriptless award show, as host Kimmel announced early on that he was not allowed to write any jokes for the event due to the writers strike.

For those who are looking ahead to the Grammy Awards, the Recording Academy will announce its nominees on Dec. 4. The AMAs skew even more popular than the Grammys, as the initial nominee list is culled from Nielsen SoundScan data and trade publication Radio & Records, and are not necessarily a good barometer of what will be nominated for the Grammys. However, expect heavy lobbying for Keys' "As I Am" and the Eagles' "Long Road out of Eden," both of which fared well at the AMAs, and both of which come with plenty of Grammy clout.

A full list of nominations, as released this morning by ABC, is below.

Alicia Keys, the Eagles and Coldplay lead American Music Award noms

Lil Wayne, Coldplay, Alicia Keys, Chris Brown and the Eagles will vie for artist of the year at the 2008 American Music Awards, which are set for Sunday, Nov. 23 at 8 p.m. R&B star Keys leads all nominees with five, stemming from her November 2007 release "As I Am," an album that hit stores too late in the year to be considered for last year's telecast.

Other top nominees include British rockers Coldplay and classic rockers the Eagles, each with four apiece. Rapper Lil Wayne, whose "The Carter III" is a prime contender for the top-selling album of 2008, scored three AMA nominations, including a nod for favorite R&B/hip-hop album. Winners for the AMAs will be voted upon online by fans for the second-straight year. Voting is underway now, and will end on Nov. 7 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time.

Comedian and talk-show host Jimmy Kimmel will return as host for the fifth time. Initial performers for the 2008 AMAs have also been lined up, and include Rihanna, who is nominated for favorite female artist (pop/rock), Ne-Yo, who will hype his recently released "Year of the Gentleman," Taylor Swift, who's up for favorite female artist (country), and boy/girl groups New Kids on the Block and the Pussycat Dolls, respectively.

Nominees for breakthrough artist include Colbia Caillat, known for her 2007 hit "Bubbly," Disney superstars the Jonas Brothers, hard rock act Paramore, producer-turned-singer/songwriter The-Dream and Flo Rida, who had one of last year's most ubiquitous singles in "Low." Paramore lost best new artist honors to Amy Winehouse, who is again nominated for zero AMAs, at this year's Grammy Awards.

In the pop field, Keys and Mariah Carey will compete with Rihanna for favorite female artist. Usher, Kid Rock and the aforementioned Brown are recognized as favorite male artist. Favorite band, duo or group consists of Coldplay, the Eagles and Daughtry, and favorite album nominees include Coldplay's "Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends, the Eagles' "Long Road Out of Eden" and Keys' "As I Am," the latter two having been released late last year.

Last year, Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, Linkin Park and Daughtry all tied with three nominations apiece. It was "American Idol's" Daughtry who took home the award for favorite pop/rock album as well as breakthrough artist, but his big night at the AMAs failed to translate into much recognition at the Grammy Awards.

Traditionally, the AMAs serve as a launching pad for artists to debut new singles or promote upcoming albums, and last year featured showcase performances from Duran Duran, Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys and an awkward pairing of Sugarland and Beyonce. But in 2007, the AMAs were perhaps more notable for being a scriptless award show, as host Kimmel announced early on that he was not allowed to write any jokes for the event due to the writers strike.

For those who are looking ahead to the Grammy Awards, the Recording Academy will announce its nominees on Dec. 4. The AMAs skew even more popular than the Grammys, as the initial nominee list is culled from Nielsen SoundScan data and trade publication Radio & Records, and are not necessarily a good barometer of what will be nominated for the Grammys. However, expect heavy lobbying for Keys' "As I Am" and the Eagles' "Long Road out of Eden," both of which fared well at the AMAs, and both of which come with plenty of Grammy clout.

A full list of nominations, as released this morning by ABC, is below.