AMA Noms: Ashanti Tops Em, Nelly

It'd be foolish to bet against Ashanti at the American Music Awards

The R&B newbie seems to be the pick to click at the 30th annual American Music Awards, leading the field with five nods, including Favorite Pop and R&B Female Artist, Favorite Album and Favorite New Artist for her chart-dominating debut album, Ashanti.

The Long Island-born chanteuse (full name: Ashanti Douglas) outscored such big-time music players as Eminem and Nelly, who tallied four nominations apiece at Dick Clark's annual alterna-Grammys. The 2003 edition of the trophy fest will be hosted by those omnipresent Osbournes--Ozzy, Sharon, Jack and Kelly--and air live from L.A.'s Shrine Auditorium on ABC, January 13.

Aside from Ashanti's surprise showing, there were few eyebrow-raisers at Tuesday's AMA nominations. Newly minted movie star Eminem is up against Nelly, Ashanti and Pink in the Favorite Pop/Rock Album race and against Nelly, Ashanti and Ludacris in the Favorite Hip-Hop/R&B Album category. Ashanti squares off with Puddle of Mudd and American Idol champ Kelly Clarkson for the title of Favorite New Artist.

Nominees for the AMAs are compiled by music sales data and radio airplay, and winners are selected via a national sampling of some 20,000 people. As the nominee list makes abundantly clear, American Music Awards typically skew toward the more mainstream and radio-friendly tunes from the past year instead of critical darlings (hence "favorite" instead of "best").

One exception, however, is the Coca-Cola New Music Award, which stems from a competition searching for "the best unsigned band or artist in America." The contestants were pared down to three finalists, who will perform live January 10, before a panel of judges. The winner will then get to perform live on the American Music Awards.

The nominees are Honeycomb from New York City, Moe Loughran from Nashville and Terell from Jamesburg, New Jersey.

POP/ROCK

Favorite Male Artist: Eminem, Enrique Iglesias, Nelly Favorite Female Artist: Sheryl Crow, Celine Dion, Pink Favorite Band, Duo or Group: Creed, Linkin Park, Nickelback Favorite Album: Ashanti (Ashanti), The Eminem Show (Eminem), Nellyville (Nelly), M!ssundaztood (Pink) Favorite New Artist: Ashanti, Kelly Clarkson, Puddle of Mudd

HIP-HOP/R&B

Favorite Male Artist: Eminem, Ja Rule, Nelly Favorite Female Artist: Ashanti, Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Lopez Favorite Band, Duo or Group: B2K, Nappy Roots, OutKast Favorite Album: Ashanti (Ashanti), The Eminem Show (Eminem), Word of Mouf (Ludacris), Nellyville (Nelly) Favorite New Artist: Ashanti, B2K, Nappy Roots

COUNTRY

Favorite Male Artist: Alan Jackson, Toby Keith, Tim McGraw Favorite Female Artist: Martina McBride, Jo Dee Messina, Lee Ann Womack Favorite Band, Duo or Group: Brooks & Dunn, Dixie Chicks, Lonestar Favorite Album: No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems (Kenny Chesney), Home (Dixie Chicks), Drive (Alan Jackson), Unleashed (Toby Keith) Favorite New Artist: Kellie Coffey, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Tommy Shane Steiner

ADULT CONTEMPORARY

Favorite Artist: Vanessa Carlton, Celine Dion, Five for Fighting

LATIN MUSIC

Favorite Artist: Marc Anthony, Enrique Iglesias, Shakira

ALTERNATIVE MUSIC

Favorite Artist: Creed, Linkin Park, System of a Down

CONTEMPORARY INSPIRATIONAL

Favorite Artist: Avalon, Jars of Clay, P.O.D

SOUNDTRACK

Lilo & Stitch, The Scorpion King, Spider-Man

COCA-COLA NEW MUSIC AWARD FINALISTS: Honeycomb, Moe Loughran, Terell