Ashanti gets five American Music noms

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Nov. 19 (UPI) -- Newcomer Ashanti led the field with five nominations when nominees for the 30th American Music Awards were announced in Beverly Hills Tuesday. Eminem and Nelly had four nominations each.

Ashanti was nominated for favorite new artist and album in pop/rock, and female artist, newcomer and album in hip-hop/R&B, for her self-titled debut album.

Nine recording artists -- including Celine Dion, Enrique Iglesias, Alan Jackson and Toby Keith -- received two nominations each.

Eminem ("The Eminem Show") and Nelly ("Nellyville") were both nominated for favorite male artist and album in both pop/rock and hip-hop/R&B categories. Dion was nominated for favorite female artist in two categories, pop/rock and adult contemporary. Iglesias likewise was nominated for favorite male artist in two categories, pop/rock and Latin music.

Jackson and Keith were both nominated for male country artist and album -- Jackson for "Drive," and Keith for "Unleashed."

Other two-time nominees included B2K and Nappy Roots, both nominated for band, duo or group and new artist in hip-hop/R&B; Creed and Linkin Park, both for band, duo or group in pop/rock and alternative music; and Pink, for female artist and album ("M!ssundaztood") in pop/rock.

Sheryl Crow was nominated for favorite pop/rock female artist. "American Idol" winner Kelly Clarkson was nominated for favorite new pop/rock artist.

In the hip-hop/R&B category, Ja Rule was nominated for favorite male artist, while Mary J. Blige and Jennifer Lopez were nominated for favorite female artist.

In country, Tim McGraw is up for favorite male artist, and the female artist nominees are Martina McBride, Jo Dee Messina and Lee Ann Womack. Brooks & Dunn, Dixie Chicks and Lonestar are up for favorite band, duo or group.

The nominees for favorite movie soundtrack are "Lilo & Stitch," "The Scorpion King" and "Spider-Man"

This year, the American Music Awards will present the second annual Coca-Cola New Music Award, honoring the best unsigned band in America. A nationwide talent search has determined three finalists for the award -- Honeycomb (New York), Moe Loughran (Nashville) and Terell (Jamesburg, N.J.) The finalists will perform before a panel of judges in Los Angeles on Jan. 10, and the winner will perform live on the American Music Awards telecast.

The show will also include the presentation of the annual Award of Merit for "outstanding contributions to the musical entertainment of the American public." This year's recipient -- to be announced at a later date -- will join a list of previous winners that includes Bing Crosby, Berry Gordy, Irving Berlin, Johnny Cash, Ella Fitzgerald, Chuck Berry, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Loretta Lynn, Paul McCartney, Elvis Presley, James Brown, Little Richard, Frank Sinatra, Billy Joel, Gloria Estefan and Garth Brooks.

American Music Award winners are determined by a poll, conducted by the National Family Opinion, Inc. firm under the supervision of Broadcast Research and Consulting, Inc. Pollsters use a national sampling estimated at 20,000 people -- taking into account such factors as age, gender, region and ethnic origin.

The 30th American Music Awards will be presented at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on Jan. 13, 2003, in ceremonies to be televised live on ABC, hosted by The Osbournes.