American Music Awards
A ABC Original
The American Music Awards is an annual televised event that honors popular music based on public opinion rather than industry peer voting. Each season the show gathers current chart-topping performers, fan-favorite nominees, and live acts for performances, brief interviews, and acceptance... Read more
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About American Music Awards
The American Music Awards is an annual televised event that honors popular music based on public opinion rather than industry peer voting. Each season the show gathers current chart-topping performers, fan-favorite nominees, and live acts for performances, brief interviews, and acceptance speeches. Instead of the Recording Academy's member ballots, winners are chosen by music buyers and general audiences, so the results tend to mirror commercial success and fandom. The format mixes awards presentation with concert-style numbers and red carpet moments, delivering a snapshot of mainstream tastes without revealing unexpected twists or outcomes. Hosts and presenters introduce winners and performers, with short acceptance speeches that punctuate the live performances and keep the pace brisk.
Released on television in 1974, the program established an annual awards special that blends talk-show elements with live musical showcases. It was produced as a network broadcast event, recurring each year to highlight sales-driven and fan-selected achievements in popular music.
The awards themselves are decided by polls of the public and music buyers, placing emphasis on commercial performance, radio play, and fan support. Because the selection relies on consumer preference rather than peer voting, it offers a direct measure of mainstream popularity and often rewards artists with strong market visibility.
Over time the show became a visible barometer of what people were buying and talking about in music, shaping headlines, red carpet trends, and televised highlights. High-energy performances and celebrity moments from the broadcast have frequently fed into broader media coverage, helping artists cement mass-market profiles and reach new fans.
Audience response is often positive, reflected here by a vote average of 8.2 out of 10 from a sample of viewers. Critics tend to view the show as a popularity gauge, praising its entertainment value while sometimes criticizing its focus on sales and mass appeal over experimental or niche artistry.
Details
- Release Date
- February 19, 1974
- Episode Length
- 3h
- User Ratings
- 12 votes
- Type
- TV Series
- Seasons
- 51
- Episodes
- 53
- Network
- ABC, CBS, Paramount+
- Status
- Returning Series
- Genres
- Talk
- Country
- United States
- Studio
- Dick Clark Productions +2 more
Seasons (51 seasons, 53 episodes)
The 1st Annual American Music Awards
3 episodes - 1974
The 2nd Annual American Music Awards
1 episodes - 1975
The 3rd Annual American Music Awards
1 episodes - 1976
The 4th Annual American Music Awards
1 episodes - 1977
The 5th Annual American Music Awards
1 episodes - 1978
The 6th Annual American Music Awards
1 episodes - 1979
The 7th Annual American Music Awards
1 episodes - 1980
The 8th Annual American Music Awards
1 episodes - 1981
The 9th Annual American Music Awards
1 episodes - 1982
The 10th Annual American Music Awards
1 episodes - 1983
The 11th Annual American Music Awards
1 episodes - 1984
The 12th Annual American Music Awards
1 episodes - 1985
The 13th Annual American Music Awards
1 episodes - 1986
The 14th Annual American Music Awards
1 episodes - 1987
The 15th Annual American Music Awards
1 episodes - 1988
The 16th Annual American Music Awards
1 episodes - 1989
The 17th Annual American Music Awards
1 episodes - 1990
The 18th Annual American Music Awards
1 episodes - 1991
The 19th Annual American Music Awards
1 episodes - 1992
The 20th Annual American Music Awards
1 episodes - 1993
The 21st Annual American Music Awards
1 episodes - 1994
The 22nd Annual American Music Awards
1 episodes - 1995
The 23rd Annual American Music Awards
1 episodes - 1996
The 24th Annual American Music Awards
1 episodes - 1997
The 25th Annual American Music Awards
1 episodes - 1998
The 26th Annual American Music Awards
1 episodes - 1999
The 27th Annual American Music Awards
1 episodes - 2000
The 28th Annual American Music Awards
1 episodes - 2001
The 29th Annual American Music Awards
1 episodes - 2002
The 30th Annual American Music Awards
1 episodes - 2003
The 31st Annual American Music Awards
1 episodes - 2003
The 32nd Annual American Music Awards
1 episodes - 2004
The 33rd Annual American Music Awards
1 episodes - 2005
The 34th Annual American Music Awards
1 episodes - 2006
The 35th Annual American Music Awards
1 episodes - 2007
The 36th Annual American Music Awards
1 episodes - 2008
The 37th Annual American Music Awards
1 episodes - 2009
The 38th Annual American Music Awards
1 episodes - 2010
The 39th Annual American Music Awards
1 episodes - 2011
The 40th Annual American Music Awards
1 episodes - 2012
The 41st Annual American Music Awards
1 episodes - 2013
The 42nd Annual American Music Awards
1 episodes - 2014
The 43rd Annual American Music Awards
1 episodes - 2015
The 44th Annual American Music Awards
1 episodes - 2016
The 45th Annual American Music Awards
1 episodes - 2017
The 46th Annual American Music Awards
1 episodes - 2018
The 47th Annual American Music Awards
1 episodes - 2019
The 48th Annual American Music Awards
1 episodes - 2020
The 49th Annual American Music Awards
1 episodes - 2021
The 50th Annual American Music Awards
1 episodes - 2022
The 51st Annual American Music Awards
1 episodes - 2025
