Jackson wins music awards

STAR POWER: Keith Urban and his wife Nicole Kidman arrive at the 2009 American Music Awards in Los Angeles.

Reuters

FOR MY GIRLS: Country music singer Keith Urban poses with his award for Country-Favorite Male Artist at the 2009 American Music Awards.

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New Zealand-born Keith Urban won the first American Music Award of his career, for favourite male artist in the country category. He dedicated his award to his wife, actress Nicole Kidman, and their daughter.

Country crossover star Taylor Swift overshadowed the late Michael Jackson at the American Music Awards, winning five awards including artist of the year.

Jackson, who had been expected to enjoy a clean sweep, ended up with four awards. He and Swift went head-to-head in the artist of the year race, the ceremony's final prize.

Other multiple winners included hip-hop acts Jay-Z and the Black Eyed Peas, with two each.

Swift, 19, was also named favourite female artist in the pop/rock and country categories, and favourite adult-contemporary artist. Her 2008 album Fearless, the best-selling release in the United States this year, was named favourite country album.

She accepted her awards live via satellite from backstage at London's Wembley Arena, where she will perform a concert on Monday.

"Music has never been ultimately about competition," Swift said, after winning the artist of the year prize. She said it was an "unimaginable honour" to be cited in the same category as Jackson, and thanked the Jackson family.

Jackson was named favourite male artist in the pop/rock and soul/R&B categories, while his hits collection No 1s was named favourite album in both those categories.

His brother Jermaine accepted on his behalf, at one point thanking Allah "for blessing my entire family."

Rapper Eminem, making a rare awards-show appearance in the wake of his four nominations, went home empty-handed.

The Black Eyed Peas were named favourite group in both the pop/rock and soul/R&B categories. Jay-Z won favourite male artist and favourite album in the rap/hip-hop categories.

Punk rock trio Green Day was named favourite alternative artist. Rascal Flatts won favourite country group for the fourth year in a row.

Nominees are determined by radio airplay and retail sales, while members of the public determine the winners through online voting. That's why Jackson got so many nominations, even though he didn't release any new material.

List of winners at the American Music Awards

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Taylor Swift

POP/ROCK

Favourite male artist – Michael Jackson
Favourite female artist – Taylor Swift
Favourite band, duo or group – Black Eyed Peas
Favourite album – No 1s (Michael Jackson)

COUNTRY

Favourite male artist – Keith Urban
Favourite female artist – Taylor Swift
Favourite band, duo or group – Rascal Flatts
Favourite album – Fearless (Taylor Swift)

RAP/HIP-HOP

Favourite male artist – Jay-Z
Favourite album – The Blueprint 3 (Jay-Z)

SOUL/R&B

Favourite male artist – Michael Jackson
Favourite female artist – Beyonce
Favourite band, duo or group – Black Eyed Peas
Favourite album – No 1s (Michael Jackson)

SOUNDTRACKS

Favourite album – Twilight

ALTERNATIVE

Favourite artist – Green Day

ADULT CONTEMPORARY

Favourite artist – Taylor Swift

LATIN

Favourite artist – Aventura

CONTEMPORARY INSPIRATIONAL

Favourite artist – Mary

BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST

Gloriana