Nominees for this year’s American Music Awards–the annual Dick Clark-produced awards ceremony where the idea of the “best” is thrown out the window–were announced today, and Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, Linkin Park, and Daughtry led the field of nominees with four each. This year’s AMAs will be even more subject to the sway of street teams and crazed computer-attached teenagers, as voting has shifted from a poll of 20,000 music buyers to an online survey (presumably tracking down 20,000 people who actually buy music and know of all the nominated artists and albums, which span categories including contemporary inspirational, soundtracks, and the still-kicking “alternative,” proved too difficult of a task for the production company).

Most of the nominees are your standard megasellers–Rascal Flatts (nominated for their album that came out last year), Fergie, Nickelback–but I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I hope Pretty Ricky’s fans mobilized to carry their heroes to the Best Rap/Hip Hop Band, Duo, Or Group title, if only because they’d probably have the classiest acceptance speech ever. The full list:

Pop/Rock:
- Male artist: Akon, Timbaland, Justin Timberlake
- Female artist: Beyonce, Fergie, Avril Lavigne
- Band, duo or group: Linkin Park, Maroon 5, Nickelback
- Album: Daughtry (Daughtry), Minutes To Midnight (Linkin Park), FutureSex/LoveSounds (Justin Timberlake)

Country:
- Male artist: Toby Keith, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley
- Female artist: Martina McBride, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood
- Band, duo or group: Big & Rich, Brooks & Dunn, Rascal Flatts
- Album: Let It Go (Tim McGraw), Me And My Gang (Rascal Flatts), Some Hearts (Carrie Underwood)

Soul/Rhythm & Blues:
- Male artist: Akon, Ne-Yo, T-Pain
- Female artist: Beyonce, Fantasia, Rihanna
- Album: B’Day (Beyonce), Double Up (R. Kelly), FutureSex/Love Sounds (Justin Timberlake)

Rap/Hip Hop:
- Male artist: Fabolous, T.I., Young Jeezy
- Band, duo or group: Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Pretty Ricky, Shop Boyz
- Album: Strength & Loyalty (Bone Thugs-N-Harmony), T.I. vs. T.I.P. (T.I.), The Inspiration (Young Jeezy)

Adult Contemporary:
- Artist: Daughtry, Norah Jones, John Mayer

Alternative:
- Artist: Linkin Park, My Chemical Romance, the White Stripes

Latin:
- Artist: Daddy Yankee, Juan Luis Guerra y 440, Jennifer Lopez

Contemporary Inspirational:
- Artist: Casting Crowns, Jeremy Camp, tobyMac

Soundtracks:
- Album: Dreamgirls,Hairspray,High School Musical 2

Breakthrough:
- New artist: Daughtry, Plain White T’s, Robin Thicke

American Music Awards [abc.go.com]
Timberlake, Beyonce among American Music nominees [Reuters]