For the first time in the history of the awards show, the American Music Awards are letting the fans vote for the winners. While this puts the final decision in the hands of the people, the nominees were selected by retail and sales data. The list of nominees reads like a who’s who of the Pop and Hip-Hop worlds. Rock music seems to be conspicuously under represented being grouped with Pop in the Pop/Rock category. Akon, Timberlake, Timbaland, Fergie and Beyoncé take 6 of 9 spots in the category with Avril Lavigne, Daughtry and Linkin Park in the last 3 spots-and Daughtry makes a repeat appearance in Adult Contemporary. Rock makes another appearance in the Alternative Rock Music category with My Chemical Romance, Linkin Park and the White Stripes getting nods and again in Breakthrough Artist with the Pain White T’s and Daughtry (they’re kidding right?).
If the award shows are representative of the people’s tastes in music then the Who was right, rock is dead. Perhaps if the chuckleheads that create these categories get their heads out of their asses things would be better for rock music. While it’s true that rock music can be pop music, rock is so much more diverse and deserving of it’s own category. It’s like in the Emmys and Oscars where they group comedy and musicals together. They can cross over, but are 2 very distinct things that deserve their own recognition.
I am seriously getting tired of all this fluff and crap being represented with rock music, and it’s time for things to change. Since ABC has given us the power, get your asses out and vote for what few rock bands are represented this year and maybe rock will get better representation next year. To paraphrase Patrick Swayze, nobody puts Rock in a corner!