Hip-hop band Black Eyed Peas, R&B singer Maxwell – making a return to the music business after an eight-year absence – and rapper Kanye West each earned six nods.

In a list that reflected youth and a drop-off of veteran super groups like U2, glam singer Lady Gaga and rapper Jay-Z each earned five Grammy nods apiece.

Swift, 19, whose Fearless album is the biggest seller in the United States in 2009, will compete with Beyonce for album of the year along with the Black Eyed Peas, Dave Matthews Band and Lady Gaga, who has gone from obscurity to worldwide fame this year with her debut album The Fame.

Both Swift, a big winner at the Country Music Association and American Music Awards last month, and Beyonce were also nominated for two other key Grammys – record of the year and song of the year.

“Taylor is a phenomenon in entertainment,” Neil Portnow, president of the Recording Academy told reporters. “She has really struck a chord with people. I am not surprised” at the number of nominations.

Swift has never won a Grammy, while Beyonce is a 10-time winner in her solo career and her earlier turn in the trio Destiny’s Child. Her latest solo album I Am…Sasha Fierce produced the hit singles Halo and Single Ladies.

The six nominations for multi-ethnic Los Angeles band Black Eyed Peas followed their chart-topping album THE E.N.D, whose singles Boom Boom Pow and then I Gotta Feeling enjoyed a record-breaking 26-week run in the US charts.

Dylan still does it

Veteran Bob Dylan, 68, was nominated for best Americana album for Together Through Life and best solo rock performance for his Beyond Here Lies Nothin album which debuted at No.1 in the US album charts in May.

Source: ibnlive

Jackson bagged four awards at the award ceremony last night but stopped short of beating Swift, who turned out to be the top winner by collecting five trophies, including Artist of the Year at the 37th American Music Awards.

The late singer won in the Favorite Male Artist Soul/R&B and Favorite Male Artist Pop/Rock categories among his four wins, the MTV.com reported.

Jackson’s awards were accepted by brother Jermaine, who said that his brother’s message was just as important as his music.

“The message that Michael had will live on forever. He saw good in everyone and he wanted everyone to do good. He always started with love,” said Jermaine.

Swift accepted her award via video link-up from London, where she was in the middle of a late-night rehearsal.

“Music has never been openly about competition and to even be mentioned in a category with Michael Jackson, who will be missed and loved forever, is an unimaginable honor,” she said.

However, the main highlight of the evening was a series of jaw-dropping performances from some of the biggest names in the business.

During the three-hour live show at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Eminem, Jay-Z and Alicia Keys, Shakira, Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Lopez, Green Day and Adam Lambert all took the stage.

Source: ibnlive