NICKI MINAJ NA RIHANNA WAONGOZA KWA KUTAJWA KUGOMBANIA TUZO NYINGI KATIKA AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS

The female domination is followed by such male artists as Justin Bieber, One Direction, Drake, Usher and Maroon 5 who get three nods each.

The battle to win 2012 American Music Awards begins as this year's nominees are announced. Nicki Minaj and Rihanna dominate the pack by scoring four nods each, overshadowing teen heartthrob Justin Bieber and popular boyband One Direction. The males get three noms each along with Drake, Usher and Maroon 5. 

Riri is vying for the top honor, Artist of the Year, against Bieber, Drizzy, Adam Levine's band and her best friend Katy Perry. She once again faces off Katy in Favorite Female Artist - Pop/Rock which additionally lists Nicki and Kelly Clarkson as other contenders. Her two other nods are Favorite Female Artist and Album in Soul/R&B categories. 

Nicki, meanwhile, adds three other noms in Favorite Artist & Album in Rap/Hip-Hop genre and Favorite Album in Pop/Rock field. "4 nominations?!?!?! Whoa! Thank you so very much to the American Music Awards. Very, very grateful. Luvu Barbz!!! mmmmuuuaaaahhhh!!!!" gushes the new female judge of "American Idol" on Twitter. 

Besides the top prize, Bieber is up for Favorite Male Artist and Album in Pop/Rock, while Niall Horan and his pals are battling for Favorite Album and Band, Duo or Group in Pop/Rock. The boys are also nominated for New Artist of the Year along with such newbies as J. Cole, Fun., Gotye and Carly Rae Jepsen. 

Winners are determined via online voting, which starts on Tuesday, October 9. The most-voted artists will be handed the awards in a ceremony airing live from the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles on ABC on November 18. Christina Aguilera is the first star confirmed as a performer. More musical guests are expected to be revealed in the coming weeks. 

Artist of the Year:

Justin Bieber

Drake

Maroon 5

Katy Perry

Rihanna

New Artist of the Year:

J. Cole

Fun.

Gotye

Carly Rae Jepsen

One Direction

Favorite Male Artist - Pop/Rock:

Justin Bieber

Flo Rida

Pitbull

Usher

Favorite Female Artist - Pop/Rock:

Kelly Clarkson

Nicki Minaj

Katy Perry

Rihanna

Favorite Band, Duo or Group - Pop/Rock:

Fun.

Maroon 5

One Direction

The Wanted

Favorite Album - Pop/Rock:

Justin Bieber - "Believe"

Maroon 5 - "Overexposed"

Nicki Minaj - "Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded"

One Direction - "Up All Night"

Favorite Male Artist - Country:

Jason Aldean

Luke Bryan

Eric Church

Favorite Female Artist - Country:

Miranda Lambert

Taylor Swift

Carrie Underwood

Favorite Band, Duo or Group - Country:

Zac Brown Band

Lady Antebellum

Rascal Flatts

Favorite Album - Country:

Luke Bryan - "Tailgates & Tanlines"

Lionel Richie - "Tuskegee"

Carrie Underwood - "Blown Away"

Favorite Artist - Rap/Hip-Hop:

Drake

Nicki Minaj

Tyga

Favorite Album - Rap/Hip-Hop:

J. Cole - "Cole World: The Sideline Story"

Drake - "Take Care"

Nicki Minaj - "Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded"

Favorite Male Artist - Soul/R&B:

Chris Brown

Trey Songz

Usher

Favorite Female Artist - Soul/R&B:

Beyonce Knowles

Mary J. Blige

Rihanna

Favorite Album - Soul/R&B:

Chris Brown - "Fortune"

Rihanna - "Talk That Talk"

Usher - "Looking 4 Myself"

Favorite Artist - Alternative Rock:

The Black Keys

Gotye

Linkin Park

Favorite Artist - Adult Contemporary:

Adele

Kelly Clarkson

Train

Favorite Artist - Latin:

Don Omar

Pitbull

Shakira

Favorite Artist - Contemporary Inspirational:

Jeremy Camp

Newsboys

tobyMac

Favorite Artist - Electro Dance Music (EDM):

David Guetta

Calvin Harris

Skrillex