American Music Awards Draws Largest Audience in 7 years

The American Music Awards drew its largest audience in over 7 years.

Some would say it was because the late Michael Jackson was up for awards and people wanted to see what he would win while others say it is the new talent or lack thereof by Adam Lambert, Lady Gaga, Rihanna and Taylor Swift, but few could argue the point that the American Music Awards drew its strongest audience in 7 years. What has been perceived as a dying award show, proved its critics wrong at least for this year.



According to Nielsen estimates, the awards show drew 14.2 million viewers, which is 2 million more than last year’s program and represents the best showing by the AMAs since 2002.

Though NBC still won the night with “Sunday Night Football,” ABC pulled ahead during the 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. hours. The strong numbers for the show were boosted, no doubt, by the promise of more than 20 performances from some of music’s biggest acts, including Jay-Z, Green Day, Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, Eminem with 50 Cent, Janet Jackson and Whitney Houston.



It was, however, the performance by Lambert who made the biggest headlines the next day, with his aggressive performance of the title track For Your Entertainment. In addition to drawing more than 1,500 complaints from viewers who took issue with the man-on-man kissing, girl dragging and S&M play, Lambert’s awards-show coming-out party lost him at least one gig when ABC’s “Good Morning America” announced Tuesday (November 24) that it had canceled his planned appearance due to the controversy kicked up by the AMAs.

Lambert took it all in stride, though, telling “American Idol” host Ryan Seacrest on his radio show on Tuesday that he respects the “GMA” decision. “They gotta do what they gotta do,” Lambert said. “It’s too bad. I think there were a lot of fans who were excited to come see me. They probably had a lot of pressure coming at them from certain people who weren’t happy about it. I respect their decision. I don’t necessarily agree with it, but they need to do what they need to do.” Lambert, stated he perceives as a double standard when it comes to risqué performances by men and women in music, said he felt no need to apologize for his AMA debut. “I don’t feel I owe anyone an apology for anything,” he said. “I performed, it was late-night TV, I did something that female performers have been doing for years, no different. It’s just the fact that I’m me and it’s a little different for people. It’s really not that big of a deal. I’m not a babysitter, I’m a performer.”



Jennifer Lopez slipped, Whitney sang rather off key but the audience supported her emotional comeback and Lady Gaga rocked the house.


Did you watch the show and what did you think. What is your opinion of Lambert’s performance or lack of talent.  We want to hear from you.

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