Nicki Minaj and Rihanna lead the nominations for the 2012 American Music Awards (AMAs).

The two singers are each in the running for four awards, with Drake, Justin Bieber, Maroon 5, One Direction and Usher following narrowly behind with three nods apiece.

Justin, Rihanna, Maroon 5, Drake and Katy Perry will battle it out for the coveted Artist of the Year prize, while J. Cole, fun., Gotye, Carly Rae Jepsen and One Direction are all up for New Artist of the Year.

Nicki's four nominations are for Favorite Female Artist - Pop/Rock, Favorite Artist - Rap/ Hip Hop, Favorite Album - Pop/Rock and Favorite Album - Rap/ Hip Hop for Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded. As well as Artist of the Year, Rihanna is also up for Favorite Female Artist - Pop/Rock, Favorite Female Artist - Soul/R&B and Favorite Album - Soul/R&B for Talk That Talk.

A new category has been introduced this year, Favorite Artist - Electronic Dance Music (EDM), in which David Guetta, Calvin Harris and Skrillex will do battle.

Christina Aguilera - who announced the nominations in Los Angeles on Tuesday - is the first performer to be announced for the ceremony, which takes place at Los Angeles' Nokia theater on November 18. Voting opened online for the awards on Tuesday.

2012 American Music Awards nominations list:

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
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 - ELECTRONIC DANCE MUSIC (EDM):
David Guetta
Calvin Harris
Skrillex