The American Music Awards, once among the most spectacular fan-driven events in the entertainment industry, have left fans and insiders alike wondering about their future. Originally meant to honor the finest in music, what was meant to serve as a refreshing revival of the show after a two-year hiatus rapidly turned into an uncomfortable, lackluster evening plagued by no-shows, flat performances, and suspicion that the once-iconic event has lost its cultural cachet.
What Happened?
Typically, viewers would expect a star-studded lineup, however, this year’s AMAs did not live up to expectations. Though major celebrities like Billie Eilish took home six awards, including Artist of the Year and Album of the Year, she was absent along with many other nominees in these categories, such as Taylor Swift, Chappell Roan, and Sabrina Carpenter. Viewers were also disappointed to see that instead of getting performances from the nominees like in years past, this years lineup was filled with legacy performers instead like Janet Jackson, Gloria Estefan, and Rod Stewart who are talented, yes, yet not quite representative of the top music events of the years especially considering that the later two have not performed live in 20+ years.
Even big honors like Best Male Artist, Best Female Artist, Song of the Year, and Best Music Video were never revealed on stage and instead revealed on the social media platform X. A decision that confused and frustrated audiences.
What Could Have Caused the AMA’s to Fall Flat?
There are multiple factors that could have contributed to this year’s AMA’s having the lowest reception in the event’s 50+ year history:
Firstly, the show’s scheduling. This year’s AMAs took place over Memorial Day weekend, which confused many fans as the AMAs are typically held near the end of the year. Another notable change was the shift in production style as the show transferred from ABC to CBS, causing many fans to criticize CBS’s strategy as being less representative of contemporary pop culture trends and more traditional, which could have caused a disconnect with the audience they wanted to reach. Lastly, Many fans were also disappointed by the choice to only present six awards in its two-hour runtime, with the majority of them being accepted virtually, and major award categories being left out of the live show.
What is Next for the AMAs?
The AMAs this year have unintentionally caused an identity crisis. In a music scene where awards ceremonies are already struggling to remain relevant, the AMAs cannot spend yet another year like this. The best thing for the AMAs at this time is to go back to its roots as a fan-first program if they wish to reclaim their place in pop culture.