Justin Bieber (WENN.COM file photo)

Canadians aren’t doing too badly in the race for this year’s American Music Awards.

Justin Bieber, Drake and Carly Rae Jepsen all made the cut when nominations for the 40th annual AMAs were announced Tuesday morning in Los Angeles.

The Biebs and Drake are both up for three awards, including Artist of the Year alongside Maroon 5, Katy Perry and Rihanna. Bieber is also up for Favourite Male Pop/Rock Artist (where he takes on Flo Rida, Pitbull and Usher), while his latest album Believe is in the running for Favourite Pop/Rock Album (against Maroon 5’s Overexposed, Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded and One Direction’s Up All Night. Drake is also in the running for Favourite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist beside Minaj and Tyga, while his Take Care disc competes for Favourite Rap/Hip-Hop Album with J. Cole’s Cole World and Minaj’s Pink Friday. Jepsen, unsurprisingly, is up for the New Artist prize, taking on J. Cole, fun., Gotye and One Direction.

Rihanna and Minaj dominate this year’s race with four nominations apiece, while Maroon 5, One Direction and Usher also have three nominations. This year the AMAs have added an Electronic Dance Music category, with David Guetta, Calvin Harris and Skrillex competing for the inaugural trophy.

Christina Aguilera announced the nominations and is the first confirmed performer for this year’s festivities, which take place Nov. 18 at L.A.’s Nokia Theatre and air live on ABC. Winners are determined by online voting. Here’s the full list of nominees:

Artist of the Year

Justin Bieber; Drake; Maroon 5; Katy Perry; Rihanna

New Artist

J. Cole; fun.; Gotye; Carly Rae Jepsen; One Direction

Favourite Male Artist (Pop/Rock)

Justin Bieber; Flo Rida; Pitbull; Usher

Favourite Female Artist (Pop/Rock)

Kelly Clarkson; Nicki Minaj; Katy Perry; Rihanna

Favourite Band, Duo or Group (Pop/Rock)

fun.; Maroon 5; One Direction; The Wanted

Favourite Album (Pop/Rock)

Justin Bieber, Believe; Maroon 5, Overexposed; Nicki Minaj, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded; One Direction, Up All Night

Favourite Male Artist (Country)

Jason Aldean; Luke Bryan; Eric Church

Favourite Female Artist (Pop/Rock)

Miranda Lambert; Taylor Swift; Carrie Underwood

Favourite Band, Duo or Group (Country)

Zac Brown Band; Lady Antebellum; Rascal Flatts

Favourite Album (Country)

Luke Bryan, Tailgates & Tanlines; Lionel Richie, Tuskegee; Carrie Underwood, Blown Away

Favourite Artist (Rap/Hip-Hop)

Drake; Nicki Minaj; Tyga

Favourite Album (Rap/Hip-Hop)

J. Cole, Cole World: The Sideline Story; Drake, Take Care; Nicki Minaj, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded

Favourite Male Artist (Soul/R&B)

Chris Brown; Trey Songz; Usher

Favourite Female Artist (Soul/R&B)

Beyoncé; Mary J. Blige; Rihanna

Favourite Album (Soul/R&B)

Chris Brown, Fortune; Rihanna, Talk That Talk; Usher, Looking 4 Myself

Favourite Artist (Alternative Rock)

The Black Keys; Gotye; Linkin Park

Favourite Artist (Adult Contemporary)

Adele; Kelly Clarkson; Train

Favourite Artist (Latin)

Don Omar; Pitbull; Shakira

Favourite Artist (Contemporary Inspirational)

Jeremy Camp; Newsboys; tobyMac

Favourite Artist (Electronic Dance Music) David Guetta; Calvin Harris; Skrillex

darryl.sterdan@sunmedia.ca

@darryl_sterdan

blogs.canoe.ca/turntable

facebook.com/darryl.sterdan