{blackbabes} NICKI MINAJ AND DAVID GUETTA TO OPEN AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS (11/20)

NICKI MINAJ AND DAVID GUETTA TO OPEN THE "2011 AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDSŽ, NOVEMBER 20 ON ABC

dick clark productions (dcp) president and executive producer Orly Adelson announced that Nicki Minaj and David Guetta will open the "2011 American Music AwardsŽ." They join previously announced acts including Christina Aguilera, Marc Anthony, Justin Bieber, Mary J. Blige, Chris Brown, Kelly Clarkson, LMFAO, Katy Perry, Pitbull and Maroon 5. In keeping with tradition, the "American Music Awards" is a host-free event that highlights music's biggest artists performing on one stage.

The show will be broadcast live from the NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE on SUNDAY, NOV. 20 (8:00-11:00 p.m., ET/PT) on ABC. Tickets are now on sale (please visit www.ticketmaster.com or call

1-877-234-8425.). This year ABC will air a live pre-show, "Countdown to The American Music Awards," hosted by Chris Harrison and Vanessa Minnillo starting at 7:00 p.m., ET/PT. In addition, the online pre-show "Coca-Cola Red Carpet LIVE! @ the 2011 AMAs," hosted by Lance Bass, Michael Buckley, Estelle, Sarah Hyland, Audrina Patridge, Josh Sussman and Xzibit, will stream live for fans worldwide starting at 2:00 p.m., PT / 5:00 p.m., ET at ABC.com, Livestream.com/AMAs and other partner sites.

For the fifth year, winners will be determined by online voting. Fans can vote at the Coca-Cola AMA voting website, amavote.com, as well as AMA.abc.com. Artists will be honored in the categories of Pop/Rock, Country, Rap/Hip-Hop, Soul/R&B, Alternative, Adult Contemporary, Latin and Contemporary Inspirational. Fans can go to the official homepage of the "2011 American Music Awards," AMA.abc.com, to find performer and presenter announcements, artist information and more.

About David Guetta

David Guetta is widely regarded as the world's biggest DJ and is one of the most influential and in-demand producers on the planet. He was recently named the No. 1 DJ on international DJ Magazine's annual Top 100 DJs list. Guetta's latest album, "Nothing But the Beat," debuted in the Top 5 on the Billboard 200 album chart and has spawned the platinum-selling hit singles "Where Them Girls At," featuring Nicki Minaj and Flo Rida, and "Without You," featuring Usher. Guetta is followed by over 25 million people on Facebook, over 2.6 million people on twitter and has over 700,000,000 YouTube views.

About the Voting -

American Music AwardsŽ nominees are selected from both BigChampagne's Ultimate Chart and Mediabase. The Ultimate Chart is a ranked list of the most popular artists and songs based on a weighted combination of music sales, radio and TV broadcast, internet streaming and video viewing, and incorporating additional online metrics, including activity on social networks. Mediabase monitors more than 1,800 radio stations in 180 U.S. and Canadian markets, 24 hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week and provides vital airplay and programming information to more than 1,700 affiliate radio stations and every major broadcast group. Winners are chosen by public vote online.

About dick clark productions, inc. -

Founded in 1957, dick clark productions, inc. (dcp) is a leading independent producer of television programming. dcp produces perennial hits such as the "American Music Awards," "Golden Globe Awards," "Academy of Country Music Awards," and "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest." dcp also produces popular weekly television programming, including "So You Think You Can Dance," and owns and maintains one of the world's most unique and extensive entertainment libraries, which includes more than 30 years of "American Bandstand" footage. For additional information about dcp, please visit www.dickclarkproductions.com

About the American Music Awards -

In 1973 Dick Clark created the American Music Awards to pay tribute to popular musicians from various genres of music and to put audiences in touch with the latest phenomena in American music. Since its founding, the AMAs have honored and showcased the talents of some of the biggest names in the music industry. For press credential requests, please go to http://ama.dickclark.com.