Taylor Swift emerged as an early winner, while Michael Jackson has been honored left and right in this year’s American Music Awards. The ceremony from LA just finished a few hours ago and below is the complete list of winners:

Artist of the Year: Taylor Swift

Pop-Rock:
Male artist: Michael Jackson
Female artist: Taylor Swift

Band, duo or group: Black Eyed Peas

Album of the Year: Michael Jackson, “Number Ones”

Soul-R&B:
Male artist: Michael Jackson
Female artist: Beyonce

Rap-Hip-Hop:
Artist: Jay-Z

Country:
Male artist: Keith Urban
Female artist: Taylor Swift

Band, duo or group: Rascal Flatts

Adult Contemporary: Taylor Swift

Alternative Rock: Green Day

Soundtrack Album: “Twilight Soundtrack”

T-Mobile Breakthrough Artist Award: Gloriana

International Award of Excellence: Whitney Houston

Carrie Underwood is riding on an all time high. The famous country singer is perhaps the most successful graduate of the American Idol Franchise. After successfully hosting the CMA Awards this year, a Best Selling Artist for 2009 recognition, Carrie adds another feather in her cap with her chart-topping album, “Play On”.

This is the second album of Carrie’s that has gone to number one in the Billboard charts in the last two years. In 2005, Carnival Ride, her debut album, soared to the charts establishing her as a singer to watch for.

Following Play On is the soundtrack from the greatest of legends’ last performance, Michael Jackson. This Is It stayed on number one for one week only to be out-seated by Carrie Underwood.

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No one would ever expect that the late Michael Jackson would still lead up to the Billboard list top 200 with “This is it”. It is no surprised that “This is it” debuted in the top 200 album chart released today with a whooping 373,000 copies sold according to a latest survey done by Nielsen Sound Scan. By far it was the fifth best sales album copy in the week in the U.S as of this year alone.

The accompanying album to the musical documentary film of the same name still made it number sixth of No. 1 on sales of since Jackson’s 1995 album “HIStory” and “Invincible.” Still this year, Jackson managed to net yet another No. 1 on the Top Comprehensive Albums and Top Catalog albums charts with the 2003 greatest hits “Number Ones.”

“This is it” film managed to grab some loyal late night watchers during its first few days of screening. As of Nov. 2, the film managed to collect a share of $36.9 million at the U.S box office and Canada. It has already been the second top grossing musical concert film in the U.S and Canada, behind “Hannah Montana: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour.”

The film “This is It”, belongs to one out of five albums to arrive in the top 10 Billboard 200 chart this week close from Creed’s “Full Circle” that garnered a No. 2 spot with 110,000 copies sold. It was Creed’s first studio release since 2001 when its song “Weathered” hit No 1. With 887,000 copies in its first week of opening.

All in all album sales in the past few weeks ending in Nov. 1 totaled to 6.32 million units, 10% more compared to a lower sum last week which was 5.71 million and 9% down. Year date album sales stand at close to 290 million, down 12% from last year’s 330 million.

The Biggest Album Ever just got bigger. The 25th Anniversary of Thriller celebrates this ground-breaking album with 7 bonus tracks, six of which are previously unreleased. The new tracks include exclusive remixes from Kanye West, Fergie, will.i.am and Akon along with a previously unreleased track from the Thriller sessions, “For All Time,” newly mixed and mastered by Michael Jackson.

Also included is a BONUS DVD with new, digitally restored versions of the three videos from the album as well as the Michael Jackson’s groundbreaking performance of “Billie Jean” on the “Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever” television special (first broadcast on NBC May 16, 1983).

(Source) Amazon

Given the pace of Michael Jackson’s post-Thriller release schedule, it’s striking that Off the Wall appeared between two albums with his brothers, Destiny (1978) and Triumph (1980), on which the twentysomething phenomenon was also fully engaged. Aided by richly detailed but not overdone production, Off the Wall redefined how much Michael might do.

Tracks like “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough,” “Rock with You,” the title cut (all Top 10 singles), and “Burn this Disco Out” not only consolidated his dance-floor power, but showed just how soulful and varied his vocals could get on uptempo material. Artistic role models like James Brown and Jackie Wilson echo through the mixes, but these were Jackson’s leaps forward. The addition of pure pop confection–Paul McCartney’s “Girlfriend,” Stevie Wonder’s “I Can’t Help It”–further fleshed out the star’s young-adult persona and helped make Off the Wall among the most fondly remembered of all his solo work. This special edition features two magic home demos and entertaining, insightful interviews of producer Quincy Jones and “Rock with You” composer Rod Temperton. (Ricky Wright)

(Source) Amazon