Artists who are chosen to announce the Grammy nominations typically collect a few bids themselves, so rapper Kanye West, country singer Gretchen Wilson, rock balladeers Hoobastank and The Black Eyed Peas can count themselves among the likely contenders this year.

R&B sensation Usher won all his show-leading four nominations at the American Music Awards yesterday, and rap funksters OutKast went three-for-three during a performance-studded, occasionally-censored broadcast ceremony.

Usher and Linkin Park were the big winners at the 2004 Radio Music Awards in Las Vegas, picking up two awards each.