NEW YORK -- Newcomers Macklemore & Ryan Lewis are the top contenders at the 2013 American Music Awards.
The rap duo is up for six awards, including artist, new artist and single of the year for "Thrift Shop."
The "Same Love" performers will battle heavyweights Justin Timberlake, Taylor Swift, Rihanna and Bruno Mars for artist of the year at the Nov. 24 fan-voted awards show in Los Angeles. Miley Cyrus and Imagine Dragon will perform.
Kelly Clarkson and will.i.am announced the nominees Thursday at the B.B. King Blues Club & Grill in New York. Will.i.am predicted Mars would win the top prize.
Swift and Timberlake have five nominations each, while Robin Thicke, Rihanna and Florida Georgia Line have four each. Mars and Imagine Dragons are up for three awards each.
Nominees for single of the year -- a new award -- include Thicke's ubiquitous "Blurred Lines" and Florida Georgia Line and Nelly's "Cruise."
Swift, Rihanna and Pink are nominated for favourite female artist-pop/rock. Timberlake, Thicke and Mars are up for favourite male artist-pop/rock.
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' other nominations include favourite band, duo or group-pop/rock, favourite artist-rap/hip-hop and favourite album-rap/hip-hop for their platinum-selling debut, "The Heist." They will compete with Jay Z in both rap categories.
The AMAs will air live on ABC from the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live.
