Yesterday, iHeartRadio announced it would honor the best in various genres of music with it’s first iHeartRadio Music Awards. The show will air on NBC on May 1, 2014. The iHeartRadio Music Awards will include live performances, never-before-seen collaborations, celebrity guest appearances and live award presentations. Votes will be determined by how many times fans have thumbed up favorite songs, created stations, used Shazam to discover music, and posted about favorite artists on Facebook and Twitter.

Each voting category initially features 10 nominees – listeners will then narrow down to five finalists during a four-week period, with the finalists to be announced during a one-hour special live event on March 26, 2014 at the iHeartRadio Theater in Los Angeles. Fans will then vote over the next several weeks, to determine the winners in each category.

Check out the list of award categories, as well as nominees (so far) below:

ALT Rock Song of the year:
Come A Little Closer – Cage The Elephant
Do I Wanna Know – Artic Monkeys
Pompeii – Bastille
Radioactive – Imagine Dragons
Royals – Lorde
Sweater Weather – The Neighbourhood
Demons – Imagine Dragons
Safe And Sound – Capital Cities
Out Of My League – Fitz & The Tantrums
Ways To Go – Grouplove

Song of the Year:
Royals – Lorde
Mirrors – Justin Timberlake
Roar – Katy Perry
Wake Me Up – Avicii f/Aloe Blacc
The Monster – Eminem f/Rihanna
When I Was Your Man – Bruno Mars
Hold On We’re Going Home – Drake f/Majid Jordan
Stay – Rihanna f/Mikky Ekko
Blurred Lines – Robin Thicke f/T.I. & Pharrell
Radioactive – Imagine Dragons

Best Lyrics:
Wrecking Ball – Miley Cyrus
Crooked Smile – J. Cole f/TLC
Royals – Lorde
Just Give Me a Reason – P!nk f/Nate Ruess
Wake Me Up – Avicii f/Aloe Blacc
Same Love – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Mine Would Be You – Blake Shelton
Say Something – A Great Big World
I Love It – Icona Pop
Demons – Imagine Dragons

Country Song of the Year:
Crash My Party – Luke Bryan
It Goes Like This – Thomas Rhett
That’s My Kind of Night – Luke Bryan
Mine Would Be You – Blake Shelton
Runnin’ Outta Moonlight – Randy Houser
Boys Round Here – Blake Shelton
Wagon Wheel – Darius Rucker
Get Your Shine On – Florida-Georgia Line
Highway Don’t Care – Tim McGraw w/Taylor Swift
Night Train – Jason Aldean

Artist of the Year:
Bruno Mars
Rihanna
Maroon 5
Justin Timberlake
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
P!nk
Katy Perry
Imagine Dragons
Robin Thicke
Taylor Swift

EDM Song of the Year:
Wake Me Up – Avicii f/Aloe Blacc
Clarity – Zedd f/Foxes
What It Feels Like – Armin Van Buuren
I Need Your Love – Calvin Harris f/Ellie Goulding
Alive – Krewella
Get Lucky – Daft Punk f/Pharrell
Sweet Nothing – Calvin Harris f/Florence Welch
Summertime Sadness – Lana Del Rey f/Cedric Gervais
Harlem Shake – Baauer
Stay the Night – Zedd f/Hayley Williams

Hip-Hop/R&B Song of the Year:
Pour It Up – Rihanna
Power Trip – J. Cole f/Miguel
Started From The Bottom – Drake
I Luv This S**T – August Alsina
Crooked Smile – J. Cole f/TLC
Hold On We’re Going Home – Drake f/Majid Jordan
Blurred Lines – Robin Thicke f/T.I. & Pharrell
Bad – Wale f/Tiara Thomas
Holy Grail – Jay-Z f/Justin Timberlake
All Me – Drake f/2 Chainz & Big Sean

Best Fan Army:
Justin Bieber
One Direction
Taylor Swift
Demi Lovato
Lady Gaga
Ariana Grande
Katy Perry
Austin Mahone
Miley Cyrus
Rihanna

Best Collaboration:
Wake Me Up – Avicii f/Aloe Blacc
The Monster – Eminem f/Rihanna
Blurred Lines – Robin Thicke f/T.I. & Pharrell
Stay – Rihanna f/Mikky Ekko
Suit & Tie – Justin Timberlake f/Jay-Z
Get Lucky – Daft Punk f/Pharrell
Just Give Me A Reason – P!nk f/Nate Ruess
Holy Grail – Jay-Z f/Justin Timberlake
Hold On We’re Going Home – Drake f/Majid Jordan
Timber – Pitbull f/Ke$ha

Best New Artist:
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Imagine Dragons
Florida Georgia Line
Lumineers
Lorde
Zedd
Capital Cities
Kendrick Lamar
Icona Pop
Passenger

Was anyone as disappointed with the red carpet fashion at the American Music Awards as we were? Black and white dresses lined the red carpet, as well as a lot of fashion DON’Ts. Stars like Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, One Direction, Christina Aguilera, Ciara, Rihanna, Miley Cyrus, and so many more flaunted there stylish (and not so stylish) threads, as they prepared to celebrate the fan voted music awards show. See what looks Frances and Rosemary loved most, as well as a gallery of the best and worst dressed, below.

FRANCES: Taylor Swift looked absolutely stunning in a gold Julie MacDonald mini dress. It reminded me a little bit of Tina Turner’s old sequined looks, but in a good way. I love sparkle and gold is a great color on Taylor. Plus, she also has great legs to show off just like miss Turner. The triangle cutout in the middle gave the dress some extra edge and it was nice to see Taylor rocking a different beauty look too. Her nude lips and gold eye shimmer drove even more attention to the dress. A+ in my book.

ROSEMARY: Only Katy Perry can somehow look girly and edgy at the same time. Katy wore a strapless polka dot Oscar de la Renta dress with flowers sprinkled on the skirt. She paired the dress with a yellow clutch and a big, pink ring to add the perfect amount of color to her mostly black dress. Katy’s faux curly bob showed off her shoulders and made her look sexy without showing off too much skin. Katy looked feminine and beautiful, with an added touch of spunk. The dress could have easily fallen into the boring category, but the touch of flowers, accessories, make-up, and hair all came together perfectly to make Katy the best dressed of the night.

PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) released a statement criticizing the use of animals in Katy Perry’s music video for her hit sing, “Roar.” The video, which you can watch below, features monkeys, elephants, and tigers. PETA stated, “Animals used for entertainment endure horrific cruelty and suffer from extreme confinement and violent training methods. They often become stressed and anxious when hauled around and forced into unfamiliar or frightening situations.”

PETA believes Katy Perry worked with The Serengeti Ranch to supply animals. The group “has been inspected by the US Department of Agriculture 22 times since 2001,” which could imply the mistreatment of the animals used on set for “Roar.” Nothing has been confirmed, and Katy Perry has yet to release a statement in response.

Do you think this will affect Katy Perry’s single in any way?

“Saturday Night Live” announced it’s first hosts and performers today. The show will return September 28th, with Tina Fey serving as host for her fourth time since departing as a cast member. The show’s 39th season premiere will also feature musical guest, Arcade Fire.

Following all the media coverage of Miley Cyrus’ antics from the VMAs, all eyes will be on Miley during her hosting/musical guest duties on the second episode of the season, airing October 5th. The following week, Bruce Willis will be hosting, accompanied by Katy Perry as the musical guest.

The cast for SNL remains in question, as show veterans Fred Armisen, Jason Sudekis and Bill Hader all announced season 38 was their last. Seth Meyers will also leave the show in December, as he starts his run as host on NBC’s “Late Night.”

The 2012 summer Olympicsended in spectacular fashion Sunday night with a plethora of performances by some of the UK’s greatest artists.

The Pet Shop Boys scaring the crap out of audiences (courtesy of NBColympics.com)

It was an extravagant affair, filled with elaborate sets, light shows, and fun dances. Unfortunately not everything about the show went smoothly. I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but there were some not-so-great moments. Parts of the night were epic fails. No one enjoys pointing out the negative, but alas, sometimes it must be done.

Here are the five worst moments of the closing ceremony:

Madness:

Everyone knows the popular Madness song “Our House” and just about everyone in the world was singing along as they performed their 80s hit. The performance itself, however, was stale. Lead singer Dikron Tulane sounded more like he was talking than singing. Tulane’s voice also sounded very monotone. It was like he was doing a karaoke version of his own song. The picnic table dance below them was cute though.

Pet Shop Boys:

The group performed “West End Girls” and really the problem was not with the performance, it was with the costumes. They and their dancers donned some terrifying attire. The group rode around on orange bicycle chariots wearing black cone shaped hats with black robes. Their dancers wore orange hats and suits. It looked like the KKK’s version of Halloween. SCARY!

David Bowie:

The show producers decided to include a tribute to mod fashion in the closing ceremony. It was very appropriate since people often associate British culture with mod style and what better way to celebrate fashion than with Bowie’s popular song “Fashion?” It all makes sense, except David Bowie wasn’t there. Nope instead we got billboards of models and a quick fashion show. The show itself was great, we got to see Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss for crying out loud, but the song was a major tease. When you start off a performance with a montage of Bowie’s signature looks, you expect to see the man himself. Very anticlimactic.

Jessie J, Taio Cruz, Tinie Tempah:

The three performers teamed up for a fun pop and hip hop mash up. Well, at least it was supposed to be fun. Jessie J started the performance with her hit single “Price Tag,” followed by Tinie Tempah and Taio Cruz, singing “Written in the Stars,” and “Dynamite.” It wasn’t the worst performance in the world, but it all seemed a little (excuse my language) half-assed. Considering how outrageous the rest of the show was, driving around in white luxury cars doesn’t cut it. It didn’t help that Taio Cruz looked like he was about to fall asleep the entire time. Then they ruined it completely when they busted out in a cover of the Bee Gees song “You Should Be Dancing.” The three appeared mismatched next to each other. Jessie J was rocking out with her big voice while Taio Cruz looked at her like she was a little crazy. Also, the flash mob inspired dance was too predictable. They get an F for lack of effort.

Side note: Is it just me or did Jessie J look an awful lot like Katy Perry during this performance?

Russell Brand:

The eccentric comedian did a Beatles tribute, performing “I Am the Walrus.” His set was inspired by Willy Wonka and included all the quirky awesomeness of the Beatles’ more psychedelic phase. All the elements for a great performance were there, a fun theme, beautiful dancers, and a very colorful school bus, but the act just felt off. Brand sang most of the song on a megaphone, which isn’t exactly known for helping sound quality. The rest of the song may or may not have been lip-synched (the jury is still out on that one). Even if you put the sound issue aside, Brand isn’t known for his singing. The man is a comedian. Why was he chosen to sing a song by the most famous group of all time? In a word… confusing.

Now, just so we don’t end on a sour note, check out this video. Aren’t the boys from One Direction so cute?

Reach editor Frances Vega here.