The American Music Award for Best Male Pop Artist has been awarded since 1974. Years reflect the year in which the awards were presented, for works released in the previous year (until 2003 onward when awards were handed out on November of the same year). Justin Bieber has the most wins in this category with five. Bieber and Michael Jackson are the most nominated male artists with 7 nominations each. Jackson is also the only singer to have won this award in three separate decades (80s, 90s and 00s). The award was previous known as Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist until the 2026 ceremony, where the award was renamed to Best Male Pop Artist.
Winners and nominees 1970s Year Artist Ref 1974 Jim Croce Elton John Stevie Wonder 1975 John Denver Elton John Charlie Rich 1976 John Denver Elton John Neil Sedaka 1977 Elton John Peter Frampton Barry Manilow 1978 Barry Manilow Peter Frampton Stevie Wonder 1979 Barry Manilow Andy Gibb Billy Joel
1980s Year Artist Ref 1980 Barry Manilow Billy Joel Kenny Rogers 1981 Kenny Rogers Billy Joel Bob Seger 1982 Kenny Rogers John Lennon Eddie Rabbitt Rick Springfield 1983 John Mellencamp Rick Springfield Paul McCartney 1984 Michael Jackson David Bowie Billy Joel Lionel Richie 1985 Lionel Richie Prince Bruce Springsteen 1986 Bruce Springsteen Phil Collins Prince 1987 Lionel Richie Peter Gabriel Robert Palmer David Lee Roth 1988 Paul Simon Michael Jackson George Michael 1989 George Michael Michael Jackson Steve Winwood
1990s Year Artist Ref 1990 Bobby Brown Richard Marx John Mellencamp 1991 Phil Collins Michael Bolton MC Hammer 1992 Michael Bolton Bryan Adams Rod Stewart 1993 Michael Bolton Bryan Adams Eric Clapton Michael Jackson 1994 Eric Clapton Michael Bolton Michael Jackson Rod Stewart 1995 Michael Bolton Bryan Adams Meat Loaf 1996 Michael Jackson Elton John Seal 1997 Eric Clapton Bryan Adams Seal 1998 Babyface Beck Puff Daddy 1999 Eric Clapton Puff Daddy Will Smith
2000s Year Artist Ref 2000 Will Smith Lenny Kravitz Ricky Martin 2001 Kid Rock Marc Anthony Eminem 2002 Lenny Kravitz R. Kelly Shaggy 2003 Eminem Enrique Iglesias Nelly 2003 Kid Rock Clay Aiken John Mayer Justin Timberlake 2004 Usher Josh Groban Lenny Kravitz Michael McDonald 2005 Will Smith 50 Cent Rob Thomas 2006 Sean Paul Nick Lachey Kanye West 2007 Justin Timberlake Akon Timbaland 2008 Chris Brown Kid Rock Usher 2009 Michael Jackson Eminem T.I.
2010s Year Artist Ref 2010 Justin Bieber Eminem Usher 2011 Bruno Mars Justin Bieber Pitbull 2012 Justin Bieber Flo Rida Pitbull Usher 2013 Justin Timberlake Bruno Mars Robin Thicke 2014 Sam Smith John Legend Pharrell Williams 2015 Ed Sheeran Nick Jonas Sam Smith 2016 Justin Bieber Drake The Weeknd 2017 Bruno Mars Drake Ed Sheeran 2018 Post Malone Drake Ed Sheeran 2019 Khalid Post Malone Drake
2020s Year Artist Ref 2020 Justin Bieber Post Malone The Weeknd 2021 Ed Sheeran Drake Justin Bieber Lil Nas X The Weeknd 2022 Harry Styles Bad Bunny Drake Ed Sheeran The Weeknd 2023 – 24 colspan="3" 2025 Bruno Mars Benson Boone Hozier Teddy Swims The Weeknd 2026 Justin Bieber Alex Warren Benson Boone Ed Sheeran Harry Styles
Category facts Multiple wins
5 wins Justin Bieber
3 wins Michael Bolton Eric Clapton Michael Jackson Barry Manilow
2 wins John Denver Bruno Mars Lionel Richie Kid Rock Kenny Rogers Ed Sheeran Will Smith Justin Timberlake
Multiple nominations
7 nominations Justin Bieber Michael Jackson
6 nominations Ed Sheeran
5 nominations Michael Bolton Drake Elton John The Weeknd
4 nominations Bryan Adams Eric Clapton Eminem Billy Joel Barry Manilow Bruno Mars Usher
3 nominations Lenny Kravitz Lionel Richie Kid Rock Kenny Rogers Will Smith Justin Timberlake
2 nominations Benson Boone Phil Collins John Denver Peter Frampton John Mellencamp George Michael Pitbull Prince Puff Daddy Seal Sam Smith Rick Springfield Rod Stewart Harry Styles Stevie Wonder
References