Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift early winners at AMAs By NBCNews staff and wire Justin Bieber took home the first award of the night at Sunday's American Music Awards in Los Angeles, claiming the trophy for favorite pop/rock male artist. Justin Bieber hugs his mom at the AMAs. "This is for all the haters," said Bieber, adding that many music observers thought he would only last for a couple of years on the music scene. "I feel like I'm gonna be here for a very long time," he said to cheers from the crowd. Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images Instead of presenters opening envelopes, each presenter read the winners from the screen of a Samsung Galaxy Note 2. "Modern Family" star Eric Stonestreet made a joke out of it, saying "It's not coming on," as he opened the device. But he quickly read the name of Taylor Swift, winner of the favorite country female artist honor. "What makes the American Music Awards special is the fans choose the winning artists," said Chester Bennington of Linkin Park, who is nominated for favorite artist alternative rock and will perform at the show. Along with Rihanna, Nicki Minaj is the top nominee at the AMAs, but the rapper-singer isn't concerned with her four nominations. "I don't do music for awards," the 29-year-old said in an interview. It's so crazy because people always have to remind me that I'm nominated for an award when I go to award shows. I know they're going to come. I'm sitting here looking at my awards right now," she continued with a laugh. I never stress it. I think of myself as 'I'll have a career long enough to get all those different awards.' In the pop/rock category, Minaj is up for favorite female artist and album for "Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded." She's also nominated for favorite artist and album in the hip-hop/rap category, two awards she won last year. Minaj isn't up for the night's top award, though. Rihanna, Maroon 5, Drake, Katy Perry and Bieber will battle it out for artist of the year. But the American Music Awards are all about performances, and Sunday's show will be no exception. Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood will perform. Justin Bieber will share the stage with Minaj. Ludacris and Chris Brown will perform with Swizz Beatz. And Stevie Wonder is set to provide the soundtrack for a tribute to the late Dick Clark. Jonathan Alcorn / Reuters Members of rock band Linkin Park arrive at the awards. The band is a nominee and will also perform. "I'm really going there to perform 'Freedom,'" Minaj said of her new single. I'm very, very proud of the record and I'm happy that people are going to get to hear it. I'm performing a hip-hop song on the AMAs, and I think . that's just a big look for hip-hop. Other multiple nominees include Usher, Bieber, Drake, Maroon 5 and One Direction, who have three nods each. Perry, Underwood, Brown, Clarkson, Pitbull, fun., Gotye, J. Cole and Luke Bryan are all double nominees. American Music Awards nominees were selected based on sales and airplay, and fans chose the winners by voting online. The 40th anniversary show will also include the tribute to Clark, its creator. "Dick changed the face of music back in the late '50s," producer Larry Klein said. Dick is the one who made rock 'n' roll acceptable to come into people's homes... We're paying tribute to Dick because of the legacy that he's left everybody and also the creativity of what he did on this show.