One Direction wins Artist of Year prize at AMAs 2014

One Direction has won the American Music Award artist of the year prize.

Competition in the category was tough, with Iggy Azalea, Beyoncé, Luke Bryan, Eminem, Imagine Dragons, John Legend, Lorde, Katy Perry and Pharrell Williams up for the honour.

The final prize of the night was the third award the British boy band claimed during Sunday's ceremony. One Direction also claimed trophies for favourite pop/rock duo or group and pop/rock album for Midnight Melodies.

"This has been a real perfect day ... America feels like a second home to us," Liam Payne said onstage with his bandmates.

Katy Perry was another big winner, though she was not in attendance. Perry, who will be half-time performer at  Superbowl XLVIII in January, won three honours as well, including single of the year for No. 1 hit Dark Horse, female artist — pop/rock and artist — adult contemporary.

Breakthrough newcomer Azalea took down rap heavyweights Eminem and Drake to win the rap category.

The Australian performer, 24, won favourite rap/hip-hop album for her debut, The New Classic.

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"This award is the first award I've ever won in my entire life, and it means so much to me that it is for best hip-hop because that's what inspired me to move to America and pursue my dreams, and it's what helped me when I was a teenager to escape and to get through my life and to better times," Azalea said Sunday at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live, as her mentor T.I. stood beside her.

"And it means so much that I can stand here against Eminem and Drake and come out with this," she continued.

Azalea was the lead nominee with six, including artist of the year. She performed her massive hit, Fancy, which was  nominated for single of the year, as well as her new song, Beg for It.

Taylor Swift kicked off the AMAs as a mad woman and man eater by feeding a boy a poisonous apple, holding burning roses and giving crazy eyes during a performance of her song about her dating life.

Swift sang her new No. 1 hit, Blank Space, as she opened the show Sunday night. She was aggressive, grabbing her male dancers by their blazers and singing in character on bended knee. She even removed part of her dress to reveal a shimmery, leg-revealing gold number. She received the inaugural Dick Clark Award for Excellence, presented by Diana Ross.

Another Australian act, the boy band 5 Seconds of Summer, took new artist of the year, capping a successful year with a sold-out tour and top-selling debut album.

The night featured a slew of A-listers onstage, including Garth Brooks, Fergie, Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande, Imagine Dragons, Lil Wayne, Lorde, Nicki Minaj, One Direction and Sam Smith.

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Here's a partial list of the winners:

Artist Of The Year: One Direction

Dick Clark Award For Excellence: Taylor Swift

Band, Duo or Group – Pop/Rock: One Direction

Rap/Hip Hop Album: The New Classic, Iggy Azalea

Pop/Rock Male Artist: Sam Smith

Male Country Artist: Luke Bryan

Pop/Rock Album: Midnight Memories, One Direction

Pop/Rock Female Artist: Katy Perry

Alternative Rock Artist: Imagine Dragons

New Artist Of The Year: 5 Seconds Of Summer

Rap/Hip Hop Artist: Iggy Azalea

Country Album: Just As I Am, Brantley Gilbert