Soul's new generation dominates American Music Awards show, but King of Pop creates stir

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ A new generation of soul stars _ Alicia Keys, Destiny's Child and the late Aaliyah _ dominated the American Music Awards, but an older star created a bigger stir. <br><br>Michael

Thursday, January 10th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ A new generation of soul stars _ Alicia Keys, Destiny's Child and the late Aaliyah _ dominated the American Music Awards, but an older star created a bigger stir.

Michael Jackson's representatives reportedly demanded that producers not show a taped performance of the singer that they had provided only days before.

It was the latest chapter in a tussle between music's two biggest awards show, the AMAs and the Grammys, that seems bound for court.

Keys, Destiny's Child, Aaliyah and country singer Tim McGraw each received two awards during the three-hour telecast on ABC.

Aaliyah, who died in a plane crash last summer, was named favorite female soul artist. She also won best soul album, and singer Ginuwine commanded a somber ovation in accepting Aaliyah's posthumous tribute.

``Everybody stand up,'' he said.

Keys won two of the five awards for which she was nominated _ favorite new pop artist and favorite new soul artist. Her debut disc ``Songs in A Minor'' was one of last year's biggest hits.

Destiny's Child, whose three group members wore matching brown suede, beat out 'N Sync and the Dave Matthews Band for favorite pop album. The trio also was named favorite soul group.

Country's husband-and-wife team, McGraw and Faith Hill, were named favorite male and female artist. McGraw's ``Set This Circus Down'' was named favorite country album.

In the pop/rock category, Lenny Kravitz was the favorite male and Janet Jackson was the favorite female. 'N Sync won in the band, duo or group category. Luther Vandross was named favorite male soul/rhythm & blues artist.

The awards are a popularity contest based on music sales.

Michael Jackson wasn't even one of the night's nominees, but he attracted the most attention. He had originally been scheduled to perform, but backed out, prompting American Music Awards producer Dick Clark to sue the man in charge of the Grammys for $10 million in December.

Clark alleged that C. Michael Greene, president of the Recording Academy, had threatened to deny Jackson an opportunity to perform at next month's Grammys if Jackson showed up at the American Music Awards. Greene has denied the charges.

After the lawsuit was announced, Jackson called Clark and said he would appear on the show. Clark publicly said the AMAs would feature a Jackson performance.

That performance was a tape of Jackson singing ``Man in the Mirror'' from the post-Sept. 11 benefit in Washington, D.C. But on Tuesday, Jackson's representatives demanded the tape be pulled, said Clark spokesman Paul Shefrin.

``He would have liked to have shown the footage,'' Shefrin said.

Jackson appeared onstage to accept an Artist of the Century award, thanking a handful of people, including actor Marlon Brando, ``my second father.''

While Jackson was not singing on ABC, rival CBS was showing him singing ``You Rock My World'' from a concert special taped last fall. CBS aired a rerun of the Jackson special directly against the AMAs.

``Me, personally, I was just happy with Michael's presence,'' said show co-host Sean ``P. Diddy'' Combs backstage.

Country singer Garth Brooks, who won an Award of Merit, said that artists should be free of worrying about such industry politics.

``I say, back off, you're nothing without the artists,'' Brooks said.