DHAKA: Justin Timberlake, Taylor Swift and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis led the early winners at the American Music Awards on Sunday, as some of pop music’s biggest names came together for the fan-voted awards ceremony.

Timberlake, 32, picked up the prize for favourite male artist, beating out R&B singers Bruno Mars and Robin Thicke.

The singer, who returned to the musical spotlight this year after a five-year hiatus with The 20/20 Experience, was nominated in five categories, including the night’s top prize for artist of the year.

The singer performed with his Tennessee Kids band on stage, singing Drink You Away.

Country-pop singer Swift, 23, won two early awards: the non-televised favourite female pop/rock award, and the televised favourite country album award for her 2012 record Red.

‘Red is very different from any album I`ve made before and the reason I was able to do that is because of the fans... the fact that 6 million of you went out to buy it. That is crazy,’ the singer said during her acceptance speech, reports The Straits Times.

BDST: 1325 HRS, NOV 25, 2013