The People’s Choice Awards: Rascal Flatts’ Reign Of Midtempo Terror Continues

Last night, the 35th running of the Peoples’ Choice Awards—in which awards are doled out to those artists who have fanbases devoted enough to click through a really buggy Web site over and over—took place, with Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood, and Chris Brown taking home some of the evening’s hardware. Full list of music-related winners is after the jump, but I’d like to take a moment to address the two contests being touted on that now ballot-free site right now. Appear on the next Queen Latifah album via YouTube audition? Design the artwork for the new Rascal Flatts album via gif-submission? OK, not that the latter contest will require that much skill, but honestly, all of this cross-promotional outsourcing is just embarrassing for everyone—from the artists involved to the staff-hemorrhaging companies who think that a YouTube tie-in is just as good as an actual marketing campaign on down—at this point. (And yes, My Grammy Moment, I’m including you in this j’accuse as well.) Two years after the person of the year was “you,” these sorts of ridiculous “live your dream, with 800,000 strings attached” contests aren’t going to make people believe in the magic of the music business again; nor are they going to make Jane Q. Public believe that after all this time you’re actually embracing the Internet. So just stop them! Please?

Male singer: Chris Brown Female singer: Carrie Underwood Group: Rascal Flatts R&B song: Alicia Keys, “No One” Pop song: Katy Perry, “I Kissed a Girl” Rock song: Kid Rock, “All Summer Long” Country song: Carrie Underwood, “Last Name” Hip-hop song: Flo Rida featuring T-Pain, “Low” Combined forces: Jordin Sparks featuring Chris Brown, “No Air” Song from a soundtrack: “Mamma Mia” from “Mamma Mia!”

Peoples’ Choice Awards [pcavote.com]