| Subcategory | Winner | Nominees |
|---|
| Pop/Rock Category |
| Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist | Lionel Richie | Peter Gabriel
Robert Palmer
David Lee Roth |
| Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist | Whitney Houston | Janet Jackson
Tina Turner
Madonna |
| Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group | Huey Lewis and the News | Genesis
Heart
Van Halen |
| Favorite Pop/Rock Album | Whitney Houston -Whitney Houston | Control -Janet Jackson
Top Gun soundtrack
5150 -Van Halen |
| Favorite Pop/Rock Song | "There'll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry)" -Billy Ocean | "Live To Tell" -Madonna
"West End Girls" -Pet Shop Boys
"Higher Love" -Steve Winwood |
| Favorite Pop/Rock Video | "Dancing on the Ceiling" -Lionel Richie | "Mad About You" -Belinda Carlisle
"When I Think of You" -Janet Jackson
"I Didn't Mean to Turn You On" -Robert Palmer |
| Favorite Pop/Rock Male Video Artist | Billy Ocean | Peter Gabriel
Howard Jones
Robert Palmer |
| Favorite Pop/Rock Female Video Artist | Madonna | Belinda Carlisle
Whitney Houston
Janet Jackson |
| Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group Video Artist | Huey Lewis & The News | Culture Club
Run–D.M.C.
Simple Minds |
| Soul/R&B Category |
| Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist | Lionel Richie | Freddie Jackson
Billy Ocean
Stevie Wonder |
| Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist | Whitney Houston | Anita Baker
Janet Jackson
Patti LaBelle |
| Favorite Soul/R&B Band/Duo/Group | New Edition | Atlantic Starr
Cameo
Run-D.M.C. |
| Favorite Soul/R&B Album | Whitney Houston -Whitney Houston | Rapture -Anita Baker
Control -Janet Jackson
Raising Hell -Run-D.M.C. |
| Favorite Soul/R&B Song | "Nasty" -Janet Jackson | "Word Up" -Cameo
"Kiss" -Prince
"Rumors" -Timex Social Club |
| Favorite Soul/R&B Video | "Greatest Love of All" -Whitney Houston | "When I Think of You" -Janet Jackson
"There'll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry)" -Billy Ocean
"Walk This Way" -Run-D.M.C. |
| Favorite Soul/R&B Male Video Artist | Lionel Richie | James Brown
Oran "Juice" Jones
Billy Ocean |
| Favorite Soul/R&B Female Video Artist | Janet Jackson | Aretha Franklin
Whitney Houston
Tina Turner |
| Favorite Soul/R&B Band/Duo/Group Video Artist | Kool & The Gang | Cameo
The Jets
Run-D.M.C. |
| Country Category |
| Favorite Country Male Artist | Willie Nelson | Ronnie Milsap
George Strait
Hank Williams, Jr. |
| Favorite Country Female Artist | Barbara Mandrell | Reba McEntire
Juice Newton
Tanya Tucker |
| Favorite Country Band/Duo/Group | Alabama | The Forester Sisters
The Judds
Marie Osmond &Paul Davis |
| Favorite Country Album | Greatest Hits -Alabama | Rockin' with the Rhythm -The Judds
Whoever's in New England -Reba McEntire
Something Special -George Strait |
| Favorite Country Song | "Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout the Good Ol' Days)" -The Judds | "Everything That Glitters (Is Not Gold)" -Dan Seals
"Diggin' Up Bones" -Randy Travis
"You Can Dream of Me" -Steve Wariner |
| Favorite Country Video | "Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout the Good Ol' Days)" -The Judds | "Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes" -George Jones
"Whoever's in New England" -Reba McEntire
"Honky Tonk Man" -Dwight Yoakam |
| Favorite Country Male Video Artist | George Jones | Mel McDaniel
Gary Morris
George Strait |
| Favorite Country Female Video Artist | Reba McEntire | Janie Fricke
Anne Murray
Marie Osmond |
| Favorite Country Band/Duo/Group Video Artist | Alabama | The Forester Sisters
The Judds
Sawyer Brown |
| Merit |
| Elvis Presley |
