| Subcategory | Winner | Nominees |
|---|
| Pop/Rock Categories |
| Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist | Bruce Springsteen | Phil Collins
Prince |
| Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist | Tina Turner | Whitney Houston
Madonna |
| Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group | Chicago | Kool & The Gang
Tears for Fears |
| Favorite Pop/Rock Album | Born in the U.S.A. – Bruce Springsteen | No Jacket Required – Phil Collins
Like a Virgin – Madonna |
| Favorite Pop/Rock Song | "The Power of Love" – Huey Lewis and the News | "Money for Nothing" – Dire Straits
"Careless Whisper" – Wham! |
| Favorite Pop/Rock Video | "The Power of Love" – Huey Lewis and the News | "Take On Me" – a-ha
"Easy Lover" – Philip Bailey & Phil Collins |
| Favorite Pop/Rock Male Video Artist | Bruce Springsteen | Phil Collins
Huey Lewis |
| Favorite Pop/Rock Female Video Artist | Pat Benatar | Aretha Franklin
Madonna |
| Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group Video Artist | Wham! | Eurythmics
Tears for Fears |
|
| Soul/R&B Categories |
| Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist | Stevie Wonder | Prince
Luther Vandross |
| Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist | Aretha Franklin | Whitney Houston
Diana Ross |
| Favorite Soul/R&B Band/Duo/Group | Kool & The Gang | New Edition
Ready For The World |
| Favorite Soul/R&B Album | Emergency – Kool & The Gang | Whitney Houston – Whitney Houston
The Night I Fell in Love – Luther Vandross |
| Favorite Soul/R&B Song | "You Give Good Love" – Whitney Houston | "Nightshift" – The Commodores
"You Are My Lady" – Freddie Jackson |
| Favorite Soul/R&B Video | "Saving All My Love for You" – Whitney Houston | "Freeway of Love" – Aretha Franklin
"Oh Sheila" – Ready For The World |
| Favorite Soul/R&B Male Video Artist | Stevie Wonder | Philip Bailey & Phil Collins
Prince |
| Favorite Soul/R&B Female Video Artist | Aretha Franklin | Whitney Houston
Sade |
| Favorite Soul/R&B Band/Duo/Group Video Artist | The Pointer Sisters | Ashford & Simpson
Kool & The Gang |
|
| Country Categories |
| Favorite Country Male Artist | Willie Nelson | Lee Greenwood
Hank Williams, Jr. |
| Favorite Country Female Artist | Crystal Gayle | Anne Murray
Dolly Parton |
| Favorite Country Band/Duo/Group | Alabama | The Judds
The Oak Ridge Boys |
| Favorite Country Album | 40-Hour Week – Alabama | City of New Orleans – Willie Nelson
Country Boy – Ricky Skaggs |
| Favorite Country Song | "Forgiving You Was Easy" – Willie Nelson | "There's No Way" – Alabama
"Dixie Road" – Lee Greenwood |
| Favorite Country Video | "The Highwayman" – The Highwaymen | "40-Hour Week" – Alabama
"All My Rowdy Friends" – Hank Williams, Jr. |
| Favorite Country Male Video Artist | Hank Williams, Jr. | Lee Greenwood
Ricky Skaggs |
| Favorite Country Female Video Artist | Crystal Gayle | Janie Fricke
Anne Murray |
| Favorite Country Band/Duo/Group Video Artist | The Highwayman | Alabama
The Oak Ridge Boys |
|
| Merit |
| Paul McCartney |
|
| Award of Appreciation [1] |
| Michael Jackson |
|
| Song of the Year [1] |
| We Are the World |