UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. - The biggest names in music are taking over the city of Los Angeles tonight for an all new awards franchise, the “iHeartRadio Music Awards” presented by Clear Channel Media and Entertainment. The inaugural music special airs on 21 WFMJ from 8-11p.m.  from the Shrine Auditorium.

Artists who will be performing include Blake Shelton, Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Pharrell, Pitbull, Shakira and Thirty Seconds to Mars.

Other performers from the telecast include Ariana Grande, Luke Bryan, Arcade Fire and Ed Sheeran.

Those set to make appearances include Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Steven Tyler, Imagine Dragons, Chris Martin, Lorde, Demi Lovato and more.

The iHeartRadio Music Awards is taking a groundbreaking approach to the award show format, offering viewers live performances, storytelling and an intimate atmosphere. In addition to performances at the glamorous-tabled show at the Shrine, the event will also feature artists playing the stages of some of Los Angeles’ most iconic venues from The Roxy to the Hotel Café.

The event will highlight the music world’s top stars in taking over Los Angeles telling viewers their “L.A. story” -- what brought them to and through the City of Angels and how it helped make their careers.

Category finalists for the iHeartRadio Music Awards were announced on March 26. Music fans have used hashtags to cast nearly 50 million votes across Facebook and Twitter to catapult their favorite artists and songs.

Artist of the Year:

Imagine Dragons

Justin Timberlake

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Maroon 5

Rihanna

Song of the Year:

“Hold On We’re Going Home” – Drake ft. Majid Jordan

“Mirrors” – Justin Timberlake

“Radioactive” – Imagine Dragons

“Stay” – Rihanna ft. Mikky Ekko

“The Monster” – Eminem ft. Rihanna

Best Collaboration:(Most voted on category with more than 3.9 million votes cast)

“Holy Grail” – JAY Z ft. Justin Timberlake

“Stay” – Rihanna ft. Mikky Ekko

“Suit & Tie” – Justin Timberlake ft. JAY Z

“The Monster” – Eminem ft. Rihanna

“Timber” – Pitbull ft. Kesha

Best New Artist:

Florida Georgia Line

Icona Pop

Imagine Dragons

Lorde

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Passenger

Country Song of the Year:

“Boys ‘Round Here” – Blake Shelton

“Highway Don’t Care” – Tim McGraw with Taylor Swift

“It Goes Like This” – Thomas Rhett

“Mine Would Be You” – Blake Shelton

“That’s My Kind of Night” – Luke Bryan

Hip Hop/R&B Song of the Year:

“Blurred Lines” – Robin Thicke ft. T.I. & Pharrell

“Hold On We’re Going Home” – Drake ft. Majid Jordan

“Holy Grail” – JAY Z ft. Justin Timberlake

“Pour It Up” – Rihanna

“Started From The Bottom” – Drake

EDM Song of the Year:

“Get Lucky” – Daft Punk ft. Pharrell

“Stay The Night” – Zedd ft. Hayley Williams

“Summertime Sadness” – Lana Del Rey ft. Cedric Gervais

“Sweet Nothing” – Calvin Harris ft. Florence Welch

“Wake Me Up” – Avicii

Alternative Rock Song of the Year:

“Demons” – Imagine Dragons

“Do I Wanna Know?” – Arctic Monkeys

“Pompeii” – Bastille

“Royals” – Lorde

“Safe And Sound” – Capital Cities

Best Lyrics:

“Wake Me Up” – Avicii (Vocals by Aloe Blacc)

“I Love It (ft. Charli XCX)” – Icona Pop

“Say Something” – A Great Big World

“Same Love” – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

“Wrecking Ball” – Miley Cyrus

Best Fan Army:

Arianators – Ariana Grande

Little Monsters – Lady Gaga

Lovatics – Demi Lovato

Mahomies – Austin Mahone

Rihanna Navy – Rihanna

Swifties – Taylor Swift

For breaking news and exclusive iHeartRadio Music Awards content,