One Direction have proved American girls love British boys – they won the artist of the year title at the American Music Awards as well as two other accolades.

The band were the night's big winner next to Katy Perry at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles.

Competition in the category was tough, with Iggy Azalea, Beyoncé, Luke Bryan, Eminem, Imagine Dragons, John Legend, Lorde, Katy Perry and Pharrell Williams competing for the honour.

One Direction also won favourite band, duo or group – pop/rock and favourite album –pop/rock for Midnight Memories at the awards show, decided by fan votes.

“This has been a real perfect day ... America feels like a second home to us,” Liam Payne said on stage with his band mates when they won the night's first award.

The group released their new album, Four, last week.

Perry, who was absent as she is on tour in Australia, won three honours as well, including single of the year for number-one hit Dark Horse, favourite female pop/rock artist and favourite adult contemporary artist.

Breakthrough Australian newcomer Iggy, 24, who was the top nominee with six nods, won favourite rap/hip-hop album for The New Classic and favourite rap/hip-hop artist, defeating rap heavyweights Eminem and Drake.

She performed her massive hit, Fancy, which was nominated for single of the year, as well as her new song, Beg for It.

Australian boy band 5 Seconds of Summer won new artist of the year, and performed a cover of The Romantics' What I Like About You.

Taylor Swift kicked off the show as a mad woman and man eater by feeding a boy a poisonous apple, holding burning roses and giving crazy eyes during a performance of her new number-one song, Blank Space. She received the first-ever Dick Clark award for excellence from singer Diana Ross.

“To the fans who went out and bought over a million copies of my last three albums, what you did by going out and investing in music and albums is you’re saying you believe in the same thing I believe in – that music is valuable and that music should be consumed in albums and albums should be consumed as art and appreciated,” said Taylor, who recently removed her music from streaming service Spotify.

Beyoncé, who did not attend, won favourite female soul/R&B artist and favourite soul/R&B album for her self-titled effort. Luke Bryan took home favourite male country artist.

What you did by going out and investing in music and albums is you’re saying you believe in the same thing I believe in- Taylor Swift

Carrie Underwood was named favourite female country artist and Frozen, the year's top-selling album, was named top soundtrack.

Much of the three-hour awards show, aired on ABC, was dedicated to performances dominated by the ladies of pop music, including a raunchy rendition of Booty by Azalea and Lopez, with lots of rump-shaking.

Pop stars Grande, Selena Gomez and Nicki Minaj opted for less audacious performances showcasing their vocal talents.

Grande sang One Less Problem and Break Free with a jazz twist while an emotional Gomez sang The Heart Want What It Wants, rumoured to be about her on-off relationship with Justin Bieber. Minaj and Skylar Grey performed their duet Bed of Lies. Grande and Minaj later spiced up the stage with Jessie J with their upbeat Bang Bang.

Full list of winners

Artist of the Year
One Direction

New artist of the year
5 Seconds of Summer

Single of the year
Katy Perry featuring Juicy J – Dark Horse

Favourite male artist – pop/rock
Sam Smith

Favourite female artist – pop/rock
Katy Perry

Favourite band, duo or group – pop/rock
One Direction

Favourite album – pop/rock
One Direction – Midnight Memories

Favourite male artist – country
Luke Bryan

Favourite female artist – country
Carrie Underwood

Favourite band, duo or group – country
Florida Georgia Line

Favourite album – country
Brantley Gilbert – Just as I Am

Favourite artist – rap/hip-hop
Iggy Azalea

Favourite album – rap/hip-hop
Iggy Azalea – The New Classic

Favourite male artist – soul/R&B
John Legend

Favourite female artist – soul/R&B
Beyoncé

Favourite album – soul/R&B
Beyoncé – Beyoncé

Favourite artist – alternative rock
Imagine Dragons

Favourite artist – adult contemporary
Katy Perry

Favourite artist – Latin
Enrique Iglesias

Favourite artist – contemporary inspirational
Casting Crowns

Favourite artist – electronic dance music
Calvin Harris

Top soundtrack
Frozen