The headline calls it a Bieber Bust:

It seems unfair to blame Bieber. It's possible some adults didn't tune in because of the threat of multiple Beebage, but millions of fans who otherwise wouldn't watch the AMA must have watched. Unless you're telling me Bieber isn't as popular as that person who swept all the awards shows and dominated pop charts in 2006. You know, that person. Right? You have all his / her CDs.

Or perhaps we're just tired of awards shows, and haven't quite recovered from watching that Borat guy descend from the rafters on a string so he could smother Eminem with his thonged backside.