But before Eminem and D12 took the stage, the audience was read a list of warnings by an emcee: no photos, video or tape recordings of the performance would be allowed. Even the cameras that were broadcasting the proceedings on an overhead video screen were turned toward the seating area.

Eminem took the stage in baggy clothes, his face hidden beneath a baseball hat drawn low. He greeted fans who rushed the stage with frequent hand slaps. The performance, however--like D12's opening set for Limp Bizkit in Detroit last year--was lackluster, coming across as a swirl of noise.

Eminem and Kid Rock were the only national nominees in the house. Kid Rock stayed offstage for most of the event, though his guitarist Kenny Olson served as a presenter.

The Detroit-area reggae act Immunity, which won numerous prizes in 2000, won six awards on Friday, including Outstanding Live Performance, Outstanding World Recording for "Tu Lively" and Outstanding Reggae Act. The relatively new blues/jazz group Brothers Groove followed with four awards, while the Howling Diablos, which signed to Kid Rock’s Top Dog records, and gospel singer Fred Hammond, each won three.

Though they were plagued by poor sound, Johnnie Bassett and the Butler Twins, featuring Valerie Barrymore and Thornetta Davis, stole the show with their rousing blues performance. Rapper Alley Life, who is heading out on tour with Nelly, offered impressive renditions of material from his forthcoming debut.

Motown songwriter Barrett Strong, who was honored with a Distinguished Achievement Award, was joined by a collection of musicians in performing a medley of hits that he penned--"Ball of Confusion," "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," "Just My Imagination," and others.

Surprise winners included longtime Detroit musician Liz Larin, who was signed to Atlantic in the early '90s, and industrial newcomers sweatysuedelips. They won Outstanding Songwriter and Outstanding Industrial Act, respectively.

The complete list of winners: