Beyonce to Perform at 2008 MTV Europe Music Awards as Nominations Revealed

30 Sep 08

Beyonce returns to perform at the most prestigious live music event in Europe as finalist nominations reveal that Britney Spears, Coldplay and newcomer Welsh soul-singer Duffy lead nominations across categories

Voting now open at www.mtvema.com

London, Monday 29th September 2008 – Beyoncé is to perform at the 2008 MTV Europe Music Awards it was announced today by MTV Networks International as the finalists in seven of the eleven categories were unveiled. The remaining performing artists will be announced in the next few weeks. The 2008 MTV Europe Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Liverpool Echo Arena, Liverpool – European Capital of Culture - on Thursday 6th November and are sponsored by edc by Esprit, Sony Ericsson and Dell.

As well as performing at the Awards, Beyoncé has also been nominated in the Ultimate Urban category. The remaining categories revealed today were Album Of The Year, Most Addictive Track, Best Act Ever, New Act, Act of 2008 and Rock Out.

Between Monday 29th September and Sunday 2nd November MTV viewers will be able to vote at www.mtvema.com to decide who will win in each category.

“For the fifteenth successive year the MTV Europe Music Awards will not only feature performances from some of the biggest names in music today but also this year’s breakthrough artists,” commented Richard Godfrey, Senior Vice President, Music and Production & Executive Producer, MTV Europe Music Awards. “We are extremely pleased that Beyoncé is returning to the MTV Europe Music Awards and will once again wow the audience with what promises to be a show-stopping performance. I am confident that when we reveal the final acts to perform, the bill will live up to our promise that the MTV Europe Music Awards will absolutely be the best gig in Europe this year.”
 
In advance of her eagerly anticipated new album, Beyoncé returns to the MTV Europe Music Awards for the third time. Most recently she performed ‘Baby Boy’ in Edinburgh (2003) and scooped two awards for Best Song (Crazy in Love) and Best R’nB. This year she is nominated in the Ultimate Urban category.

With an almost even split in the nominations between male and female artists, the finalists in each of the categories clearly shows that the taste of the MTV audience is broad, with Britney Spears, Coldplay and Duffy leading with nominations in three categories. The remaining list includes winners from previous MTV Europe Music Awards such as Foo Fighters, 30 Seconds to Mars, Rihanna and Tokio Hotel as well as new names such as Jonas Brothers, Katy Perry and Miley Cyrus.

 “The range of this year’s finalists really does demonstrate the breadth of taste of the MTV audience,” added Godfrey. “Alongside such superstars as Beyoncé, P!nk and Britney, MTV viewers have recognised the massive talent of bands such as The Cure, Greenday and the Foo Fighters as well as new artists Katy Perry, Duffy and Jonas Brothers.”

Over the past 15 years, with over 170 awards given out to solo artists and bands, this year’s award winners will be joining a list that includes Justin Timberlake, Madonna, Spice Girls, Robbie Williams, Eminem, Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, Linkin’ Park, Bryan Adams, Take That, Tokyo Hotel and at the last MTV Europe Music Awards new band Bedwetters.

In 2007 the MTV Europe Music Awards - broadcast on 19 channels across Europe as well as across the US and Asia - reached a total television audience of over 30 million people. Additionally, dedicated MTV Europe Music Awards websites saw a 35% increase year on year to three million unique visitors with total visits on show day (November 1st 2007), increasing by 75% compared to 2006. Over 78.8 million votes were cast (+360% vs 2006) and there were 200,000 unique WAP visitors (+305% vs 2006) and 3.2 million video streams. The 2008 MTV Europe Music Awards will continue to offer audiences multiple opportunities to engage with content via television, web and mobile and will be broadcast on 21 channels – in over 40 countries - across Europe.

2008 MTV EUROPE MUSIC AWARDS - CATEGORY NOMINATIONS

(In alphabetical order)  
 
Album Of The Year 
• Alicia Keys – As I Am
• Britney Spears -  Blackout
• Coldplay – Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends
• Duffy – Rockferry
• Leona Lewis – Spirit

Headliner 
• Foo Fighters
• Linkin’ Park
• Metallica
• The Cure
• Tokio Hotel

Most Addictive Track  
• Coldplay – Viva La Vida
• Duffy – Mercy
• Katy Perry – I Kissed A Girl
• Kid Rock – All Summer Long
• P!nk – So What

New Act 
• Duffy
• Jonas Brothers
• Katy Perry
• Miley Cyrus
• One Republic

Act of 2008 
• Amy Winehouse
• Britney Spears
• Coldplay
• Leona Lewis
• Rihanna

Ultimate Urban 
• Alicia Keys
• Beyoncé
• Chris Brown
• Kanye West
• Lil Wayne

Rock Out 
• 30 Seconds to Mars
• Linkin’ Park
• Metallica
• Paramore
• Slipknot