LONDON, UK/ROME, Italy (MTV PR) - With only 6 weeks until the MTV
Europe Music Awards 2004, MTV Networks
Europe today revealed the nominations and a selection of performers for the 11th annual ceremony, set to take place at Tor Di Valle, Rome on 18 November 2004. The news was revealed today by Brent Hansen, President & Chief Executive, MTV Networks Europe.
The clear front-runners in this year's Awards race are multi-platinum duo Outkast who consolidate a breathtakingly successful year with 5 nominations for Best Group, Best R&B, Best Song for Hey Ya!, Best Video for Hey Ya! and Best Album for Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. R&B superstar Usher is nominated for 4 awards for Best Male, Best R&B, Best Album for Confessions and Best Song for Yeah (featuring Ludacris).
Seven artists are nominated for three categories each. Anastacia is nominated for Best Pop, Best Female and Best Song for Left Outside Alone. Beyonce continues an incredibly successful year with nominations for Best Female, Best R&B and Best Album for Dangerously In Love. The Black Eyed Peas are nominated for Best Pop, Best Group and Best Album for Elephunk, while Britney Spears receives nominations for Best Pop, Best Female and Best Song for Toxic. Franz Ferdinand are nominated for Best New Act, Best Alternative and Best UK & Ireland Act while East coast rapper Jay-Z is nominated for Best Male, Best Hip Hop and Best Video for 99 Problems. L.A breakthrough act Maroon 5 score nominations for Best Group, Best New Act and Best Song for This Love.
Originally formed in 1981, Beastie Boys have redefined hip-hop and rap over the past 23 years. Following a string of critically acclaimed multi-platinum albums, the group released their first self-produced album To the 5 Boroughs in 2004. Preceded by the single Ch-Check It Out, the release was instantly acclaimed by critics and fans alike. Nominated for Best Group and Best Hip-Hop, Beastie Boys will bring a typically energetic performance to Rome.
Multi-platinum, global award winning artist Eminem is set to wow the audience in Rome with a worldwide exclusive performance of his new single 'Just Lose It' from the eagerly-awaited new album 'Encore', which is set for release on November 15th, 2004.
Since 1998's critically acclaimed 'Slim Shady EP', Eminem's rise to stardom has been nothing short of meteoric. 2000's 'Marshall Mathers' sold 2 million copies in the first week of release, making it the fastest-selling hip-hop album of all time with 2002's 'The Eminem Show', another smash hit. He followed up in November 2002 with 'Music From And Inspired By The Motion Picture 8 Mile' and, earlier in 2004, Eminem's group D-12 released 'D-12 World' which scored hits with 'My Band' and 'How Come'.
Best New Act, Best Alternative Act and Best UK & Ireland nominees Franz Ferdinand have made their unique mark on the music world since forming in 2001. With incredible worldwide sales of their eponymous debut album and an MTV Video Music Award for Take Me Out, the group will consolidate an incredible breakthrough year with a performance at The MTV Europe Music Awards 2004.
Gwen Stefani will perform her first solo song 'What You Waiting For?' at The MTV Europe Music Awards 2004, heralding the arrival of her highly anticipated debut album Love Angel Music Baby. Already known worldwide as lead singer with multi-platinum artists No Doubt, Stefani is sure to deliver an electrifying performance at this year's Awards.
Formed in the small industrial town of Fagersta, Sweden in 1993, The Hives have taken the world by storm over the past decade with their blistering rock music and unique style. With critical acclaim and a legion of fans worldwide, the group further enhanced their reputation with the release of their 2004 album Tyrannosaurus Hives. The Best Alternative Act nominees will perform a typically adrenaline-fuelled live set at The MTV Europe Music Awards 2004.
L.A based Maroon 5 have been the undisputed musical success story of 2004. With an acclaimed album - Songs About Jane - and a brace of worldwide smash singles - She Will Be Loved and This Love - the group will celebrate their nomination in three Awards categories with a breathtaking live performance in Rome.
With nominations for Best Male and Best Hip-Hop, multi-award winning, multi-platinum selling hip-hop superstar Nelly will take to the stage in Rome for a blistering performance - celebrating a year in which his two album release Sweat and Suit, and accompanying singles have taken the world by storm.
Leading MTV Europe Music Awards nominee and R&B superstar Usher has sold an incredible 24 million albums worldwide, and further enhanced his reputation in 2004 with the smash hit album Confessions, which has spawned a series of world conquering singles including Burn, Yeah! and Confessions Part II.
More performers and Awards presenters will be announced in the coming weeks.
Commented Brent Hansen: "The 11th annual MTV Europe Awards in Rome is set to be the most spectacular yet. With an incredible roster of talent and the backdrop of one of Europe's most beautiful cities, The MTV Europe Music Awards 2004 will truly reflect the diverse musical tastes of Europe's youth."
Sponsored by Replay Blue Jeans, L'Oreal Paris Studio Line, Hewlett Packard and Foot Locker the MTV Europe Music Awards 2004 will comprise 24 individual awards. The nominations for 22 of these have been compiled by MTV Europe's voting academy of 1100 people - consisting of key figures from the European music industry and MTV viewers from across Europe. The nominations for Best Video have been compiled by MTV Europe who will also chose the winner of this category. MTV Europe will also decide the winner of the Free Your Mind Award, which is intended for any individual, or organisation that exemplifies the ideals of MTV's global 'Free Your Mind' Campaign, which aims to highlight humanitarian issues and encourage freedom from all kinds of intolerance and prejudice.
Viewers can vote for their favourite nominees online or in store at key Replay Blue Jeans and Foot Locker stores across Europe. Voting for the Best Song category will be via TXT message with profits being donated to charities across Europe including Nordoff Robbins.
The MTV Europe Music Awards will be held on November 18 at in Rome (Italy) and broadcast live on MTV Europe.
The full nominations for the MTV Europe Music Awards 2004 are:
Best Group
Beastie Boys
The Black Eyed Peas
D12
Maroon 5
Outkast
Best Song
Anastacia - 'Left Outside Alone'
Britney Spears - 'Toxic'
Maroon 5 - 'This Love'
Outkast - 'Hey Ya!'
Usher feat. Ludacris - 'Yeah!'
Best Female
Alicia Keys
Anastacia
Avril Lavigne
Beyonce
Britney Spears
Best Male
Jay-Z
Justin Timberlake
Nelly
Robbie Williams
Usher
Best Hip Hop
Beastie Boys
D12
Jay-Z
Kanye West
Nelly
Best New Act
Franz Ferdinand
Jamelia
Keane
Maroon 5
The Rasmus
Best R&B
Alicia Keys
Beyonc?
Kelis
Outkast
Usher
Best Album
Beyonce - 'Dangerously In Love'
The Black Eyed Peas - 'Elephunk'
Dido - 'Life For Rent'
Outkast - 'Speakerboxxx/The Love Below'
Usher - 'Confessions'
Best Alternative Act
Bjfrk
Franz Ferdinand
The Hives
Muse
The Prodigy
Best Rock
The Darkness
Good Charlotte
Green Day
Linkin Park
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Best Pop
Anastacia
Avril Lavigne
The Black Eyed Peas
Britney Spears
Robbie Williams
Best Video
The Cure - 'The End Of The World'
Jay-Z - '99 Problems'
Outkast - 'Hey Ya'
The Streets - 'Fit But You Know It'
The White Stripes - 'The Hardest Button To Button'
The regional nominations for the MTV Europe Music Awards 2004 are:
Best French Act
Luke
Corneille
Jenifer
IAM
Calogero
Best Dutch & Belgian Act
The Sheer
Tiesto
Kane
Soulwax
Novastar
Best Italian Act
Linea 77
Tiziano Ferro
Articolo 31
Elisa
Caparezza
Best Spanish Act
Alex Ubago
David Bisbal
Estopa
Bebe
Bunbury
Best Polish Act
Sistars
Sidney Polak
Ania Dabrowska
Reni Jusis
Trzeci Wymiar
Best German Act
Beatsteaks
Die Arzte
Die Toten Hosen
Rammstein
Sportfreunde Stiller
Best Nordic Act
The Hives
Sondre Lerche
Sahara Hotnights
Maria Mena
Saybia
Best Russian Act
Dolphin
Leningrad
Gluk'oza
Via Gra
Zveri
Best Romanian Act
Ombladon feat. Raku
Firma
Activ
Cargo
O-Zone
Best Portuguese Act
Da Weasel
Gomo
Cla
Mesa
Toranja
Best UK & Ireland Act
Muse
Franz Ferdinand
Natasha Bedingfield
Jamelia
The Streets
