Alternative Rockers Imagine Dragons And Reigning Pop Royalty Lorde Announced As First Performers For 2014 Much Music Video Awards, June 15

Toronto (Top40 Charts/ MuchMusic) The energy is set to be downright explosive! Much kicks the 25th MMVAs into high gear as Grammy Award-winners Imagine Dragons and Lorde are the first performers announced for the 2014 MUCH MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS. The Las Vegas rockers and The New Zealand pop songstress have both conquered the music charts this year, nabbing numerous accolades and awards along the way, including leading the nominations at the upcoming 2014 Billboard Music Awards, with an incredible 12 nominations each, out of 40 categories. Both Imagine Dragons and Lorde are set to make their MMVA debut this year with what are sure to be one-of-a-kind performances. The 2014 MMVAs kick off live, coast-to-coast-to-coast, Sunday, June 15 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, simulcast on Much, CTV, and CTV GO.

"We are thrilled to welcome first-time performers Imagine Dragons and Lorde to the MMVAs this year," said Sheila Sullivan, Executive Producer, 2014 MUCH MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS. "As two of the hottest performers in the world right now, who have both made such an incredible impact on music in such a short time, their electrifying energy and unique appeal are a perfect fit for this year's 25th anniversary show."

Much also announced today the Your Fave nominees, in all three categories - Your Fave Video of the Year, Your Fave International Artist/Group, and Your Fave Artist/Group. Beginning today, fans can visit mmva.muchmusic.com/vote/ to cast their vote and choose the wildcard nominee in each category.

Grammy® Award-winning rock band Imagine Dragons' debut full length studio album Night Visions was released on September 4, 2012 on KIDinaKORNER / Interscope Records and has been certified three-times platinum in Canada. The album arrived on the Billboard Top 200 at #2 with the best first-week sales for a full-length debut by a new rock band in over six years. The album has been propelled by the amazing success of the two-times, platinum-selling single, "It's Time" and the seven-times platinum follow-up "Radioactive" and the five-times platinum "Demons". Rolling Stone proclaimed Imagine Dragons "the biggest breakout of the year" and Entertainment Weekly called 2013 the "Year of the Dragons." Imagine Dragons are Dan Reynolds (vocals), Wayne Sermon (guitar), Ben McKee (bass), and Daniel Platzman (drums).

New Zealand's global pop phenom and two-time Grammy® Award-winner, Lorde has exploded on the international music scene with her debut release, Pure Heroine (September 2013) and is currently certified two-times platinum in Canada. Her breakout smash-hit single, "Royals" is six-times platinum and her follow-up, "Team" is three-times certified platinum and has sold over a million copies worldwide. Lorde became the first woman to release a million-selling debut album since Adele's 19 (2011). Pure Heroine has yet to leave the Top 20 of the Billboard 200 since its debut on the chart dated in October 2013.

Fans can go online now to mmva.muchmusic.com/vote/ or cast their vote via mobile device for any of the 2014 MMVA Your Fave awards including Your Fave Video, Your Fave Artist/Group, and Your Fave International Artist/Group. Additionally, each of these three categories includes a special Wildcard slot. Viewers are in control as they vote for the fifth and final nominee (the Wildcard) in each of the Your Fave categories. Wildcard voting closes Monday, May 19 at 11:59 p.m. ET. The winning Wildcard nominees, along with the full lineup of the 2014 MMVAs nominees, will be announced in the coming weeks.

The 2014 Your Fave Nominees and Wildcard choices are:

Category: Your Fave Video of the Year

Nominees are:

1. Drake - 'Worst Behavior'
2. Arcade Fire - 'Reflektor'
3. Hedley - 'Anything'
4. SonReal - 'Everywhere We Go'

Wildcard Choices are:

1. The Weeknd featuring Drake - 'Live For'
2. City and Colour - 'Thirst'
3. Fefe Dobson - 'Legacy'
4. Serena Ryder - 'What I Wouldn't Do'
5. Autoerotique - 'Asphyxiation'

Category: Your Fave International Artist/Group of the Year

Nominees are:

1. Lorde
2. Imagine Dragons
3. Miley Cyrus
4. Katy Perry

Wildcard Choices are:

1. One Direction
2. Beyonce
3. Taylor Swift
4. Pharrell
5. Selena Gomez

Category: Your Fave Artist/Group of the Year

Nominees are:

1. Drake
2. Hedley
3. The Weeknd
4. Justin Bieber

Wildcard Nominee Choices are:

1. Arcade Fire
2. Classified
3. Down With Webster
4. Tegan and Sara
5. Avril Lavigne

Fans can follow the countdown to the 2014 MMVAs on much.ca and on Twitter to get the latest announcements on performers, presenters, celebrity guests, and the chance to win big prizes.

Media accreditation for the 2014 MMVAs is now open, and closes Thursday, May 22, 2014. Requests can be submitted online here. Full details to follow upon confirmation of accreditation.

Official sponsors of the 2014 MMVAs include: Diet Coke®, H&M® (official designer of the MMVA wristbands), Bud Lime Lime-A-Rita, WONKA® NERDS®, Procter & Gamble®, SUBWAY® Restaurants, and VIRGIN MOBILE CANADA™.

Follow Much on Twitter: @Much
Follow Imagine Dragons on Twitter: @ImagineDragons
Follow Lorde on Twitter: @lordemusic