Coldplay and Gorillaz lead MTV award nominations
LONDON (Reuters) – Rock band Coldplay go head to head with cartoon quartet Gorillaz at the 2005 MTV Europe Music Awards in Lisbon, after the British acts garnered five nominations each when they were announced on Tuesday.
Coldplay, fronted by actress Gwyneth Paltrow’s husband Chris Martin, shot to No. 1 in the United States and over 20 other countries this year with new album “X&Y” and are competing for best group, song, album, rock and UK and Ireland act categories.
Gorillaz, the band whose public face is four cartoon characters, are vying for best group, best song, best video for “Feel Good Inc,” best pop and best UK and Ireland act.
Music fans across Europe and Africa can choose the winners via MTV’s websites with the exception of the best video category, which is selected by MTV Europe.
Coldplay will perform at the ceremony in Lisbon on November 3, and will be joined by the Foo Fighters, Green Day, Robbie Williams and The Black Eyed Peas.
The annual event will be hosted by irreverent British comic Sacha Baron Cohen playing his alter ego Borat Sagdiyev, the hapless Kazakh journalist.
“The emphasis of the 12th annual MTV Europe Music Awards is on spectacular live performance,” said Brent Hansen, editor-in-chief of MTV Networks International.
Millions of fans are expected to tune into one of Europe’s biggest pop award ceremonies.
Just behind Coldplay and Gorillaz in the nomination list was U.S. star Gwen Stefani, who is vying for best female and pop act, best album for “Love. Angel. Music. Baby,” and best video for “What You Waiting For?”
Five artists were nominated for three awards apiece. Rappers 50 Cent and Snoop Dogg as well as punk band Green Day represent the United States. They are joined by Irish rockers U2 and British newcomer James Blunt.
In both the best male and best female categories, four of the five nominees are from the United States.
For the first time, the MTV awards will include a category for best African act, with 2 Face, Kaysha, Kleptomaniax, 02 and Zamajobe in the running.
Viacom’s MTV Networks went live earlier this year with its new African music video channel.
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