| MUMBAI:
MTV is looking to spice up the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards by teaming with music
producer Timbaland to be the show's maestro and by bringing together artists to
create collaborative 'one time only' performances at the 24th annual edition of
the awards show. Timbaland,
Foo Fighters, Kanye West and Fall Out Boy will be performing with special guests
live from The Palms Fantasy Suites in Las Vegas. The
show takes place on 9 September. Amy Winehouse, Rihanna, Lily Allen and Chris
Brown have also been added to the list of powerhouse performers with Justin Timberlake
and Timbaland hosting their own Fantasy Suite party. In addition, celebrity DJ/producer
Mark Ronson will rock the party in The Pearl with help from his turntables, horn
section and surprise guests. MTV
president Christina Norman says, "We may not own Las Vegas yet, but for one
weekend the VMAs will rock this town. From Justin to Rihanna to the Foo Fighters,
the sheer amount of star power and talent is tremendous and will no doubt blow
the roof off The Palms. And, seriously, this is just the beginning." MTV
is set to programme a whole VMA weekend featuring events, appearances and performances
culminating with the star-studded music extravaganza. In addition, the show will
only air on 9 September in its original form - so what happens in Vegas really
will stay in Vegas. Encore presentations of this year's VMAs will be remixed versions
that will be programmed by and for the viewers, deeply connecting them to a complete
music experience across multiple platforms. The
ballots for The 2007 MTV Video Music Awards were sent out for the first time to
artists and musical tastemakers as well as to an exclusive industry group and
viewers who determined the nominees for the telecast. Around
50 viewers and individuals representing record labels, music journalists, video
directors and music producers selected the nominees for awards categories encompassing
music forms like rap, dance, R&B and rock. Ballots are cast online and duplication
is avoided through a special control number assigned to each ballot, which can
only be tallied once. | 
