April 13, 2006

Ashlee Simpson, The Veronicas Among The Winners At MTV Australia Video Music Awards

By News Desk

Sydney, Australia - The MTV Australia Video Music Awards (MTV AVMAs) honoring the best in music video, rolled into Sydney at the Sydney Super Dome on April 12. Hosted by Ashlee Simpson, the annual awards show was packed with more music, celebrities and excitement than ever before.

The 2006 MTV AVMAs recognising the best in music videos from around the world, included performances by chart-topping artists Ashlee Simpson, The Veronicas, Scribe, Lee Harding, James Blunt, The Darkness, Russell Crowe, Bernard Fanning, Shannon Noll, End of Fashion, Rogue Traders and Savage. Broadcast live on MTV across Foxtel & Austar basic platform, and seen by MTV viewers globally, the MTV AVMAs provided unprecedented exposure for local and international talent.

Ashlee Simpson received MTV AVMAs Best Female Artist and Best Pop Video for her hit single Boyfriend. Ashlee not only held the coveted hosting gig but also treated fans to her first live and exclusive Australian performance with her girl's-night-out party anthem, L.O.V.E.

Australia's own, The Veronicas, took out Spankin New Aussie Artist and Video of the Year awards. The sassy 21 year old identical twins performed their third standout single "When It All Falls Apart" from their debut multi-platinum plus album, "The Secret Life of The Veronicas".

Snoop Dogg, the undisputed King of Cool, flew in on his private jet specially to accept the Best Hip Hop Video Award and Anthony Callea was overwhelmingly, the most popular viewer's choice.

Respected rock god, environmentalist and humanitarian Peter Garrett was honoured with the Free Your Mind Award, presented by Russell Crowe and chosen exclusively by MTV Australia to highlight humanitarian issues and encourage freedom from all kinds of intolerance and prejudice.

2006 MTV Australia Video Music Award Winners:

Best Male Artist
SHANNON NOLL

Best Female Artist
ASHLEE SIMPSON

Spankin' New Aussie Artist
THE VERONICAS

Best Group
GREEN DAY

Best Rock Video
THE DARKNESS "ONE WAY TICKET"

Best Pop Video
ASHLEE SIMPSON "BOYFRIEND"

Best Dance Video
ROGUE TRADERS "VOODOO CHILD"

Best R&B Video
CHRIS BROWN "RUN IT!"

Best Hip Hop Video
SNOOP DOGG "DROP IT LIKE IT'S HOT"

Song Of The Year
JAMES BLUNT "YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL"

Album Of The Year
BERNARD FANNING "TEA AND SYMPATHY"

Video Of The Year
THE VERONICAS "4EVER"

Viewer's Choice Award
ANTHONY CALLEA

Free Your Mind Award
PETER GARRETT

The MTV AVMAs nominations list included 13 viewer-voted categories; Best Male Artist, Best Female Artist, Spankin' New Artist, Best Group, Best Dance Video, Best Pop Video, Best Rock Video, Best R&B Video, Best Hip Hop Video, Song of the Year, Album of the Year, Video of the Year, and the Viewers Choice Award, nominated and voted for by MTV viewers. The final category; the Free Your Mind Award, is chosen exclusively by MTV Australia.