August 11, 2008

Miley Cyrus To Face Off Against Tokio Hotel For Best New Artist At VMAs

By Chris Harris (MTV.com)

Each year, one of the most coveted trophies handed out at the MTV Video Music Awards is the Moonman for Best New Artist. Guns N' Roses, Nirvana, Stone Temple Pilots, Eminem, Alicia Keys, Avril Lavigne and 50 Cent are among the award's previous winners, while Gym Class Heroes walked away with the honor last year.

But who will take the prize home in 2008, the awards' 25th anniversary? Will it be the world's richest and most famous teenage girl, or a bunch of German rockers who can't spell Tokyo? Well, we won't know until September 7 at 9pm, when this year's big show is broadcast live from the legendary Paramount Pictures Studios in Hollywood. This year's awards will be hosted by British comedian and Forgetting Sarah Marshall co-star Russell Brand and is set to feature performances from nominees Lil Wayne and the Jonas Brothers.

But we can tell you right now that some of your favorite artists from '08 made the list - thanks in large part to your votes.

Millions of votes poured into VMA.MTV.com, which, along with input from a select assembly of industry insiders, helped determine the five nominees for this year's Best New Artist prize. MTV also revealed the nominees in the Best Dancing in a Video category on Friday (August 8) during an episode of FNMTV, and they include a pop-music icon, a dimpled R&B sensation and a gaggle of gals discovered by Sean "Diddy" Combs.

Hannah Montana star Miley Cyrus picked up her first VMA nomination and seems an early favorite for the Best New Artist title. But she'll have to contend with Katy Perry, the lass behind this summer's infectious hit "I Kissed a Girl," which was already nominated in the Best Female Video category. Nods also went to American Idol veteran Jordin Sparks, country-crossover cutie Taylor Swift and German rock collective Tokio Hotel, whose "Ready, Set, Go!" is also in the running for Best Pop Video.

Madonna's clip for "4 Minutes" is among the nominees up for Best Dancing in a Video. The Material Girl is joined by Ne-Yo (nominated for "Closer"), Chris Brown ("Forever"), delicious girl group Danity Kane (whose "Damaged" was also singled out in the Best Pop Video category last week) and the Pussycat Dolls, who get their first-ever nod for "When I Grow Up."

Starting now, you can head over to VMA.MTV.com and cast your votes in two new categories: Best Rock Video and the one every artist wants, Video of the Year.

Want to attend this year's VMAs? Well, here's your chance. One lucky viewer will be honored at this year's awards for the good work they've done. Think.MTV.com, MTV's online community for youth activism, is hooking up one young activist and shipping them off to Los Angeles to attend the VMAs, and it could be you. From now until August 22, all Think.MTV.com members who join the "Do Good. Go to the VMAs" group can enter to win two tickets to the VMAs, along with travel and hotel accommodations.