Press Release for VMAs

KANYE WEST RETURNS TO THE VMA STAGE FOR
“THE 2010 MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS”

ALSO SET TO PERFORM ARE DRAKE AND
FLORENCE + THE MACHINE

Nicki Minaj, Emma Stone, Penn Badgley, Trey Songz, Selena Gomez
And Ne-Yo Confirmed To Present At
MTV’S 27th Annual Awards Show Airing Live from Los Angeles
On Sunday, September 12, 2010 at 9PM (ET/PT)

New York, NY (August 12, 2010) – Get your twitter fingers ready for more unforgettable moments as MTV announces the first round of artists who will perform LIVE at the “2010 MTV Video Music Awards.” Kanye, Drake and Florence + The Machine will take creative leaps and bring fans an evening filled with groundbreaking performances that will be discussed for years to come. With the highly anticipated release of Kanye West’s new album this fall, music lovers and fans alike will be glued to the screen to see what the rapper has in store for the audience when he hits the VMA stage. This year’s awards will mark the first VMA performance for Grammy® nominated hip-hop artist Drake and UK indie favorite Florence + The Machine, who will perform her 4-time VMA nominated “Dog Days Are Over.” Nicki Minaj, Emma Stone, Penn Badgley, Trey Songz, Selena Gomez and Ne-Yo are the first presenters confirmed for the show. The “2010 MTV Video Music Awards” will air live from Nokia Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 12, 2010 at 9PM (Live ET/Tape delayed PT.) MTV will announce additional performers, presenters and host on a later date.

“To be performing and nominated at this years VMA’s is completely amazing and especially for the song ‘Dog days.’ I recorded that song in a cupboard with no instruments and the sound of the drums was me banging my hands on the wall, clacking pens on Mpc’s and generally causing a cacophony with anything I could lay my hands on.,” said Florence + The Machine. “For this song to be recognized at such an iconic event is a total dream. For me ‘Dog days’ symbolizes apocalyptic euphoria, Chaotic freedom and running really really fast with your eyes closed. I hope to somehow encapsulate those things in my performance at this years VMA’s. I would also hugely like to thank everyone at the VMA’s for giving me this opportunity.”

Viewers can vote for general VMA categories, including “Best New Artist,” by visiting vma.mtv.com. In addition, text voting for "Best New Artist" is open to all wireless carrier subscribers by texting BNA to 97979. Voting continues through the show, live on September 12. Also, Verizon Wireless subscribers can vote in all categories by texting VMA to 97979 (standard message rates apply.)

Jesse Ignjatovic/Den of Thieves is the Executive Producer for the “2010 MTV Video Music Awards.” Dave Sirulnick is Executive Producer. Garrett English is co-Executive Producer/Executive in Charge of Production. Amy Doyle is co-Executive Producer. Joanna Bomberg is Executive in Charge of Music and Talent. Jen Jones is co- Executive Producer. Hamish Hamilton is Director. Wendy Plaut is Celebrity Talent Executive.

Official sponsors of the “2010 MTV Video Music Awards” are 5® REACT™ Gum, freecreditscore.com™, Honda CR-Z Sport Hybrid, Rhapsody®, Taco Bell® and Verizon Wireless.

The “2010 MTV Video Music Awards” will be available to a potential viewing audience of more than 1.2 billion people via MTV's global network of 63 channels reaching 605 million households around the world as well as through syndication. In addition, its convergent programming & content will reach the entire interactive community, via MTV's more than 200 digital media properties around the world.

About MTV:
MTV is the dynamic, vibrant experiment at the intersection of music, creativity and youth culture. For over 28 years, MTV has evolved, challenged the norm, and detonated boundaries -- giving each new generation a creative outlet and voice that entertains, informs and unites on every platform and screen. On-air, MTV is the number one full day-ad supported network for P12-24. Online, MTV.com averaged 24.5 million monthly unique visitors during the second quarter of 2010 -- up +13% year-over-year. Average video streams for the second quarter of 2010 increased +8% from Q1/2010. And MTV’s successful sibling networks MTV2 and mtvU each deliver unprecedented customized content, super-serving young males, music fans, and college students like no one else. MTV is part of MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Wanna know more? Come on in… www.mtvpress.com

# # #
CONTACTS:

MTV:
Melissa Barreto Emily Yeomans
212-846-7226 310-752-8074
melissa.barreto@mtvstaff.com emily.yeomans@mtvstaff.com


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