February 19, 2009

By By Lars Brandle, Brisbane

Beyonce, Lady GaGa, Flo Rida, Pink and Kings of Leon are in the running for the coveted best video trophy at the Vodafone MTV Australia Awards, nominations for which were unveiled Thursday (Feb. 19). Chris Brown has two nominations.

Beyonce's "Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)" will battle it out with Pink's "So What" and King of Leon's "Sex On Fire" (all Sony Music Entertainment), "Low" by Flo Rida feat. T-Pain's (Warner Music) and Lady GaGa's "Poker Face" (Universal Music).

Beyonce is one of eight artists to garner a pair of nominations for this year's gala. The other double-nominees are Australian acts the Presets, Jessica Mauboy and Sneaky Sound System, New Zealander Ladyhawke and American artists Kings of Leon, Lady GaGa and Chris Brown.

Brown's good fortune is sure to raise some eyebrows. The singer, who is facing allegations Stateside that he assaulted his girlfriend Rihanna before the Grammy Awards, is up for best moves and best collaboration for his team-up with Jordin Sparks on "No Air" (Sony Music).

Las Vegas pop-rockers the Killers are the first confirmed performers for the event, which will take place March 27 at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre.

"The Vodafone MTV Australia Awards will be all about the music," comments Rebecca Batties, GM of music brands at MTV Networks Australia and New Zealand in a statement, "and these nominations reflect MTV's commitment to showcasing heavyweight international acts alongside the stellar homegrown talent that Australia and New Zealand have to offer."

Australian viewers will decide all eight award categories, while MTV fans in New Zealand can cast votes on the ninth, the "best Kiwi" award. Voting begins Feb. 23 online and via text messaging.

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