With seven each, Beyonce and Justin Timberlake lead the nominations for the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards, to be handed out Sept. 9 in Las Vegas. The two artists will square off in the video of the year category, with their songs “Irreplaceable” and “What Goes Around … Comes Around” competing against Amy Winehouse’s “Rehab,” Justice’s “Dance,” Kanye West’s “Stronger” and Rihanna’s “Umbrella” featuring Jay-Z.
Other top nominees include West and Rihanna with five and Winehouse with three. Timbaland will serve as the musical director for the event as the Palms Casino Resort. Performances are confirmed from West, Winehouse, Rihanna, Chris Brown, Fall Out Boy, Foo Fighters and Lily Allen, with more to be announced.
Timberlake is up for awards in three new categories: male artist of the year, most Earth-shattering collaboration (with Timbaland on “SexyBack”) and quadruple threat of the year for his achievements in acting, business and fashion. In addition, “What Goes Around” earned nominations for best director and best editing.
Beyonce’s nominations also include Earth-shattering collaboration (with Shakira on “Beautiful Liar”), quadruple threat and female artist of the year. The “Beautiful Liar” video snared three nods in professional categories, including best director.
Winehouse will vie for best new artist against Carrie Underwood, Gym Class Heroes, Allen and Swedish indie rock act Peter Bjorn and John. That award will be chosen by fan voting on VMA.MTV.com.
In another new category, monster single, the nominees include Lil Mama’s “Lip Gloss,” T-Pain’s “Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin’)” and Plain White T’s’ recent Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit, “Hey There Delilah.”
The awards will only air once on MTV; future versions will be “remixed by and for viewers” that differ substantially from the live telecast, according to the network.
The nominations were announced during a special taping of MTV’s “Total Request Live.” Rather than the traditional “TRL” top 10, videos from nominees were shown in between announcements and in-studio appearances by Rihanna, Chris Brown, Timbaland, West and Robin Thicke. At the end, West performed a medley of his new singles, “Stronger” and “Can’t Tell Me Nothing,” before Common made a surprise appearance to run through his own new track, “The People.”
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