Liverpool lands MTV Europe Music Awards 2008

Today, the ECHO can exclusively reveal that the top names in pop and rock will be jetting in to the city for the 15th annual Europe Music Awards at the new ECHO Arena.
The awards ceremony is a highlight in the music industry’s calendar, attracting the world’s biggest stars, producers and agents.
Each year it is watched live by a global audience of one billion people in 28 countries.

In recent years, the show has been presented by Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, P Diddy and Snoop Dogg, and has featured iconic performances from Madonna, The Spice Girls, Jennifer Lopez, Eminem, Britney Spears and Oasis.

MTV senior vice president and the show’s executive producer Richard Godfrey said: “It is only natural that Liverpool should host the 15th annual Europe Music Awards. Not only is it the European Capital of Culture next year but the influence of its rich music heritage is still felt today.

“The state-of-the-art ECHO Arena Liverpool is the perfect venue for such a large-scale multi-platform event as the Europe Music Awards and will give us the opportunity to bring newer and more exciting elements to next year’s show.�

Tomorrow night hip hop star Snoop Dogg will take the reigns as he hosts this year’s spectacular music event from the Olympiahalle in Munich, with performances from Mika, Foo Fighters, Avril Lavigne and My Chemical Romance.

The awards were established in 1994 to celebrate the most popular music in Europe.

Each year MTV selects the most vibrant and musical city as its host. The event has only been held in the UK twice before – at Alexandra Palace, London in 1996 and in Edinburgh in 2003.

“This is the jewel in the crown for the Capital of Culture year – the eyes of the world will be on Liverpool,� said Bob Prattey, chief executive of the ECHO Arena, Liverpool.

“It’s better than we could have dreamt of.

“It all began last year, when we first started the pitch with the Culture Company. The MTV executives came to Liverpool on a number of visits and were impressed by the vibrancy of Liverpool’s music scene and the quality of the hotels, restaurants, and of course the arena.

“It was a courtship that lasted for months, and then they rung up, and said, subject to confirmation from America, they were mindful to come to Liverpool. We were over the moon.

“For a venue to get something like this in its first year is like winning the Pools.�
The event is scheduled to take place on November 6, and will coincide with music events across the city. It is estimated that as well as A-list celebrities from across the globe, 4,500 tickets will be available for members of the public.

Bryan Gray, Chairman of Liverpool Culture Company, said: “The MTV Europe Music Awards in Liverpool in 2008 is a perfect match – it’s pop music coming home.

“There was huge competition to stage these awards so this is a major coup for Liverpool, the new arena and our Capital of Culture celebrations. This event and the plans we have in place to celebrate them will provide a huge international platform for the city, the arena and the music scene in Liverpool today.�

Councillor Warren Bradley, Leader of Liverpool City Council, added: “To attract these awards is a watershed in Liverpool’s return to the world stage. With being European Capital of Culture, the city has rediscovered the confidence and ability to attract the world's best.

"All the years of planning for 2008 and the regeneration that has developed alongside it is now beginning to pay off. Liverpool can look forward to regularly staging major international events of this calibre.�