Katy Perry leads MTV nominations
Katy Perry leads the nominations for tonight’s MTV Europe Music Awards which are being held in Glasgow for the first time.
Music stars and fans are gearing up for the awards, this year hosted by US rapper Nicki Minaj at the SSE Hydro.
U2, Alicia Keys and Ed Sheeran are set to perform at the ceremony, but DJ Calvin Harris pulled out yesterday due to illness.
With nominations across seven categories, Dark Horse singer Perry leads the competition, closely followed by Ariana Grande with six.
Both are up for Best Female, along with Minaj, Taylor Swift and Beyonce.
Pharrell Williams is up for five trophies, including best song and best video for his global hit Happy.
He is also among the nominations for Best Male in a category which includes Ed Sheeran, Eminem, Justin Bieber and Justin Timberlake.
MTV held castings for more than 2,000 local music fans to be part of the audience for the show, which will be broadcast live on MTV channels at 8pm.
Enrique Iglesias, Kiesza and Royal Blood will perform at the 21st awards, which organisers said will have a time travel theme.
Scottish DJ Harris had been scheduled to appear, but pulled out due to ill health.
Organisers said last night: “We have some really sad news. Calvin Harris has taken ill and will not be able to perform at tomorrow’s show. He sends his sincere apologies. Get well soon, Calvin!”
Guitar legend Slash and actor David Hasselhoff will present trophies at the Hydro, while Black Sabbath legend Ozzy Osbourne is expected to attend to receive the EMA’s Global Icon Award.
Grammy award-winning singer Alicia Keys is one of several artists to be nominated in a new category, Best Song with a Message, for her song We Are Here.
She said: “I am crazy excited to perform on the global stage of the EMA and for my song to be nominated.
“We Are Here is a 21st century peace movement that believes if we all stand together and join our voices we can create a kinder world for everyone.”
Keys’ performance will take place in front of an audience at Glasgow’s O2 Academy and be beamed live into the SSE Hydro.
The O2 hosted Biffy Clyro and former Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash at a pre-show event on Friday.
Slash told organisers: “Scotland’s just beautiful, I love it here. I’ve got a lot of good memories playing this city.”
The awards have previously been hosted in London, Liverpool, Belfast and Edinburgh.
Tourism chiefs estimate the global exposure could be worth up to £10m (€12m) to the Scottish economy.
