News

It's young emo upstarts versus pop and rock veterans at this year's MTV Video Music Awards, with newcomers Panic! at the Disco joining Madonna, Shakira and the Red Hot Chili Peppers among the most-nominated acts. Shakira and the Chilis lead the pack with seven nods apiece, followed by Madonna and Panic! with five each and Christina Aguilera with four.

The clips nominated for 2006 Video of the Year come from all five of the aforementioned artists: Madonna's "Hung Up," Panic's "I Write Sins Not Tragedies," the Chili Peppers' "Dani California," Aguilera's "Ain't No Other Man" and Shakira's "Hips Don't Lie." Other videos that received multiple nominations include AFI's "Miss Murder," Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy" and Nelly Furtado's "Promiscuous."

"It was kind of mind-blowing when we heard that the Red Hot Chili Peppers got a few and then Madonna got a few, and we were right there with them," Panic! frontman Brendon Urie told MTV News. "It's crazy to see us up there." Panic! at the Disco was "discovered" less than two years ago by Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz and has only one album to its credit, last year's A Fever You Can't Sweat Out.

In addition to the raft of nominations, Panic! will have the honor of performing at the VMAs on August 31st, alongside other acts like Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, T.I., Ludacris and The Killers. The awards will be broadcast live from New York's Radio City Music Hall.

--The ARTISTdirect Staff
08.01.06