The MTV Europe Music Awards, although voted for by European music fans, are often dominated by American artists. However, it is two British groups which dominate the nomination lists for this year's awards, and hurrah to that, even if one of them is Coldplay.
Yep, Coldplay and Gorillaz, both signed to EMI's Parlophone label (well done them), are up for five awards each. Coldplay are nominated for Best Group, Best Rock Act, Best Song for 'Speed Of Sound', Best Album for 'X&Y' and Best UK And Ireland Act. Gorillaz compete with their label mates in the Best Group, Best Song and Best UK & Ireland Act categories, and are also up for Best Video for 'Feel Good Inc' as well as Best Pop Act.
Gwen Stefani is the best performing US artist in the nominations list, up for four awards, while 50 Cent and Green Day each have three nominations. Another UK artist well represented is James Blunt, who also has three nominations, as do Ireland's U2.
Elsewhere in the nominations is the shortlist for a new category added to the proceedings designed to celebrate the best artist from that well known European country, Africa. Up for that are 2 Face, Kaysha, Kleptomaniax, 02 and Zamajobe.
The MTV Europe Awards take place in Lisbon in November and will be hosted by British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen as his Kazakhstani alter ego Borat Sagdiyev, which should be interesting in a xenophobic kind of way. Robbie Williams, Coldplay, Foo Fighters, Green Day and the Black Eyed Peas are all scheduled to perform.