Who would have ever thought that the station that refused to play videos from Black artists in the early 80’s would now be hosting an Inaugural Ball for our nations first Black President:

MTV is throwing an inaugural ball for President-elect Barack Obama.

The network announced Tuesday that it will host the “Be the Change Inaugural Ball” at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington on Jan. 20. The event will be televised live across MTV’s many channels and platforms, including MTV and MTV.com.

The Viacom Inc.-owned network said the event will feature leading artists, celebrities and government officials. To celebrate the large youth voter turnout in the election, hundreds of young people will be chosen to attend based on their demonstrated volunteerism.

MTV’s announcement comes as a host of organizations are planning inaugural balls in Washington, where more than a million people are expected to be drawn to the nation’s capital for the occasion.

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Youssou N'dour

MTV launches its first-ever music award program for Africa on Saturday, with acts from across the world’s poorest continent nominated for prizes in the Nigerian capital.

Winners were being selected by fans sending text messages, said Alison Reid, a spokeswoman for MTV Networks Africa.

Africa has long featured a vibrant music scene, but artists have had difficulties breaking into overseas markets. Famous African artists include Senegal’s Youssou N’dour, Nigerian legend Fela Kuti and South African impresario Miriam Makeba, who died this month.

MTV hopes the awards can offer the artists more exposure and celebrate the continent’s artistry.

Nigerian R&B duo P-Square is competing in five categories including best group, best R&B act and the evening’s top award, artist of the year. Performers from South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Gabon and others are also nominated.

African music is highly varied, reflecting myriad tastes in the vast continent. Included across the many genres are call-and-response chanting and heavy drumming, drawing on pre-colonial modes of communication among villages.

Since independence movements swept the continent in the 1960s, African music has also increasingly been open to outside influence, incorporating salsa rhythms, rock beats and, increasingly, hip hop and R&B styles.

Many of the new Nigerian acts nominated Saturday feature heavy beats pioneered by American rappers and hip-hop artists. The lyrics often reflect the desire of many Nigerians to escape poverty and corrupt governance.

MTV’s regional music channel MTV Base now reaches almost 50 million African viewers in 48 countries through a network of pay-per-view services and partnerships with domestic channels.

Talented African artists have long been ignored by the mainstream. The time has finally come for the many talented artists from the continent to take center stage. The world is certainly changing.

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Guess everybody didn’t find the show amusing:

Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington has lashed out at the organisers of the MTV Video Music Awards for turning the prizegiving into an annual mess.

The rockers picked up a Best Rock Video gong for their Shadow of The Day promo - but the singer was far from happy about the overall event, which saw Britney Spears pick up three awards and comedian/host Russell Brand relentlessly poke fun at the Jonas Brothers.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly magazine, Bennington admits he was disappointed with the 7 September event.

He says, “Where were Foo Fighters and Nickelback? Or even a band like Three Days Grace, who had a pretty big year? There was no Vampire Weekend or Daughtry. It was very one-sided.”

And he accuses the show itself of “raising the bar of confusion and disarray,” adding, “The VMAs are consistently clusterf**ks, and this year set a new standard.

“You had people who were invited sitting out in the streets. Plus, everybody was texting, no one was watching the show. I got super bummed out.

“I think the VMAs have completely lost touch with a broad scope of music. It was very bubblegum and Disney, which is why bands like Foo Fighters and everybody else in my group weren’t there.”

Source: WENN

Everyone has been asking who the fruity guy was hosting the VMA’s last night. Well we can tell you that he is a comedian that is very big in the U.K. Their humor is different from hours. That overly metro-sexual type of swag and constant jokes borderline on being homosexual are very popular their but not here because Brand tanked last night and found himself on the receiving end of jabs from singer Jordin Sparks as well as MTV:

Host Russell Brand was forced to apologise for poking fun at the Jonas Brothers’ morals during Sunday night’s MTV Video Music Awards - after a public dressing down from singer Jordin Sparks.

The comedian mocked the pop sensations mercilessly for more than half the show for their no-sex-before-marriage promise and the purity rings they wear.

At one point, he even pretended he’d stolen a Jonas brothers’ virginity as he held a ring in his hand.

Sparks, who is among the teen stars putting purity before sex, admonished Brand for his remarks, stating, “It’s not bad to wear a promise ring because not everybody, guy or girl, wants to be a slut.”

Minutes later, a crestfallen Brand apologised, saying, “I’ve gotta say sorry because I said those things about promise rings; that was bad of me. I didn’t mean to take it lightly.”

Brand added, “I love Jonas Brothers, I think it’s (purity) really good. I don’t want to piss off teenage fans… Promise rings, I’m well up for it, well done everyone.”

But he couldn’t resist a final jab, adding, “It’s just, a bit of sex occasionally never hurt anybody.”

I thought that no one could be a worse host for an awards ceremony than Damon Wayans at the BET Awards but this guy proved me wrong.

Source: WENN