Bringing the show to a climactic end, JAY-Z and Alicia Keys honored their hometown of New York as they gave a powerful performance of "Empire State of Mind."
As the official VMA house band, hip-hop's newest challenger Wale and the legendary go go band UCB hyped up the audience as they put their own unique spin on some of the biggest songs of the year, his own material and a few classic covers. They collaborated with a number of artists including Kid Cudi with "Day And Night," The All-American Rejects with "Gives You Hell," Pitbull with "You Know You Want Me" and 3OH!3 with "Don't Trust Me". Kid Cudi honored DJ AM during his performance of "Make Her Say."
The star studded show also included appearances by Megan Fox, Jimmy Fallon, Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, Jack Black, Andy Samberg, Kristin Cavallari, Pete Wentz, Gerard Butler, Diddy, Tracy Morgan, Adam Brody, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Alexa Chung, Gabe Saporta of Cobra Starship and Justin Bieber, Ne-Yo, Nelly Furtado, Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner, Chace Crawford, Leighton Meester, Miranda Cosgrove and Serena Williams.
The MTV audience was treated to exclusive first looks at fall's most anticipated films and soundtracks including Michael Jackson's THIS IS IT and The Twilight Saga: New Moon trailers during the show. Viewers were also given a sneak peek at the latest trailer from the upcoming movie Fame during MTV News' "2009 VMA Preshow."
2009 MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS WINNERS
GENERAL CATEGORIES:
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Beyonce
Title: Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)
Album: I AM. . .SASHA FIERCE
Director: Jake Nava
Label: Music World Music/Columbia
Production Company: Anonymous Content
Producer: John Winter
BEST NEW ARTIST
Lady Gaga
Title: Poker Face
Album: The Fame
Director: Ray Kay
Label: Streamline/KonLive/Cherrytree/Interscope
Production Company: Rockhard Films
Producer: Jil Hardin/ Nicole Ehrich
BEST MALE VIDEO
T.I. featuring Rihanna
Title: Live Your Life
Album: Paper Trail
Director: Anthony Mandler
Label: Atlantic Records
Production Company: Les Enfants Terribles
Producer: Gina Leonard
BEST FEMALE VIDEO
Taylor Swift
Title: You Belong With Me
Album: Fearless
Director: Roman White
Label: Big Machine Records
Production Company: Revolution Pictures
Producer: Randy Brewer
BEST HIP HOP VIDEO
Eminem
Title: We Made You
Album: Relapse
Director: Joseph Kahn
Label: Aftermath/Interscope
Production Company: HSI Productions
Producer: Mary Ann Tanedo
BEST POP VIDEO
Britney Spears
Title: Womanizer
Album: Circus
Director: Joseph Kahn
Label: Jive/Zomba Label Group
Production Company: HSI Productions
Producer: Mary Ann Tanedo
BEST ROCK VIDEO
Green Day
Title: 21 Guns
Album: 21st Century Breakdown
Director: Marc Webb
Label: Reprise Records
Production Company: DNA Inc
Producer: Michael Angelos
PROFESSIONAL CATEGORIES:
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
Beyonce
Title: Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)
Album: I AM. . .SASHA FIERCE
Director: Jake Nava
Label: Music World Music/Columbia
Production Company: Anonymous Content
Producer: John Winter
Choreographer: Jaquel Knight & Frank Gatson Jr.
BEST DIRECTION
Green Day
Title: 21 Guns
Album: 21st Century Breakdown
Director: Marc Webb
Label: Reprise Records
Production Company: DNA Inc
Producer: Michael Angelos
BEST EDITING
Beyonce
Title: Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)
Album: I AM. . .SASHA FIERCE
Director: Jake Nava
Label: Music World Music/Columbia
Production Company: Anonymous Content
Producer: John Winter
Editor: Jarrett Fijal
BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS
Lady Gaga
Title: Paparazzi
Album: The Fame
Director: Jonas Akerlund
Label: Streamline/KonLive/Cherrytree/Interscope
Production Company: Factory Films Ltd.
Producer: Steven Johnson/Nicole Ehrich
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Green Day
Title: 21 Guns
Album: 21st Century Breakdown
Director: Marc Webb
Label: Reprise Records
Production Company: DNA Inc
Producer: Michael Angelos
Cinematographer: Jonathan Sela
BEST ART DIRECTION
Lady Gaga
Title: Paparazzi
Album: The Fame
Director: Jonas Akerlund
Label: Streamline/KonLive/Cherrytree/Interscope
Production Company: Factory Features
Producer: Steven Johnson/Nicole Ehrich
Art Director: Jason Hamilton
ONLINE CATEGORIES:
BREAKTHROUGH VIDEO
Matt & Kim
Title: Lessons Learned
Album: Grand
Director: Taylor Cohen & Otto Arsenault
Label: Fader
Production Company: FVNMO
Producer: Taylor Cohen, Otto Arsenault
BEST VIDEO (THAT SHOULD HAVE WON A MOONMAN)
Beastie Boys
Title: Sabotage
Album: III Communication
Director: Spike Jonze
Label: Grand Royal/Capitol Records
Shugoll Research and Telescope are the Official Business Advisors of the "2009 MTV Video Music Awards" Nominee and Winner Voting periods.
Jesse Ignjatovic/Den of Thieves is the Executive Producer for the "2009 MTV Video Music Awards." Dave Sirulnick is Executive Producer. Garrett English is co-Executive Producer/Executive in Charge of Production. Amy Doyle is co-Executive Producer. Joanna Bomberg is Executive in Charge of Music and Talent. Jen Jones is Producer. Hamish Hamilton is Director. Robin Reinhardt-Locke is Celebrity Talent Executive.
Official sponsors of the "2009 MTV Video Music Awards" are 5 Gum, Febreze, Pepsi, Rhapsody , Sears, Taco Bell , U.S. Army and Verizon Wireless.
The "2009 MTV Video Music Awards" will be available to a potential viewing audience of more than 1.2 billion people via MTV's global network of 68 channels reaching 577 million households around the world as well as through syndication. In addition, its convergent programming & content will reach the entire interactive community, via MTV's more than 200 digital media properties around the world.