MuchMusic Video Awards this Sunday in Toronto, Canada; Wikinews will be there

June 13, 2007 Wikinews will be attending The 2007 MuchMusic Video Awards this weekend, a popular annual event in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. True stars will be out to play, present, and else wise schmooze at the CHUM-City Building just above the city's Entertainment District in the Queen Street West neighbourhood.

MuchMusic is the most popular music channel in Canada, and has been holding the event since 1990. Roughly 6000 fans line the streets surrounding Much headquarters each year, and 1200 more score "the wristband" and enjoy a free festival-style show in the parking lot, watching four outdoor performance areas spread out in the downtown location. New this year is a special roof-top stage, on the top of the building.

Last year's show reached 3.5 million viewers in Canada and 100 million around the globe, with broadcasts in 65 countries.

Performing at the show will be Avril Lavigne, Fergie, Billy Talent, Hilary Duff, Alexisonfire, Maroon 5, Belly, The Used, and Finger Eleven.

On stage presenting will be Nickelback, Jay Manuel (Canada's Next Top Model, America's Next Top Model), Tara Reid (American Pie, this fall's Land of Canaan), Joss Stone, Sum 41, Amber Tamblyn (Joan of Arcadia, Grudge 2), Hedley, Chris Bosh (Toronto Raptors), Sean Avery (New York Rangers), George, Sam Roberts, Emilie de Ravin (LOST), Marianas Trench, and Kardinal Offishall.

Photographer Robin Wong will be photographing the red carpet of the MMVAs for Wikinews and Wikipedia. He first helped the sites in April of this year, photographing Hilary Duff at MuchMusic. Wong's extensive client list includes Fidelty Investments, Flare Magazine, Masterfile, First Light, Fashion Television, FCB Canada, Profit Magazine, Financial Post, and Publicis. His works have appeared in the 2004 and 2005 Applied Arts Awards Annual, the top publication for the creative industry.

Still open for voting


Among the awards up for grabs are four People's Choice categories, which are still open for text message (within Canada) or online ballots.

Nominated for "Favourite Canadian Artist" is Avril Lavigne, City and Colour, George, k-os, and Nelly Furtado. "Favourite Canadian Group" may go to Alexisonfire, Billy Talent, Hedley, Nickelback, and Three Days Grace. Akon, Fergie, Gwen Stefani, Hillary Duff, and Justin Timberlake will all be duking it out for "Favourite International Artist", while Evanescence, The Killers, My Chemical Romance, the Pussycat Dolls, and Red Hot Chili Peppers are all possibles in the "Favourite International Group" category.

Viewers can watch all the videos on MuchAXS, muchmusic.com's "viewer-controlled broadband community." From there, viewers can either vote online at muchmusic.com, or text "MMVA" to 299299 to vote on their phone (Canada only).

Both Billy Talent and Nickelback have five nominations a piece, leading the list, just ahead of Belly and k-os with 4 nods each.

FLICK OFF at Gift Lounge
The VIPs at the event will be treated to premium goodies at The 2007 MMVAs Gift Lounge. Mingling, sampling, and customizing their collection, they'll also have a pre-packaged gift bag.

Available to them are:
 * Balmshell Lipgloss Collection in a Balmshell Market Bag
 * Cosabella Lingerie
 * Evian Natural Spring Water
 * FLICK OFF gear
 * Fossil Canada Fashion Watches for Men and Women
 * Glamour Campaign Apparel for Women and Men
 * Guess? Inc. Best-selling Footwear for Men & Women
 * LOULOUMagazine
 * Luxottica Designer Sunglasses
 * Mavi Jeans "Perfect Fit" Jeans
 * MGA Entertainment BRATZ THE MOVIE Dolls
 * Nine West Rolling Luggage and Large Tote Bag
 * Nokia 5300 Xpress Music Phone and BH-800 Bluetooth Headset
 * Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system

MMVA attendees will be invited to FLICK OFF, as part of a Canadian advertising campaign intended to promote energy conservation by reducing electricity usage to young people (the 'L' and the 'I' together are perceived as a 'U' which has struck some criticism in the Canadian media). They will sign FLICK OFF apparel, which according to press materials "will be used at a later date to support this important cause."