Kelly Clarkson (file)
Photo: RCA

Landing in stores this week is the second album from "American Idol" winner Kelly Clarkson.

For Breakaway, the follow-up to her 2003 debut, Thankful, Clarkson enlisted songwriting help from Avril Lavigne (who co-wrote the album's title track), ex-Evanescence guitarist Ben Moody and David Hodges, who also worked with Evanescence (see "Kelly Clarkson: Just Listen").

In other unusual-collaboration news, the Jay-Z/ Linkin Park mash-up album Collision Course hits stores this week. It includes tracks that layer Jay's "Dirt Off Your Shoulder" over Linkin Park's "Lying From You," and mixes the rapper's "99 Problems" with the rockers' "Points of Authority" and "One Step Closer." A DVD featuring a live performance is included with the CD (see "Jay-Z And Linkin Park Show Danger Mouse How It's Done").

From rap and rock to straight-up rap, Nas releases Street's Disciple, his follow-up to 2002's grandiosely titled God's Son. The double-disc set may have a slightly less epic name, but the track titles, including "A Message to the Feds, Sincerely, We the People," "Nazareth Savage" and "Me & You (Dedicated to Destiny)" prove the rapper has yet to tone down his attitude ("Nas: A Fire Inside").

Atlanta's T.I. had to narrow down a list of approximately 70 potential tracks for his third album, Urban Legend. The disc follows 2003's Trap Muzik.

Out Tuesday, November 30:

• Afroman - Jobe Bells (Hungry Hustler)
• Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway (RCA)
  Read: "Kelly Clarkson: Just Listen"
  Buy Now: Breakaway (RCA)
• Dirty Vegas - One (Capitol)
• Drovers - Dreamland (Fundamental)
• The Exies - Head for the Door (Virgin)
• Josh Groban - Live at the Greek (Warner Bros.)
• Gerald Levert - Do I Speak for the World? (Atlantic)
• Jay-Z & Linkin Park - MTV Ultimate Mash-Ups Presents: Collision Course (Roc-A-Fella/Warner Bros.)
  Read: "Jay-Z And Linkin Park Show Danger Mouse How It's Done"
  Buy Now: MTV Ultimate Mash-Ups Presents: Collision Course (Roc-A-Fella/Warner Bros.)
• Wynton Marsalis - Unforgivable Blackness (Blue Note)
• Modern Day Zero - Coming Up for Air (Bullet 339)
• Nas - Street's Disciple (Sony)
  Read: "Lindsay Lohan Inks Record Deal"
  Buy Now: Speak (Casablanca)
• Ludacris - Red Light District (Def Jam)
  Read: "Ludacris LP Salutes Austin Powers, Takes Aim At Bill O'Reilly"
  Buy Now: Red Light District (Def Jam)
• Cam'ron - Purple Haze (Roc-A-Fella)
• Diana DeGarmo - Diana DeGarmo (RCA)
  Buy Now: Diana DeGarmo (RCA)

December 14:

• Ashanti - Concrete Rose (Def Jam)
  Buy Now: Concrete Rose (Def Jam)
• Tupac Shakur - Loyal to the Game (Interscope)
  Read: "Eminem Signs On For Another 'New' Tupac Album"

• Kelly Clarkson
• Nas
• Jay-Z
• Linkin Park
• T.I.

Justin Timberlake
Photo: MTV News

MIAMI — Security was tight and artists pleaded for peace, but the mood remained light at Wednesday night's American Dance Music Awards despite U.S. strikes on Iraq the same night.

P. Diddy's preview of his new dance record was the highlight of the second annual event, held literally on the beach, with the stage facing the ocean and its back turned to the noisy Ocean Drive.

The whole show felt like a build-up to P. Diddy's performance. When he finally hit the stage, he appeared from behind a smoke curtain, clad in white pants and shirt, blue-and-white jacket and a Yankees cap, to whisper the lyrics of the single "Let's Get Ill" over bouncy bass. Once the beat got people dancing, Diddy introduced singer Kelis, who took good care of the song's line "I'll be your fantasy."

The track is the first single off Diddy's upcoming dance album (see "Smothered Pork Chops And Couture Weren't Enough: Diddy Now Making Fruity Drinks"). Inspired by a recent trip to Ibiza, P. Diddy teamed up with such hot producers as the Iranian-American duo Deep Dish, Chicago's Felix Da Housecat and British deity Nellee Hooper (Soul II Soul, Massive Attack, Björk, Madonna).

"Let's get up and get ill/ Your dreams will be fulfilled," P. Diddy rhymed to the 3,000 people who had waited on line for more than an hour in order to allow staff members to search them as part of extra security measures in light of the U.S. bombing of Iraq (see "Bush Addresses Nation, Confirms Attack On Iraq Has Begun").

That "other" reality floated around the huge orange moon that dominated the scene at Lummus Park. Quick war chats passed here and there before the show started. The general mood of Miami's annual Winter Music Conference week, however, seems to be way beyond war worries. Still, some of the awards-show presenters addressed the issue.

"We have to pray for peace," P. Diddy said before handing the award for Record of the Year to the U.K. dance trio Dirty Vegas for their song "Days Go By." Steve Smith, Paul Harris and Ben Harris were the big winners of the night, with three awards for the song that, as a voiceover informed the crowd as the group walked onstage for the third time, was recorded in only one day. Dirty Vegas also won Best Video and Best Song in a Commercial for the Mitsubishi ad that used the hit single. Dirty Vegas' live rendition of "Days Go By" at the ADMA included Parliament/ Funkadelic's Bootsy Collins on bass.

Before Dirty Vegas got onstage, Washington, D.C.'s epic house producer BT (a.k.a. Brian Transeau) used his spot as presenter to ask people to take a minute and think about what's going on right now, and suggested that the audience go to peace rallies. "This still is a democracy!" he said.

As for the rest of the speakers, including the celebrity host and hostesses — actresses Juliette Lewis and Roselyn Sanchez, and Grammy winner DJ Roger Sanchez, who also hosted last year's Dance Awards show — there wasn't much else to say about the war.

To Paul Oakenfold, who closed the ceremony with the bombastic single "Ready, Steady, Go," it was more important to dedicate his Best Dance Album award for Bunkka to New York house pioneer Frankie Knuckles, "who is ill in Chicago." DJ/producer David Morales, who was part of the Def Mix team with Knuckles in the '90s, also mentioned him. Morales and executive producer Judith Weinstein got the Outstanding Contribution award also shared by Knuckles, and wished him a "speedy recovery."

Justin Timberlake was selected by online voters (who cast their votes at www.dancestar.com) as Best Chart Act, beating out J. Lo, Madonna, Mariah Carey and Angie Stone. Timberlake was not in town to pick up the award, and neither was Kylie Minogue, whose "Come Into My World" remix, done by New York's Fischerspooner, got the Best Remix award.

Following the ceremony, the DanceStar USA after-show party commenced at Opium Garden, an open-air club with four stages. "The Garden" hosted a tribute to Def Mix's 15th anniversary with David Morales and Satoshi Tomiie. "The Imperial Room" had Madonna's mentor Jellybean Benitez on top of the list. "Opium" featured Saeed & Palash, Robbie Rivera and DJ Colette, the 2003 ADMA Breakthrough DJ. And "Prive," Opium Garden's VIP section, presented an exclusive set by the night's golden boys, Dirty Vegas.

DanceStar 2003 - American Dance Music Awards winners list:

• Best Chart Act: Justin Timberlake
• Best Video: "Days Go By," Dirty Vegas
• Record of the Year: "Days Go By," Dirty Vegas
• Best Remix: Fischerspooner, for Kylie Minogue's "Come Into My World"
• Best New Artist: Metro Area
• Best Song in a Commercial: Dirty Vegas' "Days Go By" for Mitsubishi
• Best Club Night: Danny Tenaglia's Be Yourself (Fridays at the Arc, New York)
• Best International DJ: Tiesto
• Best International Act: DJ Sammy
• Best Dance Album: Paul Oakenfold's Bunkka
• Best Record Label: Ultra
• Breakthrough DJ: DJ Colette
• Best Club Venue: Club Space, Miami
• Best Act: Moby
• Best Event: Delta Heavy

• Justin Timberlake
• *NSYNC
• Dirty Vegas
• Diddy

Norah Jones accepts her Best Pop Vocal Grammy
Photo: Wire Image

Norah Jones is the Grammys' undisputed golden girl, generating eight wins, including a sweep of the four most coveted awards.

Jones' Come Away With Me won Best Album, Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical, while her "Don't Know Why" won Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. (Click here for a list of winners.) Jones also took the Best New Artist trophy over Avril Lavigne, Ashanti, Michelle Branch and John Mayer.

"I love you so much," Jones told her band in accepting her Best New Artist trophy. "You're the reason I do this."

Come Away With Me also won the Producer of the Year, Non-Classical award for Arif Mardin.

Bruce Springsteen and the Dixie Chicks followed Jones with three wins apiece. The Boss' The Rising won Best Rock Album, and the title track nabbed Best Rock Song and Best Male Rock Vocal Performance, while the Dixie Chicks won Best Country Album for Home, Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal for "Long Time Gone" and Best Country Instrumental Performance for "Lil' Jack Slade."

Eminem lost in the Album of the Year category for the second time, but The Eminem Show won Best Rap Album and "Without Me" won Best Short Form Music Video.

Other multiple winners included Coldplay, India.Arie and Nelly, who won Best Male Rap Solo Performance with "Hot in Herre" and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration with his Kelly Rowland duet, "Dilemma." Coldplay, who performed "Politik" with the New York Philharmonic, won Best Alternative Music Album for A Rush of Blood to the Head and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal for "In My Place," while Indie.Arie won Best R&B Album for Voyage to India and Best Urban/Alternative Performance for "Little Things."

No Doubt won the first award of the ceremony, Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal for "Hey Baby," just minutes after performing a medley of "Underneath It All" and "Hella Good." The show opened with a reunion by Simon and Garfunkel, who sang "The Sound of Silence."

After crooning "Your Body Is a Wonderland" in between performances by Vanessa Carlton and James Taylor, a casually dressed John Mayer won Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for the song, beating out Taylor and other veterans Elton John and Sting.

The Foo Fighters, whose Dave Grohl presented with Lou Reed earlier in the night, won the Best Hard Rock Performance for "All My Life."

In other notable categories, Santana and Michelle Branch's "The Game of Love" won Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals, Sheryl Crow's "Steve McQueen" won Best Female Rock Vocal Performance, Korn's "Here to Stay" won Best Metal Performance, and Dirty Vegas' "Days Go By" won Best Dance Recording.

In the other rap contests, Missy Elliott's "Scream a.k.a. Itchin'" won Best Female Rap Solo Performance, and Outkast's "The Whole World" won Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.

In R&B, Ashanti's self-titled debut won Best Contemporary R&B Album, Mary J. Blige garnered Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for "He Think I Don't Know," and Usher won Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for "U Don't Have to Call." The Best R&B Song went to Erykah Badu for "Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop)."

This year's 45th annual ceremony, at Madison Square Garden, marked the Grammys' return to New York after four years in Los Angeles.

For more Grammy news, check out the .

• Norah Jones
• Bruce Springsteen
• Eminem
• Nelly
• Kelly Rowland

Although the Smashing Pumpkins packed it in a few years ago, that was far from frontman Billy Corgan's swan song. It did, however, make way for his Zwan songs. With the help of fellow rockers Dave Pajo (Slint, Tortoise), Matt Sweeney (Chavez, Skunk), Paz Lenchantin (A Perfect Circle) and Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlain, Mary Star of the Sea was born. (Check out Zwan's music at MTV.com First Listen.)

You'll be more mixed up than Kay Slay after the rest of this week's new releases shout-outs. The batch features one compilation after the next, starting with Erasure's '80s-infused interpretation of Other People's Songs. Can you say "Can't Help Falling in Love" by Elvis Presley, "Everyday" by Buddy Holly, and "Video Killed the Radio Star" by the Buggles? Andy Bell can.

Next up is Lou Reed's dark mixed set, The Raven, which was inspired by the writings of horror master Edgar Allen Poe. David Bowie and Steve Buscemi are among the stars who contribute their voices to the album, which is filled with a seamless blending of Poe's poems and stories with Reed's, and also includes a new version of "Perfect Day."

Dirty Vegas' Night at the Tables features the group's own music, plus songs by the likes of dance and trance well-knowns Frankie Knuckles, Kylie Minogue and Underworld, while N.V.A. Straight From the Crates Vol. 1 houses new tracks by Mos Def, Black Moon, the Pharcyde and Jurassic 5. Finally, Papa Roach and N.E.R.D. team up for the "Biker Boyz" soundtrack, which also includes cuts from Jadakiss featuring Ron Isley, Redman featuring E3, and Metallica, Ja Rule and Swizz Beatz.

Now let's get the rest of these albums in the mix.

Out Tuesday, January 28:

• 4 Way Street - 4 Way Street (Sliced Bread)
• A Static Lullaby - Don't Forget to Breathe (Ferret)
• Acousticsol - Acousticsol (Pure and Simple)
• Apocalypse Theater - Lost in America (Underground Inc)
• Backdraft - Here to Save You All (Abstract)
• A Band of Bees - Sunshine Hit Me (Wall of Sound/Astralwerks)
• Blackstreet - No Diggity: The Very Best of Blackstreet (Interscope)
• Boils - Ripping Waters (EP, Thorp)
• Brainstorm - Funky Entertainment (Capitol)
• Butthole Surfers - Butthole Surfers/Live Pcppep (Latino Bugger Veil)
• Claude Challe - Near Eastern Lounge from the R.E.G. Project (Virgin)
• Steven Curtis Chapman - All About Love (EMD)
• Richard Clayderman & Rahul Sharma - The Confluence (Narada)
• Click - Gently Unraveling (Fowl)
• Colorform - Send Forth Your Soul (Synchronic)
• Contempt - Secret Around Us (World War III)
• Ry Cooder & Manuel Galban - Mambo Sinuendo (Nonesuch/Perro Verde)
• Chris Cutler - Solo (ReR)
• Stefano Di Battista - Round About Roma (Blue Note)
• Kasse-Mady Diabate - Kassi Kasse: Music From the Heart (Narada World)
• Dirty Vegas - Night at the Tables (Ultra)
  Buy Now: Night at the Tables (Ultra)
• Dogwood - Seismic (Tooth & Nail)
• Erasure - Other People's Songs (Mute)
• Eternal Gray - Kindless (The End)
• Stephen Fearing - That's How I Walk (Shawn Colvin guests) (Philo/Rounder)
• Furthermore - She and I (Tooth & Nail)
• G-Wiz - Just Like You (Orpheus)
• Grave - Back From the Grave (Century Music)
• Benny Green and Russell Malone - Jazz at the Bistro (Telarc Jazz)
• Fred Hersch - Live at the Village Vanguard (Palmetto)
• Randy Howard - I Rest My Case (Sugar Hill)
• Human League - Dare/Love & Dancing (Caroline)
• Human League - Reproduction (Caroline)
• Human League - Travelogue (Caroline)
• K-OS - Exit (Astralwerks)
• Kid Brother Collective - Highway Miles (One Day Savior)
• Kill Pill - Outside These City Walls (Uprising)
• Sonny Landreth - The Road We're On (Sugar Hill)
• Adrian Legg - Guitar Bones (Favored Nations Acoustic)
• Loose Fur - Loose Fur (Drag City)
• Jesse Malin - The Fine Art of Self-Destruction (Artemis)
• Midtown, Recover, and Blue Medic - New Old Rare (Fueled by Ramen)
• The Monkees - Live Summer Tour (King Biscuit)
• Mul-Ty - Made 4 Love (Universal)
• David Murray Latin Big Band - Now Is Another Time (Justin Time)
• Mutiny UK - In the Now (System)
• Bob Neuwirth - Bob Neuwirth (Water)
• Aaron Neville - Believe (EMI Gospel)
• Nightingale - Alive Again (The End)
• Nightmares on Wax - Carboot Soul (Warp)
• Oingo Boingo - Boi-ngo (MCA)
• Old Friends Quartet - Feelin' Fine (EMD)
• Original Fierce - Fierce Factor (American)
• Pigface - Easy Listening (Underground Inc)
• Poww Brothers - Faithful (Orpheus)
• Pressure - Anthem (EP, Uprising)
• Pretty Girls Make Graves - Pretty Girls Make Graves (EP, Dim Mak)
• Project Rocket - New Years Revolution (Uprising)
• Flora Purim - Speak No Evil (Narada Jazz)
• Raunchy - Velvet Noise (Nuclear Blast)
• Lou Reed - The Raven (Sire/Reprise)
  Read: "Lou Reed's Obsession With Edgar Allan Poe Spawns The Raven"
• Rock Kills Kids - Rock Kills Kids (Fearless)
• Rondellus - Sabbatum (medieval tribute to Black Sabbath, The Music Cartel)
• Scene Creamers - I Suck on That Emotion (Drag City)
• ScoLoHoFo - Oh! (Blue Note)
• Mark Selby - Dirt (Vanguard)
• Virgil Shaw - Still Falling (Future Farmer)
• The Snowdogs - Deep Cuts, Fast Remedies (Victory)
• Somehow Hollow - Busted Wings and Rusted Halos (Victory)
• Souls of Mischief - Spark (Chocolate Industries)
• Stakker - Eurotechno (Rephlex)
• Steel Train - For You My Dear (EP, MCA)
• Storm - Unpredictable Amalgamation (Orpheus)
• Summer at Shatter Creek - Summer at Shatter Creek (Absolutely Kosher)
• Sweet Honey in the Rock - The Women Gather (EarthBeat!)
• Swimmingpool - Anything That Doesn't Move (Combination)
• Teena Marie - Irons in the Fire (MCA)
• Danny Tenaglia - Choice (Ultra)
• Underwater - Bleed Me Blue (Tribunal)
• Cheryl Wheeler - Different Stripe (Philo/Rounder)
• Zwan - Mary Star of the Sea (Reprise)
  Read: "Billy Corgan In Search Of Personal 'Jesus' On Zwan Debut"
  Buy Now: Mary Star of the Sea (Reprise)
• Various artists - Absolute Body and Soul (Time Life)
• Various artists - Astro Bar (Water Music)
• Various artists - Back to the Future 80s (Topaz)
• Various artists - Bare Essentials, Vol. 2 (Naked/Astralwerks)
• Various artists – "Biker Boyz" soundtrack (DreamWorks)
  Read: "Papa Roach, Neptunes Team Up For 'Biker Boyz' Soundtrack"
• Various artists - Bodega Lounge (Ark 21)
• Various artists - Electricity - An Electropop Sampler Volume Two (Ninthwave)
• Various artists – "The Guru" soundtrack (Universal)
• Various artists - High Times Presents: Rip This Joint (Uni/Win)
• Various artists - Hit the Breaks (Radikal)
• Various artists – "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" soundtrack (Virgin)
• Various artists - "Les Miserables" highlights (Decca)
• Various artists - Mixdown (ForeFront)
• Various artists - More Music from "Coyote Ugly" (Curb)
• Various artists – "Movern Callar" soundtrack (Warp)
• Various artists – N.V.A: Straight from the Crates Vol. 1 (Avatar)
• Various artists – "Pulse: A Stomp Odyssey" soundtrack (Six Degrees)
• Various artists - Pure 80s Love: The #1 Hits (Universal)
• Various artists – "The Recruit" soundtrack (Varese Sarabande)
• Various artists - Sourcelabs (Source)
• Various artists – "Two Weeks Notice" soundtrack (Varese Sarabande)
• DVD D.I.Y. or Die: How to Survive as an Independent Artist (Music Video Distributors)
• DVD Manu Chao - Babylonia en Guagua (Virgin)
• DVD Natalie Cole - Ask a Woman Who Knows (Hip-O)
• DVD Midge Ure - Rewind: The Greatest Hits Tour (Eagle Eye/Pioneer)

February 4:

• Jars of Clay - Furthermore: From the Studio to the Stage (BMG)
• Pet Shop Boys - Disco 3 (EP, Sanctuary)
• Various artists - "Daredevil" soundtrack (Wind-Up)

• Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Nocturama (Epitaph)
• Massive Attack - 100th Window (Virgin)
• John Mayer - Any Given Thursday (Sony)
• Various artists - We're a Happy Family: A Tribute to the Ramones (Sony)

• R. Kelly - Chocolate Factory (Jive)

• Third Eye Blind - Crystal Baller (Elektra)

• Zwan
• Lou Reed
• Dirty Vegas
• Blackstreet
• Erasure

Avril Lavigne, John Mayer, and Nelly announce 2003 Grammy nominations
Photo: MTV News

When nominations for the 45th annual Grammy Awards were announced Tuesday morning, reactions ranged from sincere congratulations to "What were they thinking?" (Click here for the list of nominees.)

Few readers writing to MTVNews.com's You Tell Us forum had sour sentiments about demure Norah Jones, the jazz-influenced singer/pianist who's got a chance to sweep the four biggest categories — Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Album of the Year and Best New Artist (see "Eminem, Avril Lavigne, Nelly, Norah Jones Nab Most Grammy Noms"). Jones is also among the eight artists who garnered five nominations. (Click for photos of this year's Grammy nominees.)

"I'm sooo happy for [Norah Jones]," wrote 18-year-old Lexi, from Seattle. "I know many people haven't heard her music, but those who have know how great it is. Big ups to the critics for giving this girl the credit she deserves."

Jones' Come Away With Me faces stiff competition from The Rising, Bruce Springsteen's return to form, and, to a lesser extent, The Eminem Show. Although the mainstream seems to have embraced the volatile rapper, with hardly a protest over his third major-label album or his fictionalized biopic "8 Mile," the Grammys might not be ready to bestow such a prestigious honor to a man who had a hit with a song that talks about killing the mother of his child and stuffing her in a trunk.

Then again, Eminem already has five golden gramophones in his trophy case (though none in the big four categories), and the Recording Academy did grant an Album of the Year Grammy to Steely Dan in 2001, for Two Against Nature, which featured the song "Cousin Dupree," about incest. But old guards like Donald Fagen and Walter Becker have always had Grammy odds in their favor, which is why Springsteen stands such a good shot. And even if The Eminem Show doesn't win for Album of the Year and "Without Me" doesn't lay claim to Record of the Year, Eminem is likely to make good on at least one of his other three nominations.

While Jones stands as the artist with the smallest presence at radio compared with fellow new-artist nominees R&B songbird Ashanti, singer/songwriter Michelle Branch, sensitive guy John Mayer and pop-rocker Avril Lavigne, most of you think the latter stands as her fiercest competition.

"I think Avril Lavigne definitely deserves Best New Artist," wrote 14-year-old Ashley of Thief River Falls, Minnesota. "She's worked so hard and accomplished so much this year."

"There is no doubt that Avril Lavigne should win Best New Artist," echoed 14-year-old Danielle, from Somerset, New Jersey. "She writes her own music, had three top 40 songs in 2002, sold over 4 million copies of her debut, Let Go, and hates Britney Spears. What more could you want in a Best New Artist?"

While statistics may garner gold records, they don't necessarily translate to a Grammy. Awards are (theoretically) doled out to those who demonstrate genuine artistry in their work. And that's Avril Lavigne, isn't it?

"Avril has no business being nominated for as much as she was," disagreed 19-year-old Andrea. "As far as music and creativity go, Britney is more creative — and you know that's a stretch, especially since Britney is nothing but manufactured bubble gum. Avril may have had something going with her and her ties but let's face it, MTV, that's all she has had."

After yesterday's announcement of the nominations, Lavigne has a lot more attached to her, namely a monumental mistake when she mispronounced David Bowie's last name. When reading the list of artists up for the Best Male Rock Vocal Performance, she mispronounced Bowie as "bow-wie" (rhymes with oh, wowee!). An unnerving hush immediately enveloped Madison Square Garden.

"Am I the only person who realizes what a poser Avril Lavigne is?" queried 22-year-old Kim, from Denver. "First of all, she botched the pronunciation of David Bowie, one of the most influential musicians of our time. ... Does Avril know anything about music? ... My point is, although everyone seems to be touting Avril Lavigne as some new prodigy, the fact is that she is not a true musician or artist and is just as fake and untalented as Britney Spears."

And here we thought Avril was the anti-Britney.

While Mayer's the only guy among the gals in the Best New Artist pack, his fans warn not to count him out just because he's outnumbered.

"John Mayer deserves to win the Grammy for Best New Artist," declared 18-year-old Tiffany Johnson, from Austin, Texas. "He is just on a different level from the rest of the nominees. The guy is brilliant."

Nelly, who's up for Album of the Year, Best Male Rap Solo Performance and Best Rap Album honors, among others, is feeling the brunt of haters. For the nearly 5 million copies of Nellyville sold, the St. Louis rapper seems to have just as many, if not more, detractors.

"I want to know what the Grammy folks see in Nelly," demanded 19-year-old Jason Curtis of Seattle. "Everyone is hypnotized by his so-called 'skills,' which are by no means good. As far as I'm concerned, Nelly doesn't deserve a Grammy."

It wasn't all trash talk directed at the St. Louis rapper, however. Many have their fingers crossed that the Band-Aid bearing MC will leave with even more gold than he came in with.

"I'm really anticipating seeing Nelly take home the Grammy for best album," wrote 14-year-old Linzi, from Sandusky, Michigan. "I mean, his music is totally hot, and I'm pretty sure that I don't know anyone who isn't into Nelly."

Linzi, meet 21-year-old James, from New Haven, Connecticut.

"It is clear once again that the awards honor what is popular, not what is good," James began. "Nelly has sunk so far down in the talent pool that he's left rapping about sneakers and some sort of heat wave that has apparently swept Nellyville. Talk about meaningless music. Seriously, if it's that hot in 'herre,' then drink a glass of water. Don't make a freakin' song about it."

Fellow hip-hopper Petey Pablo, up for Best Rap Album with Diary of a Sinner: 1st Entry, faced some harsh reactions, with fellow nominee Mystikal also catching some heat.

"I am very upset to see that Pete Pablo has been nominated for Best Rap Album," expressed 25-year-old Curtis, from Tallahassee, Florida. "Also, Mystikal's Tarantula album was very disappointing. How come someone like Trick Daddy or Cee-Lo never gets nominated? He is pure trash, and I understand why people like Jay-Z protest the Grammys. If we want to make it mainstream for all these old white people, let's nominate Will Smith. Even though his album sold probably 200 copies, he does not curse."

Such outrage over those who were nominated couldn't rival the furor over those who were left out: uber-producers the Neptunes and anyone from the neo-garage school, such as the Hives, the Vines, the Strokes or the White Stripes.

"How did Dr. Dre get nominated in the Producer of the Year category, while the Neptunes were ignored?" wondered Venni, 18, from Blacksburg, Virginia. "Dre didn't do anything in 2002. Every single song on the radio was produced by the Neptunes."

OK, Venni may be exaggerating a bit, though Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo are responsible for Justin Timberlake's "Like I Love You," Nelly's "Hot in Herre" and Mystikal's "Bouncin' Back (Bumpin' Me Against the Wall)," all of which are Grammy-nominated.

"I'm surprised the new 'the' bands didn't get major nods," typed an aghast CJ, 18, from Newmarket, New Hampshire. "I'm sad that the White Stripes were shafted, when overrated Avril Lavigne gets all the credit. Well, the Grammys are pretty lame either way."

If the nominations aroused such fervent feelings in these folks, they'd better be prepared for the shock of February 23. While some surprises can be expected with the nods, utter jaw-droppers like the over-the-hill Jethro Tull winning for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance in 1988 are unmatched.

Stay tuned and stay calm.

For a look back at previous big Grammy winners, red carpet photos and much more, visit our Grammy News Archive.

• Eminem
• Norah Jones
• Nelly
• Dixie Chicks
• Bruce Springsteen

Nelly
Photo: Universal

With eight artists grabbing five nominations each, this year's Grammy Awards looks to be one of the most competitive in the ceremony's 45 years. (Click here for the list of nominees and for photos of this year's Grammy nominees and performers.)

Three relative newcomers, Ashanti, Norah Jones and Avril Lavigne, join Sheryl Crow, Eminem, Nelly, Raphael Saadiq and Bruce Springsteen as the artists with the greatest chances of leaving New York's Madison Square Garden on February 23 with the most golden gramophones in their arms.

All eyes will be on Norah Jones, who stands to reign supreme on Grammy night with four of her five nominations arriving in the big four categories: Best New Artist; Album of the Year, for Come Away With Me; and Song of the Year (given to the songwriter Jesse Harris) and Record of the Year for "Don't Know Why." Jones and her full-length debut album also received nods in the categories Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, Best Pop Vocal Album, and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical, while the LP's producer, Arif Mardin, scored one in the Producer of the Year, Non-Classical category to give the Norah Jones camp a whopping eight nominations combined.

Eminem, Nelly, Springsteen and Lavigne received two nods apiece for the big awards. Em's "Without Me" is up for Record of the Year, along with Nelly's "Dilemma" (which features Kelly Rowland), Nickelback's "How You Remind Me" and Vanessa Carlton's "A Thousand Miles." The Eminem Show will vie for Album of the Year honors against Come Away With Me, the Dixie Chicks' Home, Nelly's Nellyville and Bruce Springsteen's The Rising.

Springsteen was also nominated in the Song of the Year category for "The Rising." The Boss' tune, which resonated with many after the events of September 11, 2001, will face off against another song inspired by the tragedy, Alan Jackson's "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)."

The Best New Artist category finds John Mayer the sole male amidst a quartet of ladies, Ashanti, Michelle Branch, Jones and Lavigne, whose single "Complicated" is also up for Song of the Year. (Last year, Alicia Keys walked off with the prestigious honor. Who do you think should win Grammy's equivalent to Rookie of the Year? Take our poll.)

"Chauvinists unite!" Mayer joked at Madison Square Garden, in a half-hearted attempt to strum up support for his cause. "I'm just going to go to sports bars and lobby.

"It's cool," he continued sincerely. "I look at the list and say, 'It makes sense to me.' "

While Ashanti is likely to have her fingers crossed for the big Best New Artist win, she'll be doubly excited when the Best Rap/Sung Collaboration category is awarded. Besides receiving a nod for assisting Fat Joe with "What's Luv?" the songbird with the second-best-selling debut album of 2002 has increased her chances of winning with "Always on Time," her collaboration with Ja Rule. Ashanti likes both songs, but she looks to the phrase "blood is thicker than water" when deciding whom to root for.

"I don't necessarily have a preference, but it I had to choose, it would have to be my brother Ja," she said. "That's my family, Murder, Inc. Records."

Nominations for the 45th annual Grammy Awards were announced Tuesday (January 7) at a press conference held in Madison Square Garden. Among the artists on hand to read the roster of those hopeful for Grammy gold were Ashanti, country singer Kenny Chesney, '80s faceplate Cyndi Lauper, Avril Lavigne, John Mayer, Justin Timberlake, Nelly and producer Jimmy Jam, who filled in for a previously scheduled but absent Sean "P. Diddy" Combs.

The artists each took the podium in turn to announce the contestants for two of the categories, which made for some interesting pronunciations. Ashanti (pronounced a-shan-tee) became the faux-fabulous sounding "A-shan-tay" whenever most on hand mentioned her name; and Lavigne, in announcing the nominees for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance botched David Bowie's name, pronouncing it 'Bow-wee" (as in the dog sound "bow-wow"). The flub is not likely to go unnoticed among Lavigne's critics, and it just might go down in pop-star infamy, the way Britney Spears' remark that suggested Pat Benatar sang "I Love Rock 'N Roll," a song Joan Jett made famous, did in a fall 2001 interview.

Four nominations fell on the Dixie Chicks, Alan Jackson, R&B singer Remy Shand and Chad Kroeger, who scored one with his band Nickelback, and three others for his song "Hero," penned for the soundtrack to "Spider-Man."

Besides two in the big four, Vanessa Carlton's other nomination came in the Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s). While most categories in the Composing/Arranging field are often overlooked in favor of more artist-specific ones, the 21-year-old pianist doesn't consider her third nod to be any less important. In fact, considering that she's the only nominee who's also an artist in that category, she said she's perhaps most proud of that honor because it shows her as the well-rounded artist she is.

"I am most excited for that nomination because it is recognizing the process, something other than the vocal and the song itself," she explained. "It kind of acknowledges how the puzzle fits together. I think [Be Not Nobody] is a beautiful record and I'm really proud to know that people recognized that. I was totally surprised, though. I really was."

India.Arie, Erykah Badu, Johnny Cash, Elvis Costello, Dr. Dre, Randy Newman, Arif Mardin and No Doubt also nabbed three nominations each.

Touting over 100 categories, the Grammys is the most comprehensive music awards show, but even with classifications such as Best Polka Album (for which Jimmy Sturr's Top of the World looks to be the odds-on favorite) and Best Remixed Record, Non-Classical, there just aren't enough designations for some folks.

"Actually, one they didn't mention was best haircut-changing-style every year,' a near-bald Timberlake kidded. "I'm hoping I get the Victrola for that."

Maybe next year, Justin. In the meantime, the 'NSYNC star must be content with just one nomination, for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, for the Clipse-featured "Like I Love You," the first single from his solo debut, Justified.

Super production duo the Neptunes were puzzlingly absent from the Producer of the Year category, which instead found Dr. Dre, Nellee Hooper, Arif Mardin, Rick Rubin, and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis attempting to stake their claim to the title. After producing a number of Grammy-nominated tracks, including Timberlake's "Like I Love You," Nelly's "Hot in Herre" and Mystikal's "Bouncin' Back (Bumpin' Me Against the Wall)," it's a mystery why Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams didn't receive any love from the Recording Academy.

"For the second year in a row, can you imagine that?" Williams said of his Grammy dis. "All the work we've done? For whatever reason, nobody thought to put us on the ballot."

The 45th annual ceremony marks the Grammys' return to New York, after Los Angeles hosted the previous four events. The show will be broadcast live on CBS at 8 p.m. (ET/PT). Before the show, catch MTV's pre-show telecast "Backstage at the Grammys," airing at 7 p.m. ET.

MTV's parent company, Viacom, also owns CBS.

For more Grammy news, check out the MTV News Grammy Archive.

• Nelly
• Avril Lavigne
• Norah Jones
• Eminem
• Vanessa Carlton

Dirty Vegas
Photo: Capitol

You, as L.A. Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, drive the lane for a jam to bring your team atop rivals the Sacramento Kings. As the Staples Center erupts and a smile spreads across your face, Joe Budden's "Drop Drop" bangs from your TV's speakers. "When that record comes out next year," you think to yourself, "I've gotta have it."

There's nothing that would make Steve Schnur happier than if the above scenario happened every time "NBA Live 2003" was played. As Vice President, Worldwide Executive of Music for leading game manufacturer Electronic Arts (EA), Schnur has become an unlikely but vital player in the music industry's high-stakes game of breaking new music.

"I don't think a lot of people realized the impact of the video-game industry," Schnur said. "I really believe that the gaming industry has the reach, the buzz and the cultural impact to do for this generation of music fans what MTV did for the last."

With competition for the limited hours — not to mention dollars — a person spends on entertainment at an all-time high, record labels are focusing on unconventional avenues to expose new music to the masses. And video games and TV ads are at the forefront of using the proverb, "If you can't take Mohammad to the mountain, take the mountain to Mohammad" as a marketing philosophy.

Employing a pop-music soundtrack in video games is nothing new — "Tony Hawk's Pro Skater" was one of the first to do so in 1999 — but Electronic Arts is making the greatest strides toward introducing new music to gamers with their move to offer artist, song and album information while the game is being played.

The first EA game to offer such information was "Madden NFL 2003," which featured new music by Bon Jovi, Good Charlotte and newcomers OK Go, whose single "Get Over It" owes much of its success to the popular football game. Since the game's release in late August, song info will be listed in all EA games, including "NHL 2003," "Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2" and "Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003."

Record companies agree that video games have become a crucial way to get new music out there. Where once game companies dealt with a label's licensing department if they wanted to use its music, these days Schnur's office deals directly with the big wigs.

"This is a direct relationship to the labels from the top down," Schnur said. "The presidents and general managers of each and every label are involved in deciding what songs we use."

While EA's commitment to music is just beginning to show signs of success, Mitsubishi's "Are You In" advertising campaign has a proven track record, and labels have certainly taken notice. The Wiseguys' "Start the Commotion," which had only marginal success when Mammoth Records chose conventional routes to break the song, was given new life thanks to the flashy spots reminiscent of a music video. A few weeks after the ads began running, radio stations were flooded with requests for "that Mitsubishi song."

"We knew that it was an interesting idea, but we had no idea that this campaign was going to take off as it did, almost as pop culture," said Vinny Picardi, Senior Vice President, Associate Creative Director for Deutsch, the advertising firm that created the spots. "People refer to it. People are doing the dance moves."

Soon after the ads proved potent for both the automaker and artists, Picardi's office was inundated with calls asking him to give a new band a shot in the company's next spot, as if Deutsch were a radio station or magazine.

"This really became prevalent with the last hit ["Days Go By"] from Dirty Vegas," Picardi said. "[The labels] see the potential. They see that the commercial and the brand can make a hit."

Mitsubishi's latest spot, featuring "Breathe" by electronic artists Telepopmusik, is following suit and gaining acceptance from a wider audience, and Capitol Records has taken note. On the "Breathe" CD-single, a sticker taking up nearly a quarter of the disc's cover and featuring the car company's logo reads, "... as featured in the Mitsubishi Motors Outlander SUV commercial."

The campaign for Pepsi Blue is making similar synergy with the rock band Sev. In those spots, the band's performance of "Same Old Song" is spliced with images of chanting monks. Geffen Records estimates nearly 3.5 million people will see the spot by the end of the year, and 90 percent of the teen audience (12-17) will have been exposed to it an average of 17 times — all without knowing who the band in the ad is. It's no wonder the rousing rap-rocker has become something of an enigma to that demographic, and the connection was strengthened for both Pepsi and Sev by the song's video, shot simultaneously with the ad's production and employing the same set.

"It has been an important initiative for [Sev's label] Interscope Geffen A&M to blend brand marketing with current music and artists," said Steve Berman, head of Sales and Marketing for Interscope Geffen A&M, in a statement. "Pepsi Blue presented us with the perfect opportunity to expose our band's music to a wider audience."

Just how effective the cross promotion is will become evident when "Same Old Song" looks to be added to radio playlists November 19. As an early indicator of the campaign's success, influential stations such as New York's Z100, Washington, D.C.'s WHFS and L.A.'s KROQ are already spinning the tune, and weekly sales of the single have nearly doubled since its release, according to SoundScan.

The focus on exposing new music through unlikely outlets comes at a time when conventional means are drying up. Radio playlists are becoming increasingly uniform as a result of consolidation, and getting added to a playlist has grown quite expensive thanks to the fishy, arguably extortive practices of independent radio promoters. Both factors leave the airwaves less friendly for emerging artists than ever. The arena to see videos by new artists has also diminished in recent years, shifting from cable channels to the Internet, so labels are reluctant to splurge for a top-dollar clip for a newcomer without any guarantee it will receive a large-scale audience.

"Four or five years ago, I began to see the value of placing music in other areas of media," said Kevin Weaver, VP of Soundtracks and New Business Development for Lava Records. "That's when I started going after these opportunities in a very substantial way ... With the climate being what it is, I started looking for ways to place our artists on other people's soundtracks, other people's films, other people's television shows, and it just started to broaden from there."

Weaver's strategies arose in the promotional spots for NBC's fall season, which used "Come Along," the title track off Swedish pop/soul singer Titiyo's domestic debut, as the music bed. A similar coupling proved successful two years ago when Coldplay's "Yellow" was used in ABC promos, and exposed the already moderately popular British band to a much broader audience. Only with Titiyo, there was no fanbase to build upon, and the strike was far more calculated.

The spots began airing at nearly the same time as radio stations were serviced with the single. Hearing "Come Along" on your way home from work and then again when you turned on the TV forged a double-impact exposure. Four weeks later, the album was released to an audience of millions who, like it or not, had at least heard a snippet of the single.

The push to expose new artists via unconventional means shows no signs of slowing. Schnur is currently selecting 10 to 12 songs for "Triple Play 2003," attempting to capture "the sound of baseball" next spring by predicting "what rock, pop and hip-hop radio is going to sound like six months from now."

"And we do it for the right reasons," he concluded. "We do it for the game, we do it for the artist, and we do it for the consumer."

• OK Go
• Dirty Vegas

Eminem accepts the Video Of The Year award at the 2002 VMAs
Photo: MTV

Solemn remembrance loomed large over the 2002 Video Music Awards. A tribute to TLC's Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes and somber though inspired performances by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street band and Sheryl Crow — who was introduced by former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani — were touching. However, a surprise set by Guns N' Roses and Eminem's beef with a vegetarian stole the spotlight. Click here for the complete 2002 MTV VMA Winners List.

While Eminem was bestowed with the most Moonmen, scoring on four of his pack-leading six nominations, perhaps someone should have offered him a sense of humor. He accepted the statuette for Best Male Video from presenter Christina Aguilera, whom he once dissed in "The Real Slim Shady," with only a mumbled "thanks," and barely made eye contact.

"Keep booing, little girl," Eminem said from the podium, directing his comment toward Moby, who also felt the prick of an Eminem slag in "Without Me." "I will hit a man with glasses."

Earlier in the evening, Slim Shady also had a run-in with Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, who made an attempt to talk to the rapper after a brief but affronting interview with Moby, whose "We Are All Made of Stars" won for Best Cinematography in a Video. As the hand-puppet correspondent from "Late Night With Conan O'Brien" approached Marshall Mathers, D12's Proof and Shady Records artist Obie Trice, seated alongside him, prevented the interaction from taking place. With Eminem repeating, "I've had my TV time," someone tried to shove poor Triumph and the rubber dog's notes were thrown in his face, forcing him to retreat with his proverbial tail between his legs. (Click for photos of the top VMA moments.)

Eminem tried to make amends when he accepted the evening's most prestigious award, Best Video of the Year. "Y'all gotta excuse me," he said, Moonman in hand. "I've been going through some anger management classes."

The first single off Eminem's third album, The Eminem Show, also picked up awards for Best Rap Video and Best Direction in a Video, an award he shared with director Joseph Kahn (Britney Spears, Destiny's Child) given out during the pre-telecast portion of the show.

This year's take gives Eminem a grand total of eight Moonmen, including his three from 2000 and one from 1999.

Former man and wife duo the White Stripes took home three awards, including the celebrated Breakthrough Video Award for their Lego-laden, Michel Gondry-directed video for "Fell in Love With a Girl," the second single from the band's third album, White Blood Cells.

After thanking twins Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, who presented the band with the Moonman, Jack White accepted the award on behalf of Gondry, who couldn't attend the ceremony because his father passed away recently. "He is a brilliant guy," White said. "It was completely his idea."

Another couple of Moonmen belonging to the White Stripes — Best Special Effects in a Video and Best Editing in a Video for "Fell in Love With a Girl" — were given out in the pre-telecast portion of the show.

Two hours into the show, a tribute was paid to the late TLC member Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, who died in April from injuries sustained in a car accident (see "Thousands Gather to Say Goodbye to Left Eye"). The surviving members of the best-selling female group of all time, Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas, took the stage to announce the formation of the Lisa Lopes AIDS Scholarship, a $25,000 educational grant given to students "as committed to the fight against AIDS as Lisa" was in her life.

"I want to start off by saying God is good, and that's the only reason we're able to be here tonight," T-Boz began after a Left Eye video montage was projected on the big screen onstage. "This is a big honor. Lisa would have been very happy."

"We want to thank everybody for your support, and we love you guys," Chilli added. "We know that Lisa is smiling, and we just hope that she's proud of us right now."

Pink's "Get the Party Started" nabbed two of the three awards it vied for, Best Dance Video and Best Female Video, the latter of which was presented by white T-topped Avril Lavigne and Lisa Marie Presley, who wore the words "Bite Me" across her chest.

"I wasn't expecting this," Pink said, sporting a new tattoo on her left arm and leg. "I'm too drunk for this," she slurred, looking sloppy and tired.

No Doubt went two for two with their nominations, scoring in both the Best Group Video and Best Pop Video, besting Pink's clip, for "Hey Baby," the group's collaboration with Bounty Killer. Tonight's wins bring the Orange County quartet's all-time VMA tally to three, building upon their win in 1997 for Best Group Video for "Don't Speak." Singer Gwen Stefani, however, landed two 2001 Moonmen from collaborations with Moby on "Southside," which garnered a Best Male Video honor, and Eve on "Let Me Blow Ya Mind," a Best Female Video winner.

After her abridged two-song performance atop the Radio City marquee, Avril Lavigne scored the Best New Artist in a Video award for "Complicated."

"Dude," she began her acceptance speech, "this is amazing. My dreams are coming true and this is something that I won't take for granted. I've had this dream for a very long time and it's incredible."

Host Jimmy Fallon had the crowd in stitches at the onset with parodies of six nominated videos. The "Saturday Night Live" cast member kicked things off dressed in a Robin outfit with "JF" replacing the circled "R" on his chest, just like Eminem's Rap Boy from his "Without Me" video. That fed routines based on the White Stripes' "Fell in Love With a Girl," retitled "Feel Like I'm Gonna Hurl" and Avril Lavigne's "Complicated," now "Nominated" with Fallon in a straight-haired auburn wig. The Hugging Guy from the Dave Matthews Band's "Everyday" made an appearance, as did Nelly's trademark Band-Aid and Enrique Iglesias' mole on Fallon's face when he took shots at their "Hot in Herre" and "Hero," respectively.

Later in the show, he poked fun at Lance Bass and his plans for space travel by dressing like the 'NSYNC singer and pretending that he was transmitting an out-of-this-world broadcast because he mistakenly launched himself into orbit by fumbling with what he thought were stereo buttons.

Godfather of soul James Brown appeared toward the end of Fallon's comedic opening, performing a portion of his "Get Up I Feel Like Being a Sex Machine."

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band opened the 19th annual VMAs with a majestic performance of "The Rising," from his new album of the same name, broadcast from the American Museum of Natural History, located nearly 30 blocks north of Radio City Music Hall. Springsteen's song foreshadowed what was billed as a kinder, more somber VMAs.

Britney Spears, outfitted in a black leather cap and matching thigh-revealing dress, introduced birthday boy Michael Jackson and presented him with a tiered cake. She referred to Jackson as "the artist of the millennium," and Jackson, sporting his once-familiar gold-plated shin guards, thought he actually won an award by that name, though no such award exists.

"When I was a little boy in Indiana, if someone had told me that one day I'd be getting the Artist of the Millennium award, I wouldn't have believed it. I can't believe it."

Jackson then went on to thank everyone from God and his family to street magician David Blaine, whom he said he really believes in.

Wearing an outfit that was an option but not the winner of an online poll conducted on mtvnews.com, Michelle Branch nabbed the Viewer's Choice Award for "Everywhere," off her debut album The Spirit Room.

"I was ready to leave because I didn't think I was winning this," she said of one of the evening's final statuettes to be given out. "And I think I'm drunker than Pink!" the underage singer/songwriter said.

Former Van Halen frontmen David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar were on hand to present the award for Best Rock Video, and were themselves introduced both as "David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar" and "Sammy Hagar and David Lee Roth," so as not to bruise any egos. Following jokes that fell flat on most of the audience, the aged pair of rockers gave the Moonman to Linkin Park for their "In the End" clip.

Mary J. Blige's "No More Drama" was dubbed Best R&B Video, Dashboard Confessional nabbed the MTV2 Award, and the Best Hip-Hop Video award went to Jennifer Lopez's collaboration with Ja Rule on "I'm Real (Remix)."

For as much as the VMAs put smiles on the faces of many, it also brought with it its share of disappointments. P.O.D. and Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott, both of whom tied Eminem for the most nominations, walked away empty-handed, as did Ashanti, who was up for three awards on her own and one from independent collaborations with Ja Rule and Fat Joe. Britney Spears was also shut out of the three categories in which she was nominated: Best Female Video, Best Dance Video and Best Choreography — all for "I'm a Slave 4 U."

It's impossible for all 21 VMAs to be doled out during the program's three-hour broadcast, so, like most award shows, a few are distributed before the televised portion.

Kylie Minogue won for Best Choreography in a Video; Nickelback singer Chad Kroeger, with help from Saliva's Josey Scott, was given the award for Best Video From a Film, for their "Hero"; Coldplay's "Trouble" took the honor for Best Art Direction in a Video.

This story was last updated on August 30, 2002 at 12:55 AM EDT.

• The White Stripes
• Avril Lavigne
• Eminem
• P!nk
• Britney Spears

Eminem
Photo: Interscope

"Guess who's back?" the rapper legally known as Marshall Mathers asks on "Without Me."

The question is hardly a stumper. Most of America is fully aware of Slim Shady's return, seeing how his The Eminem Show will lead the pack of best-selling albums on the Billboard 200 albums chart for the third week in a row. Eminem's third major-label LP sold more than 808,000 copies last week, according to Soundscan figures released Wednesday (June 12), bringing his three-week total to more than 2.4 million copies.

The 20-track Totally Hits 2002, featuring contributions from Tweet, Pink, Outkast and Default, among others, was the most popular new release in a week that saw several chart debuts, placing in the runner-up slot with more than 136,000 sold. Soul man Donell Jones' Life Goes On, propelled by the reassuring "You Know That I Love You," follows right behind, coming in at the #3 position and selling more than 110,000 copies.

The unavoidable exposure of singles "Days Go By" and "Complicated" help new artists Dirty Vegas and Avril Lavigne, respectively, land in the top 10 with their debut albums. Dirty Vegas' self-titled LP sold more than 63,000 copies to come in at #7, immediately followed by Lavigne's Let Go with approximately 500 fewer sold.

Newcomers populate the chart further down, too. The compilation Soundbombing III, featuring Mos Def, Missy Elliott, Method Man, the Roots and Q-Tip, among others, will drop in at #23. Under Tha Influence, by one of Soundbombing III's contributors, DJ Quik, will land at #27, and in keeping the two-turntables-and-microphone tone, crate raider DJ Shadow fills the #44 slot with his The Private Press.

Next week's top 10 also finds P. Diddy & Bad Boy Records' We Invented the Remix dropping a deuce to #4; Ashanti's eponymous debut doing the same to #5; Kenny Chesney's No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems marching up two slots to #6; Sheryl Crow's C'Mon, C'Mon climbing two positions to #9; and Now That's What I Call Music! Vol. 9 continuing its gradual decent at #10.

The four top 10 debuts will push an equal number of LPs that formerly kept company in that upper echelon back a bracket into the #11-20 range. Cam'ron's Come Home With Me will fall from #4 to #11. Celine Dion's A New Day Has Come will dive eight spots to #13; Marc Anthony's Mended takes an identical plunge to #14; and Musiq's Juslisen will lose half its previous chart status to slip into the #15 spot.

Other notable chart debuts include the Outkast-led "Scooby-Doo" soundtrack at #58; Meshell Ndegeocello's Cookie: The Anthropological Mixtape at #67; Los Lobos' Good Morning Aztlan at #82; Doves' Last Broadcast at #83; the "Bad Company" soundtrack at #98; the musical companion to "Undercover Brother," featuring a funky Snoop Dogg, at # 125; twee-pop champions Belle and Sebastian's soundtrack to "Storytelling" at #150; Danzig's 777: I Luciferi at #158 and Audiovent's Dirty Sexy Knights in Paris at #200.

For a feature interview with Eminem, check out "Eminem: The Gift And The Curse."

• Eminem
• Donell Jones
• Dirty Vegas
• Avril Lavigne

Belle & Sebastian
Photo: Matador Records

After five years of waiting for a new full-length solo effort, DJ Shadow's fans are finally treated to the follow-up album to Entroducing ... This time the innovative DJ offers The Private Press, an album that took him 15 months to complete and was created entirely from sampled music.

Also out Tuesday (June 4) is young newcomer Avril Lavigne's debut Let Go, an album devoted to urging people to be themselves, as evidenced on such songs as "Complicated" and "Sk8er Boi."

Me'Shell Ndegeocello's Cookie: An Anthropological Mixtape shares shelf space with Belle & Sebastian's Storytelling and the Roots' resident human beat box, Scratch, and his The Embodiment of Instrumentation.

And how about those soundtracks to go with the summer movie blockbusters? This week's notables are "Getting There," the latest Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen adventure which bills the twins as "Sweet 16 and licensed to drive"; and music from and inspired by "Scooby-Doo," featuring Outkast, Kylie Minogue and Lil' Romeo, which might just be better than the movie itself. Ruuh-oh!

Out Tuesday, June 4:

• 281 Boyz - Chopped & Screwed 2003 (Ichiban)
• Atreyu - Suicide Notes & Butterfly Kisses (Victory)
• Audiovent - Dirty Sexy Knights in Paris (Atlantic) Read about it ... Lil' Incubus? Audiovent's Boyd, Einziger Say No
• Aurora UK - Dreaming (Groovilicious)
• Beachwood Sparks - Make the Cowboy Robots Cry (EP) (Sub Pop)
• Belle & Sebastian - Storytelling (Matador)
• The Bevis Frond - What Did for the Dinosaurs (Rubric)
• Yume Bitsu - The Golden Vessyl of Sound (K)
• Bloodlet - Three Humid Nights in the Cypress Trees (Victory)
• Boom Box 2000 - Boom Box 2000 (Orange Twin)
• Brand New Sin - Brand New Sin (Now or Never)
• Chris Brokaw - Red Cities (Atavistic)
• Pieta Brown - Pieta Brown (Rubric)
• Clan of Xymox - Remixes from the Underground (Metropolis)
• Preston Clarke - Lane Change (Biscuit)
• Cordelia's Dad - What It Is (Kimchee)
• Danzig - 777: I Luciferi (Spitfire)
• Da Outfit - Lost Underground (Strictly Rhythm)
• Dead Poetic - Four Wall Blackmail (Solid State)
• Deerhoof - Reveille (Kill Rock Stars)
• John Digweed - MMII (WSM)
• Dillinger Four - Situationist Comedy (Fat Wreck Chords)
• Dirty Vegas - Dirty Vegas (Capitol) Read about it ... Days Go By, And Still You Can't Get Dirty Vegas Out Of Your Head
• Dismantled - Dismantled (Metropolis)
• DJ Irene - Phonosynthesis (Warlock)
• DJ Quik - Under Tha Influence (Ark 21)
• DJ Shadow - The Private Press (MCA)
• Doves - The Last Broadcast (Heavenly)
• Engorged - Engorged (Death Vomit)
• Enon - High Society (Touch & Go)
• E.S.T. - Strange Place for Snow (Columbia)
• Glory Fountain - The Beauty of 23 (Lajoy)
• Go Jimmy Go - Soul Arrival (Moon Room)
• The Hellacopters - Cream of the Crap Vol. 1 (Gearhead)
• High Contrast - True Colors (Breakbeat Science)
• Hometown News - Wheels (VFR)
• In Extremo - Sunder Ohine Zugel (Unbridled Sinner) (Metal Blade)
• Jack Ingram - Electric (Sony/Lucky Dog)
• Interpol - Interpol (Matador)
• J-200 - A Trip From Grace (Loose Booty)
• Donell Jones - Life Goes On (La Face)
• Tommy Keene - The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down (spinART)
• Willie Kennedy - Cape Breton Violin (Rounder)
• The Kennedys - Get It Right (Jiffyjam)
• Sherry Goffin Kondor - Mellow My Baby: Soothing Songs (Sugar Beats/Rounder)
• Lackloves - Star City Baby (Rainbow Quartz)
• Avril Lavigne - Let Go (Arista) Read about it ... It's Not 'Complicated' — 17-Year-Old Avril Lavigne Was Born To Rock
• Shannon Lawson - Chase the Sun (MCA Nashville)
• LMNT - All Sides (Purple Leopard)
• Lollipop Lust Kill - My So Called Knife (Artemis)
• Los Lobos - Good Morning Aztlan (Mammoth)
• Luce - Luce (Nettwerk)
• Manowar - Warriors of the World (Metal Blade)
• Matthew - Everybody Down (Rykodisc)
• Tift Merritt - Bramble Rose (Lost Highway)
• The Miracles - Tears of a Clown (Park South)
• Coco Montoya - Can't Look Back (Alligator)
• My Vitriol - Finelines (Epic)
• Myracle Brah - Super Automatic (Rainbow Quartz)
• Me'Shell Ndegeocello - Cookie: The Anthropological Mixtape (Maverick)
• Marykate O'Neil - Marykate O'Neil (Seventy-One)
• Teddy Pendergrass - Pure Love (Park South)
• People Under the Stairs - O.S.T. (Om)
• Archer Prewitt - Three (Touch & Go)
• Rearview Mirror - All Lights Off (Gobstopper)
• Rotten Sound - Murderworks (Death Vomit)
• Saeed & Palash - Tide:Edit:07 (Star 69)
• Scratch - The Embodiment of Instrumentation (Ropeadope)
• Seelenluft - Out of the Woods (Klein)
• Sev - All These Dreams (Geffen)
• Side Walk Slam - Give Back (Tooth & Nail)
• Silkworm - Italian Premium (Touch & Go)
• Spaceheads - Low Pressure (Merge)
• Speedealer - Second Sight (Palm Pictures)
• Speedy J - Loudboxer (Mute)
• Swearing at Motorists - This Flag Signals Goodbye (Secretly Canadian)
• The Takers - If the Blues Were Red (Rubric)
• Thuunderboy! - Thuunderboy! (Table of the Elements)
• Trammps - Dance Fever (Park South)
• Trouble With Sweeny - Play Karen & Others (Basement Life)
• Vader - Revelation (Metal Blade)
• Steve Vai - Elusive Light & Sound Vol. 1 (Favored Nations)
• Various artists - "Bad Company" soundtrack (Hollywood)
• Various artists - The Best of Broadway Musicals (Park South)
• Various artists - The Best of "Star Wars": Collector's Edition Soundtrack (Park South)
• Various artists - Celebrate America (Disney/Vista)
• Various artists - "Cherish" soundtrack (New Line)
• Various artists - Chilled Grooves (Water Music)
• Various artists - Cuts: Session 1 (Groovilicious)
• Various artists - "Enough" soundtrack (Varese Sarabande)
• Various artists - "Getting There" soundtrack (Trauma)
• Various artists - If the 21st Century Didn't Exist ... (Five Rue Christine)
• Various artists - Price for Peace (American Journey)
• Various artists - "Scooby-Doo" soundtrack (Lava) Read about it ... 'Scooby-Doo' Soundtrack To Feature Lil' Romeo, Kylie, Shaggy (Zoinks!)
• Various artists - Smooth Grooves: At the Club (Rhino)
• Various artists - Soundbombing III (MCA)
• Various artists - "Spider-Man" score (Soundtrax)
• Various artists - Total Hits 2002 (Rhino)
• Vegas - Retro Lounge Vol. 2 (Park South)
• Yid Vicious - Forverts! (JAM/Knitting Factory)
• Roger Wallace - The Lowdown (Lone Star)
• Anna Waronker - Anna by Anna Waronker (Oglio)
• The Young Dubliners - Absolutely (Higher Octave)
• Young People - Young People (Five Rue Christine)

June 11:

• Korn - Untouchables (Epic) Read about it ... Korn: The Untouchables
• David Bowie - Heathen (ISO/Columbia) Read about it ... Foos' Dave Grohl, Moby Are Bowie Buddies On New LP
• Raphael Saadiq - Instant Vintage (Universal)
• They Might Be Giants - No! (Rounder)
• Various artists - The Osbourne Family Album (Epic) Read about it ... Osbournes Unveil F---ing Family Album

June 18:

• Papa Roach - Lovehatetragedy (DreamWorks) Read about it ... Papa Roach Distance Themselves From Rap-Metal Peers On New LP
• Swizz Beatz - G.H.E.T.T.O. Stories (DreamWorks) Read about it ... Swizz Beatz Unveils Metallica/Ja Rule Track, Sets 'Guilty' Single

June 25:

• Boy George - Night Out (Moonshine)
• Jerry Cantrell - Degradation Trip (Island/Def Jam) Read about it ... Jerry Cantrell Conjures Ghost Of Alice In Chains On New LP
• Solange Knowles - Solo Star (Columbia) Read about it ... Solange, Beyonce's Lil' Sis, Says She's No Destiny's Child

July 2:

• "Men in Black 2" soundtrack (Sony) Read about it ... Will Smith Preps Next LP, New Tracks For 'MIB2'
• Jerzee Monet - Love & War (DreamWorks) Read about it ... Jerzee Monét: Workin' For Her Big Break

July 9:

• Silverchair - Diorama (Atlantic) Read about it ... Silverchair Craft U.S. Diorama, Plan New York Dates

July 16:

• Lil' Romeo - Game Time (Universal/No Limit) Read about it ... Lil' Romeo Battles His Evil Twin On B-Ball Court

• Avril Lavigne
• Dirty Vegas
• DJ Quik
• DJ Shadow
• Audiovent

2003 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival

• Beastie Boys
• Red Hot Chili Peppers
• Ben Folds
• Ben Harper
• Blur