Korn, Ricky Martin, Will Smith, TLC, Lauryn Hill, and Busta Rhymes are the leading contenders for Moonmen statuettes at the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards, as each received at least five nominations for this year's event, being held at New York City's Metropolitan Opera House on September 9. Nominees for the 20 categories were announced by comedian Chris Rock, who will return to host the show after handing the 1998 VMAs, MTV VJ Carson Daly, and multiple nominee Ricky Martin during a press conference held this morning at New York City's famed Lincoln Center. So far, Ricky Martin, the Backstreet Boys, and TLC have all signed on to perform at the 1999 VMAs, with additional bands and artists to be named in the coming weeks. Coming off its thunderous weekend performance at Woodstock '99, Korn led all nominees by receiving nine nods for its "Freak on a Leash" video, a collaboration between graphic artist Todd McFarlane and the husband-wife directing team of Jonathan Dayton

and Valerie Faris. Latin sensation Ricky Martin, rapper-film star Will Smith, and TLC tied with six nominations a piece, as Martin was honored for his "Livin' La Vida Loca" clip, while Will Smith received four nominations for "Miami" and two for his "Wild Wild West" clip with Dru Hill and Kool Moe Dee, and TLC was recognized for its "No Scrubs" clip. A little more than five months after her record-setting night at the 1999 Grammy Awards, Lauryn Hill led all female artists with five nominations for her "Doo Wop (That Thing)" video. Dreadlocked rapper Busta Rhymes also garnered five nominations, with four coming for his collaboration with Janet Jackson on "What's It Gonna Be," and a single nod for "Gimme Some More." Others receiving multiple nominations include the Backstreet Boys, Eminem, Fatboy Slim, Jennifer Lopez, and Madonna, all of whom are up for four awards each.