By Tracy Rucinski
MADRID, Nov 7 (Reuters) - U.S. songstresses Lady Gaga and Katy Perry shared the spoils early on at the MTV Europe Music Awards in Madrid on Sunday with one prize apiece.
Lady Gaga was named best pop act while Perry, who performed to an outdoor crowd in the Spanish capital, picked up the best video award for 'California Gurls'.
Compatriot Ke$ha was awarded best new act, and U.S. pop-punksters Paramore took the best alternative category.
'Hopefully I can inspire you guys to give the finger to the cynics,' Ke$ha told the city's La Caja Magica venue where the awards were held.
Underlining the domination of U.S. acts on the night as the awards reached the halfway stage, Bon Jovi picked up the inaugural Global Icon title.
'Thanks for making us icons,' Jon Bon Jovi told the cheering crowd. 'I want to thank everyone at MTV for this unbelievable ride over a quarter of a century. We're still doing what we do and we're doing it well.'
Drummer Tico Torres added his thanks in Spanish, to the locals' delight.
According to MTV, Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, David Bryan and Torres have sold more than 125 million albums, performed over 2,700 concerts in over 50 countries to 35 million fans and were the number one touring act in the world in 2008.
Justin Bieber, a 16-year-old pop sensation from Canada, broke the U.S. deadlock, winning the best male act award and beating off competition from heavyweights including Eminem, Usher and Kanye West.
Before the awards, Lady Gaga and Perry led the field with five nominations apiece, going head-to-head in four categories -- best pop act, best song, best female act and best video.
'Desperate Housewives' star Eva Longoria, completing a bewildering number of costume changes on the night, hosted the event and stressed her Spanish roots.
In addition to Perry, the Madrid crowds were treated to a performance of 'Only Girl' by Barbadian star Rihanna, who sported red hair, a tiara and a short white wedding-style dress.
Also singing on the night were Kings of Leon, Shakira, Kid Rock and Miley Cyrus.
(Writing and additional reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Mark Trevelyan) (To read more about our entertainment news, visit our blog 'Fan Fare' online at http://blogs.reuters.com/fanfare) Keywords: MUSIC MTV/EUROPE (London newsroom: tel +44 7990 560 229) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
MADRID, Nov 7 (Reuters) - U.S. songstresses Lady Gaga and Katy Perry shared the spoils early on at the MTV Europe Music Awards in Madrid on Sunday with one prize apiece.
Lady Gaga was named best pop act while Perry, who performed to an outdoor crowd in the Spanish capital, picked up the best video award for 'California Gurls'.
Compatriot Ke$ha was awarded best new act, and U.S. pop-punksters Paramore took the best alternative category.
'Hopefully I can inspire you guys to give the finger to the cynics,' Ke$ha told the city's La Caja Magica venue where the awards were held.
Underlining the domination of U.S. acts on the night as the awards reached the halfway stage, Bon Jovi picked up the inaugural Global Icon title.
'Thanks for making us icons,' Jon Bon Jovi told the cheering crowd. 'I want to thank everyone at MTV for this unbelievable ride over a quarter of a century. We're still doing what we do and we're doing it well.'
Drummer Tico Torres added his thanks in Spanish, to the locals' delight.
According to MTV, Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, David Bryan and Torres have sold more than 125 million albums, performed over 2,700 concerts in over 50 countries to 35 million fans and were the number one touring act in the world in 2008.
Justin Bieber, a 16-year-old pop sensation from Canada, broke the U.S. deadlock, winning the best male act award and beating off competition from heavyweights including Eminem, Usher and Kanye West.
Before the awards, Lady Gaga and Perry led the field with five nominations apiece, going head-to-head in four categories -- best pop act, best song, best female act and best video.
'Desperate Housewives' star Eva Longoria, completing a bewildering number of costume changes on the night, hosted the event and stressed her Spanish roots.
In addition to Perry, the Madrid crowds were treated to a performance of 'Only Girl' by Barbadian star Rihanna, who sported red hair, a tiara and a short white wedding-style dress.
Also singing on the night were Kings of Leon, Shakira, Kid Rock and Miley Cyrus.
(Writing and additional reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Mark Trevelyan) (To read more about our entertainment news, visit our blog 'Fan Fare' online at http://blogs.reuters.com/fanfare) Keywords: MUSIC MTV/EUROPE (London newsroom: tel +44 7990 560 229) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.