Liverpool to host 15th Annual MTV Europe Music Awards in 2008
31 Oct 07
“It is only natural that Liverpool should host the fifteenth annual Europe Music Awards. Not only is it the European Capital of Culture next year but the influence of its rich music heritage is still felt today,” (Richard Godfrey, MTV Networks International)
LONDON Wednesday 31st October 2007 – MTV Networks International (MTVNI) today announced that Liverpool will be the host city for the fifteenth annual MTV Europe Music Awards in 2008. This will be the third time that the UK has hosted the Awards. Previously the event has been held in London (1996) and Edinburgh (2003).
The 2008 MTV Europe Music Awards will be broadcast live across all platforms on Thursday 6th November 2008.
“It is fantastic to be back in the UK and it is only natural that Liverpool should host the fifteenth annual Europe Music Awards. Not only is it the European Capital of Culture next year but the influence of its rich music heritage is still felt today,” commented Richard Godfrey, Senior Vice President Content & Music, MTV Networks International and Executive Producer. “The state-of-the-art Echo Arena Liverpool is the perfect venue for such a large-scale multi-platform event as the Europe Music Awards and will give us the opportunity to bring newer and more exciting elements to next year’s show.”
Bryan Gray, Chairman of Liverpool Culture Company, said: “The MTV Europe Music Awards in Liverpool in 2008 is a perfect match – it’s pop music coming home. There was huge competition to stage these awards so this is a major coup for Liverpool, the new arena and our European Capital of Culture celebrations. This event and the plans we have in place to celebrate them will provide a huge international platform for the city, the arena and the music scene in Liverpool today.”
David Lynn, Executive Vice President & Managing Director, MTV Networks UK & Ireland added: “With the MTV Europe Music Awards returning to the UK 2008 will be a year of major events across our music, kids and comedy brands. As well as Europe’s biggest music awards ceremony in November which attracts some of the hottest artists from around the world to the UK, Nickelodeon’s Kids Choice Awards will return in October and there will be a series of large-scale Paramount Comedy events starting with the Edinburgh Festival as well.”
Rt. Hon James Purnell MP, Secretary of State, Department of Culture, Media and Sport, commented: “With its stunning back catalogue of musicians and current crop of chart toppers, Liverpool is a creative force in the world music industry. “It's fantastic that MTV has chosen Liverpool to host the 2008 Europe Music Awards - this will make the European Capital of Culture year even more special."
Councillor Warren Bradley, Leader of Liverpool City Council, commented: “To attract the MTV EMA’s is a watershed in Liverpool’s return to the world stage. With being European Capital of Culture, the city has rediscovered the confidence and ability to attract the world's best. All the years of planning for 2008 and the regeneration that has developed alongside it is now beginning to pay off. Liverpool can look forward to regularly staging major international events of this calibre.”
The EMAs will be held at the Echo Arena Liverpool, a 10,600 seat venue opening in January 2008. The brand new concert and event facility is located on the city's famous riverfront and is set to be one of the most environmentally-friendly venues of its kind in Europe.
Bob Prattey, Chief Executive, ACC Liverpool - home of the Echo Arena - said: “The MTV Europe Music Awards is a fantastic event which is broadcast across the globe and attended by some of the biggest names in the industry.
“For an organisation such as MTV to have chosen to come to the Echo Arena Liverpool – particularly during the city’s year as European Capital of Culture - is a real coup. We can’t wait to welcome them with open arms.”
The Liverpool bid to host the 2008 awards was led by the Liverpool Culture Company and the Echo Arena with support from the North West Regional Development Agency. Peter Mearns, Executive Director of Marketing and Communications at the NWDA, said: “The MTV Europe Music Awards is an extremely high profile event which will project the image of Liverpool across the world. This is the kind of event we had in mind when we invested and supported the Arena development and European Capital of Culture programme. Events of this calibre will showcase Liverpool at its very best with the eyes and ears of the media world all watching our famous waterfront, promoting a positive image of the city and the region to millions of people.”
edc by Esprit have also confirmed their sponsorship of the 2008 Europe Music Awards. This year for the 2007 Europe Music Awards in Munich the partnership between MTV and edc was executed across 14 MTV channels in Europe and their related online properties, as well as edc’s web sites. The on-air sponsorship was extended to edc web sites and 10 MTVNI’s services in the Asia-Pacific region, including MTV channels in China (24-hour channel), Indonesia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, Korea, Singapore & Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand, as well as on VH1 India. Additionally MTVN Creative produced edc for Esprit’s first ever TV advertising and brand spot campaign and edc ran a series of competitions for winners to attend the live event in Munich on Thursday 1st November 2007.
“It makes perfect sense for us to extend our partnership with MTV” says Thomas Grote, President Esprit Brand. “edc appeals to young, spontaneous people who live for the moment and express this lifestyle with an individual look. Additionally, edc's style is strongly influenced by the current music scene and its looks. The UK is a key market for our global expansion plans, so sponsoring the EMAs in 2008 in Liverpool will give us many opportunities of non-traditional ways of brand communication and will certainly support a strong brand image for edc.”
The 2007 MTV Europe Music Awards will broadcast on
MTV One at 9.00pm, Thursday 1st November 2007.