- Title: SINGAPORE: HIGHLIGHTS FROM INAUGURAL MTV ASIA AWARDS.
- Date: 3rd February 2002
- Summary: SINGAPORE (FEBRUARY 2, 2002) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF JAPANESE POP SINGER AYUMI HAMASAKI ARRIVING VARIOUS OF POP STRING QUARTET BOND ARRIVING FANS CHEERING BEHIND BARRICADE POP GIRL DUO M2M ARRIVING MORE OF VARIOUS CELEBRITIES ARRIVING (SOUNDBITE) (English) SINGAPOREAN SINGER KIT CHAN SAYING: "For the first time, all the artists from different countries are coming together and I think, especially in a time like that where there is a threatening of world peace, this is a good move, a really good move. Maybe music can really unite everybody." MORE OF FANS WWF WRESTLER LITA BOY BAND BLUE PICKING UP YOUNG GIRL FAN, CATHLEEN, FROM CROWD BEHIND BARRICADE CATHLEEN SAYING "I LOVE YOU" TO BLUE CATHLEEN BEING PUT BACK INTO CROWD CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON STAR ZHANG ZIYI ARRIVING, POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHS FOR JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON STAR ZHANG ZIYI SAYING: "I'm personally very proud, because I feel that Asia is getting stronger and stronger. I didn't expect that we would be able to put up the awards so well. So, I'm very happy. This is the inaugural awards and I hope the next ones would be even better, and that it would not just be held in Singapore, but also in Beijing, Taiwan and Hong Kong. So, all the best." (SOUNDBITE) (English) MTV ASIA AWARDS HOST, RONAN KEATING, SAYING: "Very excited about it, Mandy and myself are doing it and we're very excited. It's going to be a lot of fun. It's going to be a crazy place and it's going to be jam packed with people all looking forward to it. I can't wait."
- Embargoed: 18th February 2002 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: SINGAPORE
- Country: Singapore
- Topics: Communications
- Reuters ID: LVADHRYH1L3K6LI6I7ILS0VUN7JB
- Story Text: A glittering array of stars from East and West lit up the inaugural MTV Asia Awards 2002, as Asia took its turn to pay tribute to its home grown talents.
Pop stars, boy bands, wrestlers, Blue, Pink and a whole of myriad of colourful celebrities and singers descended on the island city of Singapore for the inaugural MTV Asia Awards on Saturday (February 2).
All were decked out in their ceremonial best to tease, to shock and, most of all, to entertain the hoards of screaming teenage fans who waited for hours to catch a glimpse of their idols on the red carpet.
Eleven country awards were up for grabs for the MTV Asia Awards, reflecting the region's diverse musical tastes and honouring the favourite artists in the first pan-Asian awards of its kind. Another eight trophies were handed out to international acts.
As many as 13 million paper and Internet ballots across Asia decided the winners who were picked from a short list of five from separate categories. The best "inspiration" award was the only exception.
Singapore singer Kit Chan said the ceremony was an opportunity for togetherness in Asia.
"For the first time, all the artists from different countries are coming together and I think, especially in a time like that where there is a threatening of world peace, this is a good move, a really good move. Maybe music can really unite everybody," Kit Chan said.
Others saw it as a showcase for Asia's musical talent.
The organisers say they hope the awards will "cross-pollinate" musical taste and thrust local singers on the international circuit.
"I'm personally very proud, because I feel that Asia is getting stronger and stronger. I didn't expect that we would be able to put up the awards so well. So, I'm very happy. This is the inaugural awards and I hope the next ones would be even better, and that it would not just be held in Singapore, but also in Beijing, Taiwan and Hong Kong. So, all the best," said the star of award winning film 'Hidden Dragon, Crouching Tiger' star Zhang Ziyi (pronounced chang-tze-yee).
Some 7,000 people packed Singapore's Indoor Stadium for the star-studded event hosted by ex-Boyzone front man Ronan Keating and American pop princess Mandy Moore. Hordes of screaming teenage fans had packed the streets leading to the stadium hours ahead of the show.
"Very excited about it, Mandy and myself are doing it and we're very excited. It's going to be a lot of fun. It's going to be a crazy place and it's going to be jam packed with people all looking forward to it. I can't wait."
The excitement and euphoria seems to have gripped fans and performers alike and boyband members 'Natural' burst into song on the red carpet before they even got in.
All-girl pop string quartet 'Bond' kicked off the awards with an upbeat, pumping set.
The crowd then lapped up live performances from Irish boyband Westlife, Latin hearthrob Enrique Iglesias, Norwegian duo M2M and R&B artist Pink.
Japanese pop starlet Ayumi Hamasaki, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" actress Zhang Ziyi, and fashion designer Donatella Versace added further glamour to the show.
Hamasaki was crowned 'Most Influential Japanese Artiste in Asia' whilst Westlife received the 'Best Pop Act' award.
Singer Regine Velasquez walked away with the first award for the night as the Philippines' Favourite Music Artist.
Five-man band PADI was Indonesia's choice whilst Malaysia voted for petite songbird Siti Nurhaliza.
Thailand favourite was local rock band Pru and Singapore's was gamine Stefanie Sun.
Hong Kong female singer Sammi Cheng came ahead of a host of well-known nominees, including Andy Lau and Jackie Cheung to clinch her country's award. But the flamboyant canto-pop star had to give the ceremony a miss because of a cold.
Taiwan picked pop singer Chang Hui Mei, popularly known as A-Mei, to win the prize, while singer Kang Ta from South Korea bounced on stage to grab his cube-like trophy.
India's top pop artist was Shaan, while duo Alka Yagnik and Udit Narayan came in as the sub-continent's favourite film artist.
Hong Kong martial arts star Jacky Chan, well-loved for his dare-devil stunts, won the 'Inspiration Award', but he could not come himself to pick up his award.
MTV, the round-the clock music television network owned by U.S. media giant Viacom, said the show was broadcast to more than 150 million viewers across Asia, with highlights beamed around the globe.
Global music sales in 2000 were worth 37 billion US dollars, according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.
Industry sources say Asia's music sales, excluding Japan, have been steady at a mere 2. 2 billion US dollars per year in the last two years, leaving plenty of room for growth, as music lovers switch from cassette tapes to higher-value CDs and rampant piracy is put under increasing pressure.
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