The MTV Video Music Awards nominees

MTV gets the music awards season going with this year’s race for the Moonman trophy reaching its final lap on Aug. 29 in the 19th MTV Video Music Awards. The event will be held in New York City at the Radio Music Hall and as usual you can expect to see the biggest , brightest pop stars present to make a scene, cheer friends on or to accept the awards themselves. Up for grabs are trophies in 22 categories, three of which are chosen by MTV viewers. Should the heavens decide to smile on us, one of these, the Viewer’s Choice Award for Asia could go to the Filipino entry RiverMaya.

Among those said to have already expressed interest in attending the awards night and maybe also performing are "The Boss" himself, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Eminem and Pink. Expect more names to be announced as the date nears. Hosting the ceremonies will be Saturday Night Live newscaster Jimmy Fallon, who also emceed last year’s MTV Movie Awards with actress Kirsten Dunst.

Here are some of the nominees for the VMA:

Video of the Year: Without Me by Eminem; In the End by Linkin Park; One Mic by Nas; Gone by ‘N Sync; Alive by P.O.D.; Fell in Love with a Girl by the White Stripes.

Male Video: Walking Away by Craig David; Without Me by Eminem; Hero by Enrique Iglesias; This Train Don’t Stop There Anymore by Elton John; #1 by Nelly; U Got It Bad by Usher.

Female Video: Foolish by Ashanti; All You Wanted by Michelle Branch; Get the Party Started by Pink; Whenever, Wherever by Shakira; I’m a Slave 4 U by Britney Spears.

Group Video: First Date by Blink-182; In the End by Linkin Park: Everyday by the Dave Matthews Band; Hey Baby by No Doubt; Girlfriend (Remix) by ‘N Sync with Nelly; Alive by P.O.D.

Rap Video: Without Me by Eminem; One Mic by Nas; Who We Be by DMX; Saturday (Oooh Oooh! by Ludacris; Bad Boy for Life by P. Diddy featuring Black Rob and Mark Curry.

R&B Video: U Got It Bad by Usher; Foolish by Ashanti; Rock the Boat by Aaliyah; A Woman’s Worth by Alicia Keys; No More Drama by Mary J. Blige.

Hip Hop Video: One Minute Man by Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliot featuring Ludacris and Trina; Pass the Courvoisier by Busta Rhymes featuring P. Diddy and Pharell; I’m Real (Remix) by Jennifer Lopez featuring Ja Rule; The Whole World by Outkast featuring Killer Mike; Always on Time by Ja Rule featuring Ashanti, What’s Luv by Fat Joe featuring Ashanti.

Dance Video: Can’t Get You Out of My Head by Kylie Minogue; I’m a Slave 4 U by Britney Spears; Days Go By by Dirty Vegas; Get the Party Started by Pink; Whenever, Wherever by Shakira.

Rock Video: In the End by Linkin Park; My Sacrifice by Creed; Chop Suey by System of a Down; Here to Stay by Korn; Youth of the Nation by P.O.D.; The Middle by Jimmy Eat World.

Pop Video: Girlfriend (Remix) by ‘N Sync; Get the Party Started by Pink; Whenever, Wherever by Shakira; All You Wanted by Michelle Branch; Hey Baby by No Doubt featuring Bounty Killer.

New Artist in a Video: Ashanti in Foolish; B2K in Uh Huh; Avril Lavigne in Complicated; John Meyer in No Such Thing; Puddle of Mudd in Blurry.

Video from a Film: Hero from Spider-Man by Chad Kroeger with Josey Scott; Area Codes from Rush Hour II by Ludacris with Nate Dogg; #1 from Training Day by Nelly; Black Suits Comin’ (Nod Ya Head) from Men in Black 2 by Will Smith.

MTV2 Award: Dashboard Confessional, Screaming Infidelities; The Hives, Hate to Say I Told You So; Norah Jones, Don’t Know Why; Musiq, Half Crazy; Nappy Roots with Jazze Pha, Awnaw; The Strokes, Last Nite.

Viewer’s Choice: B2K, Uh Huh; Michelle Branch, Everywhere; Brandy, What About Us; Eminem Without Me; Enrique Iglesias, Hero; P.O.D, Alive.

Breakthrough Video: Short Skirt/Long Jacket by Cake; Trouble by Coldplay; Name of the Game by The Crystal Method; Who We Be by DMX; This Woman’s Work by Maxwell; Fell in Love with a Girl by The White Stripes.

There are also Moonman statuettes in store for the other categories in the MTV Video Music Awards. These are Best Direction, Choreography, Special Effects, Art Direction, Editing and Cinematography.