Miami – The glitz and glam of the MTV Video Music Awards are returning to sunny Miami for the second straight year, the network said Tuesday.
MTV said it was seeking to repeat the success of last year’s show, which featured arrivals by yacht by stars such as Shaquille O’Neal and Usher, an appearance by the Kerry and Bush sisters and a tribute to Ray Charles.
The show is scheduled for Aug. 28, the steamiest time of the year for South Florida. It’s also in the middle of hurricane season.
“Miami radiates an energy that was clearly visible in last year’s show – the arrivals by yacht, the six different stages, the countless amazing performances, and much, much more,” MTV president Van Toffler said.
The awards will once again grace the spacious interior of the AmericanAirlines Arena, which sits beside picturesque Biscayne Bay in downtown Miami.
MTV awards are known for a risque approach – remember Michael Jackson kissing Lisa Marie Presley – but last year’s show was more tame, as it followed Janet Jackson’s Super Bowl wardrobe flap. OutKast and Jay-Z topped the list of winners last year with four awards each.
“Last year’s VMAs raised our summer heat to a new level of intensity, proving that the world’s hottest city and entertainment’s steamiest awards show are a perfect match,” Miami Mayor Manny Diaz said. “As soon as the first VIP boat arrived at the AmericanAirlines Arena last year we knew that we wanted them back.”
Miami campaigned hard for a repeat performance, promoting its track record for hosting big events such as Super Bowls.
“To some extent, it was a bit easier this year because of the tremendous success of the show in Miami last summer,” said William Talbert, president and CEO of the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau.
“Miami-Dade County’s cultural diversity is also the perfect backdrop for this exciting event, which brings together artists and celebrities from around the globe,” county Mayor Carlos Alvarez said.