MTV today announced the final five nominees vying for the Worldwide Act distinction at the “2012 MTV EMA.” For the past six weeks, MTV has given fans around the world a chance to vote for their favourite hometown artists, all to help that local act secure the nomination and earn a chance to represent their respective region at this year’s EMA.
More than 160 artists from every corner of the world have enjoyed the MTV EMA spotlight as part of the Worldwide Act voting competition, and finally the final five Worldwide Act nominees are revealed as: Dima Bilan (Europe); Han Geng (Asia Pacific); Ahmed Soultan (Africa/India/Middle East); Rihanna (North America); and Restart (Latin America).Starting today, these five artists will go head to head in one last round of voting in the Worldwide Act category, which celebrates the range and breadth of all the music that MTV has to offer across the globe.
Hosted by supermodel, entrepreneur and hometown girl Heidi Klum, the 19th annual MTV EMA will broadcast live from Frankfurt’s historic Festhalle on Sunday 11 November at 22:00 CAT on MTV channels around the world. The “2012 MTV EMA” will feature incredible performances by Taylor Swift, Muse, No Doubt, Carly Rae Jepsen, fun., Rita Ora, Alicia Keys, Pitbull, The Killers and Psy.
Fans can vote for Worldwide Act and other EMA categories by visiting www.mtvbase.com online. Voting for EMA categories is open now until 12:59PM CAT on Friday 9 November 2012. The Worldwide Act winner will be announced at the show in Frankfurt.
About the 2012 Nominees for Worldwide Act
Dima Bilan (Europe)
In 2008, Dima Bilan became the first Russian artist ever to win the international Eurovision song contest, with the song “Believe.” His songs are always topping Russian and foreign charts. Dima Bilan is supported by a huge army of fans and friends, and he has received more than 70 awards in the music sphere. Dima Bilan is the only artist who has won the Best Russian Act EMA six times.
Han Geng (Asia Pacific)
Known as “the most influential male celebrity in China,” Chinese Mando-pop singer and actor Han Geng debuted in South Korea in 2005 as the only Chinese member of Super Junior but left to focus on a solo career in 2009. His first solo album sold over 1 million copies, and tickets to his first concert sold out in a record-breaking 37 minutes. To date, he has received more than 20 awards for his solo works, including Best Artist of The Year and Most Popular Artist in Asia in 2011. Han Geng’s second album “Hope in the Darkness” was released in July 2012.
Ahmed Soultan (Africa/India/Middle East)
With the success of his first single “Ya Salam,” Ahmed Soultan reveals himself as the precursor of a new style he likes to call Afrobian Soul. His album “Tolerance” has been so greatly welcomed, and given such wide media coverage, that Ahmed Soultan has soon become one of the figureheads of the “Nayda,” the new Moroccan scene. After a second album, released in 2009, in which he definitely asserts himself, his popularity in and over the Maghreb got confirmed. Singing in four languages (Amazigh, Arabic, English and French), he has been part of many international musical events, among them the Kora Awards in South Africa, the opening of a Tiken Jah Fakoli concert in Dakar, his contribution to the People Power song (with Talib Kweli, Angelique Kidjo and Zap Mama), Fez’s Sacred Musics Festival, Marrakech’s Moonfest, Casablanca Music Festival, and many other European scenes (Barcelona, Amsterdam, Paris). He collaborated with the Ne-Yo on a song called “Amazing You” and in 2011, his song “Jokko” was nominated as best North African song and best African reggae song of the year. He’s now working on his third album (planned for spring 2013), for which he promises amazing and unexpected collaborations.
Rihanna (North America)
The Barbados-born R&B singer is an international megastar who has sold more than 25 million albums worldwide.
Restart (Latin America)
Restart is a favorite band of fans and a huge success, and was last year’s Worldwide Act nominee for Latin America. They have many stories to tell, especially when it comes to the VMB, the annual award show for MTV Brasil: in 2010, the group was left with five statuettes. Thomas, Koba, Pe Lu and Pe Lanza formed the band in 2008 and since then, they have released three albums. Their latest release was “Geração Z” in 2011. Thanks to their international success, the group recently recorded their songs in Spanish, once again demonstrating their success both in Brazil and abroad.
The “2012 MTV EMA” will air across MTV’s global network of more than 60 channels reaching nearly 700 million households around the world as well as through syndication. In addition, its convergent programming and content will reach the entire interactive community, via more than 200 MTV digital media properties around the world. Bruce Gillmer and Richard Godfrey are Executive Producers for the “2012 MTV EMA.” For all MTV EMA news and announcements, check out EMA on Facebook, follow us @mtvema or download the MTV EMA app for free at the iTunes store.