The 2003 MTV Video Music Awards aired live on August 28, 2003, honoring the best
music videos from June 1, 2002, to June 9, 2003. The show was hosted by
Chris Rock at the
Radio City Music Hall in
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
. The ceremony is best remembered for
Madonna kissing
Britney Spears and
Christina Aguilera during the show's opening performance.
Background
MTV announced on June 25 that the 2003 Video Music Awards would be held on August 28 at Radio City Music Hall and hosted by Chris Rock. Nominees were announced on July 24. The ceremony broadcast was preceded by the ''2003 MTV Video Music Awards Opening Act''. Hosted by
Kurt Loder
Kurtis Loder (born May 5, 1945) is an American entertainment critic, author, columnist, and television personality. He served in the 1980s as editor at ''Rolling Stone'', during a tenure that ''Reason'' later called "legendary". He has contribute ...
and
SuChin Pak with reports from
John Norris, Iann Robinson,
Sway, and
Gideon Yago
Gideon Yago (born February 19, 1978) is a writer and former correspondent for MTV News and CBS News though he is most recognized for his contributions to MTV.
Background
Yago was born in Madison, Wisconsin to a German-born, Roman Catholic mothe ...
, the broadcast featured red carpet interviews, pre-taped features on the career of
Johnny Cash
John R. Cash (born J. R. Cash; February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American country singer-songwriter. Much of Cash's music contained themes of sorrow, moral tribulation, and redemption, especially in the later stages of his c ...
and a comparison between
Eminem and
50 Cent, and performances from
Sean Paul and
Black Eyed Peas.
This was the final year to present International Viewers' Choice award in responding MTV's international affiliates.
Performances
Presenters
Pre-show
*
Kurt Loder
Kurtis Loder (born May 5, 1945) is an American entertainment critic, author, columnist, and television personality. He served in the 1980s as editor at ''Rolling Stone'', during a tenure that ''Reason'' later called "legendary". He has contribute ...
and
SuChin Pak – announced the winners of the professional categories
*
Carmen Electra,
Dave Navarro
David Michael Navarro (born June 7, 1967) is an American guitarist. He is best known as a member of the rock band Jane's Addiction, with whom he has recorded four studio albums. Between 1993 and 1998, Navarro was the guitarist of the Red Hot C ...
and Iann Robinson – presented Breakthrough Video and Best Direction in a Video
Main show
*
LeBron James and
Ashanti – presented Best Hip-Hop Video
*
Tony Hawk and
Bam Margera – introduced
Good Charlotte
Good Charlotte is an American rock band from Waldorf, Maryland that formed in 1996. Since 2005, the band's lineup has consisted of twin brothers Joel Madden (lead vocals) and Benji Madden (guitar and vocals), Paul Thomas (bass), Billy Martin ( ...
*
Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Brianne Clarkson (born April 24, 1982) is an American singer, songwriter, author, and television personality. She rose to fame after winning the first season of '' American Idol'' in 2002, which earned her a record deal with RCA. Her de ...
and
Ludacris – presented Best R&B Video
*
Amy Lee
Amy Lynn Hartzler (; born December 13, 1981) is an American singer-songwriter and musician. She is the co-founder, lead vocalist, and lead songwriter of the rock band Evanescence. Alongside her contributions with the band, Lee has also particip ...
,
Ben Moody and
Sean Paul – presented Best Video from a Film
*
Crank Yankers
''Crank Yankers'' is an American adult puppet television show produced by Adam Carolla, Jimmy Kimmel and Daniel Kellison. It features actual crank calls made by show regulars and celebrity guests, while re-enacted onscreen by puppets for a vi ...
– appeared in different vignettes presenting Viewer's Choice Award voting procedures
*
Nelly and
Murphy Lee – introduced
Christina Aguilera
*
OutKast and
Iggy Pop – presented the MTV2 Award
*
David Spade and
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen – presented Best Pop Video
*
P. Diddy
Sean Combs (born Sean John Combs; November 4, 1969), also known by his stage names Puff Daddy, P. Diddy, Puffy, or Diddy, is an American rapper, actor, record producer, and record executive. Born in New York City, he worked as a talent directo ...
– introduced
Run-D.M.C.
Run-DMC (also spelled Run-D.M.C.) was an American hip hop group from Hollis, Queens, New York City, founded in 1983 by Joseph Simmons, Darryl McDaniels, and Jason Mizell. Run-DMC is regarded as one of the most influential acts in the history of ...
and presented Best Rap Video with them
*
Hilary Duff
Hilary Erhard Duff (born September 28, 1987) is an American actress and singer. She is the recipient of various accolades, including seven Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards, four Teen Choice Awards and two Young Artist Awards. She began her acti ...
,
Lil Jon and
Jason Biggs – presented Best Group Video
*
Eminem and "Special Ed" (from ''
Crank Yankers
''Crank Yankers'' is an American adult puppet television show produced by Adam Carolla, Jimmy Kimmel and Daniel Kellison. It features actual crank calls made by show regulars and celebrity guests, while re-enacted onscreen by puppets for a vi ...
'') – introduced
50 Cent
*
Jimmy Fallon and the cast from ''
Queer Eye for the Straight Guy'' – presented Best Female Video
*
Fred Durst – introduced
Jack Black and presented Best Rock Video with him
*
DMX
Earl Simmons (December 18, 1970 – April 9, 2021), known professionally as DMX, was an American rapper and actor. He began rapping in the early 1990s and released his debut album ''It's Dark and Hell Is Hot'' in 1998, to both critical acclaim ...
– introduced
Mary J. Blige
*
Kelly Osbourne and
Avril Lavigne
Avril Ramona Lavigne ( ; born September 27, 1984) is a Canadian singer and songwriter. At age 16, she signed a two-album recording contract with Arista Records. Her debut studio album, '' Let Go'' (2002), is the best-selling album of the 2 ...
– presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to
Duran Duran and presented Best Dance Video with them
*
Justin Timberlake – introduced
Coldplay
*
Venus and
Serena Williams
Serena Jameka Williams (born September 26, 1981) is an American inactive professional tennis player. Considered among the greatest tennis players of all time, she was ranked world No. 1 in singles by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) fo ...
– presented Best Male Video
*
Mýa
Mya Marie Harrison (; born October 10, 1979), (stylized as Mýa), is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and actress. Born into a musical family, she studied ballet, jazz, and tap dance as a child. Initially, Mýa began her career as a VJ ...
and
Pamela Anderson
Pamela Denise Anderson (born July 1, 1967) is a Canadian-American actress and model. She is best known for her glamour modeling work in ''Playboy'' magazine and for her appearances on the television series ''Baywatch'' (1992–1997).
Ander ...
– presented Best New Artist in a Video
*
Pharrell and
Chester Bennington – introduced
Beyoncé
*
Ben Stiller and
Drew Barrymore – presented Viewer's Choice
*
Adam Sandler and
Snoop Dogg
Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. (born October 20, 1971), known professionally as Snoop Dogg (previously Snoop Doggy Dogg and briefly Snoop Lion), is an American rapper. His fame dates back to 1992 when he featured on Dr. Dre's debut solo single, " ...
(with
Bishop Don "Magic" Juan) – presented Video of the Year
Winners and nominees
Nominees were selected by a group of approximately 5,000 viewers and members of the music industry. Winners in general and professional categories were selected by a group of 500 members of the music industry.
Winners of the Viewer's Choice award and the MTV2 Award were selected by viewers. Voting for the MTV2 Award and Viewer's Choice award was conducted on MTV's website and, in the case of the latter award, through phone voting that continued through the ceremony broadcast.
Winners are in bold text.
See also
*
2003 MTV Europe Music Awards
The 2003 MTV Europe Music Awards were held in Western Harbour in Edinburgh, Scotland. The awards ceremony was held in a 6,000-capacity big top arena constructed specifically for the main event.
On the night, Justin Timberlake notably received a ...
References
External links
Official MTV site
{{DEFAULTSORT:2003 MTV Video Music Awards
2003
MTV Video Music Awards
The MTV Video Music Awards (commonly abbreviated as the VMAs) is an award show presented by the cable channel MTV to honour the best in the music video medium. Originally conceived as an alternative to the Grammy Awards (in the video category) ...
MTV Video Music Awards
The MTV Video Music Awards (commonly abbreviated as the VMAs) is an award show presented by the cable channel MTV to honour the best in the music video medium. Originally conceived as an alternative to the Grammy Awards (in the video category) ...
MTV Video Music Awards
The MTV Video Music Awards (commonly abbreviated as the VMAs) is an award show presented by the cable channel MTV to honour the best in the music video medium. Originally conceived as an alternative to the Grammy Awards (in the video category) ...