World Music Awards expecting a live time in Vegas

Spencer Patterson

Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2004 | 8:28 a.m.

On Wednesday the event will undergo an extreme makeover Las Vegas style.

Not only will the WMAs take place in Southern Nevada's largest indoor venue, the Thomas & Mack Center, with young music fans expected to fill out much of the audience, but for the first time the awards show will go out live to American audiences.

"ABC really wanted it live ... and it's logistically not possible (to go live from Monaco) because of the time difference," said the show's executive producer, Melissa Corken of Marcor International Productions. "If we tape at 8 it's like 11 in the morning L.A. time.

"When we did it in Monaco it would go on ABC like a month later, and of course it would lose a little bit of heat."

The two-hour event kicks off at 6 p.m. and goes out live to the East Coast. It will be taped and televised in Las Vegas beginning at 9 p.m. on ABC (Channel 13). The show is expected to be seen by more than 1 billion viewers in more than 160 countries in the coming weeks.

Tickets are available from $63 to $157.50. Doors open at 4:30 p.m., with all ticket holders advised to be in their seats by 5:45.

Corken said once a move to the United States was considered, Las Vegas became the obvious destination.

"Vegas is a very happening city. It's explosive," Corken said. "I think Vegas is very much like Monte Carlo. It's glamorous, there's great night life, fabulous dining areas, beautiful clubs.

"Like Monte Carlo, it's a jewel."

Corken added that by hosting the WMAs in Las Vegas, the show has been able to attract the top names in the business more easily.

"After 9/11 a lot of the American superstars weren't so willing to travel to Europe, whereas by doing it in Vegas we're getting a full turnout," she said.

Among the musicians scheduled to participate either as performers or presenters: Marc Anthony, Hilary Duff, Josh Groban, Hoobastank, Alicia Keys, Avril Lavigne, Maroon 5, Usher and Kanye West.

Celine Dion is slated to received a prestigious Diamond Award for worldwide sales totaling more than 100 million albums. The French-Canadian vocalist is also expected to perform.

Wednesday's show will also feature a tribute to music mogul Clive Davis, who founded Arista Records in 1974 and helped launch the careers of Janis Joplin, Santana, Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston, among others.

According to Corken, approximately 12 of the WMAs' many annual awards will be presented during the telecast. Among the most coveted: World's Best Artist, World's Best Pop Female Artist and World's Best Pop Male Artist.

Finalists in each category can be found on the official Web site of the World Music Awards, www.worldmusic-awards.com.

Winners are determined entirely by worldwide sales figures from Aug. 1, 2003, through July 31, 2004.

"This is the people's choice awards, because the people decide who wins," Corken said. "It's not a jury of a thousand industry folks deciding who is the best. It's the people out there buying the records. It's very democratic."

And given that process for selecting award winners, Corken said the World Music Awards' new home should provide an ideal backdrop.

"We want the heat from the audience," Corken said. "It's really good on camera to have those screaming fans, and to show the interaction between the stage and those screaming fans."

Each year proceeds from the World Music Awards go to the Monaco Presence and Aide Foundation, which provides facilities such as schools and hospitals in disadvantaged areas throughout the world. Benefits from this year's event will go toward construction of a hospital in Africa, Corken said.