2004 MTV Video Music Awards
The 2004 MTV Video Music Awards aired live on August 29, 2004, honoring the best music videos from the previous year. The show took place at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida, and, unlike in previous years, had no host.
Background
MTV announced on April 16 that the 2004 Video Music Awards would be held on August 29 at the American Airlines Arena in Miami. The move to Miami was partially caused by a date conflict with the 2004 Republican National Convention, which was held from August 30 to September 2 in the VMAs' traditional location of New York City. Nominees were announced on July 27 at a press conference hosted by Missy Elliott and Usher in Miami. At the same press conference, MTV announced that the ceremony would not have a host, partially due to the scale of the venue. The ceremony broadcast was preceded by the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards Pre-Show by the Shore, marking the first time since 1990 that the Opening Act branding was not used for a VMAs pre-show. Hosted by Kurt Loder and SuChin Pak with reports from John Norris, Sway, and Gideon Yago, the broadcast featured red carpet interviews. The broadcast marked the first time that MTV used a tape delay for the VMAs, which indirectly resulted from the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy. Several aspects of the ceremony tied into MTV's Choose or Lose 2004 campaign encouraging youth voter turnout, including Outkast's performance and the appearance of the Bush sisters and Kerry sisters.Presenters
Pre-show
- Kurt Loder and SuChin Pak – announced the winners of the professional categories and Breakthrough Video
Main show
- Jennifer Lopez – opened the show and introduced Usher
- Will Smith – introduced Shaquille O'Neal and presented Best Pop Video with him
- Hilary Duff and Matthew Lillard – presented Best Rap Video
- Shakira – introduced Jet, Hoobastank and Yellowcard
- Jon Stewart – appeared in several vignettes explaining the Viewer's Choice award voting procedures
- Omarion and Eva Mendes – presented Best Female Video
- Marc Anthony – introduced Kanye West
- Christina Aguilera and Missy Elliott – presented Best Male Video
- Carson Daly – introduced the Kerry and Bush sisters and the next pair of presenters
- The Kerry and Bush sisters – urged viewers to vote on the next elections and reminded them to donate to the Red Cross to help the victims of Hurricane Charley
- Lenny Kravitz and Naomi Campbell – presented Best R&B Video
- Dave Chappelle – performed a short comic monologue and introduced Lil Jon, Petey Pablo, and the Terror Squad; later he also presented Jay-Z with a gift for his retirement
- Gwen Stefani and Owen Wilson – presented Best Rock Video
- Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen – introduced Jessica Simpson
- D12 and Good Charlotte – presented Best Video Game Soundtrack
- Rev. Al Sharpton – appeared during one of Jon Stewart's vignettes
- Jimmy Fallon, Queen Latifah and Wayne Coyne – presented Best Hip-Hop Video
- Will Forte – played "Gary," the announcer with whom Fallon had a verbal spat while trying to present an award, and introduced Wayne Coyne
- Xzibit and Ludacris – introduced Nelly and Christina Aguilera
- P. Diddy and Mase – presented Best Dance Video
- Christina Milian and LL Cool J – introduced Alicia Keys
- Paris Hilton and Nick Lachey – presented Best Group Video
- Ashlee Simpson and Tony Hawk – presented Best New Artist in a Video
- Alicia Keys – paid tribute to Ray Charles
- Beastie Boys and "Sasquatch" – presented the MTV2 Award
- Mandy Moore and Marilyn Manson – introduced The Polyphonic Spree
- JoJo – introduced American gold medalists Kaitlin Sandeno, Kerri Walsh, Misty May and Carly Patterson, and presented Viewer's Choice with them
- Gwyneth Paltrow – presented Video of the Year
- John Mellencamp and Amy Lee – introduced OutKast
- * Also, MTV VJs Sway, La La, Damien Fahey and Vanessa Minnillo emceed and interviewed celebrities backstage before several commercial breaks