Mexican Acts Top Mtv Noms

Mexican acts Julieta Venegas and Café Tacuba, both fresh from winning Latin Grammys, are the top nominees for the third annual MTV Video Music Awards Latin America 2004.

Venegas and Café Tacuba each received five nominations, including video of the year and artist of the year.

Venegas' video nomination is for "Andar Conmigo," directed by Santiago H. Pueyrredón, while Café Tacuba's is for "Eres," directed by Rogelio Sikander.

Spaniard Alejandro Sanz and Argentines Diego Torres and Babasónicos earned four nominations each. Chilean rock band La Ley took three.

Save for Babasónicos, whose following is mostly limited to Argentina, the main nominees are established names with broad followings in the rock/pop and alternative scene.

However, Babsónicos, who is signed to indie Argentine label Pop Art, is an MTV Latin America favorite and has been a multiple nominee in past editions of the awards.

The VMALAs will air live Oct. 21 on MTV Latin America from the Jackie Gleason Theater in Miami Beach.

This year's event introduces a new award category, hip-hop/R&B international artist, whose nominees are 50 Cent, Beastie Boys, Black Eyed Peas, OutKast and Usher. There are now a total of 18 categories.

Five nominees in each category are voted on by some 300 music industry professionals and MTV Latin America viewers who receive their ballots by mail and vote via the Internet.

Final winners will be selected by fans who can cast votes on mtvla.com or their cell phones between Sept. 7 and Oct. 5.

This is the first time in the event's young history that viewers can vote in all categories with their cell phones. In addition, the phone option, once limited to Mexican voters, is now open to fans throughout Latin America.