Mtv Takes Vmas To Fla.

With six nominations for his music video "99 Problems," rapper Jay-Z tops the list of nominees for the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards. Beyoncé, No Doubt and OutKast are close behind, with five nominations each.

Beyoncé, last year's big winner, earned four nods for her clip "Naughty Girl" and one for "Me, Myself and I." No Doubt was nominated for "It's My Life," and OutKast's nods were for "Hey Ya!"

MTV announced the nominations at a press conference here July 27.

The awards will be broadcast live Aug. 29 at 8 p.m. EST from Miami's American Airlines Arena.

A FEW FIRSTS

This marks the first time in the VMAs' 20-year history that the event will take place outside New York or Los Angeles.

This year's awards will mark other firsts as well. Chiefly, these will be the first unhosted VMAs. Instead of a host, MTV/MTV Films/MTV2 president Van Toffler said, producers will "creatively pair performers and presenters."

Additionally, American Airlines Arena is larger than any previous VMAs venue. Its size will allow MTV to work with an unprecedented five stages.

Dave Sirulnick, the event's executive producer, said he plans to use "all available space, going all the way up to the ceiling and into the audience."

As a result, Toffler told Billboard, the production costs for this year's VMAs may surpass those of previous shows.

In a bow to Florida's warm climate and the arena's location at the foot of Biscayne Bay, red-carpet guests will arrive by boat instead of limousine.

"I got a sexy boat," three-time nominee Usher said at the press conference, which took place outside in sweltering heat.

"If I stay a bit longer, I'll drop to a size two or three," Missy Elliott joked.

MTV has confirmed several performers for the awards, including Usher, Jessica Simpson and Kanye West. Hoobastank, Yellowcard and Jet will team up for a rock performance. All have received VMA nominations this year.

Although Toffler said the awards show would "celebrate the sights and sounds" of Miami, the confirmed appearances did not include any Latin acts or Spanish-language performances.

MTV will make available 2,000 VMA tickets for sale to the public. The network also plans a series of activities in Miami during the week of the show, when both "Total Request Live" and "MTV News" will broadcast from the city.

In another first for the VMAs, the winner of the viewers' choice award will be decided in the VMAyhem Viewers' Choice Playoffs. Viewers can visit mtv.com to vote on the category's five finalists from a short-list of 40. Once the five finalists are chosen, viewers can cast votes for the winner until moments before the envelope is opened.

A group of approximately 500 viewers and members of the music industry voted electronically to choose the 2004 VMA nominees. Winners are chosen by viewers through mtv.com.

For a full list of nominees, visit billboard.com.