NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
On the heels of MTV's third consecutive quarter of growth, its best
streak in seven years, the 2018 "MTV VMAs" will return to NYC and air
live on Monday, August 20 from Radio City Music Hall.
Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment Commissioner Julie Menin today
joined the iconic VMA Moon Person; Bruce Gillmer, Global Head of
Music/Talent, Co-Brand Lead, MTV International; and Darren Pfeffer,
Executive Vice President of MSG Live, to announce the news with a street
renaming and symbolic "moon landing" on Manhattan's Avenue of the
Americas, under the marquee of the famed venue. Radio City Music Hall
was the home of the inaugural VMAs in 1984 and this will mark the 12th
time the show has been held there - the most for any VMA location. 2018
will be the 17th time the "MTV VMAs" have been held in New
York City.
"New York City's creative energy has always fueled those who live and
work here. This is where music, film, and art collide and where the
Video Music Awards were born," said Mayor de Blasio. "There is no better
place to host the MTV VMAs than in New York City at one of the most
iconic venues in the world."
"We are so pleased that the MTV VMAs will be returning to their roots in
New York City for this year's celebration of music, and entertainment,"
said Media and Entertainment Commissioner Julie Menin. "Prestigious
awards shows like the VMAs and the Grammys not only reconfirm New York
City's status as the music capital of the country, but they bring
tremendous economic benefits to their host city, an estimated $50
million in the case of the VMAs. I thank MTV and Viacom for their
partnership, and we look forward to rolling out the red carpet for one
of the music industry's most entertaining nights."
"We're thrilled that the ‘MTV Video Music Awards' will be returning to
Radio City Music Hall, where they began in 1984," said Andy Lustgarten,
President of The Madison Square Garden Company. "The VMAs are unlike any
other event - combining history-making music with exciting and
unexpected moments that create an unforgettable experience, and Radio
City, as the Showplace of the Nation, is the perfect backdrop for this
celebration."
New York City is a fitting choice to host the VMAs. It is the birthplace
and incubator of so many of music's most popular genres - from salsa
music in East Harlem to disco in midtown, from punk rock in the East
Village to hip hop in the Bronx. The city continues to be at the
forefront of music innovation with 72 digital music companies - more
than San Francisco and Los Angeles combined.
Jesse Ignjatovic returns as Executive Producer for the 2018 "MTV Video
Music Awards." Bruce Gillmer and Garrett English are Executive
Producers. Melanie Block serves as Executive in Charge of Production.
Amani Duncan is Music Executive in Charge. Wendy Plaut is Celebrity
Talent Executive in Charge.
Official sponsors of the 2018 "MTV Video Music Awards" include PEPSI®
and Taco Bell®.
Follow @MTV and @VMAs on social to keep up with all-things #VMAs.
Source: Nielsen; P18-34 data unless otherwise noted. Prime year over
year growth based on L3, Prime (Mon-Sun, 8p-11p) coverage ratings.
About MTV:
MTV is a global youth culture brand driven by the creative spirit of
music. For more information, check out http://www.mtvpress.com.
MTV is a unit of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA).
About The Madison Square Garden Company:
The Madison Square Garden Company (MSG) is a world leader in live sports
and entertainment experiences. The company presents or hosts a broad
array of premier events in its diverse collection of iconic venues: New
York's Madison Square Garden, The Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden,
Radio City Music Hall and Beacon Theatre; the Forum in Inglewood, CA;
The Chicago Theatre; and the Wang Theatre in Boston. Other MSG
properties include legendary sports franchises: the New York Knicks
(NBA), the New York Rangers (NHL) and the New York Liberty (WNBA); two
development league teams - the Westchester Knicks (NBAGL) and the
Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL); and one of the leading North American esports
organizations, Counter Logic Gaming. In addition, the Company features
the popular original production - the Christmas Spectacular Starring
the Radio City Rockettes - and through Boston Calling Events,
produces New England's preeminent Boston Calling Music Festival. Also
under the MSG umbrella is TAO Group, a world-class hospitality group
with globally-recognized entertainment dining and nightlife brands: Tao,
Marquee, Lavo, Avenue, The Stanton Social, Beauty & Essex and Vandal.
More information is available at www.themadisonsquaregardencompany.com
About the NYC Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment:
The Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment encompasses the key
economic and creative sectors of film, TV, theater, music, advertising,
publishing, and digital content. In total, these portfolios account for
over 305,000 jobs in New York City, and an economic output of $104
billion. The agency also oversees NYC Media, the largest municipal
broadcasting entity in the country, including five cable channels and an
FM radio channel with a reach of 18 million viewers and 16 million
listeners in the greater metropolitan area. The newly created Office of
Nightlife is also housed at MOME.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180417006373/en/
MTV
Jason Shumaker, 212-846-7325
Jason.Shumaker@viacom.com
or
Katie
Magnotta, 212-846-5793
Katie.Magnotta@viacom.com
or
NYC
Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment
Janet Allon,
347-673-3847
jallon@media.nyc.gov
Source: MTV
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