YouTube Fans Rock Out With First-Ever YouTube Music Awards on November 3, 2013

Lady Gaga, Eminem, and Arcade Fire to headline global event, created by YouTube and Spike Jonze, hosted by Jason Schwartzman and live-streamed
around the world on YouTube

Kuala Lumpur, 1st October, 2013: On Sunday, November 3rd, YouTube will host the firstever YouTube Music Awards, a celebration of music honoring the artists and songs that YouTube fans have turned into global hits over the past year. Unlike traditional award shows, this event will present performances by Eminem, Lady Gaga and Arcade Fire alongside other top artists and some of YouTube’s biggest stars including Lindsey Stirling and CDZA.

The YouTube Music Awards will also feature musical events from Seoul, Moscow, London and Brazil, culminating in a live awards celebration at Pier 36 in New York City. Presented in partnership with Kia Motors Corporation, renowned filmmaker and music-videovisionary Spike Jonze will be the creative director and acclaimed actor Jason Schwartzman will host the event with VICE Media and Sunset Lane acting as executive producers.

The YouTube Music Awards celebrate YouTube as the world’s go-to destination for music.

From Eminem breaking records with "Love the Way You Lie" to Arcade Fire’s innovative “Here Comes the Night Time” variety special and Lady Gaga reinventing the music video, established artists are connecting with hundreds of millions of people on YouTube who now define what the world is listening to. To celebrate this global music community, the YouTube Music Awards will be powered by the fans themselves.

In this first-of-its-kind event, nominations will be announced October 17 based on the videos that the world watched and shared over the past year, and judging will happen in full view as YouTube fans determine the songs and artists honored by sharing across social media.

“YouTube is home to both established artists and the next generation of musical talent,” said Danielle Tiedt, YouTube’s Vice President of Marketing.

“From catalyzing careers and pop culture phenomena to propelling a song’s rise to #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100, our global community’s influence is felt across the music industry. We’re thrilled to celebrate our fans and the music they love with a whole new kind of awards show -- the first-ever YouTube Music Awards - judged by you.”

"We're setting out to create a night that's all about making things and creativity in the spirit of everyone that uses YouTube," said Spike Jonze, filmmaker and creative director of the YouTube Music Awards.

"As well as giving out awards, we'll be making live music videos. The whole night should feel like a YouTube video itself. We're getting together a group of amazing artists and filmmakers to do this live -- tune-in to see what happens live."

“The YouTube Music Awards will be a first in digital and music entertainment and Kia is proud to be the presenting sponsor of this event,” said Soon-Nam Lee, Vice President of Marketing, Kia Motors Corporation.

“Digital media has played a pivotal role in how we connect with our customers, and with more consumers going online every day to engage with content, it is only natural that we lead the way with this YouTube sponsorship.”