STEVIE WONDER TO RECEIVE THE CENTURY AWARD AT "THE 2004 BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS" WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, ON FOX

Stevie Wonder will receive the Century Award, Billboard Magazine's highest accolade, at THE 2004 BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS, airing live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Wednesday, Dec. 8 (8:00-10:00 PM Live ET/Tape-delayed PT) on FOX. The Century Award acknowledges the uncommon excellence of an artist's still-unfolding body of work.

Nineteen-time Grammy Award winner Stevie Wonder has been at the forefront of the music industry for over four decades and his music has touched the lives of people around the world. Of his 28 top-10 singles, 10 have been No. 1's, including the hits "Superstition," "You Are the Sunshine of My Life," "I Just Called To Say I Love You," "Fingertips-Pt. 2," "You Haven't Done Nothin'," "I Wish," "Sir Duke" and "Ebony and Ivory." Wonder holds the Billboard record for most No. 1 R&B/Hip Hop albums for a solo male. He has also received three Grammy Album of the Year statues for "Songs in the Key of Life," "Fulfillingness' First Finale" and "Innervisions."

"It's an honor to be included in the amazing group of artists who have received Billboard's Century Award," Wonder says. "I'm overjoyed."

Previous recipients of the Century Award include George Harrison, Buddy Guy, Billy Joel, Joni Mitchell, Carlos Santana, Chet Atkins, James Taylor, Emmylou Harris, Randy Newman, John Mellencamp, Annie Lennox and Sting.

"Steve Wonder is an American icon," says Billboard co-executive editor Tamara Conniff. "His genius has transformed not only R&B, but popular music overall. He has used his vibrant music as a vehicle to sing about the highs and lows of romance while not shying away from addressing racial, social and spiritual issues. Stevie represents the essence of Billboard's Century Award � an artist whose career and body of work continue to evolve and influence new generations of musicians. We are honored to present him with our 2004 accolade."

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Bob Bain returns for his ninth year as executive producer of the BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS. Greg Sills will serve as supervising producer. Paul Flattery and Michael Levitt are producers. Bruce Gowers is the show's director and Wylleen May is the executive in charge of production.