KANYE WEST TO RECEIVE ARTIST ACHIEVEMENT AWARD; AMERICAN IDOL CARRIE UNDERWOOD TO PERFORM AT "THE 2005 BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS" LIVE FROM THE MGM GRAND IN LAS VEGAS TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, ON FOX

50 Cent, Lil' Jon, Linkin Park and Chris Brown to Appear

Kanye West will receive the 2005 Artist Achievement Award at THE 2005 BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS, Tuesday, Dec. 6 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/tape-delayed PT) on FOX. American Idol Carrie Underwood will join previously announced performers Green Day, Toby Keith and R. Kelly on stage during the two-hour live event in Las Vegas. 50 Cent, Lil Jon, Linkin Park and Chris Brown will also make special appearances, joining previously announced participants Carmen Electra, Bo Bice, Nick Cannon, Chingy, Hulk & Brooke Hogan and the Blue Man Group. The show's host, additional performers and additional artists scheduled to appear will be announced soon.

The Artist Achievement Award recognizes an extraordinary artist who has redefined the landscape of popular music and has excelled in Billboard chart accomplishments. Since 1993, the award has been bestowed upon a select number of artists including Rod Stewart (1993), Eric Clapton (1994), Madonna (1996), Garth Brooks (1997), Aerosmith (1999), Janet Jackson (2001), Cher (2002) and Destiny's Child (2004).

"Some say Kanye West is the most important artist working in hip-hop today; but he is quite possibly the most important artist currently working in any musical genre. He was nominated for ten Grammys this year�more than any other artist. His latest album, "Late Registration," is one of the best-reviewed records of the year. He is quite simply a unique and ferocious talent and well deserving of this year's Artist Achievement Award," said Bob Bain, executive producer of the show.

"Kanye West has not only had a huge impact on R&B/Hip-Hop, he has transformed modern music as a whole," said Tamara Conniff, co-executive editor of Billboard.

In just over five years, Kanye West has written and produced 24 top-40 hits on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, including the No. 1's "Gold Digger" (Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx), "Slow Jamz" (Twista featuring Kanye West and Jamie Foxx), "You Don't Know My Name" (Alicia Keys) and "Stand Up" (Ludacris featuring Shawnna). Kanye's latest album, "Late Registration," debuted at No. 1 on both The Billboard 200 and the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts, selling over 860,000 units in its first week. West has produced hits for Jay-Z, Beyonce, Alicia Keys, Janet Jackson, Common, The Game, John Legend, Brandy and Shyne, among many others.

Carrie Underwood became America's sweetheart during the fourth season of AMERICAN IDOL when she took home the top honor. Underwood recently released her debut album "Some Hearts." The first single from the album, "Jesus, Take The Wheel," is currently No. 18 on the Hot Country Songs Chart.

Live from the legendary Las Vegas Strip and featuring performances and appearances by the year's chart-topping artists, THE 2005 BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS recognizes the year's leading artists and songs as determined by actual performance on Billboard's weekly charts. The show celebrates the record-buying, Internet-downloading and radio-listening public's favorite songs, albums and performers, creating a true souvenir of the year in music.

Now in its 111th year, Billboard is the world's premier music publication and a diverse digital, events and brand-licensing platform. Billboard publishes the most trusted charts and offers unrivaled reporting about the latest music, video and digital entertainment issues and trends. Billboard is the flagship property for the Billboard Information Group, which also consists of Billboard.biz, Billboard.com, Billboard Chart Alert, Billboard Information Network (BIN), Billboard Directories, Billboard Licensing & Events and Billboard Radio Monitor. Billboard's many strategic partners include Microsoft, mForma, Reuters, Sirius Satellite Radio, Telemundo, Univision Radio, ABC Radio Networks, Azteca America and Billboard sister companies Nielsen SoundScan and Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems. These partnerships leverage Billboard's proprietary data, charts and information resources to develop broadcast entertainment, digital and mobile platforms and contextual commerce applications that expand Billboard's platforms and consumer reach.

Billboard is headquartered in New York with bureaus in Boston, London, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville and Washington, DC. The Group is a unit of VNU Business Media, a worldwide media company that provides specialized publications, electronically delivered data, expositions and marketing services and is owned by VNU Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Netherlands-based VNU, an international publishing and information company.

MGM Grand, "The City of Entertainment" in Las Vegas, features 5,034 guest rooms and suites, a state-of-the-art gaming complex, world-class entertainment venues, signature restaurants by celebrity chefs and the $100 million Conference Center for meetings/conventions, all centrally located on the Las Vegas Strip. For room availability and information about MGM Grand, call (800) 929-1111 or (702) 891-7777 or log onto the website at www.mgmgrand.com.

Bob Bain returns for his 10th year as executive producer of the Billboard Music Awards. Bruce Gowers will direct and Greg Sills will serve as supervising producer. Paul Flattery is producer and Wylleen May is the executive in charge of production.