MTV NEWS GIVES VIEWERS A VIP PASS TO THE "2010 VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS PRESHOW" ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 AT 8PM ET/PT

Nicki Minaj Gives Fans Her Love With First-Ever Televised Solo Performance

Twitter Jockey Gabi Will Report Live Trends Via Twitter Tracker

New York, NY (September 2, 2010) - MTV News kicks off the biggest night in music with the first-ever televised solo performance from Young Money's first lady, Nicki Minaj at the "2010 VMA Pre-Show" on Sunday, September 12 at 8pm (Live ET/Tape Delayed PT.) Nicki Minaj, one of hip-hop's most innovative artists today known for her playful lyrics and fashion forward style, will set the carpet on fire with a live performance of her hit single "Your Love." Beginning Tuesday, September 7th, MTV & Nicki Minaj will launch a Twitter contest in which ten lucky fans will win a front row spot to watch her performance. For detailed information on the contest, follow both @NickiMinaj and @MTVTJ. Winners will be announced on Friday, September 10th.

"I am truly honored to be a part of this year's VMAs. Just yesterday I was an underground female rapper. See Barbz? Dreams do come true," says Nicki Minaj.

Of course that's not all, MTV News correspondents Sway, Tim Kash, Suchin Pak, and Jim Cantiello will bring the audience all of the action from outside the Nokia Theater L.A. LIVE when they interview the night's hottest stars as they arrive to the VMA white carpet. Also, MTV's first-ever TJ (Twitter Jockey,) Gabi Gregg, will be on hand to helm MTV News' Twitter Tracker, a dynamic visualization of the global VMA conversation on Twitter. Gabi will be gauging up-to-the-minute Twitter volume on VMA nominees, performers and presenters, while vetting fan questions and Tweeting all the white carpet action @MTVTJ.

Additionally, award-winning documentary filmmaker Andrew Jenks of the upcoming MTV docu-series "World of Jenks" will visit the pre-show stage with rapper Maino to preview the "sneak peek" of his new series, which premieres on Monday, September 13, at 10 p.m. ET/PT. The special post- VMA "World of Jenks" sneak peek, featuring Maino, airs at 11pm ET/PT right after the "2010 MTV Video Music Awards."

To add to the thrill of the evening, MTV News will bring audiences a first-look at the hotly-anticipated Jackass 3D as seen through the eyes of the cast of the Jersey Shore. MTV News threw the cast a screening party of the movie in Seaside Heights, and will show audiences the reactions from the cast plus exclusive scenes from the movie. As a lead in to the "2010 MTV Video Music Awards Pre-Show, viewers will get to watch an all-new episode of "Jersey Shore" at 7p.m. ET/6p.m. C. Then during the live pre-show, the cast will hit the white carpet to treat fans to a never-before-seen bonus clip from the episode that aired that night.

As previously announced, comedienne Chelsea Handler will host the show and Linkin Park, Usher, Paramore, Eminem, Kanye West, Justin Bieber, Drake, B.o.B and Florence + The Machine are confirmed to perform, along with Travie McCoy, Jason Derulo and Robyn who will take the stage with this year's VMA house artist, deadmau5. In addition, Ke$ha, Nicki Minaj, Emma Stone, Penn Badgley, Trey Songz, Ashley Greene, Selena Gomez , Ne-Yo and The Social Network's Justin Timberlake, Jesse Eisenberg and Andrew Garfield are confirmed to present.

Viewers can vote for "Best New Artist" now by visiting vma.mtv.com. In addition, text voting for "Best New Artist" is open to all wireless carrier subscribers by texting BNA to 97979. Voting continues through the show, live on September 12. Also, Verizon Wireless subscribers can vote in all categories by texting VMA to 97979 (standard message rates apply.)

Jesse Ignjatovic/Den of Thieves is the Executive Producer for the "2010 MTV Video Music Awards." Dave Sirulnick is Executive Producer. Garrett English is co-Executive Producer/Executive in Charge of Production. Amy Doyle is co-Executive Producer. Joanna Bomberg is Executive in Charge of Music and Talent. Jen Jones is co- Executive Producer. Hamish Hamilton is Director. Wendy Plaut is Celebrity Talent Executive.

Dave Sirulnick and Ryan Kroft are Executive Producers for the "2010 MTV Video Music Awards Pre-Show." Jonathan Mussman is Executive in Charge. Steve Paley is Director. Whitney-Gayle Benta is Talent Executive.

The "2010 MTV Video Music Award Pre-Show performance is sponsored by Honda CR-Z Sport Hybrid.

Official sponsors of the "2010 MTV Video Music Awards" are 5� REACT� Gum, freecreditscore.com�, Honda CR-Z Sport Hybrid, Rhapsody�, Samsung Fascinate a Galaxy S phone, Taco Bell� and Verizon Wireless.

The "2010 MTV Video Music Awards" will be available to a potential viewing audience of more than 1.2 billion people via MTV's global network of 63 channels reaching 605 million households around the world as well as through syndication. In addition, its convergent programming & content will reach the entire interactive community, via MTV's more than 200 digital media properties around the world.

About MTV:

MTV is the dynamic, vibrant experiment at the intersection of music, creativity and youth culture. For over 28 years, MTV has evolved, challenged the norm, and detonated boundaries -- giving each new generation a creative outlet and voice that entertains, informs and unites on every platform and screen. On-air, MTV is the number one full day-ad supported network for P12-24. Online, MTV.com averaged 24.5 million monthly unique visitors during the second quarter of 2010 -- up +13% year-over-year. Average video streams for the second quarter of 2010 increased +8% from Q1/2010. And MTV's successful sibling networks MTV2 and mtvU each deliver unprecedented customized content, super-serving young males, music fans, and college students like no one else. MTV is part of MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms.