So MTV milks the Rick Astley omnomnomination for the ratings (honestly...who's evar watched this before?) and then kicks him -and Anon- to the curb.Let?s not forget how much press Rick?s nomination and bestactever.com's considerable efforts to get him his award have generated for MTV and the EMAs throughout the campaign -that?s over a month of free publicity that actually sold the show and appealed to a global audience rather than the usual EU fanbase.In effect, Rick?s invitation to the awards was revoked after MTV approached Rick with an ultimatum that any dignified person with a shred of self-respect would have turned-down.MTV ?offered? to present Rick with his Best Act Ever award at a press conference the day before the awards show. Then their plan was to have Rick ?hang out? with his award in the wings, backstage at the artists? ?VIP bar? during the show and wait for all the ?real artists? come by and sign the award which they would then auction for charity. If they?d have asked him, they would have found out that he planned to do this anyway, but this wasn?t a proposal, it was an ?order?.I?m not sure exactly how the BAE award would have been dealt with had Rick agreed to these ?terms? but MTV had already decided that there would be no live performance and -seeing as the award had already been presented the day before- there would have been no actual on-stage presentation nor chance for Rick to thank his fans.Rick told them to f**k off. I would have too.So basically, MTV wanted Rick to have as little exposure as possible, tucked away behind the scenes to provide the occasional filler material as the ?real talent? (like Tokio Hotel!!!) passed through to add their ?valuable? autographs to Rick?s award as if to validate it.tl;dr: Rick?s nomination and win provided MTV?s EMAs with a tsunami of free press and a boost in global ratings. He was rewarded with the opportunity to be a prop on the set of their big show.At the very least, a public apology from MTV is in order and Rick should get the award he earned asap. He still hasn?t been contacted about who has his award and/or when/if he is to receive it so that he can auction it off to the charity of his choice.To say MTV showed no class in the handling of this matter is a gross understatement and the lack of respect shown to Rick, his team and his fans is disgraceful and bush league. MTV should be ashamed of this entire episode.As a veteran of the music business, I can assure you that if MTV pulled this s**t on a contemporary act with major label backing, MTV would be looking at major problems, ?sanctions? and would s**tting bricks right now. But Rick doesn?t have any of that /b/lackup so I?m sure they?re not losing sleep over it.Go get em ebaums (irc.partyvan.fm #astleysarmy)
MTV didn’t want to give him the award at the ceremony. He was supposed to sit backstage and have others write their autographs on the award...and then it would be sold for charity..."Here's your award, Rick. We'll need it back in a minute, after these people, who are more important than you, have written all over it. Thaaanks!"
adriaaanNov 7, 2008
Oh man that video was so lame. "What what in the butt"? And the robot? Oh f**king please! MTV is so f**king lame...
ctraiderthe1stNov 7, 2008
you are correct
kuriNov 7, 2008
Britney Spears Wins Album Of The Year'Blackout' takes the gong I think this tells you the quality of those awards. /facepalm
theod48Nov 8, 2008
best act? and I thought KISS had pulled one over our eyes....
odbtardNov 8, 2008
So MTV milks the Rick Astley omnomnomination for the ratings (honestly...who's evar watched this before?) and then kicks him -and Anon- to the curb.Let?s not forget how much press Rick?s nomination and bestactever.com's considerable efforts to get him his award have generated for MTV and the EMAs throughout the campaign -that?s over a month of free publicity that actually sold the show and appealed to a global audience rather than the usual EU fanbase.In effect, Rick?s invitation to the awards was revoked after MTV approached Rick with an ultimatum that any dignified person with a shred of self-respect would have turned-down.MTV ?offered? to present Rick with his Best Act Ever award at a press conference the day before the awards show. Then their plan was to have Rick ?hang out? with his award in the wings, backstage at the artists? ?VIP bar? during the show and wait for all the ?real artists? come by and sign the award which they would then auction for charity. If they?d have asked him, they would have found out that he planned to do this anyway, but this wasn?t a proposal, it was an ?order?.I?m not sure exactly how the BAE award would have been dealt with had Rick agreed to these ?terms? but MTV had already decided that there would be no live performance and -seeing as the award had already been presented the day before- there would have been no actual on-stage presentation nor chance for Rick to thank his fans.Rick told them to f**k off. I would have too.So basically, MTV wanted Rick to have as little exposure as possible, tucked away behind the scenes to provide the occasional filler material as the ?real talent? (like Tokio Hotel!!!) passed through to add their ?valuable? autographs to Rick?s award as if to validate it.tl;dr: Rick?s nomination and win provided MTV?s EMAs with a tsunami of free press and a boost in global ratings. He was rewarded with the opportunity to be a prop on the set of their big show.At the very least, a public apology from MTV is in order and Rick should get the award he earned asap. He still hasn?t been contacted about who has his award and/or when/if he is to receive it so that he can auction it off to the charity of his choice.To say MTV showed no class in the handling of this matter is a gross understatement and the lack of respect shown to Rick, his team and his fans is disgraceful and bush league. MTV should be ashamed of this entire episode.As a veteran of the music business, I can assure you that if MTV pulled this s**t on a contemporary act with major label backing, MTV would be looking at major problems, ?sanctions? and would s**tting bricks right now. But Rick doesn?t have any of that /b/lackup so I?m sure they?re not losing sleep over it.Go get em ebaums (irc.partyvan.fm #astleysarmy)
louisebondeNov 9, 2008
MTV didn’t want to give him the award at the ceremony. He was supposed to sit backstage and have others write their autographs on the award...and then it would be sold for charity..."Here's your award, Rick. We'll need it back in a minute, after these people, who are more important than you, have written all over it. Thaaanks!"