STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Controversial rapper Eminem and eternal superstar Madonna led an American charge on Thursday at the MTV Europe Awards that were beamed to one billion pop fans around the world.
Americans scooped 10 of the top 12 awards -- and it was left to Robbie Williams and All Saints to save the honor of Britpop at the awards, a major showcase for the world's top pop stars.
Eminem, whose violent lyrics have provoked outrage, and Madonna, hitting the pop scene running again after the birth of her son, won two awards apiece at the glittering ceremony that is being beamed everywhere from Argentina to New Zealand by the cable television network.
Eminem sent a recorded message to the ceremony, saying: ``I worked long and hard to have this award and I finally got it and I can't tell you what it means to me.''
Eminem won for Best Album and the Best Hip Hop award, much to the delight of awards host Wyclef Jean of the Fugees. Madonna, her pop energy showing no signs of waning at 42, won the Best Female award and also Best Dance.
Latin heart-throb Ricky Martin fought off stiff competition from Eminem, Ireland's Roland Keating and Robbie Williams for the Best Male Award.
The Backstreet Boys , billed as the world's biggest group now their album sales have topped 55 million, was picked as Best Group. It was a perfect send-off for the superstars who fly off from Stockholm on Friday on a lightning 100-hour tour of six continents to promote their new album ``Black and Blue.''
Kevin Richardson, old man of the group at 29, was quick to distance himself from the manufactured boy bands that have so dominated the international charts. ``We are a vocal group and that is what is important for us,'' he said.
The Spice Girls performed together at the slickly produced two-hour show but came away empty-handed on the awards front. However Mel C, one of the most outspoken members of the feisty quartet, insisted: ``We don't compete with anybody and we don't imitate anybody. People like all sorts of music these days so there is room for everybody. I hope we can get some good music. There has been a lot of money-making rubbish in the past few years.''
Jennifer Lopez premiered her new single at the show and then had double cause for celebration when she landed the Best R&B award.
She told the 9,000-strong audience at Stockholm's Globe arena: ``First of all I want to thank God for all he has done for me...and last but not least my fans. I love you.''
``There is so much more I still want to accomplish but basically I still want to keep making music and keep making movies,'' she said.
Robbie Williams, defying doctor's orders, fought off exhaustion and gastro-enteritis to perform a duet with Kylie Minogue. He was rewarded with the Best Song award for his ``Rock DJ.''
The flamboyant singer said: ``I'd like to thank MTV for my three cars, my five houses and my supermodel girlfriend. I'm living the dream.''