July 2008

The entire subgenre of "chicks with picks" owe a debt of gratitude to The Runaways. Best known now as the original band for Joan Jett and Lita Ford, the short-lived band from the late '70s was one of the first all-girl groups with a punk attitude and sound to break through (and then, a break-up that included lots and lots of drama with manager Kim Fowley, a legendary rock svengali who takes credit for coming up with the concept of a jailbait in lingerie rock band).

Shot on location in Amsterdam, Cologne and Prague....

artist: Jason Mraz song: "Make It Mine" label: Atlantic director(s): Darren Doane production co: LEVEL4

artist: Retro Kidz song: "New Era" label: Brobot director(s): Scenario production co: Triggerhappy

Audience interaction has been the prevailing theme on MTV this summer with the FNMTV Premieres program and other initiatives. That spills over to the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards, in which viewers and fans will be able to pick the category nominees.

Two categories go live each week for voting at vma.mtv.com. The results are then announced each Friday on FNMTV.

First two categories to be announced with nominees are: