Joey Guerra
Entertainment Editor
Madonna continued to bask in the brilliance of her 13th album, Ray of Light, when the nominees for the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards were announced Tuesday morning in Los Angeles.
The singer's pack-leading nine nominations cap a whirlwind of critical praise and strong sales for her most relevant and solid studio work in years.
One of the biggest surprises on the list was Garbage, who came in second with eight nominations for "Push It," the first single off the band's coolly received sophomore effort, Version 2.0. Jiggy man Will Smith scooped up six nods.
Scheduled performers on the show, which will air Sept. 10, include Hole, Master P., Dave Matthews Band and Madonna.
The following is a select list of nominees:
Video of the Year
Brandy and Monica, "The Boy is Mine"
Madonna, "Ray of Light"
Puff Daddy and The Family ..., "It's All About the Benjamins (Rock Remix)"
The Verve, "Bitter Sweet Symphony"
Will Smith, "Gettin' Jiggy Wit' It"
Male Video
David Bowie featuring Trent Reznor, "I'm Afraid of Americans"
Busta Rhymes, "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See"
Eric Clapton, "My Father's Eyes"
Brian McKnight, "Anytime"
Will Smith, "Just the Two of Us"
Female Video
Fiona Apple, "Criminal"
Mariah Carey, "Honey (Remix)"
Natalie Imbruglia, "Torn"
Madonna, "Ray of Light"
Shania Twain, "You're Still the One"
Group Video
Backstreet Boys, "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)"
Garbage,"Push It"
Matchbox 20, "3 A.M."
Radiohead, "Karma Police"
The Verve, "Bitter Sweet Symphony"
Rap Video
Busta Rhymes, "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See"
Master P. featuring Silkk, Fiend, Mia-X and Mystikal, "Make Em Say Uhh!"
The Notorious B.I.G. featuring Mase and Puff Daddy, "Mo' Money, Mo' Problems"
Pras featuring Ol' Dirty Bastard and Mya, "Ghetto Superstar"
Will Smith, "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It"
Dance Video
Backstreet Boys, "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)"
Janet Jackson, "Together Again"
Madonna, "Ray of Light"
Prodigy, "Smack My Bitch Up"
Will Smith, "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It"
Alternative Video
Ben Folds Five, "Brick"
Garbage, "Push It"
Green Day, "Time of Your Life (Good Riddance)"
Radiohead, "Karma Police"
The Verve, "Bitter Sweet Symphony"
New Artist In A Video
Cherry Poppin' Daddies, "Zoot Suit Riot"
Chumbawamba, "Tubthumping"
Fastball, "The Way"
Natalie Imbruglia, "Torn"
Mase, "Feels So Good"
Video From A Film
Aerosmith, "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing"
Beck, "Deadweight (A Life Less Ordinary)"
Celine Dion, "My Heart Will Go On"
Goo Goo Dolls, "Iris"
Pras featuring Ol' Dirty Bastard and Mya, "Ghetto Superstar"
Puff Daddy and Jimmy Page, "Come With Me"
R&B Video
Brandy and Monica, "The Boy is Mine"
Wyclef Jean featuring the Refugee Allstars, "Gone 'Til November"
K-Ci and JoJo, "All My Life"
Usher, "You Make Me Wanna"
Direction
Garbage, "Push It" (director Andrea Giacobbe)
Madonna, "Ray of Light" (director Jonas Akerlund)
Prodigy, "Smack My Bitch Up" (director Jonas Akerlund)
Radiohead, "Karma Police" (director Jonathan Glazer)
Wyclef Jean featuring the Refugee Allstars, "We Trying to Stay Alive" (director Roman Coppola)
Breakthrough Video
Busta Rhymes, "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See"
Garbage, "Push It"
Sean Lennon, "Home"
Madonna, "Ray of Light"
Prodigy, "Smack My Bitch Up"
Roni Size/Reprazent, "Brown Paper Bag"
Viewer's Choice
Celine Dion, "My Heart Will Go On"
Green Day, "Time of Your Life (Good Riddance)"
Matchbox 20, "3 A.M."
Puff Daddy and The Family ..., "It's All About the Benjamins (Rock Remix)"
Will Smith, "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It"