Awards
Kelly Clarkson, James Blunt triumph at MTV Video Music Awards
MUMBAI: Singers Kelly Clarkson and James Blunt triumphed at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards which took place a few nights ago in New York.
Blunt won for the video You’re Beautiful while Clarkson won for the video Because of You. Best Group Video went The All-American Rejects’ Move Along.
Jay-Z welcomed the VMAs back to New York City. The night opened with Justin Timberlake’s performing SexyBack. The show’s host Jack Black, dressed as the bad Moonman and Elvis, followed with a comical rock performance featuring Tenacious D band mate Kyle Glass.
For the first time viewers were able to vote on all general
awards categories. Panic! at the Disco nabbed Best Video of the Year for I Write Sins Not Tragedies. Avenged Sevenfold won Best New Artist Video for their music video Bat Country. Beyonce took home a Moon Man for Best R&B Video for her music video Check on It.
While the VMAs aired live on MTV, MTV.com streamed VMA Live: Backstage Uncensored. This was a simultaneous view of the action behind the scenes and backstage that viewers have never gotten to see. Fans followed talent such as Ludacris, OK Go, and T.I. as they traveled from dressing rooms to the stage for their performances. In addition to the television and broadband experiences, MTV Mobile offered updates and recaps
of the VMAs across all wireless carriers. The VMAs were also celebrated across all of MTV’s platforms including MTV2, mtvU, MHD, MTV World, and Urge.
Stand up artiste Sarah Silverman took good natured jabs at everyone from Lance Bass to socialite Paris Hilton. Silverman had the audience laughing while she left celebrities guessing who was going to be her next target of sarcasm.
In a self-deprecating taped moment, Britney Spears and Kevin Federline earned some laughs when they announced the winner for Best R&B Video. The tone turned more serious when Queen Latifah introduced former US Vice President Al Gore to the stage. In the spirit of An Inconvenient Truth Gore brought a message of urgent importance concerning the world community to the VMA audience.
He projected the plight of the environment onto the actual walls of the theater. To highlight that caring about the environment is the new norm, MTV unveiled new Break the Addiction PSAs during the MTV Video Music Awards. The spots’ approach is that if you’re not actively combating global warming every day, you’re behind the times.
Awards
Ajay Kakar to chair jury for ad:tech Honours Awards 2026
Industry leaders join jury as nominations surge for marketing tech awards
NEW DELHI: The ad:tech Honours Awards 2026 are gearing up for a bigger second edition, with Ajay Kakar, head of corporate branding at Adani Group, set to chair the jury for India’s technology-focused marketing awards.
Organised in partnership with the International Advertising Association India Chapter, the awards celebrate the growing influence of technology in shaping modern advertising and marketing outcomes. This year’s edition has drawn a strong response from across the industry, signalling rising momentum around innovation in marketing technology.
The organisers say the nominations reflect a wide range of ideas and approaches, highlighting how brands and agencies are increasingly leaning on platforms, tools and data to sharpen their campaigns and connect with audiences more effectively.
Leading the evaluation process, Kakar will head a jury made up of senior leaders from across brands, agencies and technology platforms.
The jury panel includes Amaresh Godbole, CEO, digital technology business at Publicis Groupe; Bishwajeet S, head of marketing and PR at Volkswagen India; Carol Goyal, executive director at Rediffusion and CEO of Aesthetic Intelligence Lab; Kushal Sanghvi, director at Komerz; Lara Balsara, executive director at Madison World; Rana Barua, group CEO India, sea and North Asia; Deepak Oram, senior vice president growth marketing and martech; and Priyanka Khaneja Gandhi, head of marketing and creative solutions at Amazon Ads India.
The ad:tech Honours Awards aim to recognise not just creative campaigns but the smart use of technology that delivers measurable impact and business results. Categories this year reflect the rapidly evolving digital landscape, covering areas such as artificial intelligence, data-driven marketing, content ecosystems, automation, martech and adtech integration, and commerce-led marketing.
The winners will be announced on 17 March 2026 at the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in New Delhi during ad:tech New Delhi 2026. The event is expected to bring together leaders from brands, agencies, platforms, creators and technology partners for an evening celebrating the ideas and innovations shaping the future of marketing.iconductor industries.
