LOS ANGELES (Map) - LOS ANGELES, Aug. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- The first week of September is going to feature some of entertainment's biggest stars in Los Angeles as MTV kicks off the events surrounding the "2008 MTV Video Music Awards," which will air live from the Paramount Lot on Sunday, September 7th at 9pm ET/PT. The week will feature events across L.A., where artists such as Ne-Yo, Colby O'Donis, Calle 13, Panic At The Disco, Plain White T's, Fabolous and T-Pain will perform in advance of Sunday's big bash. 944 magazine and MTV Tr3s will prime the weekend with star-studded events on Wednesday and Thursday, and the TAG Records premiere party on September 5 will kick the weekend off with the first ever live performance from TAG Records artist Q Da Kid at an invite-only event. Getting the party started on Saturday night, Rock Band 2 will come together with LIFEbeat to celebrate the game's forthcoming release and raise awareness for HIV/AIDS education, while Rhapsody brings out more top talent just before VMA weekend reaches its peak with Sunday's show.

Tickets for the Rock Band 2 Party to Benefit LIFEbeat, an all ages event, are $50.00 for General Admission, with proceeds going to LIFEbeat. Tickets can be purchased at House of Blues Box Office and online at www.ticketmaster.com.

The "2008 MTV Video Music Awards Weekend" schedule is as follows: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3RD, 2008 944 LA IS 2: VMA Week Party The Kress, Hollywood Press Call Time -- 8:00pm Red Carpet Arrivals -- 8:30pm Live performance by Ne-Yo PRESS CONTACT: Carly Harrill 944 Magazine 619.817.5066 (mobile) carly@944.com Anastasia Lee MTV 310.752.8082 (office) 818-929-7729 (mobile) anastasia.lee@mtvstaff.com THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4TH, 2008 MTV Tr3s Pre-VMA Party 2008 Level 3 Red Carpet Arrivals -- 8pm Doors Open -- 8pm Live performances by Colby O'Donis and Calle 13 - 10pm Hosted by -- Sucker Free Latino VJ L Boogs PRESS CONTACT: Anastasia Lee MTV 310.752.8082 (office) 818-929-7729 (mobile) anastasia.lee@mtvstaff.com FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5TH, 2008 TAG Records presents: History in the Making -- The Official VMA Kickoff Party Avalon, Hollywood Red Carpet Arrivals -- 10pm Live performances by Fabolous and TAG Records' premiere artist Q Da Kid, with his first ever live performance -- 11:30pm - 12:30am Hosted by -- Jermaine Dupri PRESS CONTACT: Tom Biro 212-846-6406 862-485-0711 (mobile) tom.biro@mtvstaff.com SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6TH, 2008 Rock Band 2 Party to Benefit LIFEbeat House of Blues Doors Open -- 9pm Red Carpet -- 9:30pm Show Begins -- 10pm Special short performances by Panic At The Disco, Plain White T's PRESS CONTACT: Noelle Llewellyn 212-846-7166 (office) 646-296-7139 (mobile) noelle.llwellyn@mtvstaff.com SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6TH, 2008 (cont'd) Rhapsody Rocks the VMAs The Roxy Red Carpet Arrivals -- 11pm Doors Open -- 11pm Appearances by DJ Stretch Armstrong, T-Pain PRESS CONTACT: Ryan Luckin Rhapsody 206-892-6330 (office) 206-661-5306 (mobile) rluckin@real.com SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 7TH, 2008 The Official 2008 VMA After Party Presented by Pepsi and Nikon Paramount Backlot -- Immediately following the VMAs Live performance by the Ting Tings PRESS CONTACT: Janice Gatti MTV 212-846-8852 (office) 201-424-0482 (mobile) janice.gatti@mtvstaff.com

TAG Records and MTV are offering an opportunity to win tickets to the Official VMA Kickoff Party and the VMA Viewing Party at tag.mtv.com.

Tickets can also be won through a national online contest at mtvvmatrip.com through August 29. Additionally, radio promotions for tickets are running in major markets across the country, and local listeners in Los Angeles can win tickets through the Ryan Seacrest show on KIIS-FM or on KPWR and KROQ through Friday, September 5.

This year, one lucky viewer will get the chance of a lifetime trip by joining "Do Good. Go to the VMAs." Think.MTV.com, MTV's online community for youth activism, is hooking up one young activist and shipping them off to Los Angeles to attend the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards alongside the biggest stars in the industry. Find out more by visiting think.mtv.com/Groups/DoGoodGoToTheVMAs/.

The "2008 MTV Video Music Awards" will feature one night only performances by Lil Wayne, Jonas Brothers, Kid Rock, Paramore, Pink, T.I. and Rihanna.

The official sponsors of the "2008 MTV Video Music Awards" are GM, Pepsi, TAG Body Spray, Taco Bell, Rhapsody, Verizon Wireless and Nikon.

About MTV

MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is one of the world's leading creators of entertainment content, with brands that engage and connect diverse audiences across television, online, mobile, games, virtual worlds and consumer products. The company's portfolio spans more than 150 television channels and 350 digital media properties worldwide, and includes MTV, VH1, CMT, Logo, Harmonix, Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, Noggin, The N, AddictingGames, Neopets, COMEDY CENTRAL, Spike TV, TV Land, Atom, Gametrailers and Xfire.