Ed Sheeran, Phillip Phillips, Lucy Hale, Avril Lavigne, Brittnay Snow, Kunal Nayyar, Naya Rivera, Stephen Amell, and More Confir

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TORONTO (May 29, 2013) – The most shriek-worthy night in music just became even more exciting! Announced today on NEW.MUSIC.LIVE., MuchMusic confirmed the latest additions of red-hot celebrity performers and presenters for the 2013 MUCHMUSIC VIDEO AWARDS. Confirmed to perform for the thousands of fans outside of Much HQ are AMERICAN IDOL winner Phillip Phillips,, as well as Canadian sk8ter sensation Avril Lavigne, MMVA nominee/East Coast hip-hop artist Classified, and first-time nominee Serena Ryder. In addition, British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran will take to the stage at the legendary corner of Queen and John in downtown Toronto.

The first round of presenters confirmed include PRETTY LITTLE LIARS starlets Lucy Hale and Shay Mitchell, Pitch Perfect’s Brittany Snow, THE BIG BANG THEORY’s Kunal Nayyar, GLEE’s Naya Rivera, SUITS star Patrick J. Adams, ARROW’s Stephen Amell, and Canadian pop artist and fan-favourite Shawn Desman. These powerhouses join previously announced performer Demi Lovato and co-host/performer PSY. The fanfare gets started with the 2013 MMVAs RED CARPET SPECIAL on Sunday, June 16 at 8 p.m. ET, followed by the live show at 9 p.m. ET on MuchMusic and Fuse in the U.S.

** Media Note ** Download photos of the 2013 MMVA performers and presenters at bellmediapr.ca/muchmusic  

The highly coveted wristbands for the 2013 MMVAs will be given away on Friday, June 7 at 6 p.m. ET, during NEW.MUSIC.LIVE. at MuchMusic HQ in Toronto. Stay tuned to Much, muchmusic.com, and follow @muchmusic for more details.

Avril Lavigne

With “Here’s To Never Growing Up”, the debut single from Avril Lavigne’s upcoming September 2013 album release charting at Hot A/C and CHR radio formats, it is fitting that the song was added to her long list of MMVA nominations (14 nominations of which 7 have received awards since 2003). As a Canadian singer-songwriter, fashion designer, actress, and philanthropist, Lavigne has thrived well beyond her Napanee, ON roots. At 17, Lavigne released her debut album, Let Go, which peaked at #1 in Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom and reached #2 in the U.S. on the Nielsen Soundscan album sales charts. The first single “Complicated,” peaked at #1 in Canada and Australia, #2 in the U.S. and #3 in the U.K. Subsequent singles “Sk8er Boi” and “I’m With You” peaked at #1 at CHR radio in Canada and reached the Top 10 in the U.S. and U.K. “Let Go” received Diamond Sales Certificate status from CRIA and has sold over 16 million copies worldwide. Lavigne’s subsequent albums Under My Skin and The Best Damn Thing have globally sold more than 10 million and 6 million copies, respectively, around the world. Lavigne has also appeared in several feature films, including voicing an animated character in Over the Hedge and appearing in the film Fast Food Nation. Lavigne has also launched her own fashion line, Abbey Dawn, and released her own fragrances (Black Star, Forbidden Rose, and Wild Rose). An active philanthropist, Lavigne created the “The Avril Lavigne Foundation” in 2010 to help young people with serious illnesses and disabilities and has worked with Amnesty International, the Make-a-Wish Foundation, War Child, and many others.

Ed Sheeran

Attending the MMVAs for the second time, this U.K. artist is sure to get the fans in a frenzy. Masterfully blending soulful vocals with organic folk introspection and irresistible hip-hop hooks, Sheeran is a genuine phenomenon.  Inspired by such diverse artists as James Morrison, Damien Rice, and Jay-Z, the gifted tunesmith has made waves with his unique style and affecting songs. Sheeran’s major label debut single, “The A Team,” from +, the album that is now certified platinum in Canada, arrived in June 2011, and instantly proved to be a sensation, entering among the Top 3 on the U.K. Singles Chart. In early 2012, Sheeran won a pair of Top 2011 Brit Awards – including Best Male Artist and Best Breakthrough Artist – and earlier this year, he performed at the 2013 GRAMMY® Awards, where “The A Team” was nominated for Song of the Year. Sheeran co-wrote and provided vocals for the song “Everything Has Changed”, which was featured on Taylor Swift’s fourth album Red. Currently, Sheeran is touring with Swift across North American as part of her Red Tour.

Classified

Classified is a Canadian MC from Enfleld, Nova Scotia, who has not only remained current, but improved with each disc. Revered and respected, the rapper-producer has taken Canadian hip-hop music all over the world, all the while deepening his word play and sharpening his beats. Now, with his new, first-ever self-titled album on Half Life Records/Universal Music Canada, Classified presents the apex of his trials and tribulations of a lifetime spent in the studio, and on the road.  After selling 100,000 records, gaining multiple JUNO Award nominations and reaching his highest chart position on 2011’s Handshakes and Middle Fingers, Classified’s riding his career-best momentum across the 12 tracks of his new disc simply titled, Classified. Like life, the songs oscillate between heavy and light, suffering and celebration, and, on “Growing Pains”, he addresses the hypocrisy involved with raising his two daughters while living the hip-hop lifestyle. The first single off the album, “Inner Ninja”, featuring David Myles has risen to the top of the charts, has gone triple platinum, and is the #1 selling Canadian hip hop song of all time

Phillip Phillips

The same day that Phillip Phillips claimed his victory in AMERICAN IDOL’s Season 11 finale, the 22-year-old singer/guitarist released “Home,” a debut single that showcased his rich, raspy vocals and masterful guitar skills – and  marked the highest debut on the Billboard Digital songs chart with 278,000 downloads sold. With a Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 debut under his belt, the Leesburg, Georgia-bred songwriter released his debut album The World from the Side of the Moon in November of last year, debuting at #4 in the Billboard 200. The World from the Side of the Moon has achieved Platinum-selling status in Canada, with the first single “Home” reaching four-times Platinum, and the second single “Gone, Gone, Gone” already at Gold. In January, Phillips began a tour throughout North America with Matchbox Twenty, and is set to tour as the opening act for John Mayer’s upcoming summer tour.

Serena Ryder

Born in Toronto, Serena Ryder is kicking off 2013 in trailblazing form with her latest album, Harmony, achieving certified Gold status in just a few short months. The album’s first single “Stompa” has already garnered incredible attention, certified double Platinum in Canada, a first for Ryder. A three-time JUNO Award winner, Ryder performed two songs during the 2013 JUNO AWARDS broadcast and went home with the award for Adult Alternative Album of the Year. Ryder is an artist adored by fans, peers, and critics alike, due to her immense raw and earnest songwriting talent and beautifully electric live performances. Ryder has toured with Melissa Etheridge, shared the stage with Ray Lamontagne and David Gray, and has seen her songs featured on CTV’s GREY’S ANATOMY, GOSSIP GIRL, and PRIVATE PRACTICE.

For those who aren’t in Toronto on June 16, MuchMusic has it covered. Joining forces with several media partners, Much is offering wristband giveaways for fans across the country from:

CP24

Dose.ca

Toronto – 104.5 CHUM FM

Toronto – Flow 93.5

Toronto – Virgin 99.9

Vancouver – The Beat 94.5

Montreal – Virgin 96

Montreal – The Beat 92.5

Niagara – 105 EZ Rock

Kingston – Fly FM

Kitchener – Kool FM 

Peterborough – Energy 99.7

Winnipeg – Virgin 103.1

Edmonton – The Bounce 91.7

Ottawa – Kiss 105.3

Fans can follow the countdown to the 2013 MMVAs on MuchMusic.com or on Twitter @MuchMusic to get the latest announcements on performers, presenters, celebrity guests, and the chance to win big prizes.

For the fourth year in a row, the MMVAs are simulcast live in the U.S. on Fuse, the national music television network of The Madison Square Garden Company. Additionally, MusiquePlus will air the show, Monday, July 1 at 5:30 p.m. ET.

Official sponsors of the 2013 MMVAs include: BlackBerry®, Coca-Cola Canada Ltd., H&M, Procter & Gamble, SUBWAY® Restaurants (SUBWAY® is a registered trademark of Doctor’s Associates Inc.), Virgin Mobile Canada™, WONKA® NERDS® (WONKA® and NERDS® are registered trademarks of Societe des Produits Nestle S.A., Vevey Switzerland).

Follow MuchMusic on Twitter: @MuchMusic

Follow Avril Lavigne on Twitter: @AvrilLavigne

Follow Brittany Snow on Twitter: @Brittanysnow

Follow Classified on Twitter: @classified

Follow Ed Sheeran on Twitter: @edsheeran 

Follow Kunal Nayyar on Twitter: @kunalnayyar

Follow Lucy Hale on Twitter: @lucyhale

Follow Naya Rivera on Twitter @NayaRivera

Follow Phillip Phillips on Twitter: @Phillips

Follow Patrick J. Adams on Twitter: @halfadams

Follow Shay Mitchell on Twitter: @shaymitch

Follow Serena Ryder on Twitter: @serenaryder

Follow Shawn Desman on Twitter: @DaRealSD

Follow Stephen Amell on Twitter: @amellywood

About the MUCHMUSIC VIDEO AWARDS
MuchMusic gives fans the experience of a lifetime by putting them as close as humanly possible to their favourite artists and celebrities at the 2013 MUCHMUSIC VIDEO AWARDS. The show airs live on Sunday, June 16 at 9 p.m. ET with a star-packed Red Carpet special starting at 8 p.m. ET. Past MMVAs performers and presenters include: Adam Lambert, Avril Lavigne, The Black Eyed Peas, The Black Keys, Britney Spears, Bruno Mars, Carly Rae Jepsen, Colin Farrell, Down With Webster, Drake, Ed Sheeran, Hedley, Jonas Brothers, Justin Bieber, Kanye West, Katy Perry, Ke$ha, Kellan Lutz, Kelly Clarkson, Lady Gaga, LMFAO, Miley Cyrus, Paris Hilton, Pauly D, Rihanna, Selena Gomez, Snooki, Snoop Dogg, Taylor Lautner, and many more. At the MMVAs, the audience is the priority; Much gives them the best seats in the house, whether a foot from the stage or a foot from a television, computer, or mobile phone. Fans should hit up Much regularly at muchmusic.com or Twitter @MuchMusic for the most up-to-date info about the event of the year.

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For more information on the 2013 MMVAs:

Nicola Krishna, Much MTV Group, 416.384.5276, nicola.krishna@bellmedia.ca

Noreen Hamid, Much MTV Group, 416.384.3259, noreen.hamid@bellmedia.ca