Berlin holds MTV awards, 20 years after Wall fell

Pop star Beyonce and hip hop artist Jay-Z will perform at the MTV Europe Music Awards on Thursday, being held in the German capital to mark the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Irish rockers U2 will also play an open-air concert in front of the Brandenburg Gate to coincide with the awards, an annual event which is one of pop's music's biggest nights outside of the United States.

The Berlin Wall, a symbol of the Cold War that split the city, was opened on November 9, 1989, leading to the reunification of East and West Germany 11 months later.

"It's really good to give (the awards) some meaning, more meaning, and music is such a wonderful celebration of life," US pop singer Katy Perry, who will be hosting the awards for the second year in a row, told Reuters in an interview.

Perry said the show would be inspired by the Cabaret film with Liza Minnelli, set in 1930s Berlin, and would be darker, sexier, and more naughty than last year.

While the awards are based in Europe, they tend to be dominated by big US names, and this year is no exception with New Yorker Lady Gaga and Nashville-based Kings of Leon leading the way with five nominations apiece.

Compatriot Beyonce is up for four nominations, while Detroit rapper Eminem and Californian punk rockers Green Day are shortlisted for three awards each.

Perry, nominated for Best Female and Best Video, hosts while British singer Joss Stone will welcome guests on the red carpet.

"It's fun to be on the other side of things, asking the questions," said Pete Wentz, from Fall Out Boy, who will be interviewing artists backstage.

MTV said the cast presenting awards would include Israeli supermodel Bar Refaeli, French actor Jean Reno and television star David Hasselhoff. Other artists performing include German pop rock band Tokio Hotel and Latin singer Shakira.