Alicia Keys, One Direction to Perform at MTV VMA Awards, 9/6

MTV kicked off its annual countdown to the biggest night in music by officially announcing the nominees for the "2012 MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS and unveiling the first two VMA performers. Set to rock this year's show, airing LIVE on September 6 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, is four-time VMA Award-winner, Alicia Keys, who will premiere a brand new song from her upcoming album, and the British boy band phenoms, One Direction, who are first-time VMA performers and nominees.

"Debuting a new song at the VMAs is definitely special. I debuted "No One" at the VMAs - it was the first time anyone in the world heard "No One," says Keys. "It's the perfect setting. It's the right energy. It's the right vibe. People are so excited about the night of music and hearing different styles that it just goes over really well. I can't wait!"

Rihanna and Drake lead the charge with an impressive five VMA nominations each, including the coveted, "Video of the Year" for her hit "We Found Love" as well as their joint smash, "Take Care." While Drake received additional nods for "Best Hip Hop Video," "Best Male Video," "Best Art Direction" and "Best Cinematography," Rihanna racked up additional nods for "Best Female Video," "Best Choreography," "Best Visual Effects" and "Best Pop Video." Katy Perry follows as a close second with four VMA nods. Additionally, with the worldwide explosion of EDM, a new category for "Best Electronic Dance Music Video" has been added. Other notable VMA nominees this year include Kanye West, Gotye, Black Keys, Beyoncé, Skrillex, Frank Ocean, fun., Watch The Throne, Chris Brown, Justin Bieber, Lana Del Ray, Avicii, One Direction, Childish Gambino, Usher and more. MTV will announce additional performers and presenters at a later date.

Beginning Tuesday, July 31st at 6:00 a.m. ET, viewers can vote for general VMA categories, including "Video of the Year," "Best New Artist," and more by visiting vma.mtv.com online or m.mtv.com on their mobile phone. In addition, "Best New Artist" is available for voting via all wireless carrier subscribers by texting BNA to 22444 or by visiting MTV's official Facebook page. Voting for all VMA categories, except "Best New Artist," will end on August 24 at 6:00 p.m. ET. Voting for "Best New Artist" continues through the show, live on September 6. Verizon subscribers can vote on all categories via SMS by texting VMA to 22444 (standard message rates apply.) In addition voters that text VMA to 22444 are automatically entered into a sweepstakes to win a trip to the 2013 Video Music Awards.

For the entire list of nominees for the "2012 MTV Video Music Awards," please click here.

Alicia Keys can be described as a modern-day Renaissance woman. She is a 14-time Grammy(R) Award-winning singer/songwriter/producer, an accomplished actress, a New York Times best-selling author, an entrepreneur and a powerful force in the world of philanthropy and in the global fight against HIV and AIDS. Since the 2001 release of her monumental debut album, songs in A minor, Keys has built an unparalleled repertoire of hits and accomplishments with more than 30 million albums sold worldwide. Keys is currently completing her highly anticipated fifth studio album which will be released this fall.