Destiny’s Child among winners at WMAs
Alex Veiga

LOS ANGELES—Destiny’s Child, The Game and Gwen Stefani each nabbed honours on the strength of their worldwide sales figures at the 2005 World Music Awards. Destiny’s Child, which also helped open the show Wednesday night, picked up the award for world’s best pop group, besting Gorillaz, Maroon 5, Il Divo and the Black Eyed Peas.
Stefani and The Game each earned an award honouring the best-selling new female and male artist, respectively. Usher, 50 Cent and Mariah Carey were among several recording artists up for multiple honours at the awards show held at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. It will be telecast Sept. 13 on ABC.
The Game, a protege of rapper 50 Cent, edged out former matchbox twenty frontman Rob Thomas, John Legend, Akon and Lloyd Banks. Stefani, who released her first solo record last year, beat out R&B songstress Ciara, “American Idol” alum Fantasia, New Zealand native Natasha Bedingfield and MTV darling Ashlee Simpson.
Stefani, who was on tour, accepted the award from Hillary Duff via satellite and gave a nod to fans around the globe who helped put her debut solo album “Love.Angel.Music.Baby” in the top spot. “We’ve been all around the world and that’s my favourite part of everything I do,” said Stefani, who was also up for best pop-rock artist, with Eminem, Gavin DeGraw, John Mayer and Ashlee Simpson.
Co-hosts James Denton of “Desperate Housewives” and Carmen Electra started off the night with a sexy vibe as Electra stripped down to black bra, panties and a feather boa shortly after taking the stage. Three other scantily clad women then joined the hosts. “It’s a little hot in here,” Electra said.
The slate of nominees at this year’s show reflected some of the past year’s best-selling albums, many straddling the hip-hop and pop categories. Usher, who won three awards at last year’s show, was nominated along with rappers Nelly and 50 Cent for best pop male artist. Crooners Josh Groban and Michael Buble rounded out the list. Nelly and 50 Cent also were up for best rap/hip-hop artist, with Ludacris, Eminem and The Game.
Competing for pop female honours: Carey, Jessica Simpson, Jennifer Lopez, Kelly Clarkson and Latin crossover star Shakira. Carey, who staged a huge comeback this year with “The Emancipation of Mimi,” also was vying for best R&B artist, along with Alicia Keys, Usher, R. Kelly and newcomer Ciara.
Green Day, which swept last week’s MTV Music Video Awards, faced Coldplay, the Killers, Three Doors Down and Irish veterans U2 for best rock act. Before the show, Denton and other celebrity attendees struck a serious tone while reflecting on the destruction wrought upon New Orleans and surrounding areas this week by Hurricane Katrina.
“We saw the aerial photos this morning and that’s when it really hit home, the devastation,” Denton said. “I think there’s a bit of denial. At some point you can just turn the TV off (but) they have to wake up with it every morning.” Percussionist Sheila E was particularly concerned because she has family in New Orleans, she said. “We have family there so we’re still waiting to hear from our family,” she said. “We don’t know where they are. We don’t know if they even got out”.