USHER, NELLY AND GREEN DAY TO PERFORM AT "THE 2004 BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS" LIVE FROM LAS VEGAS' MGM GRAND WEDNESDAY, DEC. 8, ON FOX

Nick Lachey, Alicia Keys, Fantasia, Ashlee Simpson, Duran Duran and Chingy Scheduled to Make Special Appearances

R&B sensations Usher and Nelly, along with rockers Green Day, will perform at THE 2004 BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena Wednesday, Dec. 8 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/tape-delayed PT) on FOX. As previously announced, Stevie Wonder will receive the Century Award, Billboard Magazine's highest accolade.

Nick Lachey, Alicia Keys, Fantasia, Ashlee Simpson, Duran Duran and Chingy, among others, are scheduled to make special appearances during the live two-hour celebration. The show's host, additional performers, presenters and final award contenders will be announced closer to air.

Featuring performances by today's hottest stars, the BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS is the only award show that recognizes the year's leading artists and songs as determined by performance on Billboard's weekly charts. Based on objective sales data compiled by Nielsen SoundScan and radio information monitored by Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems, Billboard's music charts are the world's most authoritative.

Usher has been at the forefront of the R&B music scene, selling over 15.6 million albums in the United States. Usher's current album "Confessions" spent nine weeks on the Billboard 200 chart and has sold 6.5 million records in the United States alone. In its first week of release, "Confessions" sold 1.2 million copies, making it the biggest sales week of the year for any album. Usher recently re-released his hit album "Confessions" and a new track titled "My Boo" featuring Alicia Keys; the single has already gone to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart. Aside from his music career, Usher has also starred in such films as "She's All That" and "The Faculty."

St. Louis rapper Nelly made history by simultaneously releasing two albums, "Sweat" and "Suit," both of which landed in the top 2 spots of the Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts. Nelly's recent collaborations with Christina Aguilera and Tim McGraw also proved successful, with both singles entering the Billboard's Mainstream Top 40 chart. Nelly has sold a total of 17.5 million albums to date. He is also a member of the St. Lunatics, who in 2001 released their first album, "Free City." Nelly is currently filming "The Longest Yard" opposite Adam Sandler.

After their new album "American Idiot" went No. 1 in the United States, rockers Green Day proved to be a force to be reckoned with in the music industry. The band's first new album since 2000's "Warning," it has already produced a Top 40 hit, "American Idiot." In total, Green Day has sold over 15 million albums. They have achieved six No. 1 Modern Rock tracks including "When I Come Around" and "Minority." Green Day recently kicked off their "American Idiot" tour.

Now in its 110th year, Billboard is the world's premier music industry publication and a diverse digital, events and brand-licensing platform. Billboard publishes the most trusted charts and offers unrivaled reporting about the latest music, video and digital entertainment issues and trends. Billboard is the flagship property for the Billboard Information Group, which also consists of Billboard.biz, Billboard.com, Billboard Chart Alert, Billboard Information Network (BIN), Billboard Directories, Billboard Licensing & Events and Billboard Radio Monitor. The Group is a unit of VNU Business Media, a worldwide media company that provides specialized publications, electronically delivered data, expositions and marketing services and is owned by VNU Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Netherlands-based VNU, an international publishing and information company.

Bob Bain returns for his ninth year as executive producer of the BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS. Greg Sills will serve as supervising producer. Paul Flattery and Michael Levitt are producers. Bruce Gowers is the show's director and Wylleen May is the executive in charge of production.