Spears, Mars win big at MTV Europe Awards

LIVERPOOL, England, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- U.S. pop star Britney Spears won the prizes for album and act of the year at the 2008 MTV Europe Music Awards in Liverpool.

Spears did not attend Thursday's ceremony because she was in Los Angeles making a cameo on stage at a Madonna concert. Spears also won a trio of MTV Music Awards earlier this year.

"I Kissed a Girl" singer Katy Perry was the host of Thursday night's awards show at the Liverpool Echo Arena where artists like Perry, P!nk, Beyonce, Kanye West, Estelle, Duffy, Kid Rock, The Ting Tings, The Killers, The Wombats and Take That performed. Perry also won the evening's award for best new act.

Tokio Hotel was named headliner of the year, P!nk picked up the prize for most addictive track for her song "So What," 30 Seconds to Mars won the video star and "rock out" awards, Kanye West earned the "ultimate urban" honor, Lil Wayne won the artists' choice prize and Paul McCartney was declared an "ultimate legend" and presented with a lifetime achievement award.

Emre Aydin from Turkey took home the statuette for Europe's favorite actor.