Lily Allen and Amy Winehouse will compete against one another for the best new artist award at the MTV Video Music Awards.

The British singers, who have both been working to crack the American music market, were announced as nominees at the awards night launch in New York last night.

Allen had earlier encountered trouble as she tried to enter the US to attend the event.

She was detained at Los Angeles airport and questioned over her June arrest after a photographer alleged she assaulted him in London.

Winehouse was also nominated for female artist of the year and video of the year for the single that propelled her to fame – Rehab.

American singers Justin Timberlake and Beyonce Knowles were the stars of the evening, each receiving seven nominations, including best female and male artist.

R& B star Rihanna and rapper Kayne West were nominated in five categories.

The awards will take place in Las Vegas on September 9, with Allen, Winehouse, Rihanna, Kayne West and Foo Fighters all scheduled to perform.

And the nominees are…

Best group

Fall Out Boy

Gym Class Heroes

Linkin Park

Maroon 5

The White Stripes

Female artist of the year

Beyonce

Fergie

Nelly Furtado

Rihanna

Amy Winehouse

Male artist of the year

Akon

Robin Thicke

T.I

Justin Timberlake

Kayne West

Best new artist

Lily Allen

Amy Winehouse

Gym Class Heroes

Carrie Underwood

Peter Bjorn and John

Monster single of the year

Daughtry - Home

Fall Out Boy - Thnks Fr Th Mmrs

Avril Lavigne Girlfriend

Lil Mama - Lip Gloss

Mims - This Is Why I'm Hot

Plain White T's - Hey There Delilah

Rihanna f/ Jay-Z - Umbrella

Shop Boyz -Party Like A Rock Star

T-Pain f/ Yung Joc - Buy U A Drank (Shawty Snappin')

Timbaland f/ Keri Hilson, D.O.E. & Sebastian - The Way I Are

Video of the year

Beyonce – Irreplacable

Justin Timberlake – D.A.N.C.E

Rihanna f/ Jay Z – Umbrella

Justin Timberlake – What goes around… comes around

Kayne West – Stronger

Amy Winehouse - Rehab

Most earth shattering collaboration

Akon f/ Eminem - Smack That

Gwen Stefani f/ Akon -The Sweet Escape

Justin Timberlake f/ - Timbaland SexyBack

U2 f/ Green Day -The Saints Are Coming

Quadruple threat of the year

Beyonce

Bono

Jay Z

Justin Timberlake

Kayne West

Best choreographer

Beyoncé f/ Shakira - Beautiful Liar

Chris Brown - Wall To Wall

Ciara - Like A Boy

Eve - Tambourine

Justin Timberlake - My Love

Best director

Christina Aguilera - Candyman (Matthew Rolston)

Beyoncé f/ Shakira - Beautiful Liar Jake Nava

Kanye West - Stronger (Hype Williams)

Linkin Park - What I've Done (Joe Hahn)

Rihanna f/ Jay-Z - Umbrella (Chris Applebaurn)

Justin Timberlake - What Goes Around...Comes Around (Samuel Bayer)

Best editing

Beyoncé f/ Shakira - Beautiful Liar

Gnarls Barkley - Smiley Faces

Linkin Park -What I've Done

Justin Timberlake - What Goes Around...Comes Around

Kanye West - Stronger

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