Artists from the United States swept the board at the MTV Europe music awards on Thursday night, highlighting the global influence of the US television network.
British rock group Muse took the awards for best alternative act and best UK act.
The main accolades were conferred on US artists, with American hip-hop sensations Outkast taking the highest number of awards.
The double act of Big Boi and Andre 3000, who had one of the most memorable hits of the year with Hey Ya, came out top in three of the five categories in which they were nominated, including best group and best song.
R&B star Usher, nominated in four categories, was not far behind: he beat Justin Timberlake and Robbie Williams to be named best male artist, and held off competition from Beyoncé, Dido, Outkast and Black Eyed Peas for best album Confessions.
It was not a good night for Timberlake and Williams: the two men previously seen as the hottest male artists on either side of the Atlantic left with nothing.
Britney Spears, who has had a string of hits that culminated this year in the Cathy Dennis-penned Toxic, took the award for best female, while Black Eyed Peas were named best pop act.
British newcomer Natasha Bedingfield, the sister of the more established star Daniel, had been nominated for best single but was disappointed; and the Glasgow art school rock group Franz Ferdinand, thought to be prime contenders for the best newcomer award, also left empty handed.
There was disappointment too for emerging British talent such as Keane and Jamelia, who were also nominated as the best newcomers.
That accolade went to the Los Angeles five-piece Maroon 5. The huge success of US artists illustrated the dominance of American music on MTV, the world’s biggest music television network.
Despite being held in Rome and the votes being cast by Europeans, the winners were predominantly North American. Possibly anticipating the American feel, the organisers ensured that the performers at the ceremony, which was broadcast live around Europe, had a more homegrown feel.
Franz Ferdinand shared the stage with veteran British goth band The Cure, Swedish power-rockers The Hives and Italian pop star Tiziano Ferro.
The headline act, however, was the once-controversial Detroit rapper Eminem, who performed Lose It, the first single from his new album, with performances too from hip hop pioneers the Beastie Boys and pop diva Anastacia.
The ceremony was held at the Tor di Valle racecourse on the outskirts of Rome, transformed for the evening into a tented city. Thousands of fans mingled with global music stars for the event, which brought the Italian capital to a standstill.
As well as the main awards event, a free concert was held in the Colosseum.
But there were headaches for the organisers when a serious road accident and several power failures in the Italian national grid threatened to scupper the ceremony.
Best group
Outkast
Best song
Hey Ya, Outkast
Best female artist
Britney Spears
Best male artist
Usher
Best hip-hop act
D12
Best new act
Maroon 5
Best R&B act
Alicia Keys
Best album
Usher/Confessions
Best rock act
Linkin Park
Best alternative act
Muse
Best pop act
Black Eyed Peas – Guardian Unlimited Â