Canada Bags Three MTVs

Canadian-born punk-pop dynamo Avril Lavigne was the biggest winner at the 2007 MTV Europe Music Awards, taking home the gongs for best solo artist of 2007 and most addictive track.

Helping to make it a good night for Canada was Nelly Furtado, who took album of the year for Loose.

Not so lucky was her southern neighbour and top U.S. pop and R&B singer Justin Timberlake, who was nominated in four of the nine categories but left empty-handed.

Other winners at the November 1 bash at Munich Olympiahalle included Muse (Best Headliner), Linkin Park (Best Band of 2007), Tokio Hotel (Best International Act) and Rihanna (Ultimate Urban Act), while 30 Seconds To Mars took the "Rock Out" award.

Lavigne was also among the acts to perform, heading a lineup including Foo Fighters, My Chemical Romance, Mika, Babyshambles and Nicole Scherzinger, lead singer from pop sensations Pussycat Dolls.

The awards ceremony also found Amy Winehouse giving an apparently captivating performance of "Back To Black" and collecting the special "Artists Choice" award.

Put together over the last six months, MTV news crews around the world canvassed more than 80 artists to pick their favourite fellow artist of the year.

An impressive list of big names including Rihanna, Maroon 5, Fergie and Alicia Keys nominated Winehouse, who took more than half of the votes and won by a landslide.