ANASTACIA - USHER AND ANASTACIA WIN NORDIC AWARDS

American stars ANASTACIA and USHER were the big winners at the first NORDIC MUSIC AWARDS in Norway on Saturday (23OCT04).

The bespectacled beauty and R+B heart-throb were named top female and male artists, while Brit pop hunk ROBBIE WILLIAMS picked up the International Honorary Prize at the star-studded bash at Oslo's Spektrum arena.

Scandinavians voters in Norway, Denmark and Sweden voted for their favourite musicians by text message.

Irish four-piece WESTLIFE won Best International Band, while Danish rappers OUTLANDISH and Finnish rockers THE RASMUS were named Best Nordic Artist and Best Nordic Band respectively.

Williams, KYLIE MINOGUE, TINA TURNER, BRIAN McFADDEN and former CARDIGANS frontwoman NINA PERSSON were among the many performers at the star-studded bash.