Ratings quick hit: MTV's 'Video Music Awards' draws 9 million viewers

How many people watched Kanye West steal Taylor Swift's spotlight during "The 2009 Video Music Awards"? Quite a few.

Sunday's two-and-a-half-hour ceremony was watched by 8.97 million viewers, the most-watched edition of the show since 2004. That's up 6% from last year's total.

MTV also said that between airings on MTV, MTV2 and VH1, the "VMAs" was seen by 26.9 million.

-- Denise Martin

Photo credit: Associated Press

Comments

[Nicole]

Wow, MTV ratings up 6%. Is that why they let Kanye and LIL Mama jump on stage? Then they have the nerve to get mad at Kanye. He did you all a favor. Its entertainment people...Who cares. Kanye is Kanye this is no where near bigger than the "The President hates black people" remark he made on LIVE TV. Now that was hilarious. If there weren't any Kanye's TV would be boring!!!I love you Mr. West!

[Manawai]

West ought to banded from all future MYV events as he is an example of what a real man isn't. He's just an obnoxious twit.

[Tim]

Evel will always try to push out Jesus Christ and anything good. It could not just sit there with its mouth shut breathing through its nose while the young, innocent, main streem, red blooded, all American christian gril walks away with the prize. It just could not let it happen it had to take something from her.

[holly]

I think thats more to do with Summit showing its extended New Moon trailer than anything else. Dont under estimate the power of Rob Pattinson.

[Bill]

What a talentless egotistical jerk.
I didn't know he was so small!
When you're smaller
than Taylor Swift you are little!

[mrh3]

When last I checked. Kanye was as much of a red blooded American as Taylor Swift. He was incensed by the lack of artistic merit of the video relative to Beyonce's quite impressive "Single Ladies." His behavior was obnoxious, but in 20 years no one will even remember Taylor Swift.

[Lil Blye]

I'll remember, and so will Taylor!

[Dee]

I think what Kanye West was wrong for disrespecting the young lady. I also think what Joe Wilson did to President Obama was wrong, and I feel that people should be just as outraged if not more. Where are our priorities? We need to let our feelings known about the more important things -- meaning what is going on in this country regardless of what our affiliation. We should be Americans and stand for what is best for this country. Nobody is being held accountable for what we are all going through. Again, we should be OUTRAGED with our politicians who are supposed to represent this country.

[Lil Blye]

I'll remember, and so will Taylor and her fans. Kanye tuck your tail between your legs and go away. You have shown the world your true colors. No amount of talent can reach your egotistical self. You leave a bad taste in the mouth and I hope your records fail!

[C Dizz]

People don't seem to remember this is not the first time Kanye West was rude and disagreed with somebody else winning an award. After his first outburst I vowed never to listen to him again and have stuck with it if he comes on the radio I switch the station. Although I think Beyonce is very talented and listen to her music, lets get serious Kanye needs to have his head examined Single Ladies is soooo not the best video. Lets just repetitively dance around crazy with black leotards on, not overly creative! Not only has Kanye just proven he is a bad judge of video he should be banned from all future music awards. Beyonce, Taylor Swift, black, white does not need Kanye and his all bad attitude to tell us who he thought should win. Hopefully he will be sitting his egotistical butt at home at the next awards so we don't have to be subject to him andmake him more famous for being an idiot!

[Emily]

What a jerk. For once all of America can see who he really is. He doesnt feel bad for what he did at all. The only part he feels bad about is that talk shows only want to have him on to discuss how rude he is and not his music...therefore not giving him the kind of attention he really wants! I hope his sales suffer because of this. Kanye, please see a doctor about all your word vomit. Just "blog" about your issues instead of blurting it out on live television and taking away from a once in a lifetime opportunity....after all your lame ass blogs your own apologies instead of being a man and doing it in person. Wow. Way to hide behind your computer.