FIRST OFF . . .

Peter Gabriel, with nine nominations for “Sledgehammer” and three for “Big Time,” leads the field with 12 nominations in the fifth annual MTV Music Video Awards competition. Gabriel’s colorfully animated “Sledgehammer” will vie for best video honors against Genesis’ “Land of Confusion,” Paul Simon’s “Boy in the Bubble,” Steve Winwood’s “Higher Love” and U2’s “With or Without You.” In other nominations announced Wednesday, Gabriel, Simon and Winwood also will compete for the best male video award, along with David Bowie and Robert Palmer. Madonna’s “Papa Don’t Preach” and “Open Your Heart” were both nominated for best female video, matched against Kate Bush, Janet Jackson and Cyndi Lauper. The awards--determined by the National Video Academy--will be announced during a Sept. 11 ceremony at the Shrine Auditorium.