With ten nominations each, Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande seem set to lead MTV’s upcoming Video Music Awards. Both Taylor and Ariana are up for awards for Video of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Video. Also shining in this year’s lineup of nominees are Lil Nas X and Billie Eilish who have gained a lot of attention as stunning new artists with a unique presence in the music world.
The VMAs also introduced two new categories this year–Best K-Pop and Video for Good. The K-pop category, of course, highlights some of the best in that genre’s songs and videos over the past year. Video for good nominees include songs that raised awareness about issues in the world right now like Lil Dicky’s star-studded song “Earth,” which has pledged proceeds from the song’s sales charities that support the environment.
Video of the Year
Artist of the Year
Best New Artist
Ava Max Billie Eilish H.E.R Lil Nas X Lizzo ROSALĂŤA
Song of the Year
Ariana Grande – “thank u, next” Drake – “In My Feelings” Jonas Brothers – “Sucker” Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper – “Shallow” Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus – “Old Town Road” (Remix) Taylor Swift – “You Need to Calm Down”
Best Collaboration
BTS ft. Halsey – “Boy With Luv” Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber – “I Don’t Care” Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper – “Shallow” Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus – “Old Town Road” (Remix) Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello – “Señorita” Taylor Swift ft. Brendon Urie of Panic! at the Disco – “ME!”
Push Artist of the Year
Bazzi Billie Eilish CNCO H.E.R. Lauv Lizzo
Best Pop
5 Seconds of Summer – “Easier” Ariana Grande – “thank u, next” Billie Eilish – “bad guy” Cardi B and Bruno Mars – “Please Me” Jonas Brothers – “Sucker” Khalid – “Talk” Taylor Swift – “You Need to Calm Down”
Best Hip Hop
2 Chainz ft. Ariana Grande – “Rule the World” 21 Savage ft. J. Cole – “a lot” Cardi B – “Money” DJ Khaled ft. Nipsey Hussle and John Legend – “Higher” Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus – “Old Town Road” (Remix) Travis Scott ft. Drake – “SICKO MODE”
Best R&B
Alicia Keys – “Raise a Man” Anderson .Paak ft. Smokey Robinson – “Make it Better” Childish Gambino – “Feels Like Summer” Ella Mai – “Trip” H.E.R. ft. Bryson Tiller – “Could’ve Been” Normani ft. 6LACK – “Waves”
Best Latin
Anuel AA, Karol G – “Secreto” Bad Bunny ft. Drake – “MIA” benny blanco, Tainy, Selena Gomez, J Balvin – “I Can’t Get Enough” Daddy Yankee ft. Snow – “Con Calma” Maluma – “Mala Mia” ROSALÍA and J Balvin ft. El Guincho – “Con Altura”
Best Dance
The Chainsmokers ft. Bebe Rexha – “Call You Mine” Clean Bandit ft. Demi Lovato – “Solo” David Guetta, Bebe Rexha, and J Balvin – “Say My Name” DJ Snake ft. Selena Gomez, Ozuna, and Cardi B – “Taki Taki” Marshmello and Bastille – “Happier” Silk City, Dua Lipa – “Electricity”
Best Rock
The 1975 – “Love It If We Made It” Fall Out Boy – “Bishops Knife Trick” Imagine Dragons – “Natural” Lenny Kravitz – “Low” Panic! at the Disco – “High Hopes” twenty one pilots – “My Blood”
Best K-Pop
BLACKPINK – “Kill This Love” BTS ft. Halsey – “Boy With Luv” EXO – “Tempo” Monsta X ft. French Montana – “Who Do U Love” NCT 127 – “Regular” TOMORROW X TOGETHER – “Cat & Dog”
Video for Good
Hasley – “Nightmare” Jamie N Commons, Skylar Grey ft. Gallant – “Runaway Train” John Legend – “Preach” The Killers – “Land of the Free” Lil Dicky – “Earth” Taylor Swift – “You Need to Calm Down”
Best Direction
Ariana Grande – “thank u, next” directed by Hannah Lux Davis Billie Eilish – “bad guy” directed by Dave Meyers FKA twigs – “Cellophane” directed by Andrew Thomas Huang Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus – “Old Town Road” (Remix) directed by Calmatic LSD ft. Labrinth, Sia, Diplo – “No New Friends” directed by Dano Cerny Taylor Swift – “You Need to Calm Down” directed by Drew Kirsch and Taylor Swift
Best Art Direction
Ariana Grande – “7 Rings” art direction by John Richoux BTS ft. Halsey – “Boy With Luv” art direction by JinSil and BoNa Kim (MU:E) Kanye West and Lil Pump ft. Adele Givens – “I Love It” art direction by Tino Schaedler Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus – “Old Town Road” (Remix) art direction by Itaru Dela Vega Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello – “Señorita” art direction by Tatiana Van Sauter Taylor Swift – “You Need to Calm Down” art direction by Brittany Porter
Best Choreography
BTS ft. Halsey – “Boy With Luv” choreography by Rie Hata FKA twigs – “Cellophane” choreography by Kelly Yvonne LSD ft. Labrinth, Sia, Diplo – “No New Friends” choreography by Ryan Heffington ROSALÍA and J Balvin ft. El Guincho – “Con Altura” choreography by Charm La’Donna Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello – “Señorita” choreography by Calvit Hodge Solange – “Almeda” choreography by Maya Taylor and Solange Knowles
Best Cinematography
Anderson .Paak ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Tints” cinematography by Elias Talbot Ariana Grande – “thank u, next” cinematography by Christopher Probst Billie Eilish – “hostage” cinematography by Pau Castejon Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello – “Señorita” cinematography by Scott Cunningham Solange – “Almeda” cinematography by Chayse Irvin, Ryan Marie Helfant, and Justin Hamilton Taylor Swift ft. Brendon Urie of Panic! at the Disco – “ME!” cinematography by Starr Whitesides
Best Editing
Anderson .Paak ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Tints” editing by Vinnie Hobbs Ariana Grande – “7 Rings” editing by Hannah Lux and Taylor Walsh Billie Eilish – “bad guy” editing by Billie Eilish Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus – “Old Town Road” (Remix) editing by Calmatic Solange – “Almeda” editing by Solange Knowles, Vinnie Hobbs, and Jonathan Proctor Taylor Swift – “You Need to Calm Down” editing by Jarrett Fijal
Best Visual Effects
Ariana Grande – “God Is a Woman” visual effects by Fabrice Lagayette at Mathematic Billie Eilish – “when the party’s over” visual effects by Ryan Ross and Andres Jaramillo DJ Khaled ft. SZA – “Just Us” visual effects by Sergii Mashevskyi FKA – “Twigs” visual effects by Analog LSD ft. Labrinth, Sia, Diplo – “No New Friends” visual effects by Ethan Chancer Taylor Swift ft. Brendon Urie of Panic! at the Disco – “ME!” visual effects by Loris Paillier and Lucas Salton at BUF VFX