The MTV Video Music Awards, fondly known as the VMAs, have always been a grand celebration of musical talent, creativity, and the power of music videos to tell captivating stories. In 2023, the stage is set for another spectacular night in the music industry as the MTV VMAs unveil their nominations. Let’s dive into the thrilling nominations, highlighting the artists who are poised to make history and the newcomers who are ready to shine. Join us on a journey through the world of MTV VMAs 2023 nominations.
The 2023 MTV VMAs are all about femme power. Women and non-binary artists have taken center stage this year, scoring the most nominations by far. This signals a powerful shift in the music industry, recognizing and celebrating the immense talent of these artists.
Taylor Swift: Leading the Pack
One name that continues to dominate the music scene is Taylor Swift. In 2023, she’s clearly in her winning era, leading the pack with a remarkable 8 nominations. Swift has landed nods in almost every eligible category, including the coveted “Artist of the Year” and “Video of the Year.” MTV suggests that she could make history as the only artist to win “Video of the Year” four times. Swift’s incredible journey and ability to connect with her audience through her music have solidified her status as a pop culture icon.
Hot on Taylor Swift’s heels is SZA, securing the second-most nominations with 6 nods. Her songs “Kill Bill” and “Shirt” from her sophomore album “SOS” have captured the hearts of fans and critics alike. SZA’s unique sound and lyrical depth have earned her a well-deserved place among the top contenders.
Doja Cat and Olivia Rodrigo are making waves despite releasing their nominated videos only two months before the awards show. Doja Cat’s infectious energy and creativity are reflected in her 5 nominations, while Olivia Rodrigo’s emotionally charged music has earned her a spot among the industry’s best. These two young artists represent the future of music and are undoubtedly ones to watch.
Celebrating Newcomers
Last year, the MTV VMAs celebrated 26 first-time nominees. In 2023, they’ve shattered their own record with an impressive total of 35 first-timers. These newcomers bring fresh perspectives and innovative approaches to the music video medium. Artists like Ayra Starr, Ice Spice, Saucy Santana, Reneé Rapp, GloRilla, Yung Miami, Boygenius, Kim Petras, Peso Pluma, Metro Boomin, PinkPantheress, Toosii, Burna Boy, Davido, aespa, and Rema are stepping onto the VMAs stage with newfound excitement and ambition.
While the focus is primarily on the nominations, the MTV VMAs always have a special surprise in store for their viewers. This year, the prestigious Video Vanguard Award goes to none other than global superstar Shakira. The Colombian icon will make history as the first South American artist to receive this prestigious honor. As part of her acceptance, Shakira will perform on the VMAs stage for the first time in 17 years, promising a memorable night for all music enthusiasts.
The 2023 MTV VMAs are set to be broadcast live globally on Tuesday, September 12, from Newark, New Jersey’s Prudential Center. While the host remains unannounced at the moment, due to ongoing labor strikes, viewers can expect an exciting lineup of award presenters. The likes of Coco Jones, Charli and Dixie D’Amelio, Emrata, GloRilla, Ice Spice, Outer Banks star Madelyn Cline, Sabrina Carpenter, and more will grace the stage with their presence, adding to the star-studded affair.
Nominations
Now, let’s dive into the heart of the MTV VMAs—the nominations. The nominees in various categories represent the pinnacle of music video artistry and innovation.
Video of the Year
- Doja Cat – “Attention”
- Miley Cyrus – “Flowers”
- Nicki Minaj – “Super Freaky Girl”
- Olivia Rodrigo – “vampire”
- Sam Smith, Kim Petras – “Unholy”
- SZA – “Kill Bill”
- Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero”
Artist of the Year
- Beyoncé
- Doja Cat
- KAROL G
- Nicki Minaj
- Shakira
- Taylor Swift
Song of the Year
- Miley Cyrus – “Flowers”
- Olivia Rodrigo – “vampire”
- Rema & Selena Gomez – “Calm Down”
- Sam Smith, Kim Petras – “Unholy”
- Steve Lacy – “Bad Habit”
- SZA – “Kill Bill”
- Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero”
Best New Artist
- GloRilla
- Ice Spice
- Kaliii
- Peso Pluma
- PinkPantheress
- Reneé Rapp
Show of The Summer
- Beyoncé
- BLACKPINK
- Drake
- Ed Sheeran
- Karol G
- Taylor Swift
Group of The Year
- BLACKPINK
- FIFTY FIFTY
- FLO
- Jonas Brothers
- Måneskin
- NewJeans
- SEVENTEEN
- TOMORROW x TOGETHER
Song of The Summer
- Beyoncé – “Cuff It”
- Billie Eilish – “What Was I Made For? (From The Motion Picture Barbie)”
- Doja Cat – “Paint the Town Red”
- Doechii ft. Kodak Black – “What It Is (Block Boy)”
- Dua Lipa – “Dance the Night (From Barbie The Album)”
- FIFTY FIFTY – “Cupid”
- Gunna – “fukumean”
- Jung Kook ft. Latto – “Seven”
- Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice– “Barbie World (with Aqua) [From Barbie The Album]”
- Olivia Rodrigo – “vampire”
- SZA – “Kill Bill”
- Taylor Swift ft. Ice Spice – “Karma”
- TOMORROW X TOGETHER and Jonas Brothers – “Do It Like That”
- Luke Combs – “Fast Car”
- Troye Sivan – “Rush”
- Yng Lvcas & Peso Pluma – “La Bebe (Remix)”
Album of The Year
- Beyoncé – Renaissance
- Drake & 21 Savage – Her Loss
- Metro Boomin – Heroes & Villains
- Miley Cyrus – Endless Summer Vacation
- SZA – SOS
- Taylor Swift – Midnights
Push Performance of The Year
- August 2022: Saucy Santana – “Booty”
- September 2022: Stephen Sanchez – “Until I Found You”
- October 2022: JVKE – “golden hour”
- November 2022: Flo Milli – “Conceited”
- December 2022: Reneé Rapp – “Colorado”
- January 2023: Sam Ryder – “All The Way Over”
- February 2023: Armani White – “GOATED”
- March 2023: FLETCHER – “Becky’s So Hot”
- April 2023: TOMORROW X TOGETHER – “Sugar Rush Ride”
- May 2023: Ice Spice – “Princess Diana”
- June 2023: FLO – “Losing You”
- July 2023: Lauren Spencer Smith – “That Part”
Best Collaboration
- David Guetta & Bebe Rexha – “I’m Good (Blue)”
- Post Malone, Doja Cat – “I Like You (A Happier Song)”
- Diddy ft. Bryson Tiller, Ashanti, Yung Miami – “Gotta Move On”
- KAROL G, Shakira – “TQG”
- Metro Boomin with The Weeknd, 21 Savage, and Diddy – “Creepin’ (Remix)”
- Rema & Selena Gomez – “Calm Down”
Best Pop
- Demi Lovato – “Swine”
- Dua Lipa – “Dance The Night (From Barbie The Album)”
- Ed Sheeran – “Eyes Closed”
- Miley Cyrus – “Flowers”
- Olivia Rodrigo – “vampire”
- P!NK – “TRUSTFALL”
- Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero”
Best Hip-hop
- Diddy ft. Bryson Tiller, Ashanti, Yung Miami – “Gotta Move On”
- DJ Khaled ft. Drake & Lil Baby – “STAYING ALIVE”
- GloRilla & Cardi B – “Tomorrow 2”
- Lil Uzi Vert – “Just Wanna Rock”
- Lil Wayne ft. Swizz Beatz & DMX – “Kant Nobody”
- Metro Boomin ft Future – “Superhero (Heroes and Villains)”
- Nicki Minaj – “Super Freaky Girl”
Best R&B
- Alicia Keys ft. Lucky Daye – “Stay”
- Chlöe ft. Chris Brown – “How Does It Feel”
- Metro Boomin with The Weeknd, 21 Savage, and Diddy – “Creepin’ (Remix)”
- SZA – “Shirt”
- Toosii – “Favorite Song”
- Yung Bleu & Nicki Minaj – “Love In The Way”
Best Alternative
- blink-182 – “EDGING”
- boygenius – “the film”
- Fall Out Boy – “Hold Me Like A Grudge”
- Lana Del Rey ft. Jon Batiste – “Candy Necklace”
- Paramore – “This Is Why”
- Thirty Seconds To Mars – “Stuck”
Best Rock
- Foo Fighters – “The Teacher”
- Linkin Park – “Lost (Original Version)”
- Red Hot Chili Peppers – “Tippa My Tongue”
- Måneskin – “THE LONELIEST”
- Metallica – “Lux Æterna”
- Muse – “You Make Me Feel Like It’s Halloween”
Best Latin
- Anitta – “Funk Rave”
- Bad Bunny – “WHERE SHE GOES”
- Eslabon Armado, Peso Pluma – “Ella Baila Sola”
- Grupo Frontera Bad Bunny – “un x100to”
- KAROL G, Shakira – “TQG”
- ROSALÍA – “DESPECHÁ”
- Shakira – “Acróstico”
Best K-Pop
- aespa – “Girls”
- BLACKPINK – “Pink Venom”
- FIFTY FIFTY – “Cupid”
- SEVENTEEN – “Super”
- Stray Kids – “S-Class”
- TOMORROW X TOGETHER – “Sugar Rush Ride”
Best Afrobeats
- Ayra Starr – “Rush”
- Burna Boy – “It’s Plenty”
- Davido ft. Musa Keys – “UNAVAILABLE”
- Fireboy DML & Asake – ”Bandana”
- Libianca – “People”
- Rema & Selena Gomez – “Calm Down”
- Wizkid ft Ayra Starr– “2 Sugar”
Video For Good
- Alicia Keys – If I Ain’t Got You (Orchestral)
- Bad Bunny – “El Apagón – Aquí Vive Gente”
- Demi Lovato – “Swine”
- Dove Cameron – “Breakfast”
- Imagine Dragons – “Crushed”
- Maluma – “La Reina”
Best Direction
- Doja Cat — “Attention” — Directed by Tanu Muiño
- Drake — “Falling Back” — Directed by Director X (Julien Christian Lutz)
- Kendrick Lamar — “Count Me Out” — Directed by Dave Free & Kendrick Lamar
- Megan Thee Stallion — “Her” — Directed by Colin Tilley
- Sam Smith, Kim Petras — “Unholy” — Directed by Floria Sigismondi
- SZA — “Kill Bill” — Directed by Christian Breslauer
- Taylor Swift — “Anti-Hero” — Directed by Taylor Swift
Best Cinematography
- Adele — “I Drink Wine” — Cinematography by Adam Newport-Berra
- Ed Sheeran — “Eyes Closed” — Cinematography by Natasha Baier
- Janelle Monae — “Lipstick Lover” — Cinematography by Allison Anderson
- Kendrick Lamar — “Count Me Out” — Cinematography by Adam Newport-Berra
- Miley Cyrus — “Flowers” — Cinematography by Marcell Rev
- Olivia Rodrigo — “vampire” — Cinematography by Russ Fraser
- Taylor Swift — “Anti-Hero” — Cinematography by Rina Yang
Best Visual Effects
- Fall Out Boy — “Love From The Other Side” — Visual Effects by Thomas Bailey and Josh Shaffner
- Harry Styles — “Music For A Sushi Restaurant” — Visual Effects by Chelsea Delfino and Black Kite Studios
- Melanie Martinez — “VOID” — Visual Effects by Carbon
- Nicki Minaj — “Super Freaky Girl” — Visual Effects by Max Colt and Sergio Mashevskyi
- Sam Smith, Kim Petras — “Unholy” — Visual Effects by Max Colt / FRENDER
- Taylor Swift — “Anti-Hero” — Visual Effects by Parliament
Best Choreography
- BLACKPINK — “Pink Venom” — Choreography by Kiel Tutin, Sienna Lalau, Lee Jung (YGX), Taryn Cheng (YGX)
- Dua Lipa — “Dance The Night (From Barbie The Album)” — Choreography by Charm LaDonna
- Jonas Brothers — “Waffle House” — Choreography by Jerry Reece
- Megan Thee Stallion — “Her” — Choreography by Sean Bankhead
- Panic! At The Disco — “Middle Of A Breakup” — Choreography by Monika Felice Smith
- Sam Smith, Kim Petras — “Unholy” — Choreography by (LA)HORDE – Marine Brutti, Jonathan Debrouwer, Arthur Harel
Best Art Direction
- boygenius — “the film” — Art Direction by Jen Dunlap
- BLACKPINK — “Pink Venom” — Art Direction by Seo Hyun Seung (GIGANT)
- Doja Cat — “Attention” — Art Direction by Spencer Graves
- Lana Del Rey ft. Jon Batiste — “Candy Necklace” — Art Direction by Brandon Mendez
- Megan Thee Stallion — “Her” — Art Direction by Niko Philipides
- SZA — “Shirt” — Art Direction by Kate Bunch
Best Editing
- BLACKPINK — “Pink Venom” — Edited by Seo Hyun Seung (GIGANT)
- Kendrick Lamar — “Rich Spirit” — Edited by Grason Caldwell
- Miley Cyrus — “River” — Edited by Brandan Walter
- Olivia Rodrigo — “vampire” — Edited by Sofia Kerpan and David Checel
- SZA — “Kill Bill” — Edited by Luis Caraza Peimbert
- Taylor Swift — “Anti-Hero” — Edited by Chancler Haynes
A Diverse Musical Landscape
As we delve into the nominations, it becomes evident that the music landscape is more diverse and dynamic than ever before. From pop to hip-hop, R&B to alternative, rock to Latin, K-pop to Afrobeat, the VMAs celebrate music in all its forms.
Wrapping it up!
The MTV VMAs 2023 nominations are a testament to the extraordinary talent and creativity present in the music industry today. It’s a year of femme power, with women and non-binary artists leading the way. Taylor Swift, SZA, Doja Cat, Olivia Rodrigo, and many others have earned their rightful place among the top contenders. With a record number of first-time nominees and the iconic Shakira receiving the Video Vanguard Award, this year’s VMAs promise to be a night to remember. So mark your calendars for September 12, 2023, and join us in celebrating the best in music and talent at the MTV Video Music Awards. MTV VMAs 2023 nominations are not just about recognition; they are a testament to the ever-evolving and diverse world of music, reminding us of the power of music to inspire, entertain, and unite.
