The prestigious list includes artists we’re all too familiar with, as well as plenty of newcomers – and new rap-queen, Cardi B, is leading the way with a respectable 10 nominations, many of which are for her collaboration with Bruno Mars, Finesse, and we can totally see why.
Beyoncé and Jay-Z aren’t too far behind after dropping their surprise video for new track APES**T, which has received eight nominations. Totally deserved considering they actually took over The Louvre in Paris to film it…
Childish Gambino (or Donald Glover, if you’re a fan of his acting) and Drake both have seven nominations, for This Is America and God’s Plan, respectively. Both total bangers.
MTV made headlines last year when it dropped gendered categories from the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), meaning male, female, and nonbinary artists are now all up against each other in the same category.
Because of these changes, Best Female Video and Best Male Video awards are now combined into one category: Artist of the Year. Video with a message is also a new category that has been introduced this year, for an artist that has used their music to convey morals about current issues or a political statement. The awards will take place on August 21.
Here are the nominees:
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Ariana Grande, “No Tears Left to Cry” – Republic Records
Bruno Mars feat. Cardi B, “Finesse (Remix)” – Atlantic Records
Camila Cabello feat. Young Thug, “Havana” – Syco Music/Epic Records
The Carters, “APES**T” – Roc Nation/Parkwood Entertainment
Childish Gambino, “This Is America” – mcDJ / RCA Records
Drake, “God’s Plan” – YMCMB/Cash Money/Republic Records
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Ariana Grande – Republic Records
Bruno Mars – Atlantic Records
Camila Cabello – Syco Music/Epic Records
Cardi B – Atlantic Records
Drake – YMCMB/Cash Money/Republic Records
Post Malone – Republic Records
SONG OF THE YEAR
Bruno Mars feat. Cardi B, “Finesse (Remix)” – Atlantic Records
Camila Cabello feat. Young Thug, “Havana” – Syco Music/Epic Records
Drake, “God’s Plan” – YMCMB/Cash Money/Republic Records
Dua Lipa, “New Rules” – Warner Bros. Records
Ed Sheeran, “Perfect” – Atlantic Records
Post Malone feat. 21 Savage, “rockstar” – Republic Records
BEST NEW ARTIST (Presented by Taco Bell®)
Bazzi – iamcosmic/Atlantic Records
Cardi B – Atlantic Records
Chloe x Halle – Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records
Hayley Kiyoko – Atlantic Records
Lil Pump – Warner Bros. Records
Lil Uzi Vert – Atlantic Records
BEST COLLABORATION
Bebe Rexha feat. Florida Georgia Line, “Meant to Be” – Warner Bros. Records
Bruno Mars feat. Cardi B, “Finesse (Remix)” – Atlantic Records
The Carters, “APES**T” – Roc Nation/Parkwood Entertainment
Jennifer Lopez feat. DJ Khaled and Cardi B, “Dinero” – Epic Records/Nuyorican Productions
Logic feat. Alessia Cara and Khalid, “1-800-273-8255” – Def Jam Recordings
N. E. R. D and Rihanna, “Lemon” – i am OTHER/Columbia Records
PUSH ARTIST OF THE YEAR
JULY 2018 – Chloe x Halle – Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records
JUNE 2018 – Sigrid – Island Records
MAY 2018 – Lil Xan – Columbia Records
APRIL 2018 – Hayley Kiyoko – Atlantic Records
MARCH 2018 – Jessie Reyez – Island Records
FEBRUARY 2018 – Tee Grizzley – 300 Entertainment
JANUARY 2018 – Bishop Briggs – Island Records
DECEMBER 2017 – Grace VanderWaal – Syco Music/Columbia Records
NOVEMBER 2017 – Why Don’t We – Atlantic Records
OCTOBER 2017 – PRETTYMUCH – Syco Music/Columbia Records
SEPTEMBER 2017 – SZA – TDE/Aftermath/Interscope Records
AUGUST 2017 – Kacy Hill – Def Jam Recordings
JULY 2017 – Khalid – RCA Records
JUNE 2017 – Kyle – Atlantic Records
MAY 2017 – Noah Cyrus – Republic Records
BEST POP
Ariana Grande, “No Tears Left to Cry” – Republic Records
Camila Cabello feat. Young Thug, “Havana” – Syco Music/Epic Records
Demi Lovato, “Sorry Not Sorry” – Island Records
Ed Sheeran, “Perfect” – Atlantic Records
Pink, “What About Us” – RCA Records
Shawn Mendes, “In My Blood” – Island Records
BEST HIP-HOP
Cardi B feat. 21 Savage, “Bartier Cardi” – KSR/Atlantic Records
The Carters, “APES**T” – Roc Nation/Parkwood Entertainment
Drake, “God’s Plan” – YMCMB/Cash Money/Republic Records
J. Cole, “ATM” – Dreamville/Roc Nation/Interscope Records
Migos feat. Drake, “Walk It Talk It” – Quality Control/Capitol Records
Nicki Minaj, “Chun-Li” – Young Money/Cash Money Records
BEST LATIN
Daddy Yankee, “Dura” – El Cartel Records/UMLE
J Balvin, Willy William, “Mi Gente” – UMLE/Republic Records
Jennifer Lopez feat. DJ Khaled and Cardi B, “Dinero” – Epic Records/Nuyorican Productions
Luis Fonsi, Demi Lovato, “Échame La Culpa” – UMLE/Republic/Island/Universal Music Latino
Maluma, “Felices los 4” – Sony Music Entertainment US Latin
Shakira feat. Maluma, “Chantaje” – Sony Music Entertainment US Latin
BEST DANCE
Avicii feat. Rita Ora, “Lonely Together” – Geffen Records
Calvin Harris and Dua Lipa, “One Kiss” – Columbia Records
The Chainsmokers, “Everybody Hates Me” – Disruptor Records/Columbia Records
David Guetta and Sia, “Flames” – Atlantic Records
Marshmello feat. Khalid, “Silence” – RCA Records/Ultra Records
Zedd and Liam Payne, “Get Low (Street Video)” – Interscope Records
BEST ROCK
Fall Out Boy, “Champion” – Island Records
Foo Fighters, “The Sky Is a Neighborhood” – RCA Records
Imagine Dragons, “Whatever It Takes” – KIDinaKORNER/Interscope Records
Linkin Park, “One More Light” – Warner Bros. Records
Panic! at the Disco, “Say Amen (Saturday Night)” – Fueled By Ramen/Atlantic Records
Thirty Seconds to Mars, “Walk On Water” – Interscope Records
VIDEO WITH A MESSAGE
Childish Gambino, “This Is America” – mcDJ / RCA Records
Dej Loaf and Leon Bridges, “Liberated” – Columbia Records
Drake, ‘God’s Plan” – YMCMB/Cash Money/Republic Records
Janelle Monáe, “PYNK” – Bad Boy Records/Atlantic Records
Jessie Reyez, “Gatekeeper” – Island Records
Logic feat. Alessia Cara and Khalid, “1-800-273-8255” – Def Jam Recordings
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Alessia Cara, “Growing Pains” – Def Jam Recordings – Cinematography by Pau Castejón
Ariana Grande, “No Tears Left to Cry” – Republic Records – Cinematography by Scott Cunningham
The Carters, “APES**T” – Roc Nation/Parkwood Entertainment – Cinematography by Benoit Debie
Childish Gambino, “This Is America” – mcDJ / RCA Records – Cinematography by Larkin Seiple
Eminem feat. Ed Sheeran, “River” – Shady/Aftermath/Interscope Records – Cinematography by Frank Mobilio and Patrick Meller
Shawn Mendes, “In My Blood” – Island Records – Cinematography by Jonathan Sela
BEST DIRECTION
The Carters, “APES**T” – Roc Nation/Parkwood Entertainment – Directed by Ricky Saix
Childish Gambino, “This Is America” – mcDJ / RCA Records – Directed by Hiro Murai
Drake, “God’s Plan” – YMCMB/Cash Money/Republic Records – Directed by Karena Evans
Ed Sheeran, “Perfect” – Atlantic Records – Directed by Jason Koenig
Justin Timberlake feat. Chris Stapleton, “Say Something” – RCA Records – Directed by Arturo Perez Jr.
Shawn Mendes, “In My Blood” – Island Records – Directed by Jay Martin
BEST ART DIRECTION
The Carters, “APES**T” – Roc Nation/Parkwood Entertainment – Art Direction by Jan Houlevigue
Childish Gambino, “This Is America” – mcDJ / RCA Records – Art Direction by Jason Kisvarday
J. Cole, “ATM” – Dreamville/Roc Nation/Interscope Records – Art Direction by Miles Mullin
Janelle Monáe, “Make Me Feel” – Bad Boy Records/Atlantic Records – Art Direction by Pepper Nguyen
SZA, “The Weekend” – TDE/RCA Records – Art Direction by SZA and Solange
Taylor Swift, “Look What You Made Me Do” – Big Machine Records – Art Direction by Brett Hess
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Ariana Grande, “No Tears Left to Cry” – Republic Records – Visual Effects by Vidal and Loris Paillier for Buf
Avicii feat. Rita Ora, “Lonely Together” – Geffen Records – Visual Effects by KPP
Eminem feat. Beyoncé, “Walk on Water” – Shady/Aftermath/Interscope Records – Visual Effects Supervisor Rich Lee for Drive Studios
Kendrick Lamar and SZA, “All The Stars” – TDE/Aftermath/Interscope Records – Visual Effects by Loris Paillier for BUF Paris
Maroon 5, “Wait” – 222/Interscope Records – Visual Effects by TIMBER
Taylor Swift, “Look What You Made Me Do” – Big Machine Records – Visual Effects by Ingenuity Studios
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
Bruno Mars feat. Cardi B, “Finesse (Remix)” – Atlantic Records – Choreography by Phil Tayag and Bruno Mars
Camila Cabello feat. Young Thug, “Havana” – Syco Music/Epic Records – Choreography by Calvit Hodge and Sara Bivens
The Carters, “APES**T” – Roc Nation/Parkwood Entertainment – Choreography by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and Jaquel Knight
Childish Gambino, “This Is America” – mcDJ / RCA Records – Choreography by Sherrie Silver
Dua Lipa, “IDGAF” – Warner Bros. Records – Choreography by Marion Motin
Justin Timberlake, “Filthy” – RCA Records – Choreography by Marty Kudelka, AJ Harpold, Tracy Phillips, and Ivan Koumaev
BEST EDITING
Bruno Mars feat. Cardi B, “Finesse (Remix)” – Atlantic Records – Editing by Jacquelyn London
The Carters, “APES**T” – Roc Nation/Parkwood Entertainment – Taylor Ward and Sam Ostrove
Childish Gambino, “This Is America” – mcDJ / RCA Records – Editing by Ernie Gilbert
Janelle Monáe, “Make Me Feel” – Bad Boy Records/Atlantic Records – Editing by Deji Laray
N. E. R. D and Rihanna, “Lemon” – i am OTHER/Columbia Records – Editing by Taylor Ward
Taylor Swift, “Look What You Made Me Do” – Big Machine Records – Editing by Chancler Haynes for Cosmo
