2025 VMA is becoming a night for the music “Mayhem.”
MTV has revealed candidates for the annual Video Music Awards Show. This is a pop-stick spectacle that brings together the biggest artists of the year to celebrate top songs and music videos of the fan-choice. This year’s ceremony will air live on CBS at 8pm on September 7th from UBS Arena in New York.
Returning to music this spring, pop icon Lady Gaga returns to music with her acclaimed album Mayhem, leads the nominations with 12 nods, including Video of the Year, Artist of the Year and Best Album. Gaga’s “Die with a Smile” collaborator Bruno Mars is closely behind with 11 nominations.
Other top candidates include hip-hop Juggernaut Kendrick Lamar, Blackpink Singer Rose, Pop Princess Sabrina Carpenter, “Wicked” star Ariana Grande, Weeknd, alternative pop singer Billy Eilish and British pop star Charli XCX.
Pop Titan Taylor Swift, the most embellished solo artist in VMA history, has also won an Artist of the Year nomination despite not releasing a new music video this year. In 2024, Swift took home numerous prizes including Video of the Year, Artist of the Year, Best Collaboration (“Fortnite” with Post Malone), Best Pop and Best Direction.
Last year’s VMA was full of career milestones and knockout performances. Electropop diva Chappell Roan crowned the best new artist and dominated the stage with her breakout hit “Good Luck, Babe!” with medieval-themed numbers. Meanwhile, Carpenter won her first moon man in Song of the Year (“Espresso”), performing a cheeky medley number where she saw the lips on her lips along with an alien dancer.
Fans can vote for 19 gender neutral categories by visiting votes until 6pm on September 5th. Voting for Best New Artists will continue to be active at the ceremony on September 7th. Social category nominations will be announced at a later date.
Check out the 2025 MTV VMA nominations.
This year’s video
- Ariana Grande – “Brighter Days” (Republic Records)
- Billy Eilish – “Feather Bird” (Darkroom/Interscope Recode)
- Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” (Pglang/Interscope Records)
- Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars – “Die with a Smile” (Interscope Recode)
- Rose & Bruno Mars – “apt.” (Atlantic Records)
- Sabrina Carpenter – “Munchild” (Island)
- The Weeknd, Playboi Carti-“Timeless” (XO/Republic Records)
Artist of the Year
This year’s song
- Alex Warren – “Normal” (Atlantic Records)
- Billy Eilish – “Feather Bird” (Darkroom/Interscope Recode)
- doechii – “Anxiety” (Top Dog Entertainment/Capitol Records)
- Ed Sheeran – “Sapphire” (Gingerbreadman Records/Atlantic Records)
- Gracie Abrams – “I love you, sorry” (Interscope Recode)
- Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars – “Die with a Smile” (Interscope Recode)
- Lord – “What was it?” (Republic Record)
- Rose & Bruno Mars – “apt.” (Atlantic Records)
- Tate McRae – “Sports Car” (RCA Records)
- The Weeknd, Playboi Carti-“Timeless” (XO/Republic Records)
The best new artist
- Alex Warren
- She is Langley
- Perez’s teeth
- Laura Young
- Ambler
- Maria
The best pop artists
MTV Push Performance of the Year
- August 2024 – Shaboozey – “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” (American Dogwood/Empire)
- September 2024 – Ayra Starr – “Last Heartbreak Song” (Mavin Records/Republic Records)
- October 2024 – Mark Amber – “Belonging Together” (100 Days Records/Virgin Music)
- November 2024 – Banksley – “Cemetery” (Artist Partner Group Inc.)
- December 2024 -dasa- “Goodbye” (Warner Records)
- January 2025 – Katsseye – “Touch” (Hybe/Geffen Records)
- February 2025 – Jordan Adetunji – “Kelani” (300 Entertainment)
- March 2025 – Leon Thomas – “Yes That” (Ezmny Records/Motown Records)
- April 2025 – Livingstone – “Shadow” (Republic Record)
- May 2025 – Damiano David – “Next Summer” (Sony Italy/Arista Records)
- June 2025 – Gigi Perez – “Sailor Song” (Island)
- July 2025 – Role Model – “Sally, when the wine runs out” (Interscope Code)
The best collaboration
- Bailey Zimmerman with Luke Combs-“Backup Plan (Stagecoach Official Music Video)” – Atlantic Records/Warner Music Nashville
- Kendrick Lamar & SZA – “Luther” – Pglang/Interscope Records
- Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – “Die with a Smile” – Interscope Lecode
- Post Maloneft. BlakeShelton-“Pouring a Drink on Me” – Mercury Record
- Rose & Bruno Mars – “apt.” – Atlantic Records
- Selena Gomez, Benny Blanco – “Sunset Boulevard” – SMG Music/Friend Keeps Secret/Scope Lecode
The best pop
- Alex Warren – “Normal” – Atlantic Records
- Ariana Grande – “Brighter Days” – Republic Records
- Ed Sheeran – “Sapphire” – Gingerbreadman Records/Atlantic Records
- Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – “Die with a Smile” – Interscope Lecode
- Rose & Bruno Mars – “apt.” – Atlantic Records
- Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild” – Island
Best hip hop
- doechii – “Anxiety” (Top Dog Entertainment/Capitol Records)
- Drake – “Nokia” (OVO/Santa Anna/Republic)
- Eminemft. JellyRoll – “Someone saves me” (Shady/Aftermath/Interscope Records)
- Glorillaft. SexyeyRed – “Whatchu kno bour bout me” (cmg/interscope record)
- Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” (Pglang/Interscope Records)
- ll cool Jft. Eminem-“Murdergram Deux” (Recorded by Def Jam)
- Travis Scott- “4×4” (Cactus Jack/Epic Record)
The best R&B
- Chris Brown – “Residual” (Chris Brown Entertainment/RCA Records)
- Leon Thomas & Freddie Gibbs – “Mutt (Remix)” (Ezmny Records/Motown Records)
- Mariah Carey – “Type Danger” (Gamma)
- PartyNextDoor-“noc Hill” (OVO Sound)
- Summer Walker – “Heart of a Woman” (LVRN/Interscope Records)
- SZA-“Drive” (Top Dog Entertainment/RCA Records)
- The Weeknd, Playboi Carti-“Timeless” (XO/Republic Records)
Best alternative
- Gigi Perez – “Seager’s Song” (Island)
- Imagine a Dragon – “Wake Up” (kidnakorner/interscope record)
- Laura Young – “Mess” (Island)
- MGK & Jelly Roll – “Lonely Road” (EST 19xx/Interscope Records)
- SOMBR- “Back to Friends” (SMB Music/Warner Records)
- Marias – “Back to Me” (A wonderful life/Atlantic record)
The best rock
- ColdPlay – “All My Love” (Atlantic Records)
- Evanescence – “Afterlife (Netflix Series “Devil May Cry”)” (Netflix Music)
- Green Day – “One Eyed Bastard” (Reprise Records/Warner Records)
- Lenny Kravitz – “Honey” (2024 Roxie Records Inc. BMG Rights Management GmbH exclusive license)
- Linkin Park – “The Void” (Warner Records)
- Twenty One Pilots – “Contract” (fueled to ramen)
Best Latin
- Bad Bunny – “Bay Rain Le Bidouble” (Rimus Entertainment)
- J Balbin – “Rio” (Chapter Record)
- Karol G- “If I Did You Know You” (Bichota Records/Interscope Records)
- folm weight- “la patrol” (double p Records)
- Rauw Alexander & Romeo Santos – “Khé?” (Sony Music Us Latin)
- Shakira – “Soltera” (Sony Music US Latin)
The best afrobeat
- Asake & Travis Scott – “Active” (YBNL Nation/Empire)
- Burna BoyFt. TravisScott – “Tatata” (Spaceship/Bad Habit/Atlantic Records)
- Moliy, Silent Addy, Skilliveng & Shenseea – “Shake It To the Max (Fly) (Remix)” (Gamma).
- Lema – “Baby (Is That a Crime)” (Mavin Global Holdings Ltd / Jonzing World Entertainment / Interscope Records)
- Temsft. Asake- “Make it right” (since RCA Records/’93)
- Tyla – “Push 2 Start” (FAX RECORDS/EPIC RECORDS)
- Wizkidft. BrentFaiyaz – “Part of My Heart” (Starboy/RCA Records)
The best k-pop
- Aespa-“Whiplash” (SM Entertainment/Virgin Music Group)
- Jenny – “Jenny Like” (OA Entertainment/Columbia Records)
- Jimin – “who” (bighit music)
- Jisoo – “Earthquake” (Warner Records)
- Lisaft. DojaCat & Raye – “Born Again” (Lloud Co./RCA Records)
- Lost children – “CHK CHK BOOM” (JYP/Imperial/Republic)
- Rose – “Toxic to the end” (Atlantic Records)
The best country
- Chris Stapleton – “I think I’m in love with you” (Mercury Nashville)
- Carrie Underwood and Cody Johnson – “I Love You” (Cojo Music/Warner Music Nashville)
- Jerry Roll – “Lying” (BBR Music Group/BMG/Republic Records)
- Rainey Wilson – “4x4xu” (Broken Bow Record)
- Megan Moloney – “Are you OK?” (Columbia Record)
- Morgan Warren – “Smile” (Large Voice Record/Mercury Record)
Best Album
- Bad Bunny – “I had to throw more photos” (Entertainment rhyme)
- Kendrick Lamar – “GNX” (Pglang/Interscope Records)
- Lady Gaga – “Mayhem” (Interscope Recode)
- Morgan Warren – “I’m a problem” (Large loud record/Mercury record)
- Sabrina Carpenter – “Short N’Sweet” (Island)
- The Weeknd – “Hurry Tomorrow” (XO/Republic Records)
Best long form video
- Ariana Grande – “Brighter Days” (Republic Records)
- Bad Bunny – “I had to throw more photos (short film)” (entertainment rhyme)
- Damiano David – “A funny little story” (Sony Italia/Arista Records)
- Mac Miller – “Balloonerism” (Warner Records)
- Miley Cyrus – “Something Beautiful” (Columbia Records)
- The Weeknd – “Hurry Tomorrow” (XO/Republic Records)
Video forever
- BURNA BOY – “Higher” (Spaceship/Bad Habit/Atlantic Record)
- Charli XCX – “Guidelines featuring Billy Eilish” (Atlantic Records)
- doechii – “Anxiety” (Top Dog Entertainment/Capitol Records)
- Eminemft. JellyRoll – “Someone saves me” (Shady/Aftermath/Interscope Records)
- Selena Gomez, Benny Blanco – “Yother and hotter than me” (SMG music/Friends keep secret/scope records)
- Zach Hoodft. SashaAlex Sloan – “Arista Records”
Best direction
The best movie shoot
- Ariana Grande – “Brighter Days” (Republic Records)
- Ed Sheeran – “Sapphire” (Gingerbreadman Records/Atlantic Records)
- Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” (Pglang/Interscope Records)
- Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra” (Interscope Recode)
- Miley Cyrus – “Easy Rubber” (Columbia Records)
- Sabrina Carpenter – “Munchild” (Island)
Best Edit
- Charli XCX – “Guidelines featuring Billy Eilish” (Atlantic Records)
- Ed Sheeran – “Sapphire” (Gingerbreadman Records/Atlantic Records)
- Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” (Pglang/Interscope Records)
- Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra” (Interscope Recode)
- Sabrina Carpenter – “Munchild” (Island)
- Tate McRae – “Just Watching (F1® Movies)” (Atlantic Records)
The best choreography
- doechii – “Anxiety” (Top Dog Entertainment/Capitol Records)
- FKA Twigs – “eusexua” (Atlantic Records)
- Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” (Pglang/Interscope Records)
- Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra” (Interscope Recode)
- Tyla – “Push 2 Start” (FAX RECORDS/EPIC RECORDS)
- Zara Larsson – “Pretty Ugly” (Epic Record)
Best visual effects
- Ariana Grande – “Brighter Days” (Republic Records)
- Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra” (Interscope Recode)
- Rose & Bruno Mars – “apt.” (Atlantic Records)
- Sabrina Carpenter – “Munchild” (Island)
- Tate McRae – “Just Watching (F1® Movies)” (Atlantic Records)
- The Weeknd – “Hurry Tomorrow” (XO/Republic Records)
Best Art Directions
- Charli XCX – “Guidelines featuring Billy Eilish” (Atlantic Records)
- Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” (Pglang/Interscope Records)
- Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra” (Interscope Recode)
- Lord – “Man of the Year” (Republic Record)
- Miley Cyrus – “The End of the World” (Columbia Records)
- Rose & Bruno Mars – “apt.” (Atlantic Records)
Contributions: Brendan Morrow, USA Today
