MTV VMAs: Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande Lead Nominations

Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande scored the most nominations for the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards, it was announced today.

The superstar singers are up for seven awards for their collaboration, “Rain On Me,” with Gaga earning two solo nods for artist of the year and best quarantine performance. Meanwhile, Grande’s nods include two nominations for her Justin Bieber collaboration “Stuck with U,” which is up for best collaboration and best music video from home.

In light of the coronavirus pandemic that has kept musicians and their fans at home as people are encouraged to continue social distancing to slow the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19, MTV has added the best music video from home and best quarantine performance categories to this year’s awards.

Other top contenders this year include six-time nominees Billie Eilish and The Weeknd, with Taylor Swift up for five awards for her videos for “Lover” and “The Man” off of her Lover album.

ViacomCBS Media Networks’ president of music, music talent, programming and events Bruce Gillmer said in a statement that fans can expect “a show that celebrates the powerful unifying force of music.”

The 2020 VMAs are set to take place in New York City, with performances from iconic locations across the five boroughs, designed “to honor the spirit and resilience” of the city hit particularly hard by the pandemic this spring. Elements of the ceremony taking place at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, meanwhile, will take place with “limited or no audience,” according to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who revealed the show’s Barclays Center location at a briefing last month. Still, the VMAs will be the first event to take place at the Brooklyn arena since the pandemic forced the closure of live-entertainment venues, and cancellation of concerts and other events, including professional sports, in New York.

After a particularly rough experience with the pandemic, with as many as 11,000 new cases a day in April, New York has seen the number of daily new coronavirus cases decline since then and stay below 1,000 a day for the past month.

The VMAs were last held at the Barclays Center in 2013 with last year’s ceremony taking place across the river at New Jersey’s Prudential Center.

The 2020 MTV Video Music Awards will air live on Sunday, Aug. 30 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

A full list of this year’s VMA nominees follows.

VIDEO OF THE YEARBillie Eilish – “everything i wanted” – Darkroom / Interscope RecordsEminem ft. Juice WRLD – “Godzilla” – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope RecordsFuture ft. Drake – “Life Is Good” – Epic Records / FreebandzLady Gaga with Ariana Grande – “Rain On Me” – Streamline / Interscope RecordsTaylor Swift – “The Man” – Republic RecordsThe Weeknd – “Blinding Lights” – XO / Republic Records

ARTIST OF THE YEARDaBaby – SCMG / Interscope RecordsJustin Bieber – RBMG / Def JamLady Gaga – Streamline / Interscope RecordsMegan Thee Stallion – 300 EntertainmentPost Malone – Republic RecordsThe Weeknd – XO / Republic Records


SONG OF THE YEARBillie Eilish – “everything i wanted” – Darkroom / Interscope RecordsDoja Cat – “Say So” – Kemosabe / RCA RecordsLady Gaga with Ariana Grande – “Rain On Me” – Streamline / Interscope RecordsMegan Thee Stallion – “Savage” – 300 EntertainmentPost Malone – “Circles” – Republic RecordsRoddy Ricch – “The Box” – Atlantic Records


BEST COLLABORATIONAriana Grande & Justin Bieber – “Stuck with U” – Republic Records / Def JamBlack Eyed Peas ft. J Balvin – “RITMO (Bad Boys For Life)” – Epic Records / We The BestEd Sheeran ft. Khalid – “Beautiful People” – Atlantic RecordsFuture ft. Drake – “Life Is Good” – Epic Records / FreebandzKarol G ft. Nicki Minaj – “Tusa” – Universal Music Latin EntertainmentLady Gaga with Ariana Grande – “Rain On Me” – Streamline / Interscope Records


PUSH BEST NEW ARTIST, Presented by Chime BankingDoja Cat – Kemosabe / RCA RecordsJack Harlow – Generation Now / Atlantic RecordsLewis Capaldi – Capitol RecordsRoddy Ricch – Atlantic RecordsTate McRae – RCA RecordsYUNGBLUD – Locomotion Recordings / Geffen Records / Interscope Records

BEST POPBTS – “On” – Big Hit EntertainmentHalsey – “You should be sad” – Capitol RecordsJonas Brothers – “What a Man Gotta Do” – Republic RecordsJustin Bieber ft. Quavo – “Intentions” – RBMG / Def JamLady Gaga with Ariana Grande – “Rain On Me” – Streamline / Interscope RecordsTaylor Swift – “Lover” – Republic Records


BEST HIP-HOPDaBaby – “BOP” – SCMG / Interscope RecordsEminem ft. Juice WRLD – “Godzilla” – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope RecordsFuture ft. Drake – “Life Is Good” – Epic Records / FreebandzMegan Thee Stallion – “Savage” – 300 EntertainmentRoddy Ricch – “The Box” – Atlantic RecordsTravis Scott – “HIGHEST IN THE ROOM” – Epic Records / Cactus Jack

BEST ROCKblink-182 – “Happy Days” – Columbia RecordsColdplay – “Orphans” – Atlantic RecordsEvanescence – “Wasted On You” – BMGFall Out Boy ft. Wyclef Jean – “Dear Future Self (Hands Up)” – Island RecordsGreen Day – “Oh Yeah!” – Reprise / Warner RecordsThe Killers – “Caution” – Island Records


BEST ALTERNATIVEThe 1975 – “If You’re Too Shy (Let Me Know)” – Dirty Hit / Interscope RecordsAll Time Low – “Some Kind Of Disaster” – Fueled By RamenFINNEAS – “Let’s Fall in Love for the Night” – AWALLana Del Rey – “Doin’ Time” – Interscope RecordsMachine Gun Kelly – “Bloody Valentine” – Bad Boy / Interscope Recordstwenty one pilots – “Level of Concern” – Elektra Music Group / Fueled By Ramen


BEST LATINAnuel AA ft. Daddy Yankee, Ozuna, Karol G & J Balvin – “China” – Real Hasta La MuerteBad Bunny – “Yo Perreo Sola” – Rimas EntertainmentBlack Eyed Peas ft. Ozuna & J. Rey Soul – “MAMACITA” – Epic RecordsJ Balvin – “Amarillo” – Universal Music Latin EntertainmentKarol G ft. Nicki Minaj – “Tusa” – Universal Music Latin EntertainmentMaluma ft. J Balvin – “Queì Pena” – Sony Music Latin BEST R&BAlicia Keys – “Underdog” – RCA RecordsChloe x Halle – “Do It” – Parkwood / Columbia RecordsH.E.R. ft. YG – “Slide” – MBK / RCA RecordsKhalid ft. Summer Walker – “Eleven” – Right Hand Music / RCA RecordsLizzo – “Cuz I Love You” – Atlantic RecordsThe Weeknd – “Blinding Lights” – XO / Republic Records


BEST K-POP(G)I-DLE – “Oh My God” – Republic RecordsBTS – “On” – Big Hit EntertainmentEXO – “Obsession” – SM EntertainmentMonsta X – “SOMEONE’S SOMEONE” – Epic RecordsTomorrow X Together – “9 and Three Quarters (Run Away)” Republic RecordsRed Velvet – “Psycho” – SM Entertainment


VIDEO FOR GOODAnderson .Paak – “Lockdown” – 12 Tone Music GroupBillie Eilish – “all the good girls go to hell” – Darkroom / Interscope RecordsDemi Lovato – “I Love Me” – Island RecordsH.E.R. – ”I Can’t Breathe” – MBK / RCA RecordsLil Baby – “The Bigger Picture” – Quality Control Music / Motown / Capitol Music GroupTaylor Swift – “The Man” – Republic Records


BEST MUSIC VIDEO FROM HOME5 Seconds of Summer – “Wildflower” – Interscope RecordsAriana Grande & Justin Bieber – “Stuck with U” – Republic Records / Def Jamblink-182 – “Happy Days” – Columbia RecordsDrake – “Toosie Slide” – OVO/Republic RecordsJohn Legend – “Bigger Love” – Columbia Recordstwenty one pilots – “Level of Concern” – Elektra Music Group / Fueled By Ramen

BEST QUARANTINE PERFORMANCE
Chloe & Halle – “Do It” from MTV’s Prom-athon
CNCO – Unplugged At Home
DJ D-Nice – Club MTV presents #DanceTogether
John Legend – #togetherathome Concert Series
Lady Gaga – “Smile” from One World: Together At Home 
Post Malone – Nirvana Tribute

BEST DIRECTIONBillie Eilish – “xanny” – Darkroom / Interscope Records – Directed by Billie EilishDoja Cat – “Say So” – Kemosabe / RCA Records – Directed by Hannah Lux DavisDua Lipa – “Don’t Start Now” – Warner Records – Directed by NabilHarry Styles – “Adore You” – Columbia Records – Directed by Dave MeyersTaylor Swift – “The Man” – Republic Records – Directed by Taylor SwiftThe Weeknd – “Blinding Lights” – XO / Republic Records – Directed by Anton Tammi


BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY5 Seconds of Summer – “Old Me” – Interscope Records – Cinematography by Kieran FowlerCamila Cabello ft. DaBaby – “My Oh My” – Syco Music / Epic Records – Cinematography by Dave MeyersBillie Eilish – “all the good girls go to hell” – Darkroom / Interscope Records – Cinematography by Christopher ProbstKaty Perry – “Harleys In Hawaii” – Capitol Records – Cinematography by Arnau VallsLady Gaga with Ariana Grande – “Rain On Me” – Streamline / Interscope Records – Cinematography by Thomas KlossThe Weeknd – “Blinding Lights” – XO / Republic Records – Cinematography by Oliver Millar


BEST ART DIRECTIONA$AP Rocky – “Babushka Boi” – Polo Grounds Music / RCA Records – Art Direction by A$AP Rocky & Nadia Lee CohenDua Lipa – “Physical” – Warner Records – Art Direction by Anna Colomeì Nogu ìHarry Styles – “Adore You” – Columbia Records – Art Direction by Laura Ellis CricksMiley Cyrus – “Mother’s Daughter” – RCA Records – Art Direction by Christian StoneSelena Gomez – “Boyfriend” – Interscope Records – Art Direction by Tatiana Van SauterTaylor Swift – “Lover” – Republic Records – Art Direction by Ethan Tobman


BEST VISUAL EFFECTSBillie Eilish – “all the good girls go to hell” – Darkroom / Interscope Records – Visual Effects by Drive StudiosDemi Lovato – “I Love Me” – Island Records – Visual Effects by Hoody FXDua Lipa – “Physical” – Warner Records – Visual Effects by EIGHTY4Harry Styles – “Adore You” – Columbia Records – Visual Effects by MathematicLady Gaga with Ariana Grande – “Rain On Me” – Streamline / Interscope Records – Visual Effects by Ingenuity StudiosTravis Scott – “HIGHEST IN THE ROOM” – Epic Records / Cactus Jack – Visual Effects by ARTJAIL, SCISSOR FILMS & FRENDER


BEST CHOREOGRAPHYBTS – “On” – Big Hit Entertainment – Choreography by Son Sung Deuk, Lee Ga Hun, Lee Byung EunCNCO & Natti Natasha – “Honey Boo” – Sony Music Latin / RCA Records – Choreography by Kyle HanagamiDaBaby – “BOP” – SCMG / Interscope Records – Choreography by Dani Leigh and CherryDua Lipa – “Physical” – Warner Records – Choreography by Charm La’DonnaLady Gaga with Ariana Grande – “Rain On Me” – Streamline / Interscope Records – Choreography by Richy JacksonNormani – “Motivation” – Keep Cool / RCA Records – Choreography by Sean Bankhead


BEST EDITINGHalsey – “Graveyard” – Capitol Records – Edited by Emilie Aubry, Janne Vartia & Tim MontanaJames Blake – “Can’t Believe the Way We Flow” – Republic Records – Edited by Frank LebonLizzo – “Good As Hell” – Atlantic Records – Edited by Russell Santos & Sofia KerpanMiley Cyrus – “Mother’s Daughter” – RCA Records – Edited by Alexandre Moors, Nuno XicoROSALIìA – “A Paleì” – Columbia Records – Edited by Andre JonesThe Weeknd – “Blinding Lights” – XO / Republic Records – Edited by Janne Vartia & Tim Montana