Passionate pop-culture music enthusiasts are aware of the highly anticipated Video Music Awards (VMAs) which took place on September 12th.  This night had something for everybody watching, featuring artists of many genres. The awards were hosted by Nicki Minaj, for the second year in a row. There were many magnificent performances in each category, with 20 awards being presented over the course of the night. These categories will be listed below as follows:

Video of the Year

The first category, Video of the Year, had many well known artists and songs, and is arguably one of the most important awards presented at the VMAs. The nominees for this category were:

• Doja Cat – ‘Attention’
• Miley Cyrus – ‘Flowers’
• Nicki Minaj – ‘Super Freaky Girl’
• Olivia Rodrigo – ‘
• Sam Smith, Kim Petras – ‘Unholy’
• SZA – ‘Kill BIll’

• Winner: Taylor Swift – ‘Anti-Hero

Artist of the Year

The next category, Artist of the Year, had a line of promising popular candidates. It is an important award at the VMAs,  featuring the most impactful artists of the year. The artists nominated included:

• Beyoncé
• Doja Cat
• KAROL G
• Nicki Minaj
• Shakira
• Taylor Swift

• Winner: Taylor Swift

Best New Artist

With 2023 debuting so many popular new artists, there were quite a few new names varying for this award. The nominees of this category were:

• GloRilla
• Kalii
• Peso Puma
• PinkPantheress
• Reneé Rapp

• Winner: Ice Spice

PUSH Performance of the Year

PUSH Performance of the Year highlights 11 talented artists who aren’t as popular or recognized by the general public, with the aim to help them get the recognition they deserve. The songs nominated were:

• Saucy Santanta – ‘Booty’
• Stephen Sanchez – ‘Until I Found You’
• JVKE – ‘Golden Hour’
• Flor Milli – ‘Conceited’
• Reneé Rapp – ‘Colorado’
• Sam Ryder – ‘All The Way Over’
• Armani White – ‘GOATED’
• FLETCHER – ‘Becky’s So Hot’
• Ice Spice – ‘Princess Diana’
• FLO – ‘Losing You’
• Lauren Spencer Smith – ‘That Part’

• Winner – TOMORROW X TOGETHER – ‘Sugar Rush Ride’

Best Collaboration

Collaborations are always fun in the music industry. It’s a delight to hear someone’s favorite artists work together to create beautiful music. The nominees for this award were:

• 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’
• Metro Boomin with The Weeknd, 21 Savage, and Diddy – ‘Creepin’ (Remix)’
• Rema & Selena Gomez – ‘Calm Down’

• Winner: KAROL G, Shakira – ‘TQG’

Best Pop

Pop music, one of the most mainstream genres, is defined by a catchy melody and a good rhythm. This award had nominations for some of the world’s most celebrated artists. The nominees for this award were:

• Demi Lovato – ‘Swine’
• Dua Lipa – ‘Dance The Night’
• Ed Sheeran – ‘Eyes Closed’
• Miley Cyrus – ‘Flowers’
• Olivia Rodrigo – ‘vampire’
• P!NK – ‘TRUSTFALL’

• Winner – Taylor Swift – ‘Anti-Hero’

Best Hip-Hop

Hip-hop music consists of a rhythmic beat with a consistent rap on top of it. There were many well known songs nominated for this award, including:

• 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)’

• Winner – Nicki Minaj – ‘Super Freaky Girl’

Best R&B

R&B, short for Rhythm and Blues, is a style of music that includes hints of Jazz and Pop. The nominees for this award were: 

• Alicia Keys ft. Lucky Daye – ‘Stay’
• Chloë ft. Chris Brown – ‘How Does It Feel’
• Metro Boomin with The Weeknd, 21 Savage, and Diddy – ‘Creepin’ (remix)’
• Toosii – ‘Favorite Song’
• Yung Bleu & Nicki Minaj – ‘Love In The Way’

• Winner – SZA – ‘Shirt’

Best Alternative

Alternative music is defined as music outside the mainstream, and the nominees featured for this genre were: 

• Blink-182- ‘EDGING’
• Boygenius – ‘the film’
• Fall Out Boy – ‘Hold Me LIke  A Grudge’
• Paramore – ‘This Is Why’
• Thirty Seconds To Mars – ‘Stuck’

• Winner – Lana Del Rey ft. Jon Batiste – ‘Candy Necklace’

Best Rock 

Rock music is typically performed in groups. The music itself is characterized by a strong beat, using instruments such as electric guitars, bass guitars, and drums. The nominees for this category were: 

• • Foo Fighters – ‘The Teacher’
  • Linkin Park – ‘Lost (Original Version)’ 
  • Red Hot Chili Peppers – ‘Tippa My Tongue’ 
  • Metallica – ‘Lux Æterna’ 
  • Muse – ‘You Make Me Feel Like It’s Halloween’ 

• Winner: Måneskin – ‘THE LONELIEST’

Best Latin

Latin music is defined by Spanish beats and lyrics, with many popular musicians from Spanish-speaking countries being nominated for this award. The nominees included:

• Bad Bunny – ‘WHERE SHE GOES’
• Eslabón Armado, Peso Pluma- ‘Ella Baila Sola’
• KAROL G, Shakira – ‘TQG’
• ROSALÍA – ‘DESPECHÁ’
• Shakira – ‘Acróstico’

• Winner: Anitta – ‘Funk Rave’

Best K-Pop  

K-Pop, short for Korean Pop, is a genre of music from South Korea. It is described as pop where the lyrics are spoken in Korean. The nominees for this category were:

• aespa – ‘Girls’
• BLACKPINK – ‘Pink Venom’
• FIFTY FIFTY – ‘Cupid’
• SEVENTEEN – ‘Super’
• TOMORROW X TOGETHER – ‘Sugar Rush Ride’

• Winner: Stray Kids – ‘S-Class’

Best Afrobeats 

Afrobeats is a style of music inspired by African beats and sounds and American Jazz & Soul. The nominees for this category were:

• Ayra Starr – ‘Rush’
• Burna Boy – ‘It’s Plenty’
• Davido ft. Musa Keys – ‘UNAVAILABLE’

• Fireboy DML & Asake – ‘Bandana’
• Libianca – ‘People’
• Wizkid ft Ayra Starr – ‘2 Sugar’

• Winner: Rema & Selena Gomez – ‘Calm Down’

Video for Good

Video for Good nominates videos that address today’s issues. These songs and their accompanying music videos contain a message for our world. The nominees were:

• Alicia Keys – ‘If I Ain’t Got You (Orchestral)’
• Bad Bunny – ‘El Apagón – Aquì Vive Gente’
• Imagine Dragons – ‘Crushed’
• Maluma – ‘La Reina’

• Winner: Dove Cameron – ‘Breakfast’

Best Direction

Best Direction awards the song’s artist, the artist’s manager, and as the name suggests, the director of the music video. The nominees were:

• Doja Cat – ‘Attention’ (Directed by Tanu Muiño)
• Drake – ‘Falling Back’ (Directed by 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)

• Winner: Taylor Swift – ‘Anti-Hero’ – Directed by Taylor Swift

Best Cinematography

Best Cinematography is awarded to the cinematographer of a music video, who is responsible for the filming of a music video. The nominated videos were:

• Adele – ‘I Drink Wine’
• Ed Sheeran – ‘Eyes Closed’
• Janelle Monae – ‘Lipstick Lover’
• Kendrick Lamar – ‘Count Me Out’
• Miley Cyrus – ‘Flowers’
• Olivia Rodrigo – ‘vampire’

• Winner: Taylor Swift – ‘Anti-Hero’

Best Visual Effects

This award recognizes the special effects used in music videos. These visual effects are used to add fantastical aspects into videos. The nominees were:

• Fall Out Boy – ‘Love From The Other Side’
• Harry Styles – ‘Music For A Sushi Restaurant’
• Melanie Martinez – ‘VOID’
• Nicki Minaj – ‘Super Freaky Girl’
• Sam Smith, Kim Petras – ‘Unholy’

• Winner: Taylor Swift – ‘Anti-Hero’

Best Choreography

Choreography is the dance created that pairs with music videos, bringing these songs to life during performances. The nominees for this category were:

• Dua Lipa – ‘Dance The Night’
• Jonas Brother – ‘Waffle House’
• Megan Thee Stallion – ‘Her’
• Panic! At The Disco – ‘Middle Of A Breakup’
• Sam Smith, Kim Petras – ‘Unholy’

• Winner: BLACKPINK – ‘Pink Venom’

Best Art Direction

Best Art Direction is an award which celebrates the way an idea for a video is brought to life. This includes the scene, the lighting, props, and more. The nominees were:

• boygenius – ‘the film’
• BLACKPINK – ‘Pink Venom’
• Lana Del Rey ft. Jon Batiste – ‘Candy Necklace’
• Megan Thee Stallion – ‘Her’
• SZA – ‘Shirt’

• Winner: Doja Cat – ‘Attention’

Best Editing

Best Editing rewards the editors and editing of a music video, everything that puts it together. The nominees were:

• BLACKPINK – ‘Pink Venom’
• Kendrick Lamar – ‘Rich Spirit’
• Miley Cyrus – ‘River’
• SZA – ‘Kill Bill’
• Taylor Swift – ‘Anti-Hero’

• Winner: Olivia Rodrigo – ‘vampire’