Article Written by Starlight Illustrated Staff & Marcello Cutti II/Starlight Illustrated

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NEW YORK, NY-LA, CA(SMI-GLOBAL-ENTERTAINMENT AUGUST 05-SEPT-07, 2025)-MTV & CBS network announced the nominees for the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards known as "VMAs" last Tuesday, August 05, honoring music artists whose music have played a key role in transforming the music industry, and spreading a global-buzz during the last calendar-year with 18-VMAs winner Lady Gaga leading the pack with 12-nominations, Bruno Mars received 11, & Kendrick Lamar obtained 10.

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The “VMAs” is an annual Video Music Awards introduced by the MTV Cable channel in 1984, honoring the best music videos and songs of the year for the past 4-decade, with historic performances by new emerging artist as well global-stars of their era.

 

Since its insertion, The "VMAs" has become an anthem of the pop culture and the most desire music awards for the Teens and 20+ audience around the world.

 

Additional Nominees and top contestants include first time nominee ROSÉ and Sabrina Carpenter grabbing 8 each, Ariana Grande and The Weeknd 7 each, Billie Eilish (6), Charli xcx (5), Bad Bunny, Doechii, Ed Sheeran, Jelly Roll, Miley Cyrus and Tate McRae (4 each). 

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Taylor Swift and Beyonce who share the most VMAs win by an artist with 30, are nominated for the Artist of the Year, and will be competing on the night of the gala awards to break the tie and determine the supreme Artist winner of the VMAs.   

 

​Best Country and Best Pop Artist categories have been added and will be awarded through a fans vote, while let's emphasize that 33-First-Time artist nominees have entered into the arena of the 2025 VMAs Awards:

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First-time nominees include; ROSÉ (8; first solo noms), Alex Warren and Gigi Perez (3 each), Damiano David (first solo), Leon Thomas, Lola Young, sombr and The Marías (2 each).

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The rest of the remaining Artists from JENNIE, Jimin and JISOO (first solo nods), Bailey Zimmerman, Blake Shelton, Brent Faiyaz, Cody Johnson, Dasha, Ella Langley, Freddie Gibbs, Jordan Adetunji, KATSEYE, Lainey Wilson, Lay Bankz,  Livingston,Mac Miller, Mark Ambor, Megan Moroney, MOLIY, PARTYNEXTDOOR,  ROLE MODEL, Sasha Alex Sloan, Silent Addy, Skillibeng and Zach Hood received a nomination each. 

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The 2025 VMA's awards will announce the winners of the best Songs and Music Videos released during the calendar-year June 20, 2024-June 18, 2025, with the awards ceremony to held on Sunday September 07, 2025 and broadcast live Coast-to-Coast on CBS Television Network, MTV and Paramount+ from the UBS Arena in Elmont, NY.

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2025 MTV Video Musical Awards Nominees:

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VIDEO OF THE YEAR, presented by Burger King® 

Ariana Grande - “brighter days ahead” - Republic Records

Billie Eilish - “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” - Darkroom/Interscope Records

Kendrick Lamar - “Not Like Us” - pgLang/Interscope Records

Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars - “Die With A Smile” - Interscope Records

ROSÉ & Bruno Mars - “APT.” - Atlantic Records

Sabrina Carpenter - “Manchild” -  Island

The Weeknd, Playboi Carti - “Timeless” - XO/Republic Records

 

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Lady Gaga - Interscope Records

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SONG OF THE YEAR

ROSÉ & Bruno Mars - “APT.” - Atlantic Records

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BEST NEW ARTIST

Alex Warren - Atlantic Records

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BEST POP ARTIST **

Ariana Grande - Republic Records

Charli xcx - Atlantic Records

Justin Bieber - Def Jam Recordings

Lorde - Republic Records

Miley Cyrus - Columbia Records

Sabrina Carpenter - Island

Tate McRae - RCA Records

 

MTV PUSH PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR

Jan 2025 - KATSEYE - “Touch” - HYBE/Geffen Records

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BEST COLLABORATION, presented by Under Armour

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 Records

Post Malone ft. Blake Shelton - “Pour Me A Drink” - Mercury Records

ROSÉ & Bruno Mars - “APT.” - Atlantic Records

Selena Gomez, benny blanco - “Sunset Blvd” - SMG Music/Friends Keep Secrets/Interscope Records

 

BEST POP

Alex Warren - “Ordinary” - Atlantic Records

Ariana Grande - “brighter days ahead” - Republic Record

Ed Sheeran - “Sapphire” - Gingerbread Man Records/Atlantic Records

Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars - “Die With A Smile” - Interscope Records

ROSÉ & Bruno Mars - “APT.” - Atlantic Records

Sabrina Carpenter - “Manchild” - Island

 

BEST HIP-HOP

Doechii - “Anxiety” - Top Dawg Entertainment/Capitol Records

Drake - “NOKIA” - OVO/Santa Anna/Republic

Eminem ft. Jelly Roll - “Somebody Save Me” - Shady/Aftermath/Interscope Records

GloRilla ft. Sexyy Red - “WHATCHU KNO ABOUT ME” - CMG/Interscope Records

Kendrick Lamar - “Not Like Us” - pgLang/Interscope Records

LL COOL J ft. Eminem - “Murdergram Deux” - Def Jam Recordings

Travis Scott - “4X4” - Cactus Jack/Epic Records

 

BEST R&B

Chris Brown - “Residuals” - Chris Brown Entertainment/RCA Records

Leon Thomas & Freddie Gibbs - “MUTT (REMIX)” - EZMNY Records/Motown Records

Mariah Carey - “Type Dangerous” - gamma.

PARTYNEXTDOOR - “N o C h i l l” - OVO Sound

Summer Walker - “Heart Of A Woman” - LVRN/Interscope Records

SZA - “Drive” - Top Dawg Entertainment/RCA Records

The Weeknd, Playboi Carti - “Timeless” - XO/Republic Records

 

BEST ALTERNATIVE

Gigi Perez - “Sailor Song” - Island

Imagine Dragons - “Wake Up” - KIDinaKorner/Interscope Records

Lola Young - “Messy” - Island

mgk & Jelly Roll - “Lonely Road” - EST 19XX/Interscope Records

sombr - “back to friends” - SMB Music/Warner Records

The Marías - “Back To Me” - Nice Life/Atlantic Records

 

BEST ROCK

Coldplay - “ALL MY LOVE” - Atlantic Records

Evanescence - “Afterlife (From the Netflix Series "Devil May Cry")” - Netflix Music

Green Day - “One Eyed Bastard” - Reprise Records/Warner Records

Lenny Kravitz - “Honey” - ℗© 2024 Roxie Records Inc. under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management GmbH

Linkin Park - “The Emptiness Machine” - Warner Records

twenty one pilots - “The Contract” - Fueled By Ramen

 

BEST LATIN

Bad Bunny - “BAILE INoLVIDABLE” - Rimas Entertainment

J Balvin - “Rio” - Capitol Records

KAROL G - “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” - Bichota Records/Interscope Records

Peso Pluma - “LA PATRULLA” - Double P Records

Rauw Alejandro & Romeo Santos - “Khé?” - Sony Music US Latin

Shakira - “Soltera“ - Sony Music US Latin

 

BEST K-POP

aespa - “Whiplash” - SM Entertainment/Virgin Music Group

JENNIE - “like JENNIE” - OA Entertainment/Columbia Records

Jimin - “Who” - BIGHIT MUSIC

JISOO - “earthquake” - Warner Records

LISA ft. Doja Cat & RAYE - “Born Again” - Lloud Co./RCA Records

Stray Kids - “Chk Chk Boom” - JYP/IMPERIAL/Republic

ROSÉ - “toxic till the end” - Atlantic Records

 

BEST AFROBEATS

Asake & Travis Scott - “Active” - YBNL Nation/EMPIRE

Burna Boy ft. Travis Scott - “TaTaTa” - Spaceship/Bad Habit/Atlantic Records

MOLIY, Silent Addy, Skillibeng & Shenseea - “Shake It To The Max (FLY) (Remix)” - gamma.

Rema - “Baby (Is It A Crime)” - Mavin Global Holdings Ltd / Jonzing World Entertainment / Interscope Records

Tems ft. Asake - “Get It Right” - RCA Records/Since '93

Tyla - “PUSH 2 START” - FAX Records/Epic Records

Wizkid ft. Brent Faiyaz - “Piece Of My Heart” - Starboy/RCA Records

 

BEST COUNTRY **

Chris Stapleton - “Think I'm In Love With You” - Mercury Nashville

Cody Johnson with Carrie Underwood - “I’m Gonna Love You” - CoJo Music / Warner Music Nashville

Jelly Roll - “Liar” - BBR Music Group/BMG/Republic Records

Lainey Wilson - “4x4xU” - Broken Bow Records

Megan Moroney - “Am I Okay?” - Columbia Records

Morgan Wallen - “Smile” - Big Loud Records/Mercury Records

 

BEST ALBUM

Bad Bunny - DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS - Rimas Entertainment

Kendrick Lamar - GNX - pgLang/Interscope Records

Lady Gaga - Mayhem - Interscope Records

Morgan Wallen - I'm The Problem - Big Loud Records/Mercury Records

Sabrina Carpenter - Short n' Sweet - Island

The Weeknd - Hurry Up Tomorrow - XO/Republic Records

 

BEST LONG FORM VIDEO 

Ariana Grande - “brighter days ahead” - Republic Records

Bad Bunny - “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS (Short Film)” - Rimas Entertainment

Damiano David - “FUNNY little STORIES” - Sony Italy/Arista Records

Mac Miller - “Balloonerism” - Warner Records

Miley Cyrus - “Something Beautiful” - Columbia Records

The Weeknd - “Hurry Up Tomorrow” - XO/Republic Records

 

VIDEO FOR GOOD

Burna Boy - “Higher” - Spaceship/Bad Habit/Atlantic Records

Charli xcx - “Guess featuring Billie Eilish" - Atlantic Records

Doechii - “Anxiety” - Top Dawg Entertainment/Capitol Records

Eminem ft. Jelly Roll - “Somebody Save Me” - Shady/Aftermath/Interscope Records

Selena Gomez, benny blanco - “Younger And Hotter Than Me” - SMG Music/Friends Keep Secrets/Interscope Records

Zach Hood ft. Sasha Alex Sloan - “Sleepwalking” - Arista Records

 

BEST DIRECTION

Ariana Grande - “brighter days ahead” - Republic Records

Charli xcx - “Guess featuring Billie Eilish" - Atlantic Records

Kendrick Lamar - “Not Like Us” - pgLang/Interscope Records

Lady Gaga - “Abracadabra” - Interscope Records

ROSÉ & Bruno Mars - “APT.” - Atlantic Records

Sabrina Carpenter - “Manchild” - Island

 

BEST ART DIRECTION

Charli xcx - “Guess featuring Billie Eilish" - Atlantic Records

Kendrick Lamar - “Not Like Us” - pgLang/Interscope Records

Lady Gaga - “Abracadabra” - Interscope Records

Lorde - “Man Of The Year” - Republic Records

Miley Cyrus - “End of the World” - Columbia Records

ROSÉ & Bruno Mars - “APT.” - Atlantic Records

 

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Ariana Grande - “brighter days ahead” - Republic Records

Ed Sheeran - “Sapphire” - Gingerbread Man Records/Atlantic Records

Kendrick Lamar - “Not Like Us” - pgLang/Interscope Records

Lady Gaga - “Abracadabra” - Interscope Records

Miley Cyrus - “Easy Lover” - Columbia Records

Sabrina Carpenter - “Manchild” - Island

 

BEST EDITING

Charli xcx - “Guess featuring Billie Eilish" - Atlantic Records

Ed Sheeran - “Sapphire” - Gingerbread Man Records/Atlantic Records

Kendrick Lamar - “Not Like Us” - pgLang/Interscope Records

Lady Gaga - “Abracadabra” - Interscope Records

Sabrina Carpenter - “Manchild” - Island

Tate McRae - “Just Keep Watching (From F1® The Movie)” - Atlantic Records

 

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY

Doechii - “Anxiety” - Top Dawg Entertainment/Capitol Records

FKA twigs - “Eusexua” - Atlantic Records

Kendrick Lamar - “Not Like Us” - pgLang/Interscope Records

Lady Gaga - “Abracadabra” - Interscope Records

Tyla - “PUSH 2 START” - FAX Records/Epic Records

Zara Larsson - “Pretty Ugly” - Epic Records

 

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

Ariana Grande - “brighter days ahead” - Republic Records

Lady Gaga - “Abracadabra” - Interscope Records

ROSÉ & Bruno Mars - “APT.” - Atlantic Records

Sabrina Carpenter - “Manchild” - Island

Tate McRae - “Just Keep Watching (From F1® The Movie) “ - Atlantic Records

The Weeknd - “Hurry Up Tomorrow” - XO/Republic Records

 

NOMINEES IN NUMERICAL ORDER

(**) = First-time nominee

 

Lady Gaga (12)

Video of the Year - “Die With A Smile”

Artist of the Year 

Song of the Year - “Die With A Smile”

Best Collaboration - “Die With A Smile”

Best Pop - “Die With A Smile”

Best Album - Mayhem

Best Direction - “Abracadabra”

Best Art Direction - “Abracadabra”

Best Cinematography - “Abracadabra”

Best Editing - “Abracadabra”

Best Choreography - “Abracadabra”

Best Visual Effects - “Abracadabra”

 

Bruno Mars (11)

Video of the Year - “Die With A Smile”

Video of the Year - “APT.”

Song of the Year - “Die With A Smile”

Song of the Year - “APT.”

Best Collaboration - “Die With A Smile”

Best Collaboration - “APT.”

Best Pop - “Die With A Smile”

Best Pop - “APT.”

Best Direction - “APT.”

Best Art Direction - “APT.”

Best Visual Effects - “APT.”

 

Kendrick Lamar (10)

Video of the Year - “Not Like Us”

Artist of the Year 

Best Collaboration - “luther”

Best Hip-Hop - “Not Like Us”

Best Album - GNX

Best Direction - “Not Like Us”

Best Art Direction - “Not Like Us”

Best Cinematography - “Not Like Us”

Best Editing - “Not Like Us”

Best Choreography - “Not Like Us”

 

ROSÉ (8) **

Video of the Year - “APT.”

Song of the Year - “APT.”

Best Collaboration - “APT.”

Best Pop - “APT.”

Best K-Pop - “toxic till the end” 

Best Direction - “APT.”

Best Art Direction - “APT.”

Best Visual Effects - “APT.”

 

Sabrina Carpenter (8)

Video of the Year - “Manchild”

Best Pop Artist 

Best Pop - “Manchild”

Best Album - Short n’ Sweet

Best Direction - “Manchild”

Best Cinematography - “Manchild”

Best Editing - “Manchild”

Best Visual Effects - “Manchild”

 

Ariana Grande (7)

Video of the Year - “brighter days ahead”

Best Pop Artist

Best Pop - “brighter days ahead”

Best Long Form Video - “brighter days ahead”

Best Direction - “brighter days ahead”

Best Cinematography - “brighter days ahead”

Best Visual Effects - “brighter days ahead”

 

The Weeknd (7)

Video of the Year - “Timeless”

Artist of the Year

Song of the Year - “Timeless”

Best R&B - “Timeless”

Best Album - Hurry Up Tomorrow

Best Long Form Video - “Hurry Up Tomorrow”

Best Visual Effects - “Hurry Up Tomorrow”

 

Billie Eilish (6)

Video of the Year - “BIRDS OF A FEATHER”

Song of the Year - “BIRDS OF A FEATHER”

Video for Good - “Guess featuring Billie Eilish”

Best Direction - “Guess featuring Billie Eilish”

Best Art Direction - “Guess featuring Billie Eilish”

Best Editing - “Guess featuring Billie Eilish”

 

Charli xcx (5)

Best Pop Artist

Video for Good - “Guess featuring Billie Eilish"

Best Direction - “Guess featuring Billie Eilish"

Best Art Direction - “Guess featuring Billie Eilish"

Best Editing - “Guess featuring Billie Eilish"

 

Bad Bunny (4)

Artist of the Year

Best Latin - “BAILE INoLVIDABLE”

Best Album - DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS

Best Long Form Video - “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS (Short Film)”

 

Doechii (4)

Song of the Year - “Anxiety”

Best Hip-Hop - “Anxiety”

Video for Good - “Anxiety”

Best Choreography - “Anxiety”

 

Ed Sheeran (4)

Song of the Year - “Sapphire”

Best Pop - “Sapphire”

Best Cinematography - “Sapphire”

Best Editing - “Sapphire”

 

Jelly Roll (4)

Best Hip-Hop - “Somebody Save Me”

Best Alternative - “Lonely Road”

Best Country - “Liar”

Video for Good - “Somebody Save Me”

 

Miley Cyrus (4)

Best Pop Artist

Best Long Form Video - “Something Beautiful”

Best Cinematography - “Easy Lover”

Best Art Direction - “End of the World”

 

Tate McRae (4)

Song of the Year - “Sports Car”

Best Pop Artist

Best Editing - “Just Keep Watching (From F1® The Movie)”

Best Visual Effects - “Just Keep Watching (From F1® The Movie)”

 

Alex Warren (3) **

Song of the Year - “Ordinary”

Best New Artist

Best Pop - “Ordinary”

 

Eminem (3)

Best Hip-Hop - “Somebody Save Me”

Best Hip-Hop - “Murdergram Deux”

Video for Good - “Somebody Save Me”

 

Gigi Perez (3) **

Best New Artist

PUSH Performance of the Year - “Sailor Song” 

Best Alternative - “Sailor Song”

 

Lorde (3)

Song of the Year - “What Was That”
Best Pop Artist

Best Art Direction - “Man Of The Year”

 

Morgan Wallen (3)

Artist of the Year

Best Country - “Smile”

Best Album - I’m The Problem

 

Playboi Carti (3)

Video of the Year - “Timeless”

Song of the Year - “Timeless”

Best R&B - “Timeless”

 

Travis Scott (3)

Best Hip-Hop - “4X4”

Best Afrobeats - “Active”

Best Afrobeats - “TaTaTa”

 

Asake (2)

Best Afrobeats - “Active”

Best Afrobeats - “Get It Right”

 

benny blanco (2)

Best Collaboration - “Sunset Blvd”

Video for Good - “Younger and Hotter Than Me”

 

Burna Boy (2)

Best Afrobeats - “TaTaTa”
Video for Good - “Higher”

 

Damiano David (2) **

Best Long Form Video - “FUNNY little STORIES”

PUSH Performance of the Year - “Next Summer”

 

Leon Thomas (2) **

Best R&B - “MUTT (REMIX)”

PUSH Performance of the Year - “YES IT IS”

 

Lola Young (2) **

Best New Artist

Best Alternative - “Messy”

 

Selena Gomez (2)

Best Collaboration - “Sunset Blvd”

Video for Good - “Younger and Hotter Than Me”

 

sombr (2) ** 

Best New Artist

Best Alternative - “back to friends”

 

SZA (2)

Best Collaboration - “luther”

Best R&B - “Drive”

 

The Marías (2) ** 

Best New Artist

Best Alternative - “Back To Me”

 

Tyla (2)

Best Afrobeats - “PUSH 2 START”

Best Choreography - “PUSH 2 START”

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