Video Music Awards have a New York vibe
How to watch, who is performing and who earned the nominations for MTV’s annual awards show.
It’s that time of the year again – when MTV’s Video Music Awards anoint the best music, artists and visuals of the year and look to generate the controversial moments the awards show became infamous for in the ’90s and 2000s.
Here’s everything you need to know before the VMAs return to New York City on Monday:
When and where are the VMAs?
The 2018 VMAs will air live from Radio City Music Hall on Monday at 9 p.m. EDT/PDT on MTV after a onehour red-carpet show.
How can I watch?
Not watching via cable TV? The show also will be streamed live on MTV’s app, which requires a cable subscription. You also can stream the show live with a DirecTV Now subscription.
Who are the nominees?
Cardi B leads the pack with 12 nominations, largely for her Bruno Mars duet “Finesse (Remix).” That video will compete for video of the year against Childish Gambino’s “This Is America,” Drake’s “God’s Plan,” Beyonce and Jay-Z’s “Ape****,” Camila Cabello’s “Havana” and Ariana Grande’s “No Tears Left to Cry.”
“Ape****” earned Beyonce and Jay-Z eight nominations, landing the couple the second-most nominations after Cardi.
Gambino’s “This Is America” video earned him seven nominations, and Drake, who gave away $1 million to Miami residents in his “God’s Plan” clip, also scored seven nods.
Who is performing?
Ariana Grande, Travis Scott, Shawn Mendes, Post Malone, and Logic with Ryan Tedder are among the names confirmed to perform at Radio City Music Hall. Nicki Minaj will deliver a “special remote performance” from an unspecified location in New York that will be simulcast during the event.
Before the show, Backstreet Boys, Bazzi and Bryce Vine will perform at the VMAs red carpet preshow outside Radio City Music Hall. Bazzi will reprise his performance alongside Jessie Reyez, PrettyMuch, Hayley Kiyoko and Juice WRLD on the VMAs’ special PUSH Artist Stage dedicated to rising artists.
Who is this year’s Video Vanguard recipient?
Jennifer Lopez will be awarded the VMAs’ 2018 Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, the awards’ version of a lifetime achievement award. The announcement angered some fans, who rallied for Missy Elliott to receive the honor.
VMA nominations Video of the year
❚ Ariana Grande –
“No Tears Left to Cry”
❚ Bruno Mars ft. Cardi B – “Finesse (Remix)”
❚ Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug – “Havana”
❚ The Carters – “Ape****”
❚ Childish Gambino – “This Is America”
❚ Drake – “God’s Plan”
Artist of the year
❚ Ariana Grande
❚ Bruno Mars
❚ Camila Cabello
❚ Cardi B
❚ Drake
❚ Post Malone
Song of the year
❚ Bruno Mars ft. Cardi B – “Finesse (Remix)”
❚ Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug – “Havana”
❚ Drake – “God’s Plan”
❚ Dua Lipa – “New Rules”
❚ Ed Sheeran – “Perfect”
❚ Post Malone ft. 21 Savage – “rockstar”
Song of the summer
❚ Calvin Harris & Dua Lipa – “One Kiss”
❚ Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin – “I Like It”
❚ DJ Khaled ft. Justin Bieber, Chance The Rapper & Quavo – “No Brainer”
❚ Drake – “In My Feelings”
❚ Ella Mai – “Boo’d Up”
❚ Juice WRLD – “Lucid Dreams”
❚ Maroon 5 ft. Cardi B – “Girls Like You (Remix)”
❚ Post Malone – “Better Now”
Best new artist
❚ Bazzi
❚ Cardi B
❚ Chloe x Halle
❚ Hayley Kiyoko
❚ Lil Pump
❚ Lil Uzi Vert
Best collaboration
❚ Bebe Rexha ft. Florida Georgia Line – “Meant to Be”
❚ Bruno Mars ft. Cardi B – “Finesse (Remix)”
❚ The Carters – “Ape****”
❚ Jennifer Lopez ft. DJ Khaled & Cardi B – “Dinero”
❚ Logic ft. Alessia Cara & Khalid – “1-800-273-8255”
❚ N.E.R.D & Rihanna – “Lemon”
Best pop
❚ Ariana Grande –
“No Tears Left to Cry”
❚ Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug – “Havana”
❚ Demi Lovato – “Sorry Not Sorry”
❚ Ed Sheeran – “Perfect”
❚ P!nk – “What About Us”
❚ Shawn Mendes –
“In My Blood”
Best hip hop
❚ Cardi B ft. 21 Savage – “Bartier Cardi”
❚ The Carters – “Ape****”
❚ Drake – “God’s Plan”
❚ J. Cole – “ATM”
❚ Migos ft. Drake – “Walk It Talk It”
❚ Nicki Minaj – “Chun-Li”
Best Latin
❚ Daddy Yankee – “Dura”
❚ J Balvin, Willy William – “Mi Gente”
❚ Jennifer Lopez ft. DJ Khaled & Cardi B – “Dinero”
❚ Luis Fonsi, Demi Lovato – “Échame La Culpa”
❚ Maluma – “Felices los 4”
❚ Shakira ft. Maluma – “Chantaje”
Best dance
❚ Avicii ft. Rita Ora – “Lonely Together”
❚ Calvin Harris & Dua Lipa – “One Kiss”
❚ The Chainsmokers – “Everybody Hates Me”
❚ David Guetta & Sia – “Flames”
❚ Marshmello ft. Khalid – “Silence”
❚ Zedd & Liam Payne – “Get Low (Street Video)”
Best rock
❚ Fall Out Boy – “Champion”
❚ Foo Fighters – “The Sky Is A Neighborhood”
❚ Imagine Dragons – “Whatever It Takes”
❚ Linkin Park –
“One More Light”
❚ Panic! At The Disco – “Say Amen (Saturday Night)”
❚ Thirty Seconds to Mars – “Walk On Water”
Video with a message
❚ Childish Gambino – “This Is America”
❚ Dej Loaf and Leon Bridges – “Liberated”
❚ Drake – “God’s Plan”
❚ Janelle Monáe – “PYNK”
❚ Jessie Reyez – “Gatekeeper”
❚ Logic ft. Alessia Cara & Khalid –
“1-800-273-8255”
Best cinematography
❚ Alessia Cara – “Growing Pains”
❚ Ariana Grande –
“No Tears Left to Cry”
❚ The Carters – “Ape****”
❚ Childish Gambino – “This Is America”
❚ Eminem ft. Ed Sheeran – “River”
❚ Shawn Mendes –
“In My Blood”
Best direction
❚ The Carters – “Ape****”
❚ Childish Gambino – “This Is America”
❚ Drake – “God’s Plan”
❚ Ed Sheeran – “Perfect”
❚ Justin Timberlake ft. Chris Stapleton – “Say Something”
❚ Shawn Mendes –
“In My Blood”
Best art direction
❚ The Carters – “Ape****”
❚ Childish Gambino – “This Is America”
❚ J. Cole – “ATM”
❚ Janelle Monáe – “Make Me Feel”
❚ SZA – “The Weekend”
❚ Taylor Swift – “Look What You Made Me Do”