Wizkid, Burna Boy, Ayra Starr, Davido, Rema, others nominated for 2023 VMAs

MTV has finally revealed the long-awaited nominations for the 2023 “VMAs”, an event that honors artists who have left an indelible mark on the music industry and global discourse in the past year.

Standing at the forefront with an impressive 8 nominations, Taylor Swift aims to secure another “Video of the Year” triumph following her record-breaking victory last year, thereby solidifying her position as the sole artist to achieve this remarkable feat within this highly acclaimed category. Notably, SZA boasts 6 nominations, while the likes of Doja Cat, Kim Petras, Miley Cyrus, Nicki Minaj, Olivia Rodrigo, and Sam Smith each proudly hold 5 nominations. Additionally, BLACKPINK, Diddy, and Shakira have each earned recognition with 4 nominations apiece.

This year’s edition stands out due to the remarkable inclusion of a record-breaking number of first-time “VMAs” nominees (a total of 35), with multiple nominations granted to newcomers such as Kim Petras (5), Metro Boomin, and Rema (3 each), as well as Ayra Starr, GloRilla, Ice Spice, Peso Pluma, Reneé Rapp, and Yung Miami (2 each). Notable mentions among the first-time nominees encompass Aespa, boygenius, Burna Boy, Davido, Eslabon Armado, FLETCHER, FIFTY FIFTY, JVKE, Lauren Spencer Smith, Musa Keys, PinkPantheress, Saucy Santana, Stephen Sanchez, and Toosii, among a host of others.

Sharing insights into these nominations, Monde Twala, the Senior Vice President and General Manager for Paramount Africa, as well as the Lead for BET International, voiced his excitement, stating, “The diversity and incredible talent represented in this year’s VMAs nominations are truly thrilling. These nominations mirror the profound impact these musicians have exerted on the global musical panorama over the past year. The 2023 VMAs promises to be a jubilant celebration of creativity, innovation, and cultural resonance.”

Starting from today, fans have the opportunity to cast their votes across a total of 15 gender-neutral categories, which now include the recently introduced “Best Afrobeats” category. Additionally, the highly coveted “Video of the Year,” presented by Burger King®, and “Artist of the Year” categories will be open for voting. Visit vote.mtv.com to participate in the voting process until Friday, September. Meanwhile, voting for the “Best New Artist” category will continue until the event on Tuesday, September 12th. Nominations for social categories like “Group of the Year” and “Song of Summer” are set to be disclosed at a later date.

Mark your calendars, as the 2023 “VMAs” are poised to make a dazzling return on Wednesday, September 13th, at 1:00 am WAT on MTV Base DSTV Channel 322 and MTV DStv Channel 130. This eagerly awaited event will feature electrifying surprises, one-of-a-kind performances, and a lively audience, all set against the backdrop of New Jersey’s iconic Prudential Center.

 

Complete List of the 2023 Nominees:

 

VIDEO OF THE YEAR, Presented by Burger King®
Doja Cat – “Attention” – Kemosabe Records / RCA Records
Miley Cyrus – “Flowers” – Columbia Records
Nicki Minaj – “Super Freaky Girl” – Republic Records

Olivia Rodrigo – “vampire” – Geffen Records
Sam Smith, Kim Petras – “Unholy” – Capitol Records
SZA – “Kill Bill” – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records

Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” – Republic Records

 

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Beyoncé – Parkwood Entertainment / Columbia Records

Doja Cat – Kemosabe Records / RCA Records

KAROL G – Interscope Records
Nicki Minaj – Republic Records
Shakira – Sony Music US Latin
Taylor Swift – Republic Records

 

SONG OF THE YEAR

Miley Cyrus – “Flowers” – Columbia Records
Olivia Rodrigo – “vampire” – Geffen Records
Rema & Selena Gomez – “Calm Down” – Mavin Global Holdings Ltd / Jonzing World Entertainment / SMG Music / Interscope Records
Sam Smith, Kim Petras – “Unholy” – Capitol Records
Steve Lacy – “Bad Habit” – L-M Records / RCA Records
SZA – “Kill Bill” – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records Records
Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” – Republic Records

 

BEST NEW ARTIST

GloRilla – CMG / Interscope Records

Ice Spice – 10K Projects / Capitol Records

Kaliii – Atlantic Records

Peso Pluma – Double P Records

PinkPantheress – 300 Entertainment

Reneé Rapp – Interscope Records

 

PUSH PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR

August 2022: Saucy Santana – “Booty” – Arena Records / RCA Records
September 2022: Stephen Sanchez – “Until I Found You” – Mercury Records / Republic Records
October 2022: JVKE – “golden hour” – AWAL
November 2022: Flo Milli – “Conceited” – ’94 Sounds / RCA Records
December 2022: Reneé Rapp – “Colorado” – Interscope Records
January 2023: Sam Ryder – “All The Way Over” – Elektra Entertainment
February 2023: Armani White – “GOATED” – Def Jam
March 2023: FLETCHER – “Becky’s So Hot” – Capitol Records
April 2023: TOMORROW X TOGETHER – “Sugar Rush Ride” – BIGHIT MUSIC / Republic Records

May 2023: Ice Spice – “Princess Diana” – Heavy On It / 10K Projects / Capitol Records
June 2023: FLO – “Losing You” – Uptown/Republic Records
July 2023: Lauren Spencer Smith – “That Part” – Island Records

 

BEST COLLABORATION

David Guetta & Bebe Rexha – “I’m Good (Blue)” – Warner Records
Post Malone, Doja Cat – “I Like You (A Happier Song)” – Mercury Records / Republic Records

Diddy ft. Bryson Tiller, Ashanti, Yung Miami – “Gotta Move On” – Motown Records
KAROL G, Shakira – “TQG” – Universal Music Latino
Metro Boomin with The Weeknd, 21 Savage, and Diddy – “Creepin’ (Remix)” – Boominati / Republic Records
Rema & Selena Gomez – “Calm Down” – Mavin Global Holdings Ltd / Jonzing World Entertainment / SMG Music / Interscope Records

 

BEST POP

Demi Lovato – “Swine” – Island Records

Dua Lipa – “Dance The Night (From Barbie The Album)” – Atlantic Records

Ed Sheeran – “Eyes Closed” – Atlantic Records
Miley Cyrus – “Flowers” – Columbia Records
Olivia Rodrigo – “vampire” – Geffen Records
P!NK – “TRUSTFALL” – RCA Records
Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” – Republic Records

 

BEST HIP-HOP

Diddy ft. Bryson Tiller, Ashanti, Yung Miami – “Gotta Move On” – Motown Records
DJ Khaled ft. Drake & Lil Baby – “STAYING ALIVE” – We The Best / Epic Records
GloRilla & Cardi B – “Tomorrow 2” – CMG / Interscope Records
Lil Uzi Vert – “Just Wanna Rock” – Atlantic Records / Generation Now
Lil Wayne ft. Swizz Beatz & DMX – “Kant Nobody” – Young Money Records
Metro Boomin ft Future – “Superhero (Heroes and Villains)” – Boominati / Republic Records

Nicki Minaj – “Super Freaky Girl” – Republic Records

 

BEST R&B

Alicia Keys ft. Lucky Daye – “Stay” – RCA Records
Chlöe ft. Chris Brown – “How Does It Feel” – Parkwood Entertainment / Columbia
Metro Boomin with The Weeknd, 21 Savage, and Diddy – “Creepin’ (Remix)” – Boominati / Republic Records
SZA – “Shirt” – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records
Toosii – “Favorite Song” – South Coast Music Group / Capitol Records
Yung Bleu & Nicki Minaj – “Love In The Way” – Empire Distribution

 

BEST ALTERNATIVE

blink-182 – “EDGING” – Columbia Records
boygenius – “the film” – Interscope Records

Fall Out Boy – “Hold Me Like A Grudge” – Fueled By Ramen

Lana Del Rey ft. Jon Batiste – “Candy Necklace” – Interscope Records

Paramore – “This Is Why” – Atlantic Records
Thirty Seconds To Mars – “Stuck” – Concord Records / Concord

 

BEST ROCK

Foo Fighters – “The Teacher” – RCA Records
Linkin Park – “Lost (Original Version)” – Warner Records
Red Hot Chili Peppers – “Tippa My Tongue” – Warner Records

Måneskin – “THE LONELIEST” – Arista Records
Metallica – “Lux Æterna” – Blackened Recordings
Muse – “You Make Me Feel Like It’s Halloween” – Warner Records

 

BEST LATIN

Anitta – “Funk Rave” – Republic Records
Bad Bunny – “WHERE SHE GOES” – Rimas Entertainment
Eslabon Armado, Peso Pluma – “Ella Baila Sola” – DEL Records, Inc. / Prajin Parlay, Inc. Grupo Frontera Bad Bunny – “un x100to” – Rimas Entertainment
KAROL G, Shakira – “TQG” – Universal Music Latino
ROSALÍA – “DESPECHÁ” – Columbia Records
Shakira – “Acróstico” – Sony Music US Latin

 

BEST K-POP

aespa – “Girls” – SM ENTERTAINMENT Co., Ltd.
BLACKPINK – “Pink Venom” – YG Entertainment / Interscope Records
FIFTY FIFTY – “Cupid” – ATTRAKT / Warner Records
SEVENTEEN – “Super” – HYBE / Geffen Records
Stray Kids – “S-Class” – JYP / Republic
TOMORROW X TOGETHER – “Sugar Rush Ride” – BIGHIT MUSIC / Republic Records

 

BEST AFROBEATS

Ayra Starr – “Rush” – Mavin Global Holdings
Burna Boy – “It’s Plenty” – Atlantic Records / Spaceship Entertainment Ltd
Davido ft. Musa Keys – “UNAVAILABLE” – Sony Music U.K. / RCA Records
Fireboy DML & Asake – ”Bandana” – Empire Distribution

Libianca – “People” – Sony Music U.K. / RCA Records
Rema & Selena Gomez – “Calm Down” – Mavin Global Holdings Ltd / Jonzing World Entertainment / SMG Music / Interscope Records
Wizkid ft Ayra Starr– “2 Sugar” – Starboy / RCA Records

VIDEO FOR GOOD

Alicia Keys – If I Ain’t Got You (Orchestral) – NETFLIX
Bad Bunny – “El Apagón – Aquí Vive Gente” – Rimas Entertainment

Demi Lovato – “Swine” – Island Records
Dove Cameron – “Breakfast” – Columbia Records
Imagine Dragons – “Crushed” – KIDinaKORNER / Interscope Records

Maluma – “La Reina” – Sony Music US Latin

 

BEST DIRECTION

Doja Cat – “Attention” – Kemosabe Records / RCA Records – Directed by Tanu Muiño

Drake – “Falling Back” – OVO/Republic Records – Director X (Julien Christian Lutz)
Kendrick Lamar – “Count Me Out” – pgLang / Top Dawg Entertainment / Aftermath / Interscope Records – Directed by Dave Free & Kendrick Lamar
Megan Thee Stallion – “Her” – 300 Entertainment – Directed by Colin Tilley
Sam Smith, Kim Petras – “Unholy” – Capitol Records – Directed by Floria Sigismondi
SZA – “Kill Bill” – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records – Directed by Christian Breslauer
Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” – Republic Records – Directed by Taylor Swift

 

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Adele – “I Drink Wine” – Columbia Records – Cinematography by Adam Newport-Berra
Ed Sheeran – “Eyes Closed” – Atlantic Records – Cinematography by Natasha Baier
Janelle Monae – “Lipstick Lover” – Atlantic Records – Cinematography by Allison Anderson
Kendrick Lamar – “Count Me Out” – pgLang / Top Dawg Entertainment / Aftermath / Interscope Records 0 Cinematography by Adam Newport-Berra
Miley Cyrus – “Flowers” – Columbia Records – Cinematography by Marcell Rev
Olivia Rodrigo – “vampire” – Geffen Records – Cinematography by Russ Fraser
Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” – Republic Records – Cinematography by Rina Yang

 

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

Fall Out Boy – “Love From The Other Side” – Fueled By Ramen – Visual Effects by Thomas Bailey and Josh Shaffner

Harry Styles – “Music For A Sushi Restaurant” – Columbia Records – Visual Effects by Chelsea Delfino and Black Kite Studios

Melanie Martinez – “VOID” – Atlantic Records – Visual Effects by Carbon
Nicki Minaj – “Super Freaky Girl” – Republic Records – Visual Effects by Max Colt and Sergio Mashevskyi
Sam Smith, Kim Petras – “Unholy” – Capitol Records – Visual Effects by Max Colt / FRENDER
Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” – Republic Records – Visual Effects by Parliament

 

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY

BLACKPINK – “Pink Venom” – YG Entertainment / Interscope Records – Choreography by Kiel Tutin, Sienna Lalau, Lee Jung (YGX), Taryn Cheng (YGX)
Dua Lipa – “Dance The Night (From Barbie The Album)” – Atlantic Records – Choreography by Charm LaDonna

Jonas Brothers – “Waffle House” – Republic Records – Choreography by Jerry Reece
Megan Thee Stallion – “Her” – 300 Entertainment – Choreography by Sean Bankhead
Panic! At The Disco – “Middle Of A Breakup” – Fueled By Ramen – Choreography by Monika Felice Smith
Sam Smith, Kim Petras – “Unholy” – Capitol Records – Choreography by (LA)HORDE – Marine Brutti, Jonathan Debrouwer, Arthur Harel

 

BEST ART DIRECTION

boygenius – “the film” – Interscope Records – Art Direction by Jen Dunlap
BLACKPINK – “Pink Venom” – YG Entertainment / Interscope Records – Art Direction by Seo Hyun Seung (GIGANT)

Doja Cat – “Attention” – Kemosabe Records / RCA Records – Art Direction by Spencer Graves
Lana Del Rey ft. Jon Batiste – “Candy Necklace” – Interscope Records – Art Direction by Brandon Mendez

Megan Thee Stallion – “Her” – 300 Entertainment – Art Direction by Niko Philipides
SZA – “Shirt” – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records – Art Direction by Kate Bunch

 

BEST EDITING 

BLACKPINK – “Pink Venom” – YG Entertainment / Interscope Records – Editing by Seo Hyun Seung (GIGANT)
Kendrick Lamar – “Rich Spirit” – pgLang / Top Dawg Entertainment / Aftermath / Interscope Records – Edited by Grason Caldwell
Miley Cyrus – “River” – Columbia Records – Edited by Brandan Walter
Olivia Rodrigo – “vampire” – Geffen Records – Edited by Sofia Kerpan and David Checel
SZA – “Kill Bill” – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records – Edited by Luis Caraza Peimbert
Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” – Republic Records – Edited by Chancler Haynes

LIST OF NOMINATIONS BY ARTIST 

 

Taylor Swift – 8 Nominations

Video of the Year – “Anti-Hero”

Artist of the Year
Song of the Year – “Anti-Hero”

Best Pop – “Anti-Hero”

Best Direction – “Anti-Hero”
Best Cinematography – “Anti-Hero”

Best Visual Effects – “Anti-Hero”

Best Editing – “Anti-Hero”

 

SZA – 6 Nominations

Video of the Year – “Kill Bill”

Song of the Year – “Kill Bill”

Best R&B – “Shirt”
Best Direction – “Kill Bill”

Best Art Direction – “Kill Bill”

Best Editing – “Kill Bill”

 

Doja Cat – 5 Nominations

Video of the Year – “Attention”
Artist of the Year

Best Collaboration – “I Like You (A Happier Song)”

Best Direction – “Attention”
Best Art Direction – “Attention”

 

Kim Petras– 5 Nominations

Video of the Year – “Unholy”

Song of the Year – “Unholy”

Best Direction – “Unholy”

Best Visual Effects – “Unholy”

Best Choreography – “Unholy”

 

Miley Cyrus – 5 Nominations

Video of the Year – “Flowers”

Song of the Year – “Flowers”

Best Pop – “Flowers”
Best Cinematography – “Flowers”

Best Editing – “River”

 

Nicki Minaj – 5 Nominations

Video of the Year – “Super Freaky Girl”

Artist of the Year
Best Hip Hop – “Super Freaky Girl”

Best R&B – “Love In The Way”

Best Visual Effects – “Super Freaky Girl”

 

Olivia Rodrigo – 5 Nominations

Video of the Year – “vampire”

Song of the Year – “vampire”

Best Pop – “vampire”

Best Cinematography – “vampire”

Best Editing – “vampire”

 

Sam Smith – 5 Nominations

Video of the Year – “Unholy”

Song of the Year – “Unholy”

Best Direction – “Unholy”

Best Visual Effects – “Unholy”

Best Choreography – “Unholy”

 

BLACKPINK – 4 Nominations

Best K-Pop – “Pink Venom”

Best Choreography – “Pink Venom”

Best Art Direction – “Pink Venom”

Best Editing – “Pink Venom”

 

Diddy – 4 Nominations

Best Collaboration – “Creepin’ (Remix)”

Best Collaboration – “Gotta Move On”

Best Rap – “Gotta Move On”
Best R&B – “Creepin’ (Remix)”

 

Shakira – 4 Nominations

Artist of the Year
Best Collaboration – “TQG”

Best Latin – “TQG”

Best Latin – “Acróstico”

Bad Bunny – 3 Nominations
Best Latin – “un x100to”
Best Latin – “WHERE SHE GOES”
Video for Good – “El Apagón – Aquí Vive Gente”

Metro Boomin – 3 Nominations

Best Collaboration – “Creepin’ (Remix)”
Best Hip-Hop – “Superhero (Heroes and Villains)”

Best R&B – “Creepin’ (Remix)”

 

KAROL G – 3 Nominations

Artist of the Year

Best Latin – “TQG”
Best Collaboration – “TQG”

 

Kendrick Lamar – 3 Nominations

Best Direction – “Count Me Out”
Best Cinematography – “Count Me Out”

Best Editing – “Rich Spirit”

 

Rema – 3 Nominations

Best Song – “Calm Down”
Best Collaboration – “Calm Down”

Best Afrobeat – “Calm Down”

 

Selena Gomez – 3 Nominations

Best Song – “Calm Down”
Best Collaboration – “Calm Down”

Best Afrobeat – “Calm Down”