Nominees Revealed for 2021 MTV VMAs

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Every year, MTV hosts its VMA ceremony, honoring the best artists across a number of categories. This year, Justin Bieber leads with seven total nominations, and Megan Thee Stallion is not far behind with six. Check out the full list of MTV VMA nominees below.

Video of the Year

Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion: ā€œWAPā€ ā€“ Atlantic Records

DJ Khaled ft. Drake: ā€œPopstarā€ (Starring Justin Bieber) ā€“ OVO / We The Best / Epic Records

Doja Cat ft. SZA: ā€œKiss Me Moreā€ ā€“ Kemosabe Records / RCA Records

Ed Sheeran: ā€œBad Habitsā€ ā€“ Atlantic Records

Lil Nas X: ā€œMontero (Call Me By Your Name)ā€ ā€“ Columbia Records

The Weeknd: ā€œSave Your Tearsā€ ā€“ XO / Republic Records

Artist of the Year

Ariana Grande ā€“ Republic Records

Doja Cat ā€“ Kemosabe Records / RCA Records

Justin Bieber ā€“ Def Jam

Megan Thee Stallion ā€“ 300 Entertainment

Olivia Rodrigo ā€“ Geffen Records

Taylor Swift ā€“ Republic Records

Song of the Year

24kGoldn ft. Iann Dior: ā€œMoodā€ ā€“ Records LLC / Columbia Records

Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic: ā€œLeave the Door Openā€ ā€“ Aftermath Entertainment / Atlantic Records

BTS: ā€œDynamiteā€ ā€“ Bighit Music

Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion: ā€œWAPā€ ā€“ Atlantic Records

Dua Lipa: ā€œLevitatingā€ ā€“ Warner Records

Olivia Rodrigo: ā€œDrivers Licenseā€ ā€“ Geffen Records

Best New Artist

24kGoldn ā€“ Records LLC / Columbia Records

Giveon ā€“ Epic Records / Not So Fast

The Kid Laroi ā€“ Columbia Records

Olivia Rodrigo ā€“ Geffen Records

Polo G ā€“ Columbia Records

Saweetie ā€“ Warner Records

Push Performance of the Year

Wallows: “Are You Bored Yet?” ā€“ Atlantic Records

Ashnikko: “Daisy” ā€“ Warner Records

Saint Jhn: “Gorgeous” ā€“ Godd Complexx / HITCO

24kGoldn: “Coco” ā€“ Records LLC / Columbia Records

JC Stewart: “Break My Heart” ā€“ Elektra Music Group

Latto: “Sex Lies” ā€“ RCA Records

Madison Beer: “Selfish” ā€“ Epic Records / Sing It Loud

The Kid Laroi: “Without You” ā€“ Columbia Records

Olivia Rodrigo: “Drivers License” ā€“ Geffen Records

Girl in Red: “Serotonin” ā€“ World in Red / AWAL

FousheĆ©: “My Slime” ā€“ RCA Records

Jxdn: ā€œThink About Meā€ ā€“ DTA Records / Elektra Music Group

Best Collaboration

24kGoldn ft. Iann Dior: ā€œMoodā€ ā€“ Records LLC / Columbia Records

Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion: ā€œWAPā€ ā€“ Atlantic Records

Doja Cat ft. SZA: ā€œKiss Me Moreā€ ā€“ Kemosabe Records / RCA Records

Drake ft. Lil Durk: ā€œLaugh Now Cry Laterā€ ā€“ OVO / Republic Records

Justin Bieber ft. Daniel Caesar, Giveon: ā€œPeachesā€ ā€“ Def Jam

Miley Cyrus ft. Dua Lipa: ā€œPrisonerā€ ā€“ RCA Records

Best Pop

Ariana Grande: ā€œPositionsā€ ā€“ Republic Records

Billie Eilish: ā€œTherefore I Amā€ ā€“ Darkroom / Interscope Records

BTS: ā€œButterā€ ā€“ Bighit Music

Harry Styles: ā€œTreat People With Kindnessā€ ā€“ Columbia Records

Justin Bieber ft. Daniel Caesar, Giveon: ā€œPeachesā€ ā€“ Def Jam

Olivia Rodrigo: ā€œGood 4 Uā€ ā€“ Geffen Records

Shawn Mendes: ā€œWonderā€ ā€“ Island Records

Taylor Swift: ā€œWillowā€ ā€“ Republic Records

Best Hip-Hop

Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion: ā€œWAPā€ ā€“ Atlantic Records

Drake ft. Lil Durk: ā€œLaugh Now Cry Laterā€ ā€“ OVO / Republic Records

Lil Baby ft. Megan Thee Stallion: ā€œOn Me (remix)ā€ ā€“ Quality Control / Motown

Moneybagg Yo ā€“ ā€œSaid Sumā€ ā€“ N-Less Entertainment / Interscope Records

Polo G: ā€œRapstarā€ ā€“ Columbia Records

Travis Scott ft. Young Thug & M.I.A.: ā€œFranchiseā€ ā€“ Cactus Jack / Epic Records

Best Rock

Evanescence: ā€œUse My Voiceā€ ā€“ BMG

Foo Fighters: ā€œShame Shameā€ ā€“ Roswell Records / RCA Records

John Mayer: ā€œLast Train Homeā€ ā€“ Columbia Records

The Killers: ā€œMy Own Soul’s Warningā€ ā€“ Island

Kings Of Leon: ā€œThe Banditā€ ā€“ RCA Records

Lenny Kravitz: ā€œRaise Vibrationā€ ā€“ Roxie Records / BMG

Best Alternative

Bleachers: ā€œStop Making This Hurtā€ ā€“ RCA Records

Glass Animals: ā€œHeat Wavesā€ ā€“ Republic Records

Imagine Dragons: ā€œFollow Youā€ ā€“ Kidinakorner / Interscope Records

Machine Gun Kelly ft. Blackbear: ā€œMy Exā€™s Best Friendā€ ā€“ Bad Boy / Interscope Records

Twenty One Pilots: ā€œShy Awayā€ ā€“ Fueled By Ramen

Willow ft. Travis Barker: ā€œTransparent Soulā€ ā€“ MSFTSMusic / Roc Nation

Best Latin

Bad Bunny x Jhay Cortez: ā€œDĆ”kitiā€ ā€“ The Orchard

Billie Eilish & RosalĆ­a: ā€œLo Vas A Olvidarā€ ā€“ Darkroom / Interscope Records

Black Eyed Peas and Shakira: ā€œGirl Like Meā€ ā€“ Epic Records

Balvin, Dua Lipa, Bad Bunny, Tainy: ā€œUn Die (One Day)ā€ ā€“ Universal Music Latino / Neon16

Karol G: ā€œBichotaā€ ā€“ Universal Music Latino

Maluma: ā€œHawĆ”iā€ ā€“ Sony Music US Latin

Best R&B

BeyoncĆ©, Blue Ivy, SAINt JHN, WizKid: ā€œBrown Skin Girlā€ ā€“ Parkwood Entertainment / Columbia Records

Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic: ā€œLeave the Door Openā€ ā€“ Aftermath Entertainment / Atlantic Records

Chris Brown and Young Thug: ā€œGo Crazyā€ ā€“ Chris Brown Entertainment/RCA Records

Giveon: ā€œHeartbreak Anniversaryā€ ā€“ Epic Records / Not So Fast

H.E.R. ft. Chris Brown: ā€œCome Throughā€ – MBK Entertainment / RCA Records

SZA: ā€œGood Daysā€ ā€“ Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records

Best K-pop

(G)I-DLE: ā€œDumdi Dumdiā€ ā€“ Republic Records

Blackpink and Selena Gomez: ā€œIce Creamā€ ā€“ YG Entertainment / Interscope Records

BTS ā€“ ā€œButterā€ ā€“ Bighit Music

Monsta X: ā€œGamblerā€ ā€“ Starship Entertainment

Seventeen: ā€œReady to loveā€ ā€“ Pledis Entertainment

Twice: ā€œAlcohol-Freeā€ ā€“ JYP Entertainment Company

Video For Good

Billie Eilish: ā€œYour Powerā€ ā€“ Darkroom / Interscope Records

Demi Lovato: ā€œDancing With the Devilā€ ā€“ Island

H.E.R.: ā€œFight For Youā€ ā€“ MBK Entertainment / RCA Records

Kane Brown: ā€œWorldwide Beautifulā€ ā€“ Sony Music Nashville / RCA Records

Lil Nas X: ā€œMontero (Call Me By Your Name)ā€ ā€“ Columbia Records

Pharrell Williams ft. Jay-Z: ā€œEntrepreneurā€ ā€“ Columbia Records

Best Direction

Billie Eilish: ā€œYour Powerā€ ā€“ Darkroom / Interscope Records ā€“ Directed by: Billie Eilish

DJ Khaled ft. Drake: ā€œPopstar (Starring Justin Bieber)ā€ ā€“ OVO / We The Best / Epic Records ā€“ Directed by: Julien Christian Lutz aka Director X

Lil Nas X: ā€œMontero (Call Me By Your Name)ā€ ā€“ Columbia Records ā€“ Directed by: Lil Nas X and Tanu Muino

Taylor Swift: ā€œWillowā€ ā€“ Republic Records ā€“ Directed by: Taylor Swift

Travis Scott ft. Young Thug & M.I.A: ā€œFranchiseā€ ā€“ Cactus Jack / Epic Records ā€“ Directed by: Travis Scott

Tyler, The Creator: ā€œLumberjackā€ ā€“ Columbia Records ā€“ Directed by: Wolf Haley

Best Cinematography

BeyoncĆ©, Blue Ivy, SAINt JHN, WizKid: ā€œBrown Skin Girlā€ ā€“ Parkwood Entertainment / Columbia Records ā€“ Cinematography by: Benoit Soler, Malik H. Sayeed, Mohammaed Atta Ahmed, Santiago Gonzalez, Ryan Helfant

Billie Eilish: ā€œTherefore I Amā€ ā€“ Darkroom / Interscope Records ā€“ Cinematography by: Rob Witt

Foo Fighters: ā€œShame Shameā€ ā€“ Roswell Records / RCA Records ā€“ Cinematography by: Santiago Gonzalez

Justin Bieber ft. Chance The Rapper: ā€œHolyā€ ā€“ RBMG / Def Jam ā€“ Cinematography by: Elias Talbot

Lady Gaga: ā€œ911ā€ ā€“ Interscope Records ā€“ Cinematography by: Jeff Cronenweth

Lorde: ā€œSolar Powerā€ ā€“ LAVA/Republic Records ā€“ Cinematography by: Andrew Stroud

Best Art Direction

BeyoncĆ©, Shatta Wale, Major Lazer: ā€œAlreadyā€ ā€“ Parkwood Entertainment / Columbia Records ā€“ Art Direction by: Susan Linns, Gerard Santos

Ed Sheeran: ā€œBad Habitsā€ ā€“ Atlantic Records ā€“ Art Direction by: Alison Dominitz

Lady Gaga: ā€œ911ā€ ā€“ Interscope Records ā€“ Art Direction by: Tom Foden, Peter Andrus

Lil Nas X: ā€œMontero (Call Me By Your Name)ā€ ā€“ Columbia Records ā€“ Art Direction by: John Richoux

Saweetie ft. Doja Cat: ā€œBest Friendā€ ā€“ Warner Records ā€“ Art Direction by: Art Haynes

Taylor Swift ā€“ ā€œWillowā€ ā€“ Republic Records ā€“ Art Direction by: Ethan Tobman, Regina Fernandez

Best Visual Effects

Bella Poarch: ā€œBuild a Bitchā€ ā€“ Warner Records ā€“ Visual Effects by: Andrew Donoho, Denhov Visuals, Denis Strahhov, Rein Jakobson, Vahur Kuusk, Tatjana Pavlik, Yekaterina Vetrova

Coldplay: ā€œHigher Powerā€ ā€“ Atlantic Records ā€“ Visual Effects by: Mathematic

Doja Cat & The Weeknd ā€“ ā€œYou Rightā€ ā€“ Kemosabe Records / RCA Records ā€“ Visual Effects by: La Pac, Anthony Lestremau, Julien Missaire, Petr Shkolniy, Alexi Bailla, Micha Sher, Antoine Hache, Mikros MPC, Nicolas Huget, Guillaume Ho Tsong Fang, Benjamin Lenfant, Stephane Pivron, MPC Bangalore, Chanakya Chander, Raju Ganesh, David Rouxel

Glass Animals: ā€œTangerineā€ ā€“ Republic Records ā€“ Visual Effects by: Ronan Fourreau

Lil Nas X: ā€œMontero (Call Me By Your Name)ā€ ā€“ Columbia Records ā€“ Visual Effects by: Mathematic

P!nk: ā€œAll I Know So Farā€ ā€“ RCA Records ā€“ Visual Effects by: BUF, VFX Supervisors: Dominique Vidal & Geoffrey Niquet, VFX Producers: Annabelle Zoellin & Camille Gibrat

Best Choreography

Ariana Grande ā€“ ā€œ34+35ā€ ā€“ Republic Records ā€“ Choreography by: Brian Nicholson & Scott Nicholson

BTS ā€“ ā€œButterā€ ā€“ Bighit Music ā€“ Choreography by: Son Sung with BHM Performance Directing Team

Ed Sheeran ā€“ ā€œBad Habitsā€ ā€“ Atlantic Records ā€“ Choreography by: Natricia Bernard

Foo Fighters ā€“ ā€œShame Shameā€ ā€“ Roswell Records / RCA Records ā€“ Choreography by: Nina McNeely

Harry Styles ā€“ ā€œTreat People With Kindnessā€ ā€“ Columbia Records

Marshmello & Halsey ā€“ ā€œBe Kindā€ ā€“ Astralwerks / Capitol Records ā€“ Choreography by: Dani Vitale

Best Editing

Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic: ā€œLeave the Door Openā€ ā€“ Aftermath Entertainment/Atlantic Records ā€“ Editing by: Troy Charbonnet

BTS: ā€œButterā€ ā€“ Bighit Music ā€“ Editing by: Yong Seok Choi from Lumpens

Drake: ā€œWhat’s Nextā€ ā€“ OVO / Republic Records ā€“ Editing by: Noah Kendal

Harry Styles: ā€œTreat People With Kindnessā€ ā€“ Columbia Records

Justin Bieber ft. Daniel Caesar, Giveon: ā€œPeachesā€ ā€“ Def Jam

Miley Cyrus ft. Dua Lipa: ā€œPrisonerā€ ā€“ RCA Records

Voting to determine which of the MTV VMA nominees win is open in all categories through September 3 on the MTV website. Be sure to tune into the live show on September 12 to see who wins!

Haley
Haley
Haley joined the Nerds and Beyond team in 2019 as a Writer and Editor. Her main fandoms include Criminal Minds, Wrestling, and The Walking Dead. You can find her on Twitter @haleyanne_.

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