The late summer/early fall award season kicked off with a bang as viewers across the world settled in to watch the much anticipated MTV’s VMA Awards. Completely based on voting by fans, the show first aired in 1984 to honor the best in music videos. Often dubbed the “Super Bowl for youth”, the VMAs features a variety of categories and winners receive the highly-coveted signature astronaut-on-the-moon “Moon Person” trophy.
Here are few highlights:
This year, Lady Gaga set the tone by taking home four awards: Artist of the Year, Best Collaboration for “Die With a Smile” (with Bruno Mars), Best Direction for “Abracadabra”, and “Best Art Direction for “Abracadabra. Although Gaga had to “get back to Madison Square Garden” for a performance, the VMAs broadcast her singing “Abracadabra” approximately 90 minutes later. Gaga is currently in the midst of her sold-out Mayhem Ball Tour.
Sabrina Carpenter and Ariana Grande came in as a close-second to Gaga in terms of most awards won, both going home with three each. Praised for her beautiful music video, Ariana Grande won Video of the Year; Best Longform Video, and Best Pop song for “Brighter Days Ahead”. Sabrina Carpenter took home Best Album for “Short n’ Sweeter”, Best Visual Effects for “Man Child”, and Best Pop Artist (a new award). Carpenter performed her track ‘Tears” off her new album, “Man’s Best Friend” to thunderous applause from the live crowd for its promotion of trans rights and its collaboration with artists like William and Laganja Estranja, among many other stars.
Tate Mcrae and Doechii both won in two categories: Doechii for best Hip Hop and Best Choregraphy for her song “Anxiety” and McRae won Best Song of the Summer and Best Editing for her song “Just Keep Watching”.
After performing at the 2024 Super Bowl half-time show and winning five Grammy awards, Kendrick Lamar was nominated for 10 VMA Awards, and won for Best Cinematography for his music video, “Not Like Us”.
Katseye, an up-and coming girl-group, accepted the MTV Push Performance award for their song, “Touch”, while another girl-group, Blackpink, won the controversial Best Group Award. With so many nominations and huge fan-bases, the fight was a tough one. Two members of Blackpink also won awards: Lisa won best K-Pop with her collaboration on the track ‘Born Again” with Doja Cat and Raye; and Rose’ also won Song of the Year for her song “ATP”, another collaboration with Bruno Mars.
This year’s Video Vanguard Award went to Mariah Carey along with Best R&B for her song “Type Dangerous” while Ricky Martin accepted the Latin Icon Award and Bust Rhymes received the Rock the Bells Visionary Award.
Many new artists took the stage for the VMAs this year as well as artists with immense legacy. Watching each of them perform and come together in a celebration of everything music was a treat for those of all ages – especially with the heartfelt tribute to legendary rocker Ozzy Osbourne by Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith along with Nuno Bettencourt of Extreme and Yungblud. The group sang a few of Ozzy’s biggest hits including: “Changes”, “Crazy Train”, and “Mama, I’m Coming Home” as the audience cheered, and Osbourne’s daughter, Kelly, and wife, Sharon, watched from backstage.
A complete list of categories and winners can be seen below:
Video of of the Year: Ariana Grande “Brighter Days Ahead”; Song of the Year: Rose’ and Bruno Mars (APT); Best New Artist: Alex Warren; Best Pop Artist: Sabrina Carpenter; MTV Push Performance of the Year: January 2025, Katseye, “Touch”; Best Collaboration: Lady Gag & Bruno Mars “Die With a Smile”; Best Pop: Ariana Grande, “Brighter Days Ahead”; Best Hip-Hop: Doechii, “Anxiety”; Best R&B, Mariah Carey “Type Dangerous”; Best Alternative, Sombr, “Back to Friends”; Best Rock – Coldplay, “All My Love”; Best Latin – Shakira, “Soltera”; Best K-Pop – Lisa ft. Doja Cat & Raye, “Born Again”; Best Afrobeats – Tyla, “Push 2 Start”; Best Country – Megan Moroney, “Am I Okay?”‘ Best Album – Sabrina Carpenter, “Short n’ Sweet”; Best Longform Video – Ariana Grande, “Brighter Days Ahead”; Best Group – Blackpink; Song of the Summer – Tate McRae “Just Keep Watching”; Video for Good – Charli XCX “Guess featuring Billie Eilish”; Best Direction – Lady Gaga, “Abracadabra”; Best Art Direction – Lady Gaga, “Abracadabra”; Best Cinematography – Kendrick Lamar, “Not Like Us”; Best Editing – Tate McRae, “Just Keep Watching”; Best Choreography – Doechii, “Anxiety”; Best Visual Effects – Sabrina Carpenter, “Manchild”
