NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MTV today announced nominations across all gender neutral categories for the 2018 “VMAs.” The list includes dozens of artists whose reach and influence have elevated music’s relevancy within the cultural conversation. Cardi B received nods in 10 categories, including “Video,” “Song” and “Artist of the Year,” and The Carters secured eight, including “Video of the Year,” “Best Collaboration” and “Best Hip Hop” for their recent hit single “APES**T.” Other top contenders include Childish Gambino, Drake and Bruno Mars. The “VMAs” will air live from Radio City Music Hall on Monday, August 20 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT, and across MTV's global network of channels in more than 180 countries and territories, reaching more than half a billion households around the world.
“It has already been a monumental year in music, and this year’s ‘VMAs’ will take things to a whole new level,” said Bruce Gillmer, Head of Music and Music Talent, Global Entertainment Group, Viacom. “The extraordinary group of nominees have amazed us with their talent and inspired us with their creativity – and when you get them together for one night, anything is possible.”
MTV’s collaboration with Instagram to reveal the nominees on IGTV with an all-star group of creators is the first time an awards show has used the new platform in this capacity. With a combined reach of more than 23 million followers on Instagram alone, the team included Nyle DiMarco, Tessa Brooks, Bretman Rock, Scotty Sire, Toddy Smith and more. From live parrots to gospel choirs, workout videos to bathtubs filled with rubber duckies, each of the creators was tasked with revealing a category and its nominees in eccentric vignettes that emphasize that everything might happen at the “VMAs.”
Beginning today, fans can vote for their favorites across 12 VMA categories, including “Video of the Year,” “Artist of the Year,” “Best Collaboration” and more by visiting vma.mtv.com until Friday, August 10. Voting for the “Best New Artist” award, presented by Taco Bell®, will remain active until the VMA broadcast.
COMPLETE LIST OF NOMINEES
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Ariana Grande – “No Tears Left to Cry” –
Republic Records
Bruno Mars ft. Cardi B – “Finesse (Remix)” –
Atlantic Records
Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug – “Havana” – Syco
Music/Epic Records
The Carters – “APES**T” – Roc Nation/Parkwood
Entertainment
Childish Gambino – “This Is America” – mcDJ / RCA
Records
Drake – “God's Plan” – YMCMB/Cash Money/Republic Records
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Ariana Grande – Republic Records
Bruno
Mars – Atlantic Records
Camila Cabello – Syco Music/Epic Records
Cardi
B – Atlantic Records
Drake – YMCMB/Cash Money/Republic Records
Post
Malone – Republic Records
SONG OF THE YEAR
Bruno Mars ft. Cardi B – “Finesse (Remix)”
– Atlantic Records
Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug – “Havana” – Syco
Music/Epic Records
Drake – “God's Plan” – YMCMB/Cash Money/Republic
Records
Dua Lipa – “New Rules” – Warner Bros. Records
Ed
Sheeran – “Perfect” – Atlantic Records
Post Malone ft. 21 Savage –
“rockstar” – Republic Records
BEST NEW ARTIST (Presented by Taco Bell®)
Bazzi –
iamcosmic/Atlantic Records
Cardi B – Atlantic Records
Chloe x
Halle – Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records
Hayley Kiyoko –
Atlantic Records
Lil Pump – Warner Bros. Records
Lil Uzi Vert
– Atlantic Records
BEST COLLABORATION
Bebe Rexha ft. Florida Georgia Line –
“Meant to Be” – Warner Bros. Records
Bruno Mars ft. Cardi B –
“Finesse (Remix)” – Atlantic Records
The Carters – “APES**T” – Roc
Nation/Parkwood Entertainment
Jennifer Lopez ft. DJ Khaled & Cardi
B – “Dinero” – Epic Records/Nuyorican Productions
Logic ft. Alessia
Cara & Khalid – “1-800-273-8255” – Def Jam Recordings
N.E.R.D &
Rihanna – “Lemon” – i am OTHER/Columbia Records
PUSH ARTIST OF THE YEAR
JULY 2018 – Chloe x Halle – Parkwood
Entertainment/Columbia Records
JUNE 2018 – Sigrid – Island Records
MAY
2018 – Lil Xan – Columbia Records
APRIL 2018 – Hayley Kiyoko –
Atlantic Records
MARCH 2018 – Jessie Reyez – Island Records
FEBRUARY
2018 – Tee Grizzley – 300 Entertainment
JANUARY 2018 – Bishop
Briggs – Island Records
DECEMBER 2017 – Grace VanderWaal – Syco
Music/Columbia Records
NOVEMBER 2017 – Why Don’t We – Atlantic
Records
OCTOBER 2017 – PRETTYMUCH – Syco Music/Columbia Records
SEPTEMBER
2017 – SZA – TDE/Aftermath/Interscope Records
AUGUST 2017 – Kacy
Hill – Def Jam Recordings
JULY 2017 – Khalid – RCA Records
JUNE
2017 – Kyle – Atlantic Records
MAY 2017 – Noah Cyrus – Republic
Records
BEST POP
Ariana Grande – “No Tears Left to Cry” – Republic
Records
Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug – “Havana” – Syco Music/Epic
Records
Demi Lovato – “Sorry Not Sorry” – Island Records
Ed
Sheeran – “Perfect” – Atlantic Records
P!nk – “What About Us” – RCA
Records
Shawn Mendes – “In My Blood” – Island Records
BEST HIP HOP
Cardi B ft. 21 Savage – “Bartier Cardi” –
KSR/Atlantic Records
The Carters – “APES**T” – Roc Nation/Parkwood
Entertainment
Drake – “God's Plan” – YMCMB/Cash Money/Republic
Records
J. Cole – “ATM” – Dreamville/Roc Nation/Interscope Records
Migos
ft. Drake – “Walk It Talk It” – Quality Control/Capitol Records
Nicki
Minaj – “Chun-Li” – Young Money/Cash Money Records
BEST LATIN
Daddy Yankee – “Dura” – El Cartel Records/UMLE
J
Balvin, Willy William – “Mi Gente” – UMLE/Republic Records
Jennifer
Lopez ft. DJ Khaled & Cardi B – “Dinero” – Epic Records/Nuyorican
Productions
Luis Fonsi, Demi Lovato – “Échame La Culpa” –
UMLE/Republic/Island/Universal Music Latino
Maluma – “Felices los
4” – Sony Music Entertainment US Latin
Shakira ft. Maluma –
“Chantaje” – Sony Music Entertainment US Latin
BEST DANCE
Avicii ft. Rita Ora – “Lonely Together” – Geffen
Records
Calvin Harris & Dua Lipa – “One Kiss” – Columbia Records
The
Chainsmokers – “Everybody Hates Me” – Disruptor Records/Columbia Records
David
Guetta & Sia – “Flames” – Atlantic Records
Marshmello ft.
Khalid – “Silence” – RCA Records/Ultra Records
Zedd & Liam Payne –
“Get Low (Street Video)” – Interscope Records
BEST ROCK
Fall Out Boy – “Champion” – Island Records
Foo
Fighters – “The Sky Is A Neighborhood” – RCA Records
Imagine
Dragons – “Whatever It Takes” – KIDinaKORNER/Interscope Records
Linkin
Park – “One More Light” – Warner Bros. Records
Panic! At The Disco
– “Say Amen (Saturday Night)” – Fueled By Ramen/Atlantic Records
Thirty
Seconds to Mars – “Walk On Water” – Interscope Records
VIDEO WITH A MESSAGE
Childish Gambino – “This Is America” –
mcDJ / RCA Records
Dej Loaf and Leon Bridges – “Liberated” –
Columbia Records
Drake – ‘God’s Plan” – YMCMB/Cash Money/Republic
Records
Janelle Monáe – “PYNK” – Bad Boy Records/Atlantic Records
Jessie
Reyez – “Gatekeeper” – Island Records
Logic ft. Alessia Cara &
Khalid – “1-800-273-8255” – Def Jam Recordings
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Alessia Cara – “Growing Pains” – Def Jam
Recordings – Cinematography by Pau Castejón
Ariana Grande – “No
Tears Left to Cry” – Republic Records – Cinematography by Scott
Cunningham
The Carters – “APES**T” – Roc Nation/Parkwood
Entertainment – Cinematography by Benoit Debie
Childish Gambino –
“This Is America” – mcDJ / RCA Records – Cinematography by Larkin Seiple
Eminem
ft. Ed Sheeran – “River” – Shady/Aftermath/Interscope Records –
Cinematography by Frank Mobilio & Patrick Meller
Shawn Mendes –
“In My Blood” – Island Records – Cinematography by Jonathan Sela
BEST DIRECTION
The Carters – “APES**T” – Roc Nation/Parkwood
Entertainment – Directed by Ricky Saix
Childish Gambino – “This Is
America” – mcDJ / RCA Records – Directed by Hiro Murai
Drake –
“God's Plan” – YMCMB/Cash Money/Republic Records – Directed by Karena
Evans
Ed Sheeran – “Perfect” – Atlantic Records – Directed by Jason
Koenig
Justin Timberlake ft. Chris Stapleton – “Say Something” –
RCA Records – Directed by Arturo Perez Jr.
Shawn Mendes – “In My
Blood” – Island Records – Directed by Jay Martin
BEST ART DIRECTION
The Carters – “APES**T” – Roc
Nation/Parkwood Entertainment – Art Direction by Jan Houlevigue
Childish
Gambino – “This Is America” – mcDJ / RCA Records – Art Direction by
Jason Kisvarday
J. Cole – “ATM” – Dreamville/Roc Nation/Interscope
Records – Art Direction by Miles Mullin
Janelle Monáe – “Make Me
Feel” – Bad Boy Records/Atlantic Records – Art Direction by Pepper Nguyen
SZA
– “The Weekend” – TDE/RCA Records – Art Direction by SZA and Solange
Taylor
Swift – “Look What You Made Me Do” – Big Machine Records – Art Direction
by Brett Hess
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Ariana Grande – “No Tears Left to Cry” –
Republic Records – Visual Effects by Vidal and Loris Paillier for Buf
Avicii
ft. Rita Ora – “Lonely Together” – Geffen Records – Visual Effects by KPP
Eminem
ft. Beyoncé – “Walk On Water” – Shady/Aftermath/Interscope Records –
Visual Effects Supervisor Rich Lee for Drive Studios
Kendrick Lamar
& SZA – “All The Stars” – TDE/Aftermath/Interscope Records – Visual
Effects by Loris Paillier for BUF Paris
Maroon 5 – “Wait” –
222/Interscope Records – Visual Effects by TIMBER
Taylor Swift –
“Look What You Made Me Do” – Big Machine Records – Visual Effects by
Ingenuity Studios
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
Bruno Mars ft. Cardi B – “Finesse (Remix)”
– Atlantic Records – Choreography by Phil Tayag & Bruno Mars
Camila
Cabello ft. Young Thug – “Havana” – Syco Music/Epic Records –
Choreography by Calvit Hodge and Sara Bivens
The Carters –
“APES**T” – Roc Nation/Parkwood Entertainment – Choreography by Sidi
Larbi Cherkaoui and Jaquel Knight
Childish Gambino – “This Is
America” – mcDJ / RCA Records – Choreography by Sherrie Silver
Dua
Lipa – “IDGAF” – Warner Bros. Records – Choreography by Marion Motin
Justin
Timberlake – “Filthy” – RCA Records – Choreography by Marty Kudelka, AJ
Harpold, Tracy Phillips, and Ivan Koumaev
BEST EDITING
Bruno Mars ft. Cardi B – “Finesse (Remix)” –
Atlantic Records – Editing by Jacquelyn London
The Carters –
“APES**T” – Roc Nation/Parkwood Entertainment – Taylor Ward and Sam
Ostrove
Childish Gambino – “This Is America” – mcDJ / RCA Records –
Editing by Ernie Gilbert
Janelle Monáe – “Make Me Feel” – Bad Boy
Records/Atlantic Records – Editing by Deji Laray
N.E.R.D & Rihanna
– “Lemon” – i am OTHER/Columbia Records – Editing by Taylor Ward
Taylor
Swift – “Look What You Made Me Do” – Big Machine Records – Editing by
Chancler Haynes for Cosmo
Cardi B – 10 Nominations
VIDEO OF THE YEAR – “Finesse
(Remix)” – Atlantic Records
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
SONG OF THE
YEAR – “Finesse (Remix)” – Atlantic Records
BEST NEW ARTIST
BEST
COLLABORATION – “Finesse (Remix)” – Atlantic Records
BEST
COLLABORATION – “Dinero” – Epic Records/Nuyorican Productions
BEST
HIP HOP – “Bartier Cardi” – KSR/Atlantic Records
BEST LATIN –
“Dinero” – Epic Records/Nuyorican Productions
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY –
“Finesse (Remix)” – Atlantic Records
BEST EDITING – “Finesse
(Remix)” – Atlantic Records
The Carters – 8 Nominations
VIDEO OF THE YEAR – “APES**T” –
Roc Nation/Parkwood Entertainment
BEST COLLABORATION – “APES**T” –
Roc Nation/Parkwood Entertainment
BEST HIP HOP – “APES**T” – Roc
Nation/Parkwood Entertainment
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY – “APES**T” – Roc
Nation/Parkwood Entertainment
BEST DIRECTION – “APES**T” – Roc
Nation/Parkwood Entertainment
BEST ART DIRECTION – “APES**T” – Roc
Nation/Parkwood Entertainment
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY – “APES**T” – Roc
Nation/Parkwood Entertainment
BEST EDITING – “APES**T” – Roc
Nation/Parkwood Entertainment
Childish Gambino– 7 Nominations
VIDEO OF THE YEAR – “This Is
America” – mcDJ / RCA Records
VIDEO WITH A MESSAGE – “This Is
America” – mcDJ / RCA Records
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY – “This Is
America” – mcDJ / RCA Records
BEST DIRECTION – “This Is America” –
mcDJ / RCA Records
BEST ART DIRECTION – “This Is America” – mcDJ /
RCA Records
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY – “This Is America” – mcDJ / RCA
Records
BEST EDITING – “This Is America” – mcDJ / RCA Records
Drake – 7 Nominations
VIDEO OF THE YEAR – “God's Plan” –
YMCMB/Cash Money/Republic Records
ARTIST OF THE YEAR – “God's Plan”
– YMCMB/Cash Money/Republic Records
SONG OF THE YEAR – “God's Plan”
– YMCMB/Cash Money/Republic Records
BEST HIP-HOP – “God's Plan” –
YMCMB/Cash Money/Republic Records
BEST HIP-HOP – “Walk It Talk It”
– Quality Control/Capitol Records
VIDEO WITH A MESSAGE – “God's
Plan” – YMCMB/Cash Money/Republic Records
BEST DIRECTION – “God's
Plan” – YMCMB/Cash Money/Republic Records
Bruno Mars – 6 Nominations
VIDEO OF THE YEAR – “Finesse
(Remix)” – Atlantic Records
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
SONG OF THE
YEAR – “Finesse (Remix)” – Atlantic Records
BEST COLLABORATION –
“Finesse (Remix)” – Atlantic Records
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY – “Finesse
(Remix)” – Atlantic Records
BEST EDITING – “Finesse (Remix)” –
Atlantic Records
Ariana Grande – 5 Nominations
VIDEO OF THE YEAR – “No Tears
Left to Cry” – Republic Records
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
BEST POP –
“No Tears Left to Cry” – Republic Records
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY – “No
Tears Left to Cry” – Republic Records
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS – “No
Tears Left to Cry” – Republic Records
Camila Cabello – 5 Nominations
VIDEO OF THE YEAR – “Havana”
– Syco Music/Epic Records
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
SONG OF THE YEAR
– “Havana” – Syco Music/Epic Records
BEST POP – “Havana” – Syco
Music/Epic Records
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY – “Havana” – Syco Music/Epic
Records
Ed Sheeran – 4 Nominations
SONG OF THE YEAR – “Perfect” –
Atlantic Records
BEST POP – “Perfect” – Atlantic Records
BEST
CINEMATOGRAPHY – “River” – Shady/Aftermath/Interscope Records
BEST
DIRECTION – “Perfect” – Atlantic Records
Khalid – 4 Nominations
BEST COLLABORATION – “1-800-273-8255”
– Def Jam Recordings
PUSH ARTIST OF THE YEAR
BEST DANCE –
“Silence” – RCA Records/Ultra Records
VIDEO WITH A MESSAGE –
“1-800-273-8255” – Def Jam Recordings
Young Thug – 4 Nominations
VIDEO OF THE YEAR – “Havana” –
Syco Music/Epic Records
SONG OF THE YEAR – “Havana” – Syco
Music/Epic Records
BEST POP – “Havana” – Syco Music/Epic Records
BEST
CHOREOGRAPHY – “Havana” – Syco Music/Epic Records
Alessia Cara – 3 Nominations
BEST COLLABORATION –
“1-800-273-8255” – Def Jam Recordings
VIDEO WITH A MESSAGE –
“1-800-273-8255” – Def Jam Recordings
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY –
“Growing Pains” – Def Jam Recordings
Dua Lipa – 3 Nominations
SONG OF THE YEAR – “New Rules” –
Warner Bros. Records
BEST DANCE – “One Kiss” – Columbia Records
BEST
CHOREOGRAPHY – “IDGAF” – Warner Bros. Records
Janelle Monáe – 3 Nominations
VIDEO WITH A MESSAGE – “PYNK”
– Bad Boy Records/Atlantic Records
BEST ART DIRECTION – “Make Me
Feel” – Bad Boy Records/Atlantic Records
BEST EDITING – “Make Me
Feel” – Bad Boy Records/Atlantic Records
Shawn Mendes – 3 Nominations
BEST POP – “In My Blood” –
Island Records
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY – “In My Blood” – Island Records
BEST
DIRECTION – “In My Blood” – Island Records
SZA – 3 Nominations
PUSH ARTIST OF THE YEAR
BEST ART
DIRECTION – “The Weekend” – TDE/RCA Records
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS –
“All The Stars” – TDE/Aftermath/Interscope Records
Taylor Swift – 3 Nominations
BEST ART DIRECTION – “Look What
You Made Me Do” – Big Machine Records
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS – “Look
What You Made Me Do” – Big Machine Records
BEST EDITING – “Look
What You Made Me Do” – Big Machine Records
Radio City Music Hall was the home of the inaugural “VMAs” in 1984 and this will mark the 12th time the show has been held there – the most for any “VMAs” location.
Official sponsors of the 2018 “VMAs” include PEPSI®, Swiffer® and Taco Bell®.
Bruce Gillmer and Jesse Ignjatovic are Executive Producers for the 2018 “VMAs.” Melanie Block serves as Executive in Charge of Production. Amani Duncan is Executive in Charge of Music. Wendy Plaut is Executive in Charge of Celebrity Talent.
MTV is the leading youth media brand inspired by music, in nearly 180 countries and 450 million homes around the world, connecting with over 350 million fans across all social media platforms. A unit of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), MTV operations span cable and mobile networks, live events, and the new MTV Studios unit which produces original and reimagined content for SVOD and linear networks based on MTV’s library of over 200+ youth titles and franchises.