The Girls, Gays, And Theys Run The World, VMAs Say
Award show nominations should be taken with a grain of salt.
After all, we all know that awards shows struggle to be truly representative of all the wonderful art that gets produced over the course of a year. There are a lot of valid criticisms about award shows which highlight the need to better address gender, nepotism, classism, and racial and queer exclusions. However, while we’re waiting to reach the point of proper inclusion for all artists, actors and talent, award shows can still be fun to unpack, I think — especially when the nominations land as they have for the 2023 MTV VMAs.
For the first time in MTV VMA history, no men were nominated for the Video of the Year and Artist of the Year awards. Big slay, I absolutely love to see it. This proves that the girls, gays, and they’s run the world.
For the first time ever only female artists have been nominated for Artist of the Year at the VMAs. pic.twitter.com/H8gOBxWXPj
— Pop Base (@PopBase) August 8, 2023
The Artist of the Year award started back in 2017 when MTV combined their gendered categories to address some of the disparities between non-binary artists. This year, Beyoncé, Doja Cat, Karol G, Nicki Minaj, Shakira, and Taylor Swift have been nominated in the category, making VMAs history. The Video of the Year category also saw a domination of women and non-binary artists, with Sam Smith picking up a worthy nomination. Song of the Year and Best New Artist award nominations also heavily feature female artists.
No men were nominated for 'VIDEO OF THE YEAR' at the 2023 #VMAs. pic.twitter.com/kb4qtGbDnO
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) August 8, 2023
Shocking absolutely no one, Taylor Swift is leading the pack with eight nominations this year SZA picked up an impressive six nominations, while Doja Cat, Miley Cyrus, Nicki Minaj, Sam Smith, Kim Petras, and Olivia Rodrigo all have five noms each. My icon and queen Beyoncé managed to snag an Artist of the Year nomination despite not releasing a single music video for Renaissance (I demand a national inquiry). Other notable mentions include my beloved Lana Del Rey picking up two nominations, and Boygenius, Ice Spice, and PinkPantheress receiving their first ever VMA nominations. Ed Sheeran being nominated for Best Pop was a bit of a jumpscare personally but I guess he’s still making music.
There has been some contention with the K-Pop categories, however, after fans were upset over BLACKPINK getting nominated for Best Choreography and the fact that NewJeans didn’t get any nominations.
Tokkis please don’t take the VMAs seriously ? they’re known to be a joke & are quite honestly attendance awards lol not even the two songs that literally made kpop history were nominated so ?♀️
— MEGAN NATION RISE? (@hyeindoll) August 8, 2023
Who Has Been Nominated For The 2023 MTV Music Video Awards?
Here is the full list of nominations for the 2023 MTV VMAs.
Video of the Year
Doja Cat, ‘Attention’
Miley Cyrus, ‘Flowers’
Nicki Minaj, ‘Super Freaky Girl’
Olivia Rodrigo, ‘Vampire’
Sam Smith and Kim Petres, ‘Unholy’
SZA, ‘Kill Bill’
Taylor Swift, ‘Anti-Hero’
Artist of the Year
Beyoncé
Doja Cat
Karol G
Nicki Minaj
Shakira
Taylor Swift
Song of the Year
Miley Cyrus, ‘Flowers’
Olivia Rodrigo, ‘Vampire’
Rema and Selena Gomez, ‘Calm Down’
Sam Smith and Kim Petras, ‘Unholy’
Steve Lacy, ‘Bad Habit’
SZA, ‘Kill Bill’
Taylor Swift, ‘Anti-Hero’
Best New Artist
GloRilla
Ice Spice
Kaliii
Peso Pluma
PinkPantheress
Reneé Rapp
Push Performance of the Year
August 2022: Saucy Santana, ‘Booty’
September 2022: Stephen Sanchez, ‘Until I Found You’
October 2022: JVKE, ‘golden hour’
November 2022: Flo Milli, ‘Conceited’
December 2022: Reneé Rapp, ‘Colorado’
January 2023: Sam Ryder, ‘All The Way Over’
February 2023: Armani White, ‘GOATED’
March 2023: Fletcher, ‘Becky’s So Hot’
April 2023: Tomorrow X Together, ‘Sugar Rush Ride’
May 2023: Ice Spice, ‘Princess Diana’
June 2023: FLO, ‘Losing You’
July 2023: Lauren Spencer Smith, ‘That Part’
Best Collaboration
David Guetta and Bebe Rexha, ‘I’m Good (Blue)’
Post Malone and Doja Cat, ‘I Like You (A Happier Song)’
Diddy ft. Bryson Tiller, Ashanti, Yung Miami, ‘Gotta Move On’
KAROL G & Shakira, ‘TQG’
Metro Boomin ft. The Weeknd, 21 Savage, Diddy, ‘Creepin’ (Remix)’
Rema & Selena Gomez, ‘Calm Down’
Best Pop
Demi Lovato, ‘Swine’
Dua Lipa, ‘Dance the Night’
Ed Sheeran, ‘Eyes Closed’
Miley Cyrus, ‘Flowers’
Olivia Rodrigo, ‘Vampire’
P!NK, ‘Trustfall’
Taylor Swift, ‘Anti-Hero’
Best Hip-Hop
Diddy ft. Bryson Tiller, Ashanti, Yung Miami, ‘Gotta Move On’
DJ Khaled ft. Drake & Lil Baby, ‘STAYING ALIVE’
GloRilla and Cardi B, ‘Tomorrow 2’
Lil Uzi Vert, ‘Just Wanna Rock’
Lil Wayne ft. Swizz Beatz and DMX, ‘Kant Nobody’
Metro Boomin ft. Future, ‘Superhero (Heroes and Villains)’
Nicki Minaj, ‘Super Freaky Girl’
Best Rock
Foo Fighters, ‘The Teacher’
Linkin Park, ‘Lost (Original Version)’
Red Hot Chili Peppers, ‘Tippa My Tongue’
Måneskin, ‘The Loneliest’
Metallica, ‘Lux Æterna’
Muse, ‘You Make Me Feel Like It’s Halloween’
Best Alternative
Blink-182, ‘Edging’
Boygenius, ‘The Film’
Fall Out Boy, ‘Hold Me Like a Grudge’
Lana Del Rey ft. Jon Batiste, ‘Candy Necklace’
Paramore, ‘This Is Why’
Thirty Seconds To Mars, ‘Stuck’
Best Latin
Anitta, ‘Funk Rave’
Bad Bunny, ‘Where She Goes’
Eslabon Armado and Peso Pluma, ‘Ella Baila Sola”
Grupo Frontera and Bad Bunny, ‘un x100to’
Karol G and Shakira, ‘TQG’
Rosalía, ‘Despechá’
Shakira, ‘Acróstico’
Best R&B
Alicia Keys ft. Lucky Daye, ‘Stay’
Chlöe ft. Chris Brown, ‘How Does It Feel’
Metro Boomin ft. The Weeknd, 21 Savage, Diddy, ‘Creepin’ (Remix)’
SZA, ‘Shirt’
Toosii, ‘Favorite Song’
Yung Bleu and Nicki Minaj, ‘Love In The Way’
Best K-Pop
Aespa, ‘Girls’
Blackpink, ‘Pink Venom’
Fiffty Fifty, ‘Cupid’
Seventeen, ‘Super’
Stray Kids, ‘S-Class’
Tomorrow X Together, ‘Sugar Rush Ride’
Best Afrobeats
Ayra Starr, ‘Rush’
Burna Boy, ‘It’s Plenty’
Davido ft. Musa Keys, ‘Unavailable’
Fireboy DML and Asake, ‘Bandana’
Libianca, ‘People’
Rema and Selena Gomez, ‘Calm Down’
Wizkid ft. Ayra Starr, ‘2 Sugar’
Video for Good
Alicia Keys, ‘If I Ain’t Got You (Orchestral)’
Bad Bunny, ‘El Apagón – Aquí Vive Gente’
Demi Lovato, ‘Swine’
Dove Cameron, ‘Breakfast’
Imagine Dragons, ‘Crushed’
Maluma, ‘La Reina’
Best Cinematography
Adele, ‘I Drink Wine’
Ed Sheeran, ‘Eyes Closed’
Janelle Monae, ‘Lipstick Lover’
Kendrick Lamar, ‘Count Me Out’
Miley Cyrus, ‘Flowers’
Olivia Rodrigo, ‘Vampire’
Taylor Swift, ‘Anti-Hero’
Best Direction
Doja Cat, ‘Attention’
Drake, ‘Falling Back’
Kendrick Lamar, ‘Count Me Out’
Megan Thee Stallion, ‘Her’
Sam Smith & Kim Petras, ‘Unholy’
SZA, ‘Kill Bill’
Taylor Swift, ‘Anti-Hero’
Best Art Direction
Boygenius, ‘The Film’
Blackpink, ‘Pink Venom’
Doja Cat, ‘Attention’
Lana Del Rey ft. Jon Batiste, ‘Candy Necklace’
Megan Thee Stallion, ‘Her’
SZA, ‘Shirt’
Best Visual Effects
Fall Out Boy, ‘Love From the Other Side’
Harry Styles, ‘Music for a Sushi Restaurant’
Melanie Martinez, ‘Void’
Nicki Minaj, ‘Super Freaky Girl’
Sam Smith and Kim Petras, ‘Unholy’
Taylor Swift, ‘Anti-Hero’
Best Choreography
Blackpink, ‘Pink Venom’
Dua Lipa, ‘Dance the Night’
Jonas Brothers, ‘Waffle House’
Megan Thee Stallion, ‘Her’
Panic! at the Disco, ‘Middle of a Breakup’
Sam Smith and Kim Petras, ‘Unholy’
Best Editing
Blackpink, ‘Pink Venom’
Kendrick Lamar, ‘Rich Spirit’
Miley Cyrus, ‘River’
Olivia Rodrigo, ‘Vampire’
SZA, ‘Kill Bill’
Taylor Swift, ‘Anti-Hero’
When Is The 2023 VMAs?
The 2023 MTV Music Video Awards will be held on September 12 — most likely September 13 for us — and will be aired across MTV channels globally. It will also be streamed on digital platforms.
The VMAs are known for bringing iconic performances, outlandish outfits, and more than a few shock moments. In my eyes, nothing will ever beat Lady Gaga’s stunning performance of ‘Paparazzi’ or Britney Spears’ mesmerising snake performance of ‘I’m A Slave 4 U’.
With so many incredible acts nominated this year, I’ll be interested to see what unfolds and who takes home the big awards.
Ky is a proud Kamilaroi and Dharug person and writer at Junkee. Follow them on X.
Image credit: Instagram