The voting for the Video Music Awards (VMAs) is upon us. Who will win? That’s up to you. MTV.com visitors have the ability to vote once per day up. There are some notable names present in the nominees and some notable names missing. The VMA categories are gender-neutrals now, a change that occurred in 2017.
The Nominations: Cardi B is on Top but The Carters are Coming Strong
Cardi B fever continues as she’s heating up the VMAs with nominations for categories like Best New Artist, Artist of the Year. If she wins, she’ll be having one hell of a year especially since she just gave birth to her first child. All in, all she’s secured 10 nominations for 2018. Not to be outdone, music royalty Beyonce and Jay-Z are also in the ring with 8 nominations as The Carters for “Apeshit.” The Carters are nominated for Video of the Year, Best Collaboration, Best Hip Hop and more. Ariana Grande can be in the news for something other than her lightning-quick engagement to comedian Pete Davidson, as she’s secured nominations for Artist of the Year and Best Pop.
Childish Gambino, the alter-ego of actor Donald Glover, made a big splash with “This is America” and he received 7 nominations, making him tied with Drake for 2018. Among them are Video of the Year and Video with a Social Message, an award introduced in 2013. Shockingly, Childish Gambino didn’t receive a nomination for Artist of the Year. Drake was nominated for “God’s Plan” with Video of the Year, Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Hip Hop and others. Camila Cabello fared well in nominations, receiving Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Video of the Year, Best Pop and Best Choreography.
Who Got Snubbed
Taylor Swift only had one nomination: Best Art Direction for “Look What You Made Me Do.” As the songstress has switched up her look and approach to music, it was a shock for her fans who thought that she was sure to receive a boatload of nominations. Other shocks are Janelle Monae and Christina Aguilera. Aguilera’s powerhouse ballad with Demi Lovato, “Fall in Line,” a feminist anthem wasn’t nominated, not even for Video with a Social Message. Demi did receive a nomination for the song “Sorry Not Sorry” with Best Pop and her collaboration with Luis Fonsi received a nomination.
Independent artists are barely a blip on the radar at the VMAs, however, a category called Push Artist of the Year recognizes new artists that aren’t necessarily the Cardi B’s of the industry. Artists listed there include Sigrid (who made it on our liSZA, Grace Vanderwaal, and Hayley Kiyoko. The Push category includes a longer list of acts than the other categories. If you aren’t a fan of traditional mainstream radio plays, then be sure you go through the full list of nominees to find some favorite new acts.
For the full list of nominations and to vote, visit MTV.com. The MTV VMAs will air August 20, 2018 at 9/8 central from Radio City Music Hall in New York City, making it the 12th time the show has been hosted at the venue.