Despite having become the teen parenting channel, MTV is still pressing on with its annual Video Music Awards, celebrating the medium that made the network famous but has since taken up residency on YouTube. For the first time ever, the VMAs will take place in Brooklyn, NY at the Barclays Center because: Jay-Z. Probably.
In the spirit of its venue change, the VMAs have received something of a Brooklyn makeover. Most notably is the redesign of the infamous Moonman statue by Brooklyn graffiti artist Kaws, who has turned it into one of his signature “Companion” figurines, which is basically like a hacked Mickey Mouse. This is apparently a one-year-only deal.
Below is the full list of nominations, with Macklemore & Ryan Lewis tied with Justin Timberlake for the most noms, with six apiece. It’s not a great year for the ladies. Only one female artist (Taylor Swift) is nominated for Video of the Year, and women were completely shut out of the Best Hip Hop Video and Best Rock Video categories.
Video of the Year
» Justin Timberlake, “Mirrors”
» Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Wanz, “Thrift Shop”
» Bruno Mars, “Locked Out of Heaven”
» Robin Thicke feat. T.I. and Pharrell, “Blurred Lines”
» Taylor Swift, “I Knew You Were Trouble”
Best Hip Hop Video
» Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton, “Can’t Hold Us”
» Drake, “Started From The Bottom”
» Kendrick Lamar, “Swimming Pools”
» A$AP Rocky feat. Drake, 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar, “F—kin’ Problems”
» J. Cole feat. Miguel, “Power Trip”
Best Male Video
» Justin Timberlake, “Mirrors”
» Robin Thicke feat. T.I. and Pharrell, “Blurred Lines”
» Bruno Mars, “Locked Out of Heaven”
» Ed Sheeran, “Lego House”
» Kendrick Lamar, “Swimming Pools”
Best Female Video
» Rihanna feat. Mikky Ekko, “Stay”
» Taylor Swift, “I Knew You Were Trouble”
» Miley Cyrus, “We Can’t Stop”
» Pink feat. Nate Ruess, “Just Give Me A Reason”
» Demi Lovato, “Heart Attack”
Best Pop Video
» Bruno Mars, “Locked Out of Heaven”
» Justin Timberlake, “Mirrors”
» Fun., “Carry On”
» Miley Cyrus, “We Can’t Stop”
» Selena Gomez, “Come and Get It”
Artist To Watch, Presented by Taco Bell
» Twenty One Pilots, “Holding On To You”
» Zedd feat. Foxes, “Clarity”
» Austin Mahone, “What About Love”
» The Weeknd, “Wicked Games”
» Iggy Azalea, “Work”