MTV announced the nominees for this year’s Video Music Awards, and there were clear leaders — and one eyebrow-raising omission.
Drake and Rihanna led the field with five nods apiece. The latter was heavily featured on Drake’s album Take Care, and the two frequently spur speculation about their relationship (most recently when Drake’s and Chris Brown’s posses erupted in a champagne-hurling brawl, reportedly over Rihanna). The two will each compete with Brown in different categories, Rihanna in choreography and Drake for male video.
Katy Perry landed four noms, while Coldplay, M.I.A., Jay-Z and Kanye’s Watch the Throne and newcomer Frank Ocean scored three apiece.
The snub? Lady Gaga, the figurehead of last year’s ceremonies, got zero. She was eligible in two categories and earned much early praise for her extravagant, cinematic art-epics. Is this another sign she’s slipping in the pop milieu?
The always-eventful telecast takes place at Staples Centre on September 6 and will feature live performances by Alicia Keys and UK boy band phenom One Direction. The full nominee list is below:
Video of the Year
Katy Perry, Wide Awake
Gotye, Somebody That I Used To Know
Rihanna, We Found Love
Drake feat. Rihanna, Take Care
M.I.A., Bad Girls
Best New Artist
fun. feat. Janelle Monae, We Are Young
Carly Rae Jepsen, Call Me Maybe
Frank Ocean, Swim Good
One Direction, What Makes You Beautiful
The Wanted, Glad You Came
Best Hip-Hop Video
Childish Gambino, Heartbeat
Drake feat. Lil Wayne, HYFR
Kanye West feat. Pusha T, Big Sean & 2 Chainz, Mercy
The Throne, Paris
Nicki Minaj feat. 2 Chainz, Beez in the Trap
Best Male Video
Justin Bieber, Boyfriend
Frank Ocean, Swim Good
Drake feat. Rihanna, Take Care
Chris Brown, Turn Up the Music
Usher, Climax
Best Female Video
Rihanna, We Found Love
Katy Perry, Part of Me
Beyonce, Love on Top
Nicki Minaj, Starships
Selena Gomez & The Scene, Love You Like a Love Song
Best Pop Video
One Direction, What Makes You Beautiful
fun. feat. Janelle Monae, We Are Young
Rihanna, We Found Love
Justin Bieber, Boyfriend
Maroon 5 feat. Wiz Khalifa, Payphone
Best Rock Video
Coldplay, Paradise
The Black Keys, Lonely Boy
Linkin Park, BURN IT DOWN
Jack White, Sixteen Saltines
Imagine Dragons, It’s Time
Best Electronic Dance Music
Video Duck Sauce, Big Bad Wolf
Calvin Harris, Feel So Close
Skrillex, First of the Year (Equinox)
Martin Solveig, The Night Out
Avicii, Le7els
Best Video With a Message
Demi Lovato, Skyscraper
Rise Against, Ballad of Hollis Brown
Kelly Clarkson, Dark Side
Gym Class Heroes, The Fighter
K’Naan feat. Nelly Furtado, Is Anybody Out There?
Lil Wayne, How to Love
Best Art Direction
Katy Perry, Wide Awake
Drake feat. Rihanna, Take Care
Lana Del Rey, Born to Die
Regina Spektor, All the Rowboats
Of Monsters & Men, Little Talks
Best Choreography
Chris Brown, Turn Up the Music
Rihanna, Where Have You Been
Beyonce, Countdown
Avicii, Le7els
Jennifer Lopez feat. Pitbull, Dance Again
Best Cinematography
M.I.A., Bad Girls
Adele, Someone Like You
Drake feat. Rihanna, Take Care
Coldplay feat. Rihanna, Princess of China
Lana Del Rey, Born to Die
Best Direction
M.I.A., Bad Girls
Duck Sauce, Big Bad Wolf
Coldplay feat. Rihanna, Princess of China
Frank Ocean, Swim Good
The Throne, Otis
Best Editing
Beyonce, Countdown
A$AP Rocky, Goldie
Gotye, Somebody That I Used to Know
The Throne, Paris
Kanye West feat. Pusha T, Big Sean and 2 Chainz, Mercy
Best Visual Effects
Katy Perry, Wide Awake
Rihanna, Where Have You Been
David Guetta feat. Nicki Minaj, Turn Me On
Linkin Park, Burn It Down
