NOMINATIONS REVEALED FOR THE “2025 VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS” (VMAS) ON CBS

Lady Gaga Leads with 12 Nominations; Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Bruno Mars, Kendrick Lamar, ROSÉ, Sabrina Carpenter and The Weeknd Among Top Contenders

33 First-Time Nominees Include Alex Warren, Blake Shelton, Brent Faiyaz, Gigi Perez, KATSEYE, Lainey Wilson, Mac Miller, ROLE MODEL, sombr & The Marías; Best Country and Best Pop Artist Categories Added

Show Airs LIVE from UBS Arena on Sunday, Sept. 7 at 8:00 PM, ET/5:00 PM, PT on CBS and 150+ Countries Globally

Watch Nomination Categories on “CBS Mornings” Here

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/10b137_f014bc4503c3423bb23f95f6365a0db0/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

• CBS and MTV today revealed the highly anticipated list of nominees for the 2025 MTV VMAs, celebrating artists whose cultural impact and work during the last 12 months have revolutionized the music industry and sparked global conversations. The VMAs return LIVE to New York’s UBS Arena airing coast to coastSunday, Sept. 7 at 8:00 PM, ET/5:00 PM, PT on the CBS Television Network, simulcast on MTV and streaming on Paramount+ in the U.S.*

• Fan voting is now open for 19 gender-neutral categories by visiting vote.mtv.com through Sept. 5 at 6:00 PM, ET, except Best New Artist, which remains active into show. 

  • Song of the Year nominees will narrow to six nominees on Aug. 18 at 12:00 PM, ET, with voting continuing until Sept. 5 with the other categories. 

  • Fans get additional votes for Video of the Year presented by Burger King®, Artist of the Year and Best New Artist by commenting under the pinned posts on @VMAs Instagram using the artist-specific hashtags through Aug. 8 at 6:00 PM, ET/3:00 PM, PT. 

  • Get double the votes per category every day during Power Hour presented by BACARDÍ® Rum, running daily 1:00-2:00 PM, ET from Aug. 7 through Sept. 4.

• Additional show details including performers, honorees, social categories and more to be announced at a later date. 

Nomination Highlights:

• Lady Gaga (12) leads this year’s nominees, looking to add to her 18 VMAs wins with nominations in Video of the Year, Artist of the Year, Best Album and more. This marks the third time Gaga has led nominations, previously in 2010 (13 nods) and 2020 (tied with nine nods). 

• Other top contenders include Bruno Mars (11), Kendrick Lamar (10), ROSÉ and Sabrina Carpenter (eight each), Ariana Grande and The Weeknd (seven each), Billie Eilish (six), Charli xcx (five), Bad Bunny, Doechii, Ed Sheeran, Jelly Roll, Miley Cyrus and Tate McRae (four each). 

• The race for most-ever VMAs wins continues between Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, both nominated for Artist of the Year.

• New this year, the addition of Best Country and Best Pop Artist categories. 

• First-time nominees receiving multiple nods include ROSÉ (eight; first solo noms), Alex Warren and Gigi Perez (three each), Damiano David (first solo), Leon Thomas, Lola Young, sombr and The Marías (two each), JENNIE, Jimin and JISOO also earned their first solo nods. Other first-timers include Bailey Zimmerman, Blake Shelton, Brent Faiyaz, Cody Johnson, Dasha, Ella Langley, Freddie Gibbs, Jordan Adetunji, KATSEYE, Lainey Wilson, Lay Bankz, Livingston, Mac Miller, Mark Ambor, Megan Moroney, MOLIY, PARTYNEXTDOOR, ROLE MODEL, Sasha Alex Sloan, Silent Addy, Skillibeng and Zach Hood.

About the 2025 VMAs:

• The VMAs have been a pop culture juggernaut for more than four decades, celebrating the best music videos of the year with history-making performances, iconic tributes, culture-defining moments and the biggest surprises from the world’s biggest superstars.

• Production Credits: The 2025 VMAs are executive produced by Bruce Gillmer, Den of Thieves co-founder Jesse Ignjatovic, and Barb Bialkowski. Gunpowder & Sky CEO Van Toffler is producer. Alicia Portugal is co-executive producer. Jackie Barba is executive in charge of production. Wendy Plaut is executive in charge of celebrity talent. Lisa Lauricella is executive in charge of music talent.

• Sponsors: Official sponsors of the 2025 VMAs include BACARDÍ® Rum, Burger King®, DORITOS®, Downy Unstopables, Dunkin’®, The General Insurance®, PANTENE and Under Armour.

• 2024 Ratings: The 2024 VMAs delivered its biggest multinetwork audience in four years (+25% YOY), ranking as the most social VMAs in show history (66.7 million social interactions).

• Social: Follow @CBS, @MTV and @VMAs on social to keep up with all-things #VMAs.

2025 VMAs NOMINEES:

VIDEO OF THE YEAR, presented by Burger King® 

Ariana Grande - “brighter days ahead” - Republic Records

Billie Eilish - “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” - Darkroom/Interscope Records

Kendrick Lamar - “Not Like Us” - pgLang/Interscope Records

Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars - “Die with a Smile” - Interscope Records

ROSÉ & Bruno Mars - “APT.” - Atlantic Records

Sabrina Carpenter - “Manchild” - Island

The Weeknd, Playboi Carti - “Timeless” - XO/Republic Records

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Bad Bunny - Rimas Entertainment            

Beyoncé - Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records  

Kendrick Lamar - pgLang/Interscope Records      

Lady Gaga - Interscope Records 

Morgan Wallen - Big Loud Records/Mercury Records       

Taylor Swift - Republic Records  

The Weeknd - XO/Republic Records        

SONG OF THE YEAR

Alex Warren - “Ordinary” - Atlantic Records         

Billie Eilish - “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” - Darkroom/Interscope Records         

Doechii - “Anxiety” - Top Dawg Entertainment/Capitol Records   

Ed Sheeran - “Sapphire” - Gingerbread Man Records/Atlantic Records     

Gracie Abrams - “I Love You, I’m Sorry” - Interscope Records        

Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars - “Die with a Smile” - Interscope Records           

Lorde - “What Was That” - Republic Records       

ROSÉ & Bruno Mars - “APT.” - Atlantic Records   

Tate McRae - “Sports Car” - RCA Records              

The Weeknd, Playboi Carti - “Timeless” - XO/Republic Records    

BEST NEW ARTIST

Alex Warren - Atlantic Records

Ella Langley - SAWGOD/Columbia Records

Gigi Perez - Island

Lola Young - Island

sombr - SMB Music/Warner Records

The Marías - Nice Life/Atlantic Records

BEST POP ARTIST **

Ariana Grande - Republic Records

Charli xcx - Atlantic Records

Justin Bieber - Def Jam Recordings

Lorde - Republic Records

Miley Cyrus - Columbia Records

Sabrina Carpenter - Island

Tate McRae - RCA Records

MTV PUSH PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR, presented by BACARDÍ® Rum

Aug. 2024 - Shaboozey - “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” - American Dogwood/EMPIRE           

Sept. 2024 - Ayra Starr - “Last Heartbreak Song” - Mavin Records/Republic Records            

Oct. 2024 - Mark Ambor - “Belong Together” - Hundred Days Records/Virgin Music            

Nov. 2024 - Lay Bankz - “Graveyard” - Artist Partner Group Inc.    

Dec. 2024 - Dasha - “Bye Bye Bye” - Warner Records         

Jan. 2025 - KATSEYE - “Touch” - HYBE/Geffen Records      

Feb. 2025 - Jordan Adetunji - “KEHLANI” - 300 Entertainment       

March 2025 - Leon Thomas - “YES IT IS” - EZMNY Records/Motown Records              

April 2025 - Livingston - “Shadow” - Republic Records       

May 2025 - Damiano David - “Next Summer” - Sony Italy/Arista Records 

June 2025 - Gigi Perez - “Sailor Song” - Island      

July 2025 - ROLE MODEL - “Sally, When the Wine Runs Out” - Interscope Records              

BEST COLLABORATION, presented by Under Armour

Bailey Zimmerman with Luke Combs - “Backup Plan (Stagecoach Official Music Video)” – AtlanticRecords/Warner Music Nashville

Kendrick Lamar & SZA - “luther” - pgLang/Interscope Records

Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars - “Die with a Smile” - Interscope Records

Post Malone ft. Blake Shelton - “Pour Me a Drink” - Mercury Records

ROSÉ & Bruno Mars - “APT.” - Atlantic Records

Selena Gomez, benny blanco - “Sunset Blvd” - SMG Music/Friends Keep Secrets/Interscope Records

BEST POP

Alex Warren - “Ordinary” - Atlantic Records         

Ariana Grande - “brighter days ahead” - Republic Record               

Ed Sheeran - “Sapphire” - Gingerbread Man Records/Atlantic Records     

Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars - “Die with a Smile” - Interscope Records           

ROSÉ & Bruno Mars - “APT.” - Atlantic Records   

Sabrina Carpenter - “Manchild” - Island 

BEST HIP HOP

Doechii - “Anxiety” - Top Dawg Entertainment/Capitol Records   

Drake - “NOKIA” - OVO/Santa Anna/Republic      

Eminem ft. Jelly Roll - “Somebody Save Me” - Shady/Aftermath/Interscope Records          

GloRilla ft. Sexyy Red - “WHATCHU KNO ABOUT ME” - CMG/Interscope Records 

Kendrick Lamar - “Not Like Us” - pgLang/Interscope Records        

LL COOL J ft. Eminem - “Murdergram Deux” - Def Jam Recordings              

Travis Scott - “4X4” - Cactus Jack/Epic Records    

BEST R&B

Chris Brown - “Residuals” - Chris Brown Entertainment/RCA Records        

Leon Thomas & Freddie Gibbs - “MUTT (REMIX)” - EZMNY Records/Motown Records       

Mariah Carey - “Type Dangerous” - gamma.         

PARTYNEXTDOOR - “N o C h i l l” - OVO Sound    

Summer Walker - “Heart of a Woman” - LVRN/Interscope Records           

SZA - “Drive” - Top Dawg Entertainment/RCA Records     

The Weeknd, Playboi Carti - “Timeless” - XO/Republic Records    

BEST ALTERNATIVE

Gigi Perez - “Sailor Song” - Island              

Imagine Dragons - “Wake Up” - KIDinaKorner/Interscope Records             

Lola Young - “Messy” - Island

mgk & Jelly Roll - “Lonely Road” - EST 19XX/Interscope Records  

sombr - “back to friends” - SMB Music/Warner Records 

The Marías - “Back to Me” - Nice Life/Atlantic Records   

BEST ROCK

Coldplay - “ALL MY LOVE” - Atlantic Records

Evanescence - “Afterlife (From the Netflix Series ‘Devil May Cry’)” - Netflix Music              

Green Day - “One Eyed Bastard” - Reprise Records/Warner Records

Lenny Kravitz - “Honey” - ℗© 2024 Roxie Records Inc. under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management GmbH

Linkin Park - “The Emptiness Machine” - Warner Records

twenty one pilots - “The Contract” - Fueled By Ramen                     

BEST LATIN

Bad Bunny - “BAILE INoLVIDABLE” - Rimas Entertainment              

J Balvin - “Rio” - Capitol Records

KAROL G - “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” - Bichota Records/Interscope Records

Peso Pluma - “LA PATRULLA” - Double P Records               

Rauw Alejandro & Romeo Santos - “Khé?” - Sony Music US Latin

Shakira - “Soltera” - Sony Music US Latin

BEST K-POP

aespa - “Whiplash” - SM Entertainment/Virgin Music Group         

JENNIE - “like JENNIE” - OA Entertainment/Columbia Records      

Jimin - “Who” - BIGHIT MUSIC    

JISOO - “earthquake” - Warner Records 

LISA ft. Doja Cat & RAYE - “Born Again” - Lloud Co./RCA Records 

Stray Kids - “Chk Chk Boom” - JYP/IMPERIAL/Republic     

ROSÉ - “toxic till the end” - Atlantic Records        

BEST AFROBEATS

Asake & Travis Scott - “Active” - YBNL Nation/EMPIRE     

Burna Boy ft. Travis Scott - “TaTaTa” - Spaceship/Bad Habit/Atlantic Records        

MOLIY, Silent Addy, Skillibeng & Shenseea - “Shake It to the Max (FLY) (Remix)” - gamma.             

Rema - “Baby (Is It a Crime)” - Mavin Global Holdings Ltd / Jonzing World Entertainment / Interscope Records     

Tems ft. Asake - “Get It Right” - RCA Records/Since '93   

Tyla - “PUSH 2 START” - FAX Records/Epic Records            

Wizkid ft. Brent Faiyaz - “Piece of My Heart” - Starboy/RCA Records

BEST COUNTRY **

Chris Stapleton - “Think I’m in Love with You” - Mercury Nashville            

Cody Johnson with Carrie Underwood - “I’m Gonna Love You” - CoJo Music / Warner Music Nashville       

Jelly Roll - “Liar” - BBR Music Group/BMG/Republic Records         

Lainey Wilson - “4x4xU” - Broken Bow Records  

Megan Moroney - “Am I Okay?” - Columbia Records        

Morgan Wallen - “Smile” - Big Loud Records/Mercury Records

BEST ALBUM

Bad Bunny -DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS - Rimas Entertainment

Kendrick Lamar -GNX - pgLang/Interscope Records          

Lady Gaga -Mayhem - Interscope Records           

Morgan Wallen -I’m the Problem - Big Loud Records/Mercury Records   

Sabrina Carpenter -Short n’ Sweet - Island           

The Weeknd -Hurry Up Tomorrow - XO/Republic Records             

BEST LONG FORM VIDEO 

Ariana Grande - “brighter days ahead” - Republic Records

Bad Bunny - “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS (Short Film)” - Rimas Entertainment              

Damiano David - “FUNNY little STORIES” - Sony Italy/Arista Records          

Mac Miller - “Balloonerism” - Warner Records    

Miley Cyrus - “Something Beautiful” - Columbia Records

The Weeknd - “Hurry Up Tomorrow” - XO/Republic Records        

VIDEO FOR GOOD

Burna Boy - “Higher” - Spaceship/Bad Habit/Atlantic Records                      

Charli xcx - “Guess featuring Billie Eilish” - Atlantic Records

Doechii - “Anxiety” - Top Dawg Entertainment/Capitol Records                   

Eminem ft. Jelly Roll - “Somebody Save Me” - Shady/Aftermath/Interscope Records

Selena Gomez, benny blanco - “Younger and Hotter Than Me” - SMG Music/Friends Keep Secrets/Interscope Records                               

Zach Hood ft. Sasha Alex Sloan - “Sleepwalking” - Arista Records

BEST DIRECTION

Ariana Grande - “brighter days ahead” - Republic Records

Charli xcx - “Guess featuring Billie Eilish” - Atlantic Records

Kendrick Lamar - “Not Like Us” - pgLang/Interscope Records

Lady Gaga - “Abracadabra” - Interscope Records

ROSÉ & Bruno Mars - “APT.” - Atlantic Records

Sabrina Carpenter - “Manchild” - Island

BEST ART DIRECTION

Charli xcx - “Guess featuring Billie Eilish” - Atlantic Records

Kendrick Lamar - “Not Like Us” - pgLang/Interscope Records

Lady Gaga - “Abracadabra” - Interscope Records

Lorde - “Man of the Year” - Republic Records

Miley Cyrus - “End of the World” - Columbia Records

ROSÉ & Bruno Mars - “APT.” - Atlantic Records

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Ariana Grande - “brighter days ahead” - Republic Records

Ed Sheeran - “Sapphire” - Gingerbread Man Records/Atlantic Records

Kendrick Lamar - “Not Like Us” - pgLang/Interscope Records

Lady Gaga - “Abracadabra” - Interscope Records

Miley Cyrus - “Easy Lover” - Columbia Records

Sabrina Carpenter - “Manchild” - Island

BEST EDITING

Charli xcx - “Guess featuring Billie Eilish" - Atlantic Records

Ed Sheeran - “Sapphire” - Gingerbread Man Records/Atlantic Records

Kendrick Lamar - “Not Like Us” - pgLang/Interscope Records

Lady Gaga - “Abracadabra” - Interscope Records

Sabrina Carpenter - “Manchild” - Island

Tate McRae - “Just Keep Watching (from ‘F1® The Movie’)” - Atlantic Records

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY

Doechii - “Anxiety” - Top Dawg Entertainment/Capitol Records

FKA twigs - “Eusexua” - Atlantic Records

Kendrick Lamar - “Not Like Us” - pgLang/Interscope Records

Lady Gaga - “Abracadabra” - Interscope Records

Tyla - “PUSH 2 START” - FAX Records/Epic Records

Zara Larsson - “Pretty Ugly” - Epic Records

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

Ariana Grande - “brighter days ahead” - Republic Records

Lady Gaga - “Abracadabra” - Interscope Records

ROSÉ & Bruno Mars - “APT.” - Atlantic Records

Sabrina Carpenter - “Manchild” - Island

Tate McRae - “Just Keep Watching (from ‘F1® The Movie’)” - Atlantic Records

The Weeknd - “Hurry Up Tomorrow” - XO/Republic Records