NOMINATIONS REVEALED FOR THE “2025 VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS” (VMAS) ON CBS
- Jacob Lee
- Aug 6
- 9 min read
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
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
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