All day Wednesday MTV posted videos featuring cutesy paper cutouts announcing the names of each category’s nominees, releasing one video per hour. As a tribute to the network’s origins and true to MTV’s style, the videos are shot with a grainy, old-TV look.
As lovable as the videos are, it’s still a shame that MTV had to post them to two different locations. I might be saying this because I’m partial to Vine, but if Facebook would just allow Vine videos to play within posts the world would be a happier place. Amiright? But because Facebook and Twitter hate each other, and neither will allow the other’s videos to play in their service, MTV had to upload their videos to both Vine and Instagram. Poor social media manager and interns at MTV, doing twice the work because of some silly Facebook-Twitter bickering.
As far as the competitions go, Justin Timberlake and Macklemore and Ryan Lewis lead with six nominations each. Find out who wins on August 25 when MTV airs the VMAs at 9 p.m. EDT. Until then, check out the nominees below.
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 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 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 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
- Twenty One Pilots, “Holding On To You”
- Zedd feat. Foxes, “Clarity”
- Austin Mahone, “What About Love”
- The Weeknd, “Wicked Games”
- Iggy Azalea, “Work”
Best Collaboration
- Justin Timberlake, feat. Jay-Z, “Suit & Tie”
- Pitbull feat. Christina Aguilera, “Feel This Moment”
- Calvin Harris feat. Ellie Goulding, “I Need Your Love”
- Robin Thicke feat. T.I. and Pharrell, “Blurred Lines”
- Pink feat. Nate Ruess, “Just Give Me A Reason”
Best Video With A Social Message
- Kelly Clarkson, “People Like Us”
- Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, “Same Love”
- Snoop Lion, “No Guns Allowed”
- Miguel, “Candles in the Sun”
- Beyoncé, “I Was Here”
Best Rock Video
- Imagine Dragons, “Radioactive”
- Fall Out Boy, “My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up)”
- Mumford & Sons, “I Will Wait”
- Thirty Seconds To Mars, “Up in the Air”
- Vampire Weekend, “Diane Young”
Best Art Direction
- Capital Cities, “Safe and Sound”
- Thirty Seconds To Mars, “Up in the Air”
- Janelle Monae feat. Erykah Badu, “Q.U.E.E.N”
- Lana Del Rey, “National Anthem”
- Alt-J, “Tesselate”
Best Choreography
- Chris Brown, “Fine China”
- Ciara, “Body Party”
- Jennifer Lopez feat. Pitbull, “Live It Up”
- will.i.am feat. Justin Bieber, “#thatPOWER”
- Bruno Mars, “Treasure”
Best Cinematography
- Thirty Seconds To Mars, “Up in the Air”
- Lana Del Rey, “Ride”
- Yeah Yeah Yeahs, “Sacrilege”
- Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton, “Can’t Hold Us”
- A-Trak & Tommy Trash, “Tuna Melt”
Best Direction
- Justin Timberlake feat. Jay-Z, “Suit & Tie”
- Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton, “Can’t Hold Us”
- Yeah Yeah Yeahs, “Sacrilege”
- Fun., “Carry On”
- Drake, “Started From The Bottom”
Best Editing
- Pink feat. Nate Ruess, “Just Give Me A Reason”
- Calvin Harris feat. Florence Welch, “Sweet Nothing”
- Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton, “Can’t Hold Us”
- Justin Timberlake, “Mirrors”
- Miley Cyrus, “We Can’t Stop”
Best Visual Effects
- Capital Cities, “Safe and Sound”
- Duck Sauce, “It’s You”
- Flying Lotus, “Tony Tortures”
- Skrillex feat. the Doors “Breakn’ a Sweat”
- The Weeknd “Wicked Games”
Since it seems MTV has stopped posting Vines and Instagram videos for the day, here’s a view into one of my favorite contenders, “Sacrilege” by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, nominated for Best Cinematography and Best Direction. Check it out!
Personally, seeing Miley Cyrus’s “We Can’t Stop” video nominated not once, but four times makes me want to vomit a little. But ignore me. Who do you think should win at the VMAs? Let us know in the comments!