The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards nominees include African artists Asake, Burna Boy, Tyla, and MOLIY, with Lady Gaga leading nominations ahead of the ceremony on September 8.
The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) nominees have been announced. The ceremony will be held at New York’s UBS Arena on September 8 and broadcast live on MTV.
Several African artists received nominations, including Asake, Tyla, Burna Boy, and MOLIY. Asake is nominated for ‘Active’ with Travis Scott and ‘Get It Right’ with Tems. Burna Boy received nominations for ‘TaTaTa’ featuring Travis Scott in Best Afrobeats and ‘Higher’ in Video for Good. Tyla is nominated in both Best Afrobeats and Best Choreography for ‘PUSH 2 START’. MOLIY, along with Silent Addy, Skillibeng, and Shenseea, are nominated in the Best Afrobeats category for ‘Shake It To The Max (FLY) (Remix)’. Rema is nominated for ‘Baby (Is It A Crime)’ and Wizkid for ‘Piece Of My Heart’ featuring Brent Faiyaz.
Lady Gaga leads with 12 nominations, followed by Bruno Mars (11) and Kendrick Lamar (10). Beyoncé and Taylor Swift are nominated for Artist of the Year.
Voting is open until September 5 at 6 PM ET for 19 categories. The Song of the Year category will be narrowed down on August 18, with voting continuing until September 5. Fans can also vote by commenting on Instagram posts using artist-specific hashtags until August 8 at 1 AM CAT. A “Power Hour” will allow double votes from August 7 to September 4 between 1 and 2 PM ET.
Nominees include:
Best Afrobeats:
Asake & Travis Scott – ‘Active’, Burna Boy ft. Travis Scott – ‘TaTaTa’, MOLIY, Silent Addy, Skillibeng & Shenseea – ‘Shake It To The Max (FLY) (Remix)’, Rema – ‘Baby (Is It A Crime)’, Tems ft. Asake – ‘Get It Right’, Tyla – ‘PUSH 2 START’, Wizkid ft. Brent Faiyaz – ‘Piece Of My Heart’
Video of the Year:
Ariana Grande – ‘brighter days ahead’, Billie Eilish – ‘BIRDS OF A FEATHER’, Kendrick Lamar – ‘Not Like Us’, Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – ‘Die With A Smile’, ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – ‘APT.’, Sabrina Carpenter – ‘Manchild’, The Weeknd, Playboi Carti – ‘Timeless’
Artist of the Year:
Bad Bunny, Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Morgan Wallen, Taylor Swift, The Weeknd
Song of the Year:
Alex Warren – ‘Ordinary’, Billie Eilish – ‘BIRDS OF A FEATHER’, Doechii – ‘Anxiety’, Ed Sheeran – ‘Sapphire’, Gracie Abrams – ‘I Love You, I’m Sorry’, Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – ‘Die With A Smile’, Lorde – ‘What Was That’, ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – ‘APT.’, Tate McRae – ‘Sports Car’, The Weeknd, Playboi Carti – ‘Timeless’
Best New Artist:
Alex Warren, Ella Langley, Gigi Perez, Lola Young, sombr, The Marías
Best Hip Hop:
Doechii – ‘Anxiety’, Drake – ‘NOKIA’, Eminem ft. Jelly Roll – ‘Somebody Save Me’, GloRilla ft. Sexyy Red – ‘WHATCHU KNO ABOUT ME’, Kendrick Lamar – ‘Not Like Us’, LL COOL J ft. Eminem – ‘Murdergram Deux’, Travis Scott – ‘4X4’
Best R&B:
Chris Brown – ‘Residuals’, Leon Thomas & Freddie Gibbs – ‘MUTT (REMIX)’, Mariah Carey – ‘Type Dangerous’, PARTYNEXTDOOR – ‘N o C h i l l’, Summer Walker – ‘Heart Of A Woman’, SZA – ‘Drive’, The Weeknd, Playboi Carti – ‘Timeless’
Best Album:
Bad Bunny – ‘DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS’, Kendrick Lamar – ‘GNX’, Lady Gaga – Mayhem’, Morgan Wallen – ‘I’m The Problem’, Sabrina Carpenter – ‘Short n’ Sweet’, The Weeknd – ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’
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