MTV VMAs, Music News, News

2020 VMAs Preview: What to Expect

The 2020 MTV Video Music Awards air live from various outdoor locations in New York City tonight (Sunday, Aug. 30, 2020) at 8pm ET on MTV, MTV's website, and the network's app.


Host & Presenters:

Keke Palmer is set to host the event that has been adapted due to COVID-19. The details of the production itself have been kept under wraps, but there will be performances around New York City as well as remote performances from Los Angeles. As for presenters, Bella Hadid, Drew Barrymore, Jaden Smith, Joey King, Kelly Clarkson, Machine Gun Kelly, Madison Beer, Nicole Richie, Sofia Carson, Travis Barker, Bebe Rexha, and Anthony Ramos will all help hand out the night's awards.


Performances:

As for performances, Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande will deliver a performance of "Rain On Me" while K-pop group BTS will make their VMAs debut with their new single "Dynamite." Miley Cyrus will perform her new single "Midnight Sky" and there will also be performances by Doja Cat, DaBaby, The Weeknd, Maluma, CNCO, and Black Eyed Peas.


Nominations:

Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande lead the night with nine nominations each. Behind them are Billie Eilish and The Weeknd with six nominations each. Check out all of the nominees below.

Video of the Year

Billie Eilish: "Everything I Wanted" – Darkroom / Interscope Records
Eminem ft. Juice WRLD: "Godzilla" – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records
Future ft. Drake: "Life Is Good" – Epic Records / Freebandz
Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande: "Rain on Me" – Streamline / Interscope Records
Taylor Swift: "The Man" – Republic Records
The Weeknd: "Blinding Lights" – XO / Republic Records

Artist of the Year

DaBaby – SCMG / Interscope Records
Justin Bieber – RBMG / Def Jam
Lady Gaga – Streamline / Interscope Records
Megan Thee Stallion – 300 Entertainment
Post Malone – Republic Records
The Weeknd – XO / Republic Records

PUSH Best New Artist

Doja Cat – Kemosabe / RCA Records
Jack Harlow – Generation Now / Atlantic Records
Lewis Capaldi – Capitol Records
Roddy Ricch – Atlantic Records
Tate McRae – RCA Records
Yungblud – Locomotion Recordings / Geffen Records / Interscope Records

Song of the Year

Billie Eilish: “Everything I Wanted” – Darkroom / Interscope Records
Doja Cat: “Say So” – Kemosabe / RCA Records
Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande: “Rain On Me” – Streamline / Interscope Records
Megan Thee Stallion: “Savage” – 300 Entertainment
Post Malone: “Circles” – Republic Records
Roddy Ricch: “The Box” – Atlantic Records

Best Collaboration

Ariana Grande & Justin Bieber: “Stuck with U” – Republic Records / Def Jam
Black Eyed Peas ft. J Balvin: “Ritmo (Bad Boys For Life)” – Epic Records / We The Best
Ed Sheeran ft. Khalid: “Beautiful People” – Atlantic Records
Future ft. Drake: “Life Is Good” – Epic Records / Freebandz
Karol G ft. Nicki Minaj: “Tusa” – Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande: “Rain On Me” – Streamline / Interscope Records

Best Pop

BTS: “On” – Big Hit Entertainment
Halsey: “You Should Be Sad” – Capitol Records
Jonas Brothers: “What a Man Gotta Do” – Republic Records
Justin Bieber ft. Quavo: “Intentions” – RBMG / Def Jam
Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande: “Rain On Me” – Streamline / Interscope Records
Taylor Swift: “Lover” – Republic Records

Best Hip-Hop

DaBaby: “Bop” – SCMG / Interscope Records
Eminem ft. Juice WRLD: “Godzilla” – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records
Future ft. Drake: “Life Is Good” – Epic Records / Freebandz
Megan Thee Stallion: “Savage” – 300 Entertainment
Roddy Ricch: “The Box” – Atlantic Records
Travis Scott: “Highest in the Room” – Epic Records / Cactus Jack

Best R&B

Alicia Keys: “Underdog” – RCA Records
Chloe x Halle: “Do It” – Parkwood / Columbia Records
H.E.R. ft. YG: “Slide” – MBK / RCA Records
Khalid ft. Summer Walker: “Eleven” – Right Hand Music / RCA Records
Lizzo: “Cuz I Love You” – Atlantic Records
The Weeknd: “Blinding Lights” – XO / Republic Records

Best K-Pop

BTS: "On" – Big Hit Entertainment
EXO: "Obession" – SM Entertainment
(G)I-DLE: "Oh My God" – Republic Records
Monsta X: "Someone's Someone" – Epic Records
Red Velvet: "Psycho" – SM Entertainment
Tomorrow X Together: "9 and Three Quarters (Run Away)" – Big Hit Entertainment

Best Latin

Anuel AA ft. Daddy Yankee, Ozuna, Karol G & J Balvin: “China” – Real Hasta La Muerte
Bad Bunny: “Yo Perreo Sola” – Rimas Entertainment
Black Eyed Peas ft. Ozuna & J. Rey Soul: “Mamacita” – Epic Records
J Balvin: “Amarillo” – Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Karol G ft. Nicki Minaj: “Tusa” – Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Maluma ft. J Balvin: “Qué Pena” – Sony Music Latin

Best Rock

Blink-182: “Happy Days” – Columbia Records
Coldplay: “Orphans” – Atlantic Records
Evanescence: “Wasted On You” – BMG
Fall Out Boy ft. Wyclef Jean: “Dear Future Self (Hands Up)” – Island Records
Green Day: “Oh Yeah!” – Reprise / Warner Records
The Killers: “Caution” – Island Records

Best Alternative

The 1975: “If You're Too Shy (Let Me Know)” – Dirty Hit / Interscope Records
All Time Low: “Some Kind Of Disaster” – Fueled By Ramen
Finneas: “Let’s Fall in Love for the Night” – AWAL
Lana Del Rey: “Doin’ Time” – Interscope Records
Machine Gun Kelly: “Bloody Valentine” – Bad Boy / Interscope Records
Twenty One Pilots: “Level of Concern” – Elektra Music Group / Fueled By Ramen

Best Music Video From Home

5 Seconds of Summer: “Wildflower” – Interscope Records
Ariana Grande & Justin Bieber: “Stuck with U” – Republic Records / Def Jam
Blink-182: “Happy Days” – Columbia Records
Drake: “Toosie Slide” – OVO/Republic Records
John Legend: “Bigger Love” – Columbia Records
Twenty One Pilots: “Level of Concern” – Elektra Music Group / Fueled By Ramen

Best Quarantine Performance

Chloe x Halle: "Do It (from MTV Prom-Athon)"
CNCO: MTV Unplugged At Home
DJ D-Nice: Club MTV Presents: #DanceTogether
John Legend: #TogetherAtHome Concert Series
Lady Gaga: "Smile" from One World: Together At Home
Post Malone: Nirvana Tribute

Video For Good

Anderson .Paak: “Lockdown” – 12 Tone Music Group
Billie Eilish: “All the Good Girls Go to Hell” – Darkroom / Interscope Records
Demi Lovato: “I Love Me” – Island Records
H.E.R.: “I Can’t Breathe” – MBK / RCA Records
Lil Baby: “The Bigger Picture” – Quality Control Music / Motown / Capitol Music Group
Taylor Swift: “The Man” – Republic Records

Best Direction

Billie Eilish: “Xanny” – Darkroom / Interscope Records – Directed by Billie Eilish
Doja Cat: “Say So” – Kemosabe / RCA Records – Directed by Hannah Lux Davis
Dua Lipa: “Don’t Start Now” – Warner Records – Directed by Nabil
Harry Styles: “Adore You” – Columbia Records – Directed by Dave Meyers
Taylor Swift: “The Man” – Republic Records – Directed by Taylor Swift
The Weeknd: “Blinding Lights” – XO / Republic Records – Directed by Anton Tammi

Best Cinematography

5 Seconds of Summer: “Old Me” – Interscope Records – Cinematography by Kieran Fowler
Camila Cabello ft. DaBaby: “My Oh My” – Syco Music / Epic Records – Cinematography by Scott Cunningham
Billie Eilish: “all the good girls go to hell” – Darkroom / Interscope Records – Cinematography by Christopher Probst
Katy Perry: “Harleys In Hawaii” – Capitol Records – Cinematography by Arnau Valls
Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande: “Rain On Me” – Streamline / Interscope Records – Cinematography by Michael Merriman
The Weeknd: “Blinding Lights” – XO / Republic Records – Cinematography by Oliver Millar

Best Art Direction

A$AP Rocky: “Babushka Boi” – Polo Grounds Music / RCA Records – Art Direction by A$AP Rocky & Nadia Lee Cohen
Dua Lipa: “Physical” – Warner Records – Art Direction by Anna Colomer Nogué
Harry Styles: “Adore You” – Columbia Records – Art Direction by Laura Ellis Cricks
Miley Cyrus: “Mother’s Daughter” – RCA Records – Art Direction by Christian Stone
Selena Gomez: “Boyfriend” – Interscope Records – Art Direction by Tatiana Van Sauter
Taylor Swift: “Lover” – Republic Records – Art Direction by Kurt Gefke

Best Visual Effects

Billie Eilish: “All the Good Girls Go to Hell” – Darkroom / Interscope Records – Visual Effects by Drive Studios
Demi Lovato: “I Love Me” – Island Records – Visual Effects by Hoody FX
Dua Lipa: “Physical” – Warner Records – Visual Effects by EIGHTY4 and Mathematic
Harry Styles: “Adore You” – Columbia Records – Visual Effects by Mathematic
Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande: “Rain On Me” – Streamline / Interscope Records – Visual Effects by Ingenuity Studios
Travis Scott: “Highest in the Room” – Epic Records / Cactus Jack – Visual Effects by ARTJAIL, SCISSOR FILMS & FRENDER

Best Choreography

BTS: “On” – Big Hit Entertainment – Choreography by The Lab, Son Sung Deuk
CNCO & Natti Natasha: “Honey Boo” – Sony Music Latin / RCA Records – Choreography by Kyle Hanagami
DaBaby: “BOP” – SCMG / Interscope Records – Choreography by Dani Leigh and Cherry
Dua Lipa: “Physical” – Warner Records – Choreography by Charm La’Donna
Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande: “Rain On Me” – Streamline / Interscope Records – Choreography by Richy Jackson
Normani: “Motivation” – Keep Cool / RCA Records – Choreography by Sean Bankhead

Best Editing

Halsey: “Graveyard” – Capitol Records – Edited by Emilie Aubry, Janne Vartia & Tim Montana
James Blake: “Can’t Believe the Way We Flow” – Republic Records – Edited by Frank Lebon
Lizzo: “Good As Hell” – Atlantic Records – Edited by Russell Santos & Sofia Kerpan
Miley Cyrus: “Mother’s Daughter” – RCA Records – Edited by Alexandre Moors, Nuno Xico
Rosalía: “A Palé” – Columbia Records – Edited by Andre Jones
The Weeknd: “Blinding Lights” – XO / Republic Records – Edited by Janne Vartia & Tim Montana


Pre-Show Information:

The pre-show, hosted by Nessa Diab and Jamila Mustafa, will air at 6:30 pm ET. There will be performances by Chloe x Halle, Jack Harlow, Lewis Capaldi, Tate McRae, and Machine Gun Kelly featuring Travis Barker and blackbear. Special correspondents Kevan Kenney and Travis Mills will also host celebrity interviews and coast-to-coast coverage during the 90-minute event.

The 2020 VMAs will also simulcast across 12 other ViacomCBS networks, including BET, BET Her, CMT, Comedy Central, Logo, MTV2, Nick at Nite, Paramount Network, Pop, TV Land, VH1, and The CW. Non-cable subscribers can watch using various live TV streaming services.


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Article Image: 2020 MTV Video Music Awards logo. (MTV Viacom [Available through Public Domain] via Wikimedia Commons.)

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About Michelle Ruoff

  • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania