Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift lead 2019 MTV VMAs Nominations

Arguably the two reigning pop princesses in music today, Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift, were the most-nominated artists at the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards nominations today with 10 apiece, including Video of the Year, Song of the Year and Pop Video of the Year.

Newcomers Billie Eilish and Lil Nas X were right behind with 9 each. Billie Eilish, with her Lorde-meets-Fiona Apple dark pop represents the other end of the spectrum from Grande and Swift, while Lil Nas X (with Billy Ray Cyrus) just logged in his 16th week at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, tying him with Mariah Carey for the all-time record. His rise from fan to charting artist in 2019 has been meteoric.

The VMAs is also introducing two new categories: Best K-Pop Video with nominees that include BTS and BLACKPINK and Video for Good, in which The Killers and John Legend are nominated.

Music fans can vote on their favorites between now and August 15th at vma.mtv.com in 14 different categories as well as on VMAs’ official Twitter account and Facebook Messenger, as well as through Alexa-enabled devices. 

The MTV VMAs will air live from the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. on August 26th and be hosted by comedian Sebastian Maniscalco.

VIDEO OF THE YEAR
21 Savage ft. J. Cole – “a lot”
Billie Eilish – “bad guy” 
Ariana Grande – “thank u, next” 
Jonas Brothers – “Sucker” 
Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus – “Old Town Road (Remix)” 
Taylor Swift – “You Need to Calm Down” 

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Cardi B 
Billie Eilish 
Ariana Grande 
Halsey 
Jonas Brothers 
Shawn Mendes

SONG OF THE YEAR
Drake – “In My Feelings” 
Ariana Grande – “thank u, next” 
Jonas Brothers – “Sucker” 
Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper – “Shallow” 
Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus – “Old Town Road (Remix)” 
Taylor Swift – “You Need to Calm Down” 

BEST NEW ARTIST, presented by Taco Bell
Ava Max 
Billie Eilish 
H.E.R. 
Lil Nas X 
Lizzo
ROSALÍA 

BEST COLLABORATION
Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus – “Old Town Road (Remix)” 
Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper – “Shallow” 
Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello – “Señorita” 
Taylor Swift ft. Brendon Urie of Panic! At The Disco – “ME!” 
Ed Sheeran & Justin Bieber – “I Don’t Care” 
BTS ft. Halsey – “Boy With Luv”

PUSH ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Bazzi 
CNCO 
Billie Eilish 
H.E.R. 
Lauv 
Lizzo 

BEST POP VIDEO
5 Seconds of Summer – “Easier” 
Cardi B & Bruno Mars – “Please Me” 
Billie Eilish – “bad guy” 
Ariana Grande – “thank u, next”
Khalid – “Talk”
Jonas Brothers – “Sucker” 
Taylor Swift – “You Need to Calm Down” 

BEST HIP HOP VIDEO
2 Chainz ft. Ariana Grande – “Rule the World”
21 Savage ft. J. Cole – “a lot”
Cardi B – “Money” 
DJ Khaled ft. Nipsey Hussle & John Legend – “Higher” 
Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus – “Old Town Road (Remix)” 
Travis Scott ft. Drake – “SICKO MODE” 

BEST R&B VIDEO
Anderson .Paak ft. Smokey Robinson – “Make It Better” 
Childish Gambino – “Feels Like Summer” 
H.E.R. ft. Bryson Tiller – “Could’ve Been” 
Alicia Keys – “Raise A Man”
Ella Mai – “Trip” 
Normani ft. 6lack – “Waves” 

BEST K-POP VIDEO
BTS ft. Halsey – “Boy With Luv”
BLACKPINK – “Kill This Love” 
Monsta X ft. French Montana – “Who Do You Love”
TOMORROW X TOGETHER – “Cat & Dog” 
NCT 127 – “Regular”
EXO – “Tempo” 

BEST LATIN VIDEO
Anuel AA, Karol G – “Secreto” 
Bad Bunny ft. Drake – “MIA” 
benny blanco, Tainy, Selena Gomez, J Balvin – “I Can’t Get Enough” 
Daddy Yankee ft. Snow – “Con Calma” 
Maluma – “Mala Mía” 
ROSALÍA & J Balvin ft. El Guincho – “Con Altura” 

BEST DANCE VIDEO
The Chainsmokers ft. Bebe Rexha – “Call You Mine” 
Clean Bandit ft. Demi Lovato – “Solo” 
DJ Snake ft. Selena Gomez, Ozuna & Cardi B – “Taki Taki” 
David Guetta, Bebe Rexha & J Balvin – “Say My Name” 
Marshmello & Bastille – “Happier”
Silk City & Dua Lipa – “Electricity” 

BEST ROCK VIDEO
The 1975 – “Love It If We Made It”
Fall Out Boy – “Bishops Knife Trick” 
Imagine Dragons – “Natural” 
Lenny Kravitz – “Low” 
Panic! At The Disco – “High Hopes” 
twenty one pilots – “My Blood” 

VIDEO FOR GOOD 
Halsey – “Nightmare” 
The Killers – “Land of the Free” 
Jamie N Commons, Skylar Grey ft. Gallant – “Runaway Train” 
John Legend – “Preach” 
Lil Dicky – “Earth”
Taylor Swift – “You Need to Calm Down” 

BEST DIRECTION
Billie Eilish – “bad guy” 
FKA twigs – “Cellophane” – Young Turks 
Ariana Grande – “thank you, next” 
Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus – “Old Town Road (Remix)” 
LSD ft. Labrinth, Sia, Diplo – “No New Friends”
Taylor Swift – “You Need to Calm Down” 

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Billie Eilish – “when the party’s over”
FKA twigs – “Cellophane” 
Ariana Grande – “God is a Woman” 
DJ Khaled ft. SZA – “Just Us” 
LSD ft. Labrinth, Sia, Diplo – “No New Friends”
Taylor Swift ft. Brendon Urie of Panic! At The Disco – “ME!” 

BEST EDITING
Anderson .Paak ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Tints” 
Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus – “Old Town Road (Remix)”
Billie Eilish – “bad guy” 
Ariana Grande – “7 Rings” 
Solange – “Almeda” 
Taylor Swift – “You Need to Calm Down” 

BEST ART DIRECTION
BTS ft. Halsey – “Boy With Luv”
Ariana Grande – “7 Rings” 
Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus – “Old Town Road (Remix)”
Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello – “Señorita” 
Taylor Swift – “You Need to Calm Down” 
Kanye West and Lil’ Pump ft. Adele Givens – “I Love It” 

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
FKA twigs – “Cellophane” – Young Turks 
ROSALÍA & J Balvin ft. El Guincho – “Con Altura” 
LSD ft. Labrinth, Sia, Diplo – “No New Friends”
Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello – “Señorita” 
Solange – “Almeda” 
BTS ft. Halsey – “Boy With Luv” 

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Anderson .Paak ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Tints” 
Billie Eilish – “hostage” 
Ariana Grande – “thank you, next”
Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello – “Señorita” 
Solange – “Almeda” 
Taylor Swift ft. Brendon Urie of Panic! At The Disco – “ME!”