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Justin Bieber, Megan Thee Stallion, and Billie Eilish Dominate 2021 MTV VMA Nominations

MTV VMAs 2021 Nominations Revealed: Justin Bieber Leads the Pack, Olivia Rodrigo, BTS, Lil Nas X Among Top Contenders

The anticipation for one of music’s most electrifying nights is building as the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) have officially unveiled their highly anticipated list of 2021 nominees. Set to take over the iconic Barclays Center on September 12, the VMAs promise a spectacular celebration of the artists and videos that have not only dominated the charts but also ignited global conversations and shaped cultural landscapes over the past year. This year’s nominations reflect a vibrant mix of established superstars and groundbreaking new talents, all vying for the coveted Moon Person trophy.

Leading the charge with an impressive seven nominations is global pop sensation Justin Bieber, whose recent musical endeavors have resonated deeply with fans worldwide. Close behind, the powerhouse rapper Megan Thee Stallion secured six nominations, including a prestigious nod for Artist of the Year, alongside multiple recognitions for her chart-topping collaboration “WAP” with Cardi B. The fierce competition for this year’s awards truly highlights the diverse and dynamic nature of contemporary music.

A constellation of other music luminaries also made a significant mark, with Billie Eilish, BTS, Doja Cat, Drake, Lil Nas X, and breakout star Olivia Rodrigo each earning five nominations. Olivia Rodrigo, in particular, continues her meteoric rise, securing a nomination for Best New Artist – a testament to her undeniable impact in a short span of time. This hotly contested category also features other promising talents such as 24kGoldn, Giveon, Polo G, Saweetie (who recently shared an exclusive interview with HollywoodLife), and The Kid LAROI, whose collaboration currently holds the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100.

The MTV VMAs stand as a critical barometer for popular culture and musical innovation, recognizing not just songs, but the visual artistry and storytelling that accompany them. From groundbreaking music videos that push creative boundaries to performances that become instant pop culture moments, the VMAs capture the essence of what makes music truly impactful. Fans play an integral role in this celebration, with voting now open across 14 gender-neutral categories, empowering them to champion their favorite artists and videos.

The voting window for categories like “Video of the Year,” “Artist of the Year,” and “Best Collaboration” is open until Friday, September 3, 2021, at vma.mtv.com. However, the race for “Best New Artist” will keep fans on the edge of their seats, as voting in this category remains active right up until the live broadcast on September 12. Enthusiasts eagerly await further announcements regarding the highly anticipated performers who will grace the stage this year. Last year’s show saw artists performing across New York City’s five boroughs, with iconic moments like Lady Gaga’s memorable mask parade, setting a high bar for this year’s spectacle. The question on everyone’s mind remains: who will deliver the most talked-about performance of the 2021 VMAs?

Megan Thee Stallion performs on day three of the Lollapalooza Music Festival
Megan Thee Stallion performs on day three of the Lollapalooza Music Festival ( Amy Harris/Invision/AP/Shutterstock)

Full List of 2021 MTV VMA Nominees

The breadth of talent recognized this year underscores the vibrant health and innovative spirit of the music industry. From global anthems to genre-defying collaborations, each category showcases the best of what artists have delivered over the past twelve months. Below is the comprehensive list of nominees across all announced categories:

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

  • Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion – “WAP” – Atlantic Records
  • DJ Khaled ft. Drake – “POPSTAR” (Starring Justin Bieber) – OVO / We The Best / Epic Records
  • Doja Cat ft. SZA – “Kiss Me More” – Kemosabe Records / RCA Records
  • Ed Sheeran – “Bad Habits” – Atlantic Records
  • Lil Nas X – “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)” – Columbia Records
  • The Weeknd – “Save Your Tears” – XO / Republic Records

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

  • Ariana Grande – Republic Records
  • Doja Cat – Kemosabe Records / RCA Records
  • Justin Bieber – Def Jam
  • Megan Thee Stallion – 300 Entertainment
  • Olivia Rodrigo – Geffen Records
  • Taylor Swift – Republic Records

SONG OF THE YEAR

  • 24kGoldn ft. iann dior – “Mood” – RECORDS LLC / Columbia Records
  • Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic – “Leave The Door Open” – Aftermath Entertainment / Atlantic Records
  • BTS – “Dynamite” – BIGHIT MUSIC
  • Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion – “WAP” – Atlantic Records
  • Dua Lipa – “Levitating” – Warner Records
  • Olivia Rodrigo – “drivers license” – Geffen Records

BEST NEW ARTIST, Presented by Facebook

  • 24kGoldn – RECORDS LLC / Columbia Records
  • Giveon – Epic Records / Not So Fast
  • The Kid LAROI – Columbia Records
  • Olivia Rodrigo – Geffen Records
  • Polo G – Columbia Records
  • Saweetie – Warner Records

PUSH PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR

  • September 2020: Wallows – “Are You Bored Yet?” – Columbia Records
  • October 2020: Ashnikko – “Daisy” – Warner Records
  • November 2020: SAINt JHN – “Gorgeous” – Godd Complexx / HITCO
  • December 2020: 24kGoldn – “Coco” – RECORDS LLC / Columbia Records
  • January 2021: JC Stewart – “Break My Heart” – Elektra Music Group
  • February 2021: Latto – “Sex Lies” – RCA Records
  • March 2021: Madison Beer – “Selfish” – Epic Records / Sing It Loud
  • April 2021: The Kid LAROI – “WITHOUT YOU” – Columbia Records
  • May 2021: Olivia Rodrigo – “drivers license” – Geffen Records
  • June 2021: girl in red – “Serotonin” – world in red / AWAL
  • July 2021: Fousheé – “my slime” – RCA Records
  • August 2021: jxdn – “Think About Me” – DTA Records / Elektra Music Group

BEST COLLABORATION

  • 24kGoldn ft. iann dior – “Mood” – RECORDS LLC / Columbia Records
  • Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion – “WAP” – Atlantic Records
  • Doja Cat ft. SZA – “Kiss Me More” – Kemosabe Records / RCA Records
  • Drake ft. Lil Durk – “Laugh Now Cry Later” – OVO / Republic Records
  • Justin Bieber ft. Daniel Caesar, Giveon – “Peaches” – Def Jam
  • Miley Cyrus ft. Dua Lipa – “Prisoner” – RCA Records
Billie Eilish at the 2019 iHeartRadio Music Festival
Billie Eilish at the 2019 iHeartRadio Music Festival (imageSPACE/Shutterstock)

BEST POP

  • Ariana Grande – “positions” – Republic Records
  • Billie Eilish – “Therefore I Am” – Darkroom / Interscope Records
  • BTS – “Butter” – BIGHIT MUSIC
  • Harry Styles – “Treat People With Kindness” – Columbia Records
  • Justin Bieber ft. Daniel Caesar, Giveon – “Peaches” – Def Jam
  • Olivia Rodrigo – “good 4 u” – Geffen Records
  • Shawn Mendes – “Wonder” – Island Records
  • Taylor Swift – “willow” – Republic Records

BEST HIP-HOP

  • Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion – “WAP” – Atlantic Records
  • Drake ft. Lil Durk – “Laugh Now Cry Later” – OVO / Republic Records
  • Lil Baby ft. Megan Thee Stallion – “On Me (remix)” – Quality Control / Motown
  • Moneybagg Yo – “Said Sum” – N-Less Entertainment / Interscope Records
  • Polo G – “RAPSTAR” – Columbia Records
  • Travis Scott ft. Young Thug & M.I.A. – “FRANCHISE” – Cactus Jack / Epic Records

BEST ROCK

  • Evanescence – “Use My Voice” – BMG
  • Foo Fighters – “Shame Shame” – Roswell Records / RCA Records
  • John Mayer – “Last Train Home” – Columbia Records
  • The Killers – “My Own Soul’s Warning” – Island
  • Kings Of Leon – “The Bandit” – RCA Records
  • Lenny Kravitz – “Raise Vibration” – Roxie Records / BMG

BEST ALTERNATIVE

  • Bleachers – “Stop Making This Hurt” – RCA Records
  • Glass Animals – “Heat Waves” – Republic Records
  • Imagine Dragons – “Follow You” – KIDinaKORNER / Interscope Records
  • Machine Gun Kelly ft. blackbear – “my ex’s best friend” – Bad Boy / Interscope Records
  • twenty one pilots – “Shy Away” – Fueled By Ramen
  • WILLOW ft. Travis Barker – “t r a n s p a r e n t s o u l” – MSFTSMusic / Roc Nation

BEST LATIN

  • Bad Bunny x Jhay Cortez – “Dákiti” – The Orchard
  • Billie Eilish & ROSALÍA – “Lo Vas A Olvidar” – Darkroom / Interscope Records
  • Black Eyed Peas and Shakira – “GIRL LIKE ME” – Epic Records
  • J. Balvin, Dua Lipa, Bad Bunny, Tainy – “UN DIA (ONE DAY)” – Universal Music Latino / NEON16
  • Karol G – “Bichota” – Universal Music Latino
  • Maluma – “Hawái” – Sony Music US Latin

BEST R&B

  • Beyoncé, Blue Ivy, SAINt JHN, WizKid – “BROWN SKIN GIRL” – Parkwood Entertainment / Columbia Records
  • Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic – “Leave The Door Open” – Aftermath Entertainment / Atlantic Records
  • Chris Brown and Young Thug – “Go Crazy” – Chris Brown Entertainment/RCA Records
  • Giveon – “HEARTBREAK ANNIVERSARY” – Epic Records / Not So Fast
  • H.E.R. ft. Chris Brown – “Come Through” – MBK Entertainment / RCA Records
  • SZA – “Good Days” – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records

BEST K-POP

  • (G)I-DLE – “DUMDi DUMDi” – Republic Records
  • BLACKPINK and Selena Gomez – “Ice Cream” – YG Entertainment / Interscope Records
  • BTS – “Butter” – BIGHIT MUSIC
  • Monsta X – “Gambler” – Starship Entertainment
  • SEVENTEEN – “Ready to love” – Pledis Entertainment
  • TWICE – “Alcohol-Free” – JYP Entertainment Company
Justin Bieber and Shawn Mendes at the 2020 American Music Awards
Justin Bieber and Shawn Mendes at the 2020 American Music Awards (ABC/Shutterstock)

VIDEO FOR GOOD

  • Billie Eilish – “Your Power” – Darkroom / Interscope Records
  • Demi Lovato – “Dancing With The Devil” – Island
  • H.E.R. – “Fight For You” – MBK Entertainment / RCA Records
  • Kane Brown – “Worldwide Beautiful” – Sony Music Nashville / RCA Records
  • Lil Nas X – “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)” – Columbia Records
  • Pharrell Williams ft. JAY-Z – “Entrepreneur” – Columbia Records

BEST DIRECTION

  • Billie Eilish – “Your Power” – Darkroom / Interscope Records – Directed by: Billie Eilish
  • DJ Khaled ft. Drake – “POPSTAR (Starring Justin Bieber)” – OVO / We The Best / Epic Records – Directed by: Julien Christian Lutz aka Director X
  • Lil Nas X – “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)” – Columbia Records – Directed by: Lil Nas X and Tanu Muino
  • Taylor Swift – “willow” – Republic Records – Directed by: Taylor Swift
  • Travis Scott ft. Young Thug & M.I.A – “Franchise” – Cactus Jack / Epic Records – Directed by: Travis Scott
  • Tyler, The Creator – “LUMBERJACK” – Columbia Records – Directed by: Wolf Haley

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

  • Beyoncé, Blue Ivy, SAINt JHN, WizKid – “BROWN SKIN GIRL” – Parkwood Entertainment / Columbia Records – Cinematography by: Benoit Soler, Malik H. Sayeed, MOHAMMAED ATTA AHMED, Santiago Gonzalez, Ryan Helfant
  • Billie Eilish – “Therefore I Am” – Darkroom / Interscope Records – Cinematography by: Rob Witt
  • Foo Fighters – “Shame Shame” – Roswell Records / RCA Records – Cinematography by: Santiago Gonzalez
  • Justin Bieber ft. Chance The Rapper – “Holy” – RBMG/Def Jam – Cinematography by: Elias Talbot
  • Lady Gaga – “911” – Interscope Records – Cinematography by: Jeff Cronenweth
  • Lorde – “Solar Power” – LAVA/Republic Records – Cinematography by: Andrew Stroud

BEST ART DIRECTION

  • Beyoncé, Shatta Wale, Major Lazer – “ALREADY” – Parkwood Entertainment / Columbia Records – Art Direction by: Susan Linns, Gerard Santos
  • Ed Sheeran – “Bad Habits” – Atlantic Records – Art Direction by: Alison Dominitz
  • Lady Gaga – “911” – Interscope Records – Art Direction by: Tom Foden, Peter Andrus
  • Lil Nas X – “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)” – Columbia Records – Art Direction by: John Richoux
  • Saweetie ft. Doja Cat – “Best Friend” – Warner Records – Art Direction by: Art Haynes
  • Taylor Swift – “willow” – Republic Records – Art Direction by: Ethan Tobman, Regina Fernandez

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

  • Bella Poarch – “Build A Bitch” – Warner Records – Visual Effects by: Andrew Donoho, Denhov Visuals, Denis Strahhov, Rein Jakobson, Vahur Kuusk, Tatjana Pavlik, Yekaterina Vetrova
  • Coldplay – “Higher Power” – Atlantic Records – Visual Effects by: Mathematic
  • Doja Cat & The Weeknd – “You Right” – Kemosabe Records / RCA Records – Visual Effects by: La Pac, Anthony Lestremau, Julien Missaire, Petr Shkolniy, Alexi Bailla, Micha Sher, Antoine Hache, Mikros MPC, Nicolas Huget, Guillaume Ho Tsong Fang, Benjamin Lenfant, Stephane Pivron, MPC Bangalore, Chanakya Chander, Raju Ganesh, David Rouxel
  • Glass Animals – “Tangerine” – Republic Records – Visual Effects by: Ronan Fourreau
  • Lil Nas X – “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)” – Columbia Records – Visual Effects by: Mathematic
  • P!NK – “All I Know So Far” – RCA Records – Visual Effects by: Dave Meyers, Freenjoy Inc

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY

  • Ariana Grande – “34+35” – Republic Records – Choreography by: Brian Nicholson & Scott Nicholson
  • BTS – “Butter” – BIGHIT MUSIC – Choreography by: SON SUNG DEUK With BHM PERFORMANCE DIRECTING TEAM
  • Ed Sheeran – “Bad Habits” – Atlantic Records – Choreography by: Natricia Bernard
  • Foo Fighters – “Shame Shame” – Roswell Records / RCA Records – Choreography by: Nina McNeely
  • Harry Styles – “Treat People With Kindness” – Columbia Records – Choreography by: Paul Roberts
  • Marshmello & Halsey – “Be Kind” – Astralwerks / Capitol Records – Choreography by: Dani Vitale

BEST EDITING

  • Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic – “Leave The Door Open” – Aftermath Entertainment/Atlantic Records – Editing by: Troy Charbonnet
  • BTS – “Butter” – BIGHIT MUSIC – Editing by: Yong Seok Choi from Lumpens
  • Drake – “What’s Next” – OVO/Republic Records – Editing by: Noah Kendal
  • Harry Styles – “Treat People With Kindness” – Columbia Records – Editing by: Claudia Wass
  • Justin Bieber ft. Daniel Caesar, Giveon – “Peaches” – Def Jam – Editing by: Mark Mayr, Vinnie Hobbs
  • Miley Cyrus ft. Dua Lipa – “Prisoner” – RCA Records – Editing by: AJ Rickert-Epstein

The MTV VMAs are poised to be a significant event, marking one of the first fan-filled awards shows in New York City since its reopening. Ensuring the health and safety of artists, fans, staff, and partners remains the paramount concern. MTV and Barclays Center are diligently collaborating with state and local officials to implement robust best practices, aiming to safely unite music enthusiasts from across the globe for an unforgettable night of music and celebration. Stay tuned for more updates as the countdown to the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards continues!