The MTV VMAs Revealed Two New Quarantine-Era Award Categories
Kevin Mazur, Getty Images
The MTV Music Video Awards are always trying to shake things up to set themselves apart from the pack. In 2017, the VMAs made their nomination categories completely gender-neutral. This year, the MTV VMAs have added two quarantine-era categories to the mix—and, ironically—plan to have a live stage show during the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Added to the ranks of categories like Artist of the Year, Best Collaboration, Best Rock, and Best New Artist will be Best Music Video From Home and Best Quarantine Performance.
These two new categories are meant to acknowledge the talent artists put forth during at-home concerts and TV specials as well as in creating entertaining music videos with limited resources.
Nominees in the MTV VMAs Best Music Video From Home category are:
5 Seconds of Summer: "Wildflower"
Ariana Grande & Justin Bieber: "Stuck With U"
Blink-182: "Happy Days"
Drake: "Toosie Slide"
John Legend: "Bigger Love"
Twenty One Pilots: "Level of Concern"
Who do you want to win Best Music Video from Home? 🏠📹
Double your votes today at https://t.co/Wc2weigWx5 and watch the 2020 #VMAs August 30 on @MTV 🚀 pic.twitter.com/Irr0uXT5GB— Video Music Awards (@vmas) July 31, 2020
Nominees in the MTV VMAs Best Quarantine Performance category are:
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
Let’s give it up for these Best Quarantine Performance nominees 🏠🎤
Vote now at https://t.co/Wc2weiyxoD for double the votes! Tune in to the 2020 #VMAs August 30 on @MTV 👏 pic.twitter.com/BsQxCygeh1— Video Music Awards (@vmas) July 31, 2020
So, essentially, the first awards show to recognize quarantine-era talent—music and performances created while practicing social distancing and self-isolation—is also the first awards show to attempt to bring nominees to a live show to accept their awards and perform.
According to MTV, the 2020 VMAs will air live at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, August 30th from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, “as well as from various iconic locations throughout New York City's five boroughs,” most likely to keep crowds to a minimum at a single location.
Per Pitchfork, the VMAs will have to comply with the COVID-19 social distancing regulations for large events, meaning the show will take place in front of “limited or no audience.” Therefore, the live show will most likely only host the actual nominees in person—that is, if they choose to attend.
Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande have nine nominations each (both make appearances in the new VMA quarantine categories), and Billie Eilish and The Weeknd each have six noms. All four powerhouses face off in the Video of the Year category alongside Future ft. Drake, Eminem ft. Juice WRLD, and Taylor Swift, who racked up five nominations, herself.
I am so grateful and so blessed to have 9 #VMAs nominations this year for my album Chromatica, for Rain On Me, and other performances I’ve given. This is such a difficult time for people all over the world, I really honor how lucky I am to have a day like today. pic.twitter.com/rvNzAnJeMF
— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) July 31, 2020
You can check out the full list of nominees here, and you can vote for your favorites over at MTV.com/VMA/vote until Sunday, August 23rd.
As information about the coronavirus pandemic rapidly changes, HelloGiggles is committed to providing accurate and helpful coverage to our readers. As such, some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. For the latest on COVID-19, we encourage you to use online resources from CDC, WHO, and local public health departments, and visit our coronavirus hub.
