2024 VMAs Names Nominees in Social Categories, Including Most Iconic Performance in VMA History
Written by djfrosty on August 30, 2024
What would you say is the most iconic performance in the history of the VMAs? Was it Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” from the very first show in 1984, where she wore a combination bustier/wedding gown and rolled around on the floor?
Or Madonna’s performance of that same song and her then-current release “Hollywood” with Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and a guest rap by Missy Elliott from the 2003 show? The performance caused a stir (nothing new for Madonna) thanks to its gender role-reversal and same-sex smooch.
Or would you go with Beyoncé’s “Love on Top” from 2011 in which she patted her baby bump to celebrate her pregnancy? Or Katy Perry’s performance of “Roar” live from Empire-Fulton Ferry Park in Brooklyn, which closed the 2013 show? The VMAs’ list of seven contenders included two performances from the 2009 show – Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi” (in which she appeared to bleed out onstage; it was just an effect) and Taylor Swift’s “You Belong With Me.”
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The final contender – the only one by a man – is Eminem’s performance of “The Real Slim Shady” and “The Way I Am” from the 2000 show. Eminem began the performance outside Radio City Music Hall and continued as he strode into the theater followed by a hundred Eminem lookalikes.
The 2024 VMAs also announced nominees in three other social categories: Song of Summer, Best Group and Best Trending Video. All voting will be hosted on @MTV Instagram Story.
MTV also announced a “bonus week” of voting across general categories, now closing Sept. 6 at 6 p.m. ET. Fans vote for their favorites across 15 gender-neutral categories, including video of the year, by visiting MTV’s website. Voting for best new artist will remain active into show.
With nominations in these four social categories added in, Taylor Swift maintains her lead as the year’s top nominee (12), followed closely by Post Malone (11), Eminem (eight), Ariana Grande, Megan Thee Stallion, Sabrina Carpenter and SZA (seven each); Benson Boone, Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan, Charli xcx, GloRilla, LISA, Olivia Rodrigo and Teddy Swims (four each).
The 2024 MTV VMAs are set to air live on Wednesday, Sept. 11, at 8 p.m. ET/PT from New York’s UBS Arena. Megan Thee Stallion is set to host the show. Katy Perry will receive the Video Vanguard Award and also perform.
The 2024 show will be held just three days shy of the 40th anniversary of the inaugural VMAs at Radio City Music Hall.
Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, Camila Cabello, GloRilla and Rauw Alejandro were the first artists slated to perform at the awards; they were announced on Aug. 12. Benson Boone, Halsey, Lenny Kravitz and LISA were added to the lineup on Aug. 21. Shawn Mendes, Anitta, Karol G and LL Cool J were added on Aug. 27.
Bruce Gillmer and Den of Thieves co-founder Jesse Ignjatovic are executive producers for the 2024 VMAs. Barb Bialkowski is co-executive producer. Alicia Portugal and Jackie Barba serve as executives in charge of production. Wendy Plaut is executive in charge of celebrity talent. Lisa Lauricella is music talent executive.
Here are the nominees in the four social categories, along with information on how to vote.
VMAs Most Iconic Performance
24 hours of fan voting for the new category that celebrates some of the most memorable VMAs performances from the history of the show begins Tuesday, Sept. 10 at 11 a.m. ET on @MTV Instagram Story (one round, tap to vote); concludes Sept. 11 @ 11 a.m. ET.
Beyoncé – “Love on Top” (2011)
Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Madonna, Missy Elliott – “Like a Virgin” & “Hollywood” (2003)
Eminem – “The Real Slim Shady” & “The Way I Am” (2000)
Katy Perry – “Roar” (2013, live from Empire-Fulton Ferry Park)
Lady Gaga – “Paparazzi” (2009)
Madonna – “Like a Virgin” (1984)
Taylor Swift – “You Belong With Me” (2009)
Best Trending Video
Fans will vote for the newly added category that celebrates the artist’s videos and/or songs that inspired fandoms to generate content related to the video and/or song starting Sept. 2 at @ 11 a.m. ET on @MTV Instagram Story (one round, tap to vote); closes Sept. 3 @ 11 a.m. ET.
Beyoncé – “Texas Hold ‘Em” – Parkwood Entertainment / Columbia Records
Camila Cabello feat. Playboi Carti – “I Luv It” – Geffen / Interscope Records
Chappell Roan – “Hot to Go!” – Amusement Records / Island Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Charli XCX – “Apple” – Atlantic Records
Megan Thee Stallion feat. Yuki Chiba – “Mamushi” – Hot Girl Productions
Tinashe – “Nasty” – Nice Life Recording Company
Best Group
Fan voting for favorite group across all genres will begin Tuesday, Sept. 3 @ 11 a.m. ET on @MTV Instagram Story (two rounds bracket-style face-off, final round tap to vote); closes Sept. 6 @ 11 a.m. ET.
*NSYNC – RCA Records
Coldplay – Atlantic Records
Imagine Dragons – KIDinaKorner / Interscope Records
NCT Dream – SM Entertainment / Virgin Music Group
NewJeans – ADOR / Geffen Records
SEVENTEEN – PLEDIS Entertainment / Geffen Records
TOMORROW X TOGETHER – BIGHIT MUSIC / IMPERIAL / Republic Records
Twenty One Pilots – Fueled By Ramen
Song of Summer
Fan voting for all-round favorite summer 2024 hit will launch Friday, Sept. 6 at 11 a.m. ET on @MTV Instagram Story (three rounds bracket-style face-off, final round tap to vote); closes Sept. 10 at 11 a.m. ET.
Ariana Grande – “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)” – Republic Records
Benson Boone – “Beautiful Things” – Night Street Records, Inc. / Warner Records
Billie Eilish – “Birds of a Feather” – Darkroom / Interscope Records
Chappell Roan – “Good Luck, Babe!” – Amusement Records / Island Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Charli XCX & Billie Eilish – “Guess featuring Billie Eilish” – Atlantic Records
Eminem – “Houdini” – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records
Future, Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar – “Like That” – Wilburn Holding Co. / Boominati / Epic / Republic
GloRilla, Megan Thee Stallion – “Wanna Be” – CMG / Interscope Records
Hozier – “Too Sweet” – Columbia Records
Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” – pgLang, under exclusive license to Interscope Records
Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen – “I Had Some Help” – Mercury / Republic / Big Loud
Sabrina Carpenter – “Please Please Please” – Island
Shaboozey – “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” – American Dogwood / EMPIRE
SZA – “Saturn” – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records
Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records
Tommy Richman – “Million Dollar Baby” – ISO Supremacy / PULSE Records / Concord