Awards
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The 2023 MTV Video Music Awards will close with a salute to hip-hop’s 50th anniversary. Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, Doug E. Fresh, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five and LL Cool J will join previously announced performers Lil Wayne and show emcee Nicki Minaj for the segment. The VMAs are set to air live from Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., on Tuesday, Sept. 12, at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
This will be McDaniels’ first VMAs performance since Run-DMC’s historic pairing with Aerosmith’s Joe Perry and Steven Tyler to close the 1987 VMAs, where they performed their genre-blending smash “Walk This Way.” Run-DMC was the first rap group on MTV and was also the first to appear on the cover of Rolling Stone. The trio was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009.
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five was the first rap group to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2007), and also the first to receive a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy (2021).
LL Cool J was one of three emcees of last year’s VMAs, along with Minaj and Jack Harlow, but this will be his first VMAs performance in more than 25 years. LL won a VMA for best rap in 1991 for “Mama Said Knock You Out.” In 1997, he became the first hip-hop artist to receive the Video Vanguard Award. He was also the first rapper to receive the Kennedy Center Honor (2017).
In addition to his role in the 50th anniversary of hip-hop spot, Lil Wayne will perform his new single, “Kat Food.” This will be his first VMAs appearance in more than a decade. Minaj will perform her latest single, “Last Time I Saw You.” Last year, she dominated the event as emcee, performer, winner of best hip hop, plus recipient of the coveted Video Vanguard Award.
BACARDÍ Rum is partnering with the VMAs for the 50th anniversary of hip-hop tribute performance, along with the debut of custom BACARDÍ content featuring Don Toliver and DJ Premier. BACARDÍ is the first spirits brand to sponsor the VMAs.
On Friday (Sept. 8), BACARDÍ launched the BACARDÍ Vintage pop-up in New York City: a shoppable retrospective of hip-hop fashion, featuring exclusive BACARDÍ and VMA merch.
Many award shows have saluted the 50th anniversary of hip-hop since the Grammys kick-started this anniversary year on Feb. 5 with a massive 24-song segment that included The Roots, Black Thought, LL Cool J and Lil Uzi Vert.
MTV and TelevisaUnivision announced on Monday (Sept. 11) a “first-of-its-kind partnership” for a simulcast of the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards, taking place on Tuesday, Sept. 12. The live three-hour broadcast — to be hosted by Alejandra Espinoza — will air on UniMás at 8 p.m. ET with an encore on Univision at 11:30 p.m. ET.
“We are thrilled to partner with TelevisaUnivision for this groundbreaking partnership as we further expand the VMAs worldwide footprint and amplify our massive lineup of international icons to make this year’s show the biggest celebration of global music in MTV history,” said Bruce Gillmer, president of music, music talent, programming & events, Paramount and chief content officer, music, Paramount Global.
“We are excited to be the exclusive Spanish-language destination in the U.S. for this year’s VMAs, a celebration of music that will honor Latin artists like never before,” added Ignacio Meyer, president of U.S. networks, TelevisaUnivison. “As home to the leading U.S. Hispanic networks, our commitment to delivering the best in entertainment is unwavering. We’re thrilled to partner with MTV to deliver more fan-fueled music events to our passionate viewers.”
The 2023 VMAs will air live from Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET. Taylor Swift leads this year’s nominations with eight nods, followed by SZA (six), Doja Cat, Kim Petras, Miley Cyrus, Nicki Minaj, Olivia Rodrigo and Sam Smith (five each). General fan voting is now closed; voting remains open for best new artist.
Shakira, a four-time VMAs nominee this year, will make history at the VMAs when she becomes the first South American artist to receive the Video Vanguard Award. The Colombian star is also set to perform on the VMAs for the first time in 17 years. Other Latin powerhouses confirmed to take the stage include Anitta, Karol G and Peso Pluma.
Bruce Gillmer and Den of Thieves co-founder Jesse Ignjatovic are executive producers of the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards. 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.
Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion will give the debut performance of their just-released single “Bongos” during the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards, which are set to air live from Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., on Tuesday, Sept. 12, at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
The single, which was released Friday (Sept. 8), is the rap icons’ second pairing, following “WAP,” which became the first female rap collaboration to enter the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 1.
This will be the first performance on the VMAs’ main show for both artists. Both made their VMAs’ performance debut on the pre-show – Cardi in 2017 performing “Bodak Yellow”; Megan two years later performing “Big Ole Freak,” “Hot Girl Summer” and “Cash Sh–.”
Many future main-show performers made their VMAs performance debut on the pre-show. Here’s a complete list.
Cardi has appeared on the main telecast in the past – she just hasn’t performed. In 2018, she garnered global headlines when she teased fans with a first glimpse of her daughter Kulture only to reveal a Moon Person trophy hidden in a baby blanket instead. The following year, she presented Missy Elliott with the MTV Video Vanguard Award.
This year’s VMAs are going heavy on hip-hop. Nicki Minaj is set to “emcee” and perform at the show. Diddy is set to receive the Global Icon Award and perform. Lil Wayne and Metro Boomin are also on the performance lineup. Metro Boomin will be joined by Future, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, Swae Lee and NAV.
And the show is set to have a 50th-anniversary salute to hip-hop, following the lead of many other awards shows in the past year.
Megan and Cardi are both VMA nominees this year. Megan is nominated for best direction, best choreography and best art direction, all for “Her.” Cardi is nominated for best hip-hop in tandem with GloRilla for “Tomorrow 2.”
Megan has won two VMAs – best power anthem in 2019 for “Hot Girl Summer” (featuring Nicki Minaj and Ty Dolla Sign) and best hip-hop in 2020 for her solo version of “Savage.”
Cardi has won four VMAs, three of them in 2018 – best new artist, best collaboration (as a featured artist on Jennifer Lopez’s “Dinero,” along with DJ Khaled) and song of the summer (for “I Like It” with Bad Bunny and J Balvin). She won best hip-hop for “Money” in 2019.
Hip-hop fans aren’t the only audience being served by this year’s VMAs. Latin music fans can look forward to performances by Shakira, this year’s Video Vanguard award recipient, as well as Anitta, Karol G and Peso Pluma.
Pop fans may tune in for Doja Cat, Olivia Rodrigo and Demi Lovato.
Rock fans can look forward to Fall Out Boy and Måneskin.
K-pop fans will have Stray Kids and TOMORROW X TOGETHER.
Kelsea Ballerini is on the bill for fans of country music.
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The MTV VMAs are back with a star-studded lineup of presenters, performers and honorees. The ceremony will air live from New Jersey’s Prudential Center on MTV on Tuesday (Sept. 12).
Nicki Minaj will reprise her role as emcee in addition to performing on the show.
Here Are All the Performers & Presenters for the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards (Updating)
09/08/2023
Taylor Swift leads this year’s nominees race with 11 nods, followed by SZA with eight nods. BLACKPINK, Olivia Rodrigo, Doja Cat, Miley Cyurs and Minaj are tied at six nominations each.
Beyoncé landed a coveted artist of the year nomination at the 2023 VMAs. Shakira will receive the Video Vanguard Award during the ceremony, while Diddy will be honored with the Global Icon Award.
See below for everything you need to know about the 2023 VMAs, including broadcast information, how to watch online, performers and more.
When Are the 2023 MTV VMAs?
The VMAs returns to the Prudential Center on Tuesday, Sept. 12, airing at 8 p.m. ET/PT on MTV.
The show will also be simulcast on CMT, Comedy Central, Logo, BET, BET Her, MTV2, VH1, Nickelodeon, and Paramount Network.
How to Watch the 2023 MTV VMAs on Paramount+
If you don’t have access to MTV through cable, satellite or a streaming service, you can watch the 2023 VMAs for free on Paramount+. The streamer offers a free trial for the first week, plus a 50% discount on its annual plans. The limited deal means you can subscribe to the Essential plan for just $30, or $60 for Paramount+ with Showtime.
Paramount+ Annual Plans 50% Off
Paramount+ offers monthly subscriptions starting at $6 a month for ad-supported streaming and $12 a month to access Paramount+ and Showtime (commercial free), plus you get a free trial for the first week. But you’ll save more with the annual plan because the 50% off promo slices that monthly price down to $2.50-$5 per month.
You can also subscribe to Paramount+ through Prime Video.
Paramount+ features exclusive TV series, movies, CBS shows, live news, NFL games and more.
Read on for other ways to watch the VMAs from anywhere.
How to Watch the MTV VMAs on Philo, DirecTV & More:
Music lovers can also stream MTV on Sling TV, DirecTV Stream, Philo, fuboTV and Hulu + Live TV. The streaming platforms offer free trials and discounted pricing, and instant access to MTV, so you can watch the 2023 VMAs live or on-demand from your TV or stream the VMAs from your laptop, tablet or phone. If you’ve been waiting for a streaming deal, there are a bunch of discounts to take advantage of. For example, you can join Hulu + Live TV for $49.99/month (regular 69.99/month) for three months (offer ends on Oct. 10).
DirecTV Stream is discounted $30 over three months (packages start at $65/month) and Sling TV starts at $20/month for a limited time only.
If you’re streaming from outside of the U.S., use ExpressVPN or NordVPN to watch the VMAs internationally.
Who Is Performing and Presenting at the 2023 MTV VMAs?
Stray Kids, Anitta, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, Olivia Rodrigo, Doja Cat, Demi Lovato, Måneskin, Karol G, Fall Out Boy, Diddy, Shakira, Lil Wayne, Kelsea Ballerini and Metro Boomin (featuring Future, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, Swae Lee & NAV) are all set to perform at the VMAs.
The list presenters for the 2023 VMAs include Bebe Rexha, Ice Spice, GloRilla, Charlie D’Amelio, Sabrina Carpenter, Coco Jones, Rita Ora and French Montana.
Next week, Sabrina Carpenter and NLE Choppa are set to perform on the MTV VMAs’ pre-show. And if their goal is to perform on the main telecast in future years, they’re in good company: A booking on the pre-show has often served as a steppingstone to bigger bookings down the line.
Many future A-listers made their first VMAs performances on the pre-show. Nicki Minaj, last year’s recipient of the Video Vanguard Award (and this year’s “emcee,” when the show goes live Tuesday, Sept. 12, at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.), performed on the pre-show in 2010. And she’s not the only Video Vanguard winner who started out on the pre-show: Rihanna, who performed on the pre-show in 2010, got the Video Vanguard honor in 2016. Foo Fighters, who received a Global Icon Award in 2021 – and may very well be Video Vanguard winners one day — performed on the pre-show in 1997.
In all, 16 acts who first performed on the VMAs’ pre-show later stepped up to performing on the main show. The list also includes such heavy hitters as Usher, Ariana Grande and Demi Lovato.
Dozens more stars who first performed on the pre-show have yet to step onto the MTV main stage, for whatever reason:. They include No Doubt (who performed on the pre-show in 1996), Barenaked Ladies (1998), Smash Mouth (1999), Papa Roach (2000), Avril Lavigne (2002), Sean Paul (2003), Jadakiss (2004), Fergie (2006), My Chemical Romance (2006), Charli XCX (2014), Cardi B (2017), Ava Max (2019), Megan Thee Stallion (2019), Tate McRae (2020), Machine Gun Kelly (2020), Polo G (2021) and Swedish House Mafia (2021).
So, why didn’t the VMA producers book some of these acts for the main show instead of the pre-show? The show is pretty packed every year. Also, sometimes, their most timely hits broke big after the VMAs’ line-up was set. The VMAs usually air in late August or early September, but the bookings are generally made and announced weeks before that.
In some cases, the hits were helped along in their chart climbs by the VMAs exposure. Barenaked Ladies’ “One Week,” which they performed on the pre-show in September 1998, hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 the following month. Cardi B’s “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves),” which she performed on the pre-show in August 2017, hit No. 1 in October 2017.
Performances on the pre-show may have helped a few artists land key Grammy nominations. Many Grammy voters watch the VMAs, just as thoughts are turning to that other, longer-established show. Avril Lavigne performed “Complicated” on the pre-show in 2002, and went on to receive a song of the year nomination for that song at the Grammys. The Black Eyed Peas performed “Where Is the Love?” on the pre-show in 2003 and went on to receive a record of the year nomination at the Grammys.
Here are the 16 acts who performed on the pre-show on their way to the main telecast. You’ll be amazed at some of the big stars who had wait their turn to get invited to the main event.
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Image Credit: Ke.Mazur/WireImage
Fall Out Boy will perform at the MTV Video Music Awards for the first time since 2007 on Tuesday (Sept. 12), while Peso Pluma and Metro Boomin will make their performance debuts on the show.
The show will air live from Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. on Sept. 12 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
Pluma is one of a record four Latin artists performing on this year’s VMAs. He joins Shakira, who is set to receive the Video Vanguard Award, Anitta and Karol G.
Likewise, Metro Boomin is one of four hip-hop stars set to perform on the show. He joins Nicki Minaj, is set to emcee the show; Diddy, who is set to receive the Global Icon Award, and Lil Wayne. In addition, the show will include a 50th anniversary salute to hip-hop, something that has been all but mandatory on awards shows this year. And it will include a performance by pop star Doja Cat, whose music incorporates hip-hop.
Fall Out Boy first performed on the VMAs in 2005, singing “Sugar, We’re Goin’ Down.” They returned two years later to perform “Shut Up and Drive” featuring Rihanna and “Thnks Fr Th Mmrs.” The band has two nominations this year – best alternative for “Hold It Like a Grudge” and best visual effects for “Love From the Other Side.”
Fall Out Boy has won four VMAs, including three wins in a row in 2005 (an MTV 2 award for “Sugar, We’re Goin Down), 2006 (the viewers choice award for “Dance, Dance”) and 2007 (best group). The group won best rock video in 2015 for “Uma Thurman.”
Metro Boomin and Pluma are both first-time VMA nominees as well as first-time VMA performers.
Metro Boomin will perform two songs, both with big-name assists – “Superhero (Heroes & Villains)” with Future and “Calling” with A Boogie Wit da Hoodie, Swae Lee and NAV. According to MTV, they will appear “on stage together for the first time ever.”
“Superhero (Heroes and Villains)” is nominated for best hip-hop, one of four nominations for Metro Boomin. He is also up for album of the year for Heroes & Villains and two awards (best collaboration and best R&B) for the “Creepin’” remix which featured The Weeknd, 21 Savage and Diddy.
Pluma is contending in three categories — best new artist, best Latin for “Ella Baila Sola,” a collab with Eslabon Armado, and song of the summer for “La Bebe (Remix),” a collab with Yng Lvcas.
With the addition of social categories, Taylor Swift leads all nominees for the 2023 VMAs with 11 nods, followed by SZA (eight); BLACKPINK, Doja Cat, Miley Cyrus, Nicki Minaj and Rodrigo (six each); Kim Petras and Sam Smith (five each); and Beyoncé, Diddy, Drake, Ice Spice, Karol G, Metro Boomin, Shakira and TOMORROW X TOGETHER (four each).
General fan voting is now closed; voting remains open for social categories and best new artist.
Bruce Gillmer and Den of Thieves co-founder Jesse Ignjatovic are executive producers of the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards. 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.
After The New York Times reported that controversial artist Ghostwriter submitted the A.I.-generated song “Heart on My Sleeve” for Grammy consideration, Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. is refuting its eligibility in a short Instagram video shared Thursday (Sept. 7).
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In the clip, Mason Jr. walks back on his original comments in the Times article, in which he had previously deemed “Heart on My Sleeve” — the song that mimics Drake and The Weeknd’s voices — as “absolutely eligible because it was written by a human.”
“I’m sorry, but I have to clear up some of this bad and really inaccurate information that’s starting to float around,” he said in the video. “This version of ‘Heart on My Sleeve’ using the A.I. voice modeling that sounds like Drake and The Weeknd, it’s not eligible for Grammy consideration.”
“Let me be extra, extra clear, even though it was written by a human creator, the vocals were not legally obtained, the vocals were not cleared by the label or the artists and the song is not commercially available and because of that, it’s not eligible,” he continued.
He later added, “I take this [A.I.] stuff very seriously. It’s all complicated, and it’s moving, really, really quickly. I’m sure things are going to continue to have to evolve and change. But please, please, do not be confused. The Academy is here to support and advocate and protect and represent human artists, and human creators period.”
The Times reported that Ghostwriter submitted “Heart on My Sleeve” for song of the year and best rap song for the 2024 ceremony. The song was pulled from streaming services in April, and UMG slammed its usage of A.I. to generate vocals, and said that it demonstrated “why platforms have a fundamental legal and ethical responsibility to prevent the use of their services in ways that harm artists.”
Watch Mason Jr.’s full explanation of the song’s non-eligibility below.
Wilson is nominated for her own hit “Heart Like a Truck” and as a featured artist on HARDY’s “Wait in the Truck.”
Wynonna will receive the Country Champion Award at the inaugural People’s Choice Country Awards, which is set to air live from the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville on Thursday, Sept. 28 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
And Wy will head right back to the Opry on Oct. 3 when she hosts Christmas at the Opry, a two-hour special that will air Thursday, Dec. 7 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
The People’s Choice Country Awards will air live on NBC and Peacock while Christmas at the Opry will air on NBC and next day on Peacock. The latter show is seen as competition for CMA Country Christmas, a fixture on ABC since 2010. Carly Pearce hosted last year’s show, which aired on Dec. 8, 2022.
“Wynonna is one of the most recognized and lauded performers in country music,” Cassandra Tryon, senior vice president, live events, NBCUniversal Entertainment, said in a statement. “Not only is she incredibly talented, her selflessness and passion for putting the needs of others in the spotlight is unmatched. We can’t think of a better person to honor as our inaugural ‘Country Champion’ and to celebrate the holidays with across these two major country music events.”
As the Country Champion recipient at the inaugural People’s Choice Country Awards, Wynonna will be celebrated for her decades-long career and efforts around philanthropy and activism. She has used her public platform to advocate for children, military veterans and their families, disaster relief and more through her work with such organizations as the Wounded Warrior Project and Habitat for Humanity.
As previously announced, Toby Keith will receive the Country Icon Award on the show.
The same producers are behind both shows. People’s Choice Country Awards is produced by Den of Thieves with Jesse Ignjatovic, Evan Prager and Barb Bialkowski serving as executive producers, along with RAC Clark as executive producer and showrunner.
Christmas at the Opry is executive produced by Ignjatovic, Prager and Bialkowski for Den of Thieves along with Clark and Jen Jones.
Tickets for the Oct. 3 taping of Christmas at the Opry, in front of a live audience, are on sale now at Opry.com. The performer lineup will be announced at a later date.
NBC calls these projects “an example of collaboration resulting from NBCUniversal’s equity investment in Opry Entertainment Group alongside Atairos, which was finalized last year.”
Nicki Minaj is set to reprise her dual role from last year as emcee and performer for 2023 MTV Video Music Awards. The VMAs will air live from Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. on Tuesday, Sept. 12 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
Last year, Minaj emceed the show with LL Cool J and Jack Harlow. She also performed a nine-song medley keyed to her receiving the Video Vanguard Award. This year, she’s flying solo as emcee and is performing her new single, “Last Time I Saw You.”
MTV’s announcement of Minaj’s booking never once mentions the h-word – host. It instead refers to her as the “emcee” several times. But it sure makes it sound like she’s hosting: “Minaj will announce the show’s star-studded lineup of performers, presenters and winners.”
This marks the first time someone has fronted the show two years running since comedian Russell Brand did the honors in 2008-09.
Last year, in addition to serving as emcee and performer, Minaj won best hip-hop and received the Video Vanguard Award, which this year is set to go to Shakira.
Minaj has won six VMAs from 25 nominations. She has six nominations this year – artist of the year; video of the year, best hip-hop and best visual effects, all for “Super Freaky Girl”; best R&B for “Love in the Way”; and song of summer for “Barbie World” (a collab with Ice Spice that features Aqua).
Minaj has won best hip-hop four times, more than anyone else in the show’s history. (Drake is in second place with three wins.) She won for “Super Bass” (2011), “Anaconda” (2015), “Chun-Li” (2018) and “Do We Have a Problem,” a collab with Lil Baby (2022).
Minaj has also won twice in other categories. She won best female video in 2012 for “Starships” and best power anthem in 2019 for Megan Thee Stallion’s “Hot Girl Summer” (on which she was featured, along with Ty Dolla Sign).
It’s hard to imagine, but Minaj was booked on the VMAs’ pre-show in 2010. She teamed with will.i.am to perform “Your Love” and “Check It Out.” She graduated to the main telecast in 2012, delivering an unexpected rap verse on Alicia Keys’ “Girl on Fire.” In 2014, she staged a trifecta, first taking fans to the Amazonian jungle with “Anaconda,” then teaming up with Ariana Grande and Jessie J for “Bang Bang,” and finally offering “She Came to Give It to U” with Usher.
In 2015, Minaj’s performance again formed a trio of songs, starting with “Trini Dem Girls,” before bringing Taylor Swift on stage for “The Night Is Still Young” and “Bad Blood.” She reunited with Grande in 2016 for “Side to Side,” and shared the stage with host Katy Perry in 2017 for a performance of “Swish Swish.”
Her 2018 performance featured a rap medley from her album Queen, featuring “Majesty,” “Ganga Burn,” “FEFE” and “Barbie Dreams.”
With the addition of social categories, Taylor Swift leads all nominees for the 2023 VMAs with 11 nods, followed by SZA (eight); BLACKPINK, Doja Cat, Miley Cyrus, Nicki Minaj and Rodrigo (six each); Kim Petras and Sam Smith (five each); and Beyoncé, Diddy, Drake, Ice Spice, Karol G, Metro Boomin, Shakira and TOMORROW X TOGETHER (four each).
General fan voting is now closed; voting remains open for social categories and best new artist.
Bruce Gillmer and Den of Thieves co-founder Jesse Ignjatovic are executive producers of the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards. 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.