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From friends to foes, relationships will be tested when Love & Hip-Hop Atlanta returns to MTV early next year, and Billboard has an exclusive look at the new season.

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The cast of Love & Hip-Hop: Atlanta features Amy Luciani, Ashley Conley, Bambi, Erica Banks, Erica Dixon, Jasmine Bleu, Jessica White, Karlie Redd, Kendra Robinson, Khaotic, Kirk Frost, Lil Zane, Mendeecees, Momma Dee, Rasheeda, Renni Rucci, Saucy Santana, Scrappy, Shekinah Jo, Sierra Gates, Spice, Yandy, Yung Joc and ZellSwag.

Newcomers this season include Latin recording artist International Nova and his wife, Cristina Nova.

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In the second half of Season 12, Spice invites the crew to perform in London but drama erupts as simmering feuds boil over. Elsewhere in the season, Kirk and Rasheeda work to restore peace within the Frost family, Scrappy faces rumors about his personal life, and his ex-wife, Bambi, navigates a “delicate truce” with her former adversaries and ex-husband.

Saucy Santana sets his sights on new musical territories while Karlie Redd bets it all on her relationship with millionaire fiancé TLO, amid resurfacing exes.

Young Joc and Kendra’s marriage hits a rough patch once the roles reverse and jealously takes center stage, and Yandy and Mendeecees question their friendships and priorities after last season’s explosive allegations.

You can catch up on previous seasons of Love & Hip-Hop: Atlanta on Paramount+ and Pluto TV’s Love & Hip-Hop channel.

Searching for a streaming deal? Enjoy two months of Paramount+ for only $2.95 per month with Prime Video’s Black Friday sale.

For those without cable, Love & Hip-Hop Atlanta and other MTV shows, including the new season of Love & Hip-Hop Miami, are available to stream on Philo, DirecTV and Hulu + Live TV.

Love & Hip-Hop Atlanta is produced by Antoinette Media and executive produced by Mona Scott-Young for Monami Productions and Lashan Browning for Antoinette Media, with Donna Edge-Rachell, Paris Bauldwin, Daniel Wiener, Alissa Horowitz, Mimi Adams, Gavin Lee Jones and John Crenny. Sitarah Pendelton-Eaglin and Daniel Blau Rogge serve as executive producers for MTV Entertainment Studios. 

Love & Hip-Hop: Atlanta premieres on Jan. 7 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on MTV.

Watch the teaser below.

Taylor Swift, Tyla and Sabrina Carpenter were among the big winners at the 2024 MTV EMAs, which also included a poignant tribute to Liam Payne, almost one month on from the singer’s death in Argentina.

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“I just want to take a moment to remember someone that was very, very dear to us. We lost him recently, and he was a big part of the MTV world and my world, and I think a lot of yours at home and everybody in here tonight,” said the show’s host Rita Ora, who duetted with the former One Direction vocalist on 2018’s “For You (Fifty Shades Freed).”

“He had the biggest heart and was always the first person to offer help in any way that he could,” said a tearful Ora. “He brought so much joy to every room he walked into, and he left such a mark on this world,” said the visibly moved host.

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The EMAs show, which was staged at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England, on Sunday (Nov. 10), also featured a brief video tribute to Payne.

Swift, who was not present in Manchester, won the most awards on the night, taking home prizes for best artist, best live, best U.S. act and best video for her Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper “Fortnight,” featuring Post Malone.

“I have to say thank you so much to Post Malone for being the most amazing co-star possible,” said Swift in a video acceptance speech.

Just behind Swift with three awards was Tyla, who took home trophies for best Afrobeats, best R&B and best African act. The South African singer, who was honored with a global impact award at Billboard’s R&B No. 1s event in New York earlier this year, also delivered one of the night’s standout performances, flanked by writhing dancers for a lively two-song medley of “Push 2 Start” and “Water.”

“I can’t believe it,” said Tyla accepting the best afrobeats prize from LL Cool J. “Literally, all the nominees, they are insane. They have taken Afrobeats so far and I’m so honored to be winning this award… Afrobeats has opened so many doors for African music, so thank you so much to Afrobeats.”

Sabrina Carpenter and Ariana Grande, who both did not attend the show, won best song for “Espresso” and the award best pop, respectively. Billie Eilish and Charli xcx, who were also absent, failed to win in any of the five categories they were each nominated.

Benson Boone opened the two-hour show, which was being held in the U.K. for the first time since 2017, with an impassioned energetic run through “Slow It Down” and “Beautiful Things” that began with the 22-year-old suspended in the air as he played a golden grand piano. Later in the evening, Boone collected his first EMA award in the form of the best new act title.

Making their U.K. live debut, K-pop band LE SSERAFIM delivered an energetic performance of “Chasing Lightning” and “CRAZY”, the title track from their latest EP, which topped Billboard’s Top Album Sales in September.

The five-piece pop group, who made their Coachella debut this year, were rewarded for their efforts with the best push award, one of three prizes they were nominated for in the lead up to Sunday’s show.

Other memorable performances included Shawn Mendes playing his new single “Heart of Gold,” Mexican trio The Warning with a raucous, pyrotechnic-accompanied rendition of “Automatic Sun” and Best U.K. and Ireland act winner Raye, joined by a 30-piece choir for a stirring medley of “Escapism, “Oscar Winning Tears” and “Body Dysmorphia.”

Meanwhile, best Latin recipient Peso Pluma was joined by Estevan Plazola for a rousing performance of their hit single collaboration “Hollywood.”

Busta Rhymes won the global icon award, EMAs top honor, previously received by Queen, Eminem, Janet Jackson, U2 and Whitney Houston, among others.

“Thirty-four years of professionally recording, this is the first time I’m getting an award from MTV. And it feels fucking incredible,” said Rhymes collecting the icon trophy from British rapper Little Simz.

The Brooklyn-born rapper went on to play glowing tribute to “one of my heroes” LL Cool J, who was at the ceremony on presenting duties, before performing a collection of his greatest hits, including “Scenario,” “Put Your Hands Where The Eyes Can See,” “Do The BusABus Pt.2,” “Break Ya Neck” and “Pass The Courvoisier”.

“LL Cool J was the template that I followed,” said Rhymes in a lengthy eight-minute-long acceptance speech that also saw him thank his mother and Public Enemy’s Chuck D for supporting him at the start of his career.

“I learned how to become the embodiment of Busta Rhymes because I love to bust rhymes for real and I love hip-hop for real,” he told the audience.

“Busta Rhymes is a true creative visionary who has made a massive impact on the musical landscape and pop culture,” Bruce Gillmer, the event’s executive producer and president of music and chief content officer for music at MTV parent company Paramount+, told Billboard in the run up to Sunday’s ceremony.

The show also contained a succession of playful references to the musical heritage of host city of Manchester with the Hacienda night club’s famous yellow and black striped branding and the distinctive opening riff of New Order’s “Blue Monday” recurring motifs throughout the evening.

Local band Blossoms, from the nearby town of Stockport, also made a cameo joking with host Ora as she served champagne in a bar style setting, while one of the show’s more surreal moments featured Ora chatting with Happy Mondays’ founder members Shaun Ryder and Bez, with the latter in characteristically uncontrollable, highly spirited form.

In addition to marking the 30th anniversary of MTV’s EMAs, which first took place in Berlin in 1994, Sunday’s show was the first EMAs since 2022 after last year’s event in Paris was cancelled due to global security reasons in connection with the Israel-Hamas war.

Pet Shop Boys were joined by members of the Manchester Camerata orchestra (wearing the band’s iconic cone hats) to close the show with a stirring cover of David Bowie’s “All The Young Dudes” followed by the band’s debut hit “West End Girls,” first released in 1984.Full list of 2024 MTV EMA nominees and winnersGlobal Icon Award Busta RhymesMTV EMA Pop Pioneers AwardPet Shop BoysBest SongAriana Grande – we can’t be friends (wait for your love)Benson Boone – Beautiful ThingsBeyoncé – TEXAS HOLD ‘EMBillie Eilish – BIRDS OF A FEATHERChappell Roan – Good Luck, Babe!WINNER: Sabrina Carpenter – EspressoBest VideoAriana Grande – we can’t be friends (wait for your love)Charli xcx – 360Eminem – HoudiniKendrick Lamar – Not Like UsLISA ft. Rosalía – NEW WOMANWINNER: Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – FortnightBest ArtistBeyoncéBillie EilishPost MaloneRAYESabrina CarpenterWINNER: Taylor SwiftBest CollaborationCharli xcx & Billie Eilish – Guess featuring Billie EilishFuture, Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar – Like ThatLady Gaga, Bruno Mars – Die With A SmileWINNER: LISA ft. Rosalía – NEW WOMANPeso Pluma, Anitta – BELLAKEOTaylor Swift ft. Post Malone – FortnightBest NewAyra StarrWINNER: Benson BooneChappell RoanLE SSERAFIMTeddy SwimsThe Last Dinner PartyTylaBest PopWINNER: Ariana GrandeBillie EilishCamila CabelloCharli xcxDua LipaSabrina CarpenterTaylor SwiftBest AfrobeatsAsakeAyra StarrBurna BoyRemaTemsWINNER: TylaBest RockBon JoviColdplayGreen DayKings of LeonLenny KravitzWINNER: Liam GallagherThe KillersBest LatinAnittaBad BunnyKAROL GWINNER: Peso PlumaRauw AlejandroShakiraBest K-PopWINNER: JiminJung KookLE SSERAFIMLISANewJeansStray KidsBest AlternativeFontaines D.C.HozierWINNER: Imagine DragonsLana Del ReyTwenty One PilotsYUNGBLUDBest ElectronicWINNER: Calvin HarrisDavid GuettaDisclosureDJ SnakeFred Again..Swedish House MafiaBest Hip-HopCentral CeeWINNER: EminemKendrick LamarMegan Thee StallionNicki MinajTravis ScottBest R&BKehlaniSZATinasheWINNER: TylaUSHERVictoria MonétBest LiveAdeleColdplayDoja CatRAYEWINNER: Taylor SwiftTravis ScottBest PushAyra StarrChappell RoanCoco JonesFlyana BossJessie MurphLaufeyWINNER: LE SSERAFIMMark AmborShaboozeyTeddy SwimsThe WarningVictoria MonétBiggest FansAnittaAriana GrandeBeyoncéBillie EilishChappell RoanCharli xcxKaty PerryWINNER: LISANicki MinajSabrina CarpenterShawn MendesTaylor SwiftFull list of 2024 MTV EMA Worldwide WinnersBest African Act – TylaBest Asia Act – BINIBest Australian Act – SiaBest Austrian Act – RAF CamoraBest Brasilian Act – Pabllo VittarBest Canadian Act – Shawn MendesBest Caribbean Act – Young MikoBest Dutch Act – Roxy DekkerBest French Act – Pierre GarnierBest German Act – AylivaBest India Act – MaliBest Israeli Act – Noa KirelBest Italian Act – AnnalisaBest Lat Am Central Act – Manuel TurizoBest Lat Am North Act – YerimuaBest Lat Am South Act – DillomBest Nordic Act – Zara LarssonBest Polish Act – Daria ZawiałowBest Portuguese Act – Bárbara BandeiraBest Spanish Act – Lola IndigoBest Swiss Act – NemoBest UK & Ireland Act – RayeBest US Act – Taylor Swift

After 18 years on Canadian airwaves, MTV Canada is preparing to go off the air on Dec. 31. The decision to shutter the specialty channel was confirmed by Bell Media, with a company spokesperson citing “changing audiences” on specialty TV as the reason for the closure.
MTV Canada launched in 2006 as part of the CTV network, and the channel offered viewers a Canadianized version of the MTV brand, one that has had a huge international impact. MTV Canada’s programming provided a mix of reality TV, music content, talk, lifestyle and pop culture-oriented documentary programming.

Many of the channel’s most popular shows were talk and reality-based, airing The Hills and Teen Mom. MTV Live, launched in March 2006, launched the career of co-host Dan Levy. The flagship half-hour variety show ran for six seasons, and won a Gemini award for Best Talk Series.

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Now best known as the co-creator and co-star of hit Emmy-winning Canadian TV comedy Schitt’s Creek, Dan Levy would gain prominence in Canada co-hosting, co-writing and co-producing the MTV Canada ratings hit The Hills: After Show (later just The After Show) with Jessi Cruickshank.

The channel later become increasingly dependent on such American reality shows as Floribama Shore, Jersey Shore: Family Vacation and Caught In The Act: Unfaithful in its programming, and by the end was playing multiple hours per day of the comedy reality clip show Ridiculousness.

South of the border, the MTV brand has also suffered in recent years, with owner Paramount Media Networks, shutting down MTV News and pulling down its website’s online archives in May 2023, as part of a massive round of layoffs at Paramount. 

MTV Canada’s name and branding was used under a licensing agreement with Paramount Global. Unlike MTV channels in the United States and internationally, the channel was restricted in its ability to carry music programming until 2015, due to conditions in the channel’s license issued by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).

Those restrictions meant that, unlike its international counterparts, MTV Canada never employed the “Music Television” tagline. As a result, in terms of music programming, the channel struggled to compete with the homegrown and much-beloved MuchMusic channel, which is also owned by Bell Media.

Anthem Entertainment & Wax Records Announce New Creative Partnership

Anthem Entertainment and Wax Records are joining forces.

The independent music company and record label have announced a strategic creative partnership, one they state “is designed to revolutionize the artist development process.”

The Anthem-Wax partnership seeks to remove barriers between songwriters, producers and artists, and give them the tools and resources to create together. That includes initiatives like international song camps to connect people across diverse genres, in-house studio spaces and dedicated writing rooms. These resources are designed to facilitate a higher volume of music and effective market readiness.

Anthem Entertainment is a big player in publishing and licensing, with a stable that includes hit songwriters like Chantal Kreviazuk and Timbaland. The company has a massive catalog of songs, an infrastructure featuring robust creative and executive teams, and creative spaces in Toronto and Nashville. Anthem recently sold its Production Music Group to Slipstream, a deal that included noted production music agency Jingle Punks and added over 650,000 tracks to Slipstream’s catalog.

Since starting in 2009, Wax Records has built a roster headed by platinum-selling artists Alyssa Reid, Shawn Desman and Virginia to Vegas along with bülow, Conor Gains, Blitz//Berlin and more.

The partnership expands the scope of both companies.

“I’m thrilled to welcome the Wax team — and their exceptional roster of artists — into the Anthem family,” says Anthem CEO Jason Klein. “Jamie [Appleby, Wax Records President and Head of A&R] and Ron [Morse, Wax Records CEO] have built an extraordinary label, with a creative and agile approach to artist discovery, development, and marketing that transcends conventional limitations. This partnership will allow Wax to elevate their outstanding work with additional resources and infrastructure, and introduce an exciting new creative pipeline for Anthem’s songwriters.

“The possibilities for global success with this partnership are limitless.”

Anthem and Wax tout the partnership as “an evolution of the music business” and a key to artist empowerment as well as a key to opening doors internationally.

“The global music marketplace is an ever-changing adventure,” says Wax’s Jamie Appleby. “Through countless hours of dedication and hard work, we strive to cultivate a vibrant entrepreneurial culture that supports and provides globalization opportunities for our community. We are excited for the next evolution of Wax Records, and have tremendous admiration for Jason and the exceptional team at Anthem. This new venture will expand our ongoing commitment to our incredible artists, venture partners, and sub label groups.”

Following the unexpected shuttering of the MTV News website earlier this week, Paramount has now largely cleaned house on the sites for several more of its cable channels, in a potential cost-cutting move.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the sites for Comedy Central, CMT, Yellowstone airer Paramount Network and TV Land were instead directing users to the media conglomerate’s streaming platform Paramount+. On Monday, MTVnews.com was taken down, purging some 20 years of stories from the web.

A pop-up window on the Comedy Central site reads, “While episodes of most Comedy Central series are no longer available on this website, you can watch Comedy Central through your TV provider. You can also sign up for Paramount+ to watch many seasons of Comedy Central shows.” Similar language shows up on the CMT, Paramount Network and TV Land sites, as well as that of MTV (which was separate from MTVnews.com).

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aramount said in a statement, “As part of broader website changes across Paramount, we have introduced more streamlined versions of our sites, driving fans to Paramount+ to watch their favorite shows.”

As noted by LateNighter, the cleaning out of the Comedy Central site in particular wipes out a huge trove of archival material from The Daily Show and other late night series, along with clips from South Park, Key & Peele and Workaholics, among many others. Some of that material is available on YouTube, but it’s not as easily searchable or accessible as it was on the network page. (The oldest video on the Daily Show YouTube channel, for instance, is from 2016, while the show’s history stretches back 20 years before then.)

On Paramount+, only the two most recent seasons of The Daily Show are available. The platform has several South Park specials and the 1999 feature film Bigger, Longer and Uncut, but the show’s primary streaming home is on Max. Paramount+ does have the full runs of Key & Peele and Workaholics.

As of publication time, sites for Paramount’s BET, Nickelodeon and VH1 were still active, while MTV.com offered some episodes and clips.

The website changes come on the heels of Paramount’s co-CEOs — George Cheeks, Chris McCarthy and Brian Robbins — telling employees at a town hall meeting Tuesday that they were embarking on a cost-cutting mission as profits have dropped for the company. Paramount is looking for $500 million in reduced costs, which will mean layoffs for some employees. Cheeks also said at the town hall that “We’re looking at selling certain Paramount-owned assets — in fact, we’ve already hired bankers to assist us in this process — and we’ll use the proceeds to help pay down debt and strengthen our balance sheet.”

This article was originally published by The Hollywood Reporter.

Gale Sparrow, the former executive who led MTV’s talent and artist relations team during the cable television channel’s golden years, died Sunday (March 31) following a battle with lung cancer. She was 74.

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Born Jan. 20, 1950, Sparrow began her career in the music business at CBS/Epic Records in 1976.

Five years later, in 1981, she was recruited to join MTV’s startup team. MTV switched on in August of that year and started a revolution, one that facilitated a change in the way music was consumed, and how artists and labels presented their music.

Sparrow played her part in that sea change, initially as the talent coordinator. As MTV’s presence and network grew, so did Sparrow’s duties, with a promotion to director of talent and artist relations.

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MTV helped launch, and relaunch, countless careers. Sparrow worked with all of them. Tina Turner’s remarkable solo comeback in the mid-’80s can be attributed, in part, to the late singer’s support from MTV, and savvy guidance from artist manager Roger Davies. Speaking with Billboard in 2023 following the Rock Hall inducted legend’s passing on May 24 at 83, Sparrow recalled Turner as the “hottest ticket in town,” who “just wowed everybody” in person. “She just was a sparkle. She had that spark in her eye,” Sparrow remembered. “Tina gave MTV a kind of second jolt of excitement. It was a whole different persona as an artist: She could have been your best friend. Everybody felt comfortable around her. You don’t have to please her.”

As news spread of Sparrow’s passing, friends and former colleagues paid tribute to the exec and her work. Sparrow was “an integral and passionate part of the original team that launched MTV —and many of those legendary artist moments were directly her contributions,” comments Bob Pittman, former CEO of MTV Networks and co-founder and programmer who led the team that created MTV. “That voice, laugh, and the wickedly mischievous smile will be missed….one of a kind.” The 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards “were in memory of her,” Pittman says.

“There’s no doubt in my mind they needed someone up there in rock ‘n’ roll heaven to handle talent and artist relations,” remarks MTV co-founder Les Garland. “After all the years, I’ve never felt closer to Gale than these past three years. Indeed, we all have Gale Sparrow stories, galore. Please let them bring a smile and a grateful feeling to your soul. RIP ‘Sparrow’, I will miss those phone calls! #Love #Respect.”

Sparrow died peacefully at her home in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, according to reps.

No funeral is planned at this time per Sparrow’s wishes.

Coco Jones could be enjoying a very special Friday once 2024 Grammy nominations are announced, but she and her fans can kick off their celebrations a little bit earlier: Billboard can exclusively reveal that Coco Jones will be MTV‘s Global PUSH Artist for November.
The announcement comes less than a week after Jones marked the one-year anniversary of What I Didn’t Tell You, her debut EP with Def Jam. That project and its accompanying North American headlining tour helped the powerhouse vocalist transition from Disney star to award-winning R&B dynamo. In the past year, Jones has picked up best new artist honors from both the BET Awards and the NAACP Image Awards, as well as a whopping six nominations at the upcoming Soul Train Music Awards (Nov. 26), including album, song and video of the year.

What I Didn’t Tell You houses Jones’ very first Billboard Hot 100 hit, “ICU.” The DJ Camper-helmed ballad spent 20 weeks on the ranking, peaking at No. 62. The track, which also received a remix from fellow Disney alum Justin Timberlake, topped both Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay and R&B Digital Song Sales.

“‘ICU’ really fell into my lap, I feel, because I was so surprised… what I ended up doing that day in the studio… I heard this track by Camper, and I could not skip it,” Jones says in a press release announcing the PUSH news. “Then I had to get really vulnerable and tell this story that I feel like people can relate to: when you love someone and they didn’t do anything wrong to you but you guys are just wrong for each other.”

“ICU” marked a new frontier for Jones’ career, becoming her first RIAA Platinum single and introducing her to scores of new listeners. The song’s success also gave way to the deluxe edition of What I Didn’t Tell You, which arrived earlier this year (Jan. 20) and featured three new songs in addition to the previously released “Simple” (with Babyface).

“I think my favorite line is the first line ‘something about your hands on my body’ because I just feel like it snaps people’s attention… I feel like it gives me a southern twang,” Jones says. “It reminds me where I’m from and it surprised people that I could go that low. It is just a really good line to me. It’s really solid.”

As MTV’s featured Global PUSH Artist for the month of November, Jones will partner with the entertainment iconoclast all month to discuss her roots, the stories and memories behind her music and the artists and eras that inspire her. For Jones, The Cheetah Girls were a formative part of her childhood, specifically the song “Cinderella,” which she hails as a “girl power anthem.” “I was the biggest Cheetah Girls fan,” she gushes. “That was my first concert ever actually and I thought they asked me to come up on stage, but my mom said no.”

Jones is also set to debut two exclusive performance videos for “ICU” and “Double Back,” the latter of which she credits to the “Brandys, Aaliyahs and Destiny’s Childs” of the ’90s and describes as “one of the best songs to get [her] makeup done to or to do [her] makeup to.”

The MTV PUSH initiative aims to connect fans across the globe with a new music artist every month through live performances, exclusive broadcast premieres of music videos, interviews and video content. Previous MTV PUSH artists include Lizzo, Doja Cat, Billie Eilish, SZA, Chloe X Halle, H.E.R., Jack Harlow, Jorja Smith, BROCKHAMPTON and more.

Watch an exclusive clip of Coco Jones performing and talking about “ICU” above.

The Surreal Life is returning to MTV, and the network announced its diverse cast for the upcoming season on Wednesday (Sept. 13). R&B/soul singer Macy Gray, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson’s son Chet Hanks, former Fifth Harmony member Ally Brooke, rapper O.T. Genasis, TV personality Kim Zolciak, figure skater Johnny Weir and influencer and model […]

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.

The MTV Video Music Awards are adding a new category this year – best Afrobeats. The Grammys are adding a similar category, best African music performance, this year (for the awards that will be presented on Feb. 4, 2024). The American Music Awards were the first major music awards show to add such a category. They added favorite Afrobeats artist at the show that aired on Nov. 20, 2022. Wizkid was the inaugural winner, beating Burna Boy, CKay, Fireboy DML and Tems.
The apparent front-runner for best Afrobeats at the VMAs is Rema & Selena Gomez’s “Calm Down,” which is nominated in two other categories, best song and best collaboration. “Calm Down” has been a giant crossover hit, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song dips a notch to No. 6 in its 49th week on the Hot 100, as it spends a seventh week atop Radio Songs.

Ayra Starr has two nominations in the VMAs’ best Afrobeats category – for her own “Rush” and as the featured artist on Wizkid’s “2 Sugar.”

The other nominees in the category are Burna Boy’s “It’s Plenty,” Davido featuring Musa Keys’ “Unavailable,” Fireboy DML & Asake’s “Bandana” and Libianca’s “People.”

Best Afrobeats is the third genre-specific category to be added at the VMAs in this century, following Latin (2006) and K-pop (2019). The VMAs’ five other genre-specific categories were all introduced in the last century — rock (1989), alternative (1991), R&B (1993), and pop and hip-hop (both 1999).

The Grammy nominations will be announced on Nov. 10, at which time we’ll learn the nominees in their new best African music performance category.

The Recording Academy announced the category (one of three being added this year) on June 13. The Rules and Guidelines for the upcoming 66th Annual Grammy Awards describes the category thusly: “Eligible recordings include vocal and instrumental performances with strong elements of African cultural significance that blend a stylistic intention, song structure, lyrical content and/or musical representation found in Africa and the African Diaspora. The African Diaspora is the worldwide collection of communities descended from native Africans or people from Africa, predominantly in the Americas.”

The 2023 VMAs will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 12 at 8 p.m. ET/PT live from the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.

Taylor Swift, who last year became the first three-time winner of the VMAs’ marquee award, video of the year, is nominated in that category again this year for “Anti-Hero.” Could she possibly win that award again when the VMAs are presented at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. on Sept. 12? Of course she could. “Anti-Hero” […]