Taylor Swift leads the nominations for the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) with eight nods. Nominations were announced on Tuesday and female artists dominated, with SZA in the running for six awards, and Miley Cyrus, Olivia Rodrigo, Kim Petras and Nicki Minaj close behind with five each. Sam Smith also landed five nominations, while Shakira, BLACKPINK and Diddy were recognised in four categories.
For the first time since the Artist of the Year category was introduced in 2017, all the nominees are women – with Swift, Doja, Minaj, Shakira, Beyoncé and Karol G in the running. Swift’s smash hit Anti-Hero scored seven nominations, Video of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Pop, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Visual Effects and Best Direction.
Swift stands a chance to become the most-awarded artist in VMA history but will need to take home at least six prizes. The singer currently has 14 VMAs, while Madonna has 20 awards.
Although SZA garnered six nominations at this year’s awards, she failed to be recognised in the Artist of the Year category. Her hit song Kill Bill attracted five nominations – Song of the Year, Video of the Year, Best Direction, Best Editing and Best Art Direction. The singer’s track Shirt was recognised in the Best R&B category.
Anti-Hero and Kill Bill are joined in the Song of the Year category bv Miley Cyrus’ Flowers, Olivia Rodrigo’s Vampire, Rema and Selena Gomez’s Calm Down, Sam Smith and Kim Petras’ Unholy and Steve Lacy’s Bad Habit.
First time VMA nominees included Petras, Ice Spice, Metro Boomin, GloRilla, Ayra Starr and Peso Pluma. A new category has been added for this year’s ceremony, Best Afrobeats. The 2023 MTV Video Music Awards will be held on 12 September at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
