With a whopping 10 nods each, Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift are tied for the most potential honors among this year's just-announced MTV Video Music Awards nominations.
"It's been an incredible year in music and this group of nominees perfectly reflect the rich pop music landscape," Bruce Gillmer, Head of Music and Music Talent for Viacom and Co-Brand Head of MTV International, said in a statement Tuesday. "We can't wait to see the outcome, once the fans weigh in. It's going to be an awesome, unforgettable evening!"
Among the notable showdowns on the 2019 roster of era-defining visuals are the Video of the Year category, where 21 Savage's "a lot" is up against Taylor's "You Need to Calm Down," and Taco Bell's Best New Artist category that has Lil Nas X, Lizzo, Billie Eilish, and others vying for the fast food-backed distinction.
See the major category noms below. Winners will be revealed live from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey Aug. 26 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT. Sebastian Maniscalco is the host. For more info, you know what to do.
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
- 21 Savage ft. J. Cole – “a lot” – Epic Records
- Billie Eilish – “Bad Guy” – Darkroom/Interscope Records
- Ariana Grande – “thank u, next” – Republic Records
- Jonas Brothers – “Sucker” – Republic Records
- Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus – “Old Town Road (Remix)” – Columbia Records
- Taylor Swift – “You Need to Calm Down” – Republic Records
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Cardi B – Atlantic Records
- Billie Eilish – Darkroom/Interscope Records
- Ariana Grande – Republic Records
- Halsey – Astralwerks/Capitol Records
- Jonas Brothers – Republic Records
- Shawn Mendes– Island Records
SONG OF THE YEAR
- Drake – “In My Feelings” – Young Money/Cash Money/Republic Records
- Ariana Grande – “thank u, next” – Republic Records
- Jonas Brothers – “Sucker” – Republic Records
- Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper – “Shallow” – Interscope Records
- Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus – “Old Town Road (Remix)” – Columbia Records
- Taylor Swift – “You Need to Calm Down” – Republic Records
BEST NEW ARTIST, presented by Taco Bell®
- Ava Max – Atlantic Records
- Billie Eilish – Darkroom/Interscope Records
- H.E.R. – MBK/RCA Records
- Lil Nas X – Columbia Records
- Lizzo – Atlantic Records
- ROSALÍA – Columbia Records
BEST COLLABORATION
- Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus – “Old Town Road (Remix)” – Columbia Records
- Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper – “Shallow” – Interscope Records
- Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello – “Señorita” – Island Records
- Taylor Swift ft. Brendon Urie of Panic! At The Disco – “ME!” – Republic Records
- Ed Sheeran & Justin Bieber – “I Don’t Care” – Atlantic Records
- BTS ft. Halsey – “Boy With Luv” – Columbia Records
PUSH ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Bazzi – Atlantic Records
- CNCO – RCA Records
- Billie Eilish – Darkroom/Interscope Records
- H.E.R. – MBK/RCA Records
- Lauv – LAUV/AWAL
- Lizzo – Atlantic Records
BEST POP
- 5 Seconds of Summer – “Easier” – Interscope Records
- Cardi B & Bruno Mars – “Please Me” – Atlantic Records
- Billie Eilish – “Bad Guy” – Darkroom/Interscope Records
- Ariana Grande – “thank u, next” – Republic Records
- Jonas Brothers – “Sucker” – Republic Records
- Taylor Swift – “You Need to Calm Down” – Republic Records
- Khalid – “Talk” – Right Hand Music Group/RCA Records
BEST HIP HOP
- 2 Chainz ft. Ariana Grande – “Rule the World” – 2 Chainz Ps/Def Jam
- 21 Savage ft. J. Cole – “a lot” – Epic Records
- Cardi B – “Money” – Atlantic Records
- DJ Khaled ft. Nipsey Hussle & John Legend – “Higher” – We The Best/Epic Records
- Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus – “Old Town Road (Remix)” – Columbia Records
- Travis Scott ft. Drake – “SICKO MODE” – Epic Records/Grand Hustle/Cactus Jack
BEST R&B
- Anderson .Paak ft. Smokey Robinson – “Make It Better” – Aftermath Ent/12 Tone Music
- Childish Gambino – “Feels Like Summer” – RCA Records
- H.E.R. ft. Bryson Tiller – “Could’ve Been” – MBK/RCA Records
- Alicia Keys – “Raise A Man” – RCA Records
- Ella Mai – “Trip” – 10 Summers/Interscope Records
- Normani ft. 6lack – “Waves” – Keep Cool/RCA Records
BEST K-POP
- BTS ft. Halsey – “Boy With Luv” – Columbia Records
- BLACKPINK – “Kill This Love” – YG Entertainment/Interscope Records
- Monsta X ft. French Montana – “Who Do You Love” – Epic Records
- TOMORROW X TOGETHER – “Cat & Dog” – Republic Records
- NCT 127 – “Regular” – SM Entertainment
- EXO – “Tempo” – SM Entertainment
BEST LATIN
- Anuel AA, Karol G – “Secreto” – Universal Music Latino
- Bad Bunny ft. Drake – “MIA” – OVO Sound/Warner Bros. Records
- benny blanco, Tainy, Selena Gomez, J Balvin – “I Can’t Get Enough” – NEON16/Friends Keep Secrets/Interscope Records
- Daddy Yankee ft. Snow – “Con Calma” – Universal Music Latin Entertainment
- Maluma – “Mala Mía” – Sony Music US Latin
- ROSALÍA & J Balvin ft. El Guincho – “Con Altura” – Columbia Records
BEST DANCE
- The Chainsmokers ft. Bebe Rexha – “Call You Mine” – Disruptor/Columbia Records
- Clean Bandit ft. Demi Lovato – “Solo” – Big Beat/Atlantic Records
- DJ Snake ft. Selena Gomez, Ozuna & Cardi B – “Taki Taki” – DJ Snake Music Productions Ltd/Geffen
- David Guetta, Bebe Rexha & J Balvin – “Say My Name” – Big Beat/Atlantic Records
- Marshmello & Bastille – “Happier” – Capitol Records
- Silk City & Dua Lipa – “Electricity” – Columbia Records
BEST ROCK
- The 1975 – “Love It If We Made It” – Dirty Hit/Interscope Records
- Fall Out Boy – “Bishops Knife Trick” – Island Records
- Imagine Dragons – “Natural” – KIDinaKORNER/Interscope Records
- Lenny Kravitz – “Low” – BMG Rights Management (UK) Ltd.
- Panic! At The Disco – “High Hopes” – Elektra Music Group
- twenty one pilots – “My Blood” – Elektra Music Group
VIDEO FOR GOOD
- Halsey – “Nightmare” – Astralwerks/Capitol Records
- The Killers – “Land of the Free” – Island
- Jamie N Commons, Skylar Grey ft. Gallant – “Runaway Train” – Interscope Records
- John Legend – “Preach” – Columbia Records
- Lil Dicky – “Earth” – Dirty Burd, Inc./Commission/BMG
- Taylor Swift – “You Need to Calm Down” – Republic Records
BEST DIRECTION
- Billie Eilish– “Bad Guy” – Darkroom/Interscope Records – Directed by Dave Meyers
- FKA twigs – “Cellophane” – Young Turks – Directed by Andrew Thomas Huang
- Ariana Grande – “thank you, next” – Republic Records – Directed by Hannah Lux Davis
- Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus – “Old Town Road (Remix)” – Columbia Records – Directed by Calmatic
- LSD ft. Labrinth, Sia, Diplo – “No New Friends” – Columbia Records – Directed by Dano Cerny
- Taylor Swift – “You Need to Calm Down” – Republic Records – Directed by Drew Kirsch & Taylor Swift
