Nicki Minaj took the helm as host for the second consecutive year as the 2023 Video Music Awards , more commonly called the VMAs, honoured the best music videos released in the year, across various genres, direction, special effects, choreography, art direction, and cinematography.
It’s where the fans call the shots, and it was an unforgettable night packed with mind-blowing performances in Newark, at New Jersey’s Prudential Center. Acts from Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion, Anitta, Doja Cat, Fall Out Boy, Demi Lovato, Karol G, Kelsea Ballerini, Olivia Rodrigo, Peso Pluma, Lil Wayne, and a galaxy of other stars lit up the night as history was made with, for the first time ever, the artist of the year category had an all-female lineup. Taylor Swift was chosen ahead of Beyoncé, Doja Cat, Nicki Minaj, Karol G and Shakira, and the 33-year old ended the night with several more awards.
Let’s check out which of the nominees in each category won out...
Who are the MTV VMAs winners? As well as the aforementioned all-female list for best artist, here’s a run down of who else was up for an award, and who went on to win.
Video of the Year
Doja Cat – “Attention” – Kemosabe Records / RCA Records Miley Cyrus – “Flowers” – Columbia Records Nicki Minaj – “Super Freaky Girl” – Republic Records Olivia Rodrigo – “vampire” – Geffen Records Sam Smith, Kim Petras – “Unholy” – Capitol Records SZA – “Kill Bill” – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA RecordsTaylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” – Republic Records **WINNER**
Artist of the Year
Beyoncé – Parkwood Entertainment / Columbia Records Doja Cat – Kemosabe Records / RCA Records KAROL G – Interscope Records Nicki Minaj – Republic Records Shakira – Sony Music US LatinTaylor Swift – Republic Records **WINNER**
Song of the Year
Miley Cyrus – “Flowers” – Columbia Records Olivia Rodrigo – “vampire” – Geffen Records Rema & Selena Gomez – “Calm Down” – Mavin Global Holdings Ltd / Jonzing World Entertainment / SMG Music / Interscope Records Sam Smith, Kim Petras – “Unholy” – Capitol Records Steve Lacy – “Bad Habit” – L-M Records / RCA Records SZA – “Kill Bill” – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records RecordsTaylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” – Republic Records **WINNER**
Best New Artist
GloRilla - CMG / Interscope RecordsIce Spice - 10K Projects / Capitol Records **WINNER** Kaliii - Atlantic Records Peso Pluma - Double P Records PinkPantheress - 300 Entertainment Reneé Rapp - Interscope Records
Push Performance of the Year
August 2022: Saucy Santana – “Booty” – Arena Records / RCA Records September 2022: Stephen Sanchez – “Until I Found You” – Mercury Records / Republic Records October 2022: JVKE – “golden hour” – AWAL November 2022: Flo Milli – “Conceited” – '94 Sounds / RCA Records December 2022: Reneé Rapp – “Colorado” – Interscope Records January 2023: Sam Ryder – “All The Way Over” – Elektra Entertainment February 2023: Armani White – “GOATED” – Def Jam March 2023: Fletcher – “Becky's So Hot” – Capitol RecordsApril 2023: Tomorrow X Together – “Sugar Rush Ride” – Bighit Music / Republic Records **WINNER** May 2023: Ice Spice – “Princess Diana” – Heavy On It / 10K Projects / Capitol Records June 2023: FLO – “Losing You” – Uptown/Republic Records July 2023: Lauren Spencer Smith – “That Part” – Island Records
Best Collaboration
David Guetta & Bebe Rexha – “I'm Good (Blue)” – Warner Records Post Malone, Doja Cat – “I Like You (A Happier Song)” – Mercury Records / Republic Records Diddy ft. Bryson Tiller, Ashanti, Yung Miami – “Gotta Move On” – Motown RecordsKarol G, Shakira – “TQG” – Universal Music Latino **WINNER** Metro Boomin with The Weeknd, 21 Savage, and Diddy – “Creepin' (Remix)” – Boominati / Republic Records Rema & Selena Gomez – “Calm Down” – Mavin Global Holdings Ltd / Jonzing World Entertainment / SMG Music / Interscope Records
Best Pop
Demi Lovato – “Swine” – Island Records Dua Lipa – “Dance The Night (From Barbie The Album)” – Atlantic Records Ed Sheeran – “Eyes Closed” – Atlantic Records Miley Cyrus – “Flowers” – Columbia Records Olivia Rodrigo – “vampire” – Geffen Records P!NK – “Trustfall” – RCA RecordsTaylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” – Republic Records **WINNER**
Best Hip-Hop
Diddy ft. Bryson Tiller, Ashanti, Yung Miami – “Gotta Move On” – Motown Records DJ Khaled ft. Drake & Lil Baby – “STAYING ALIVE” – We The Best / Epic Records GloRilla & Cardi B – “Tomorrow 2” – CMG / Interscope Records Lil Uzi Vert – “Just Wanna Rock” – Atlantic Records / Generation Now Lil Wayne ft. Swizz Beatz & DMX – “Kant Nobody” – Young Money Records Metro Boomin ft Future – “Superhero (Heroes and Villains)” – Boominati / Republic RecordsNicki Minaj – “Super Freaky Girl” – Republic Records **WINNER**
Best R&B
Alicia Keys ft. Lucky Daye – “Stay” – RCA Records Chlöe ft. Chris Brown – “How Does It Feel” – Parkwood Entertainment / Columbia Metro Boomin with The Weeknd, 21 Savage, and Diddy – “Creepin' (Remix)” – Boominati / Republic RecordsSZA – “Shirt” – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records **WINNER** Toosii – “Favorite Song” – South Coast Music Group / Capitol Records Yung Bleu & Nicki Minaj – “Love In The Way” – Empire Distribution
Best Alternative
blink-182 – “EDGING” – Columbia Records boygenius – “the film” – Interscope Records Fall Out Boy – “Hold Me Like A Grudge” – Fueled By RamenLana Del Rey ft. Jon Batiste – “Candy Necklace” – Interscope Records **WINNER** Paramore – “This Is Why” – Atlantic Records Thirty Seconds To Mars – “Stuck” – Concord Records / Concord
Best Rock
Foo Fighters – “The Teacher” – RCA Records Linkin Park – “Lost (Original Version)” – Warner Records Red Hot Chili Peppers – “Tippa My Tongue” – Warner RecordsMåneskin – “The Loneliest” – Arista Records **WINNER** Metallica – “Lux Æterna” – Blackened Recordings Muse – “You Make Me Feel Like It's Halloween” – Warner Records
Best Latin
Anitta – “Funk Rave” – Republic Records **WINNER** Bad Bunny – “Where She Goes” – Rimas Entertainment Eslabon Armado, Peso Pluma – “Ella Baila Sola” – DEL Records, Inc. / Prajin Parlay, Inc. Grupo Frontera Bad Bunny – “un x100to” – Rimas Entertainment KAROL G, Shakira – “TQG” – Universal Music Latino ROSALÍA – “Despechá” – Columbia Records Shakira – “Acróstico” – Sony Music US Latin
Best K-Pop
aespa – “Girls” – SM ENTERTAINMENT Co., Ltd. BLACKPINK – “Pink Venom” – YG Entertainment / Interscope Records FIFTY FIFTY – “Cupid” – ATTRAKT / Warner Records SEVENTEEN – “Super” – HYBE / Geffen RecordsStray Kids – “S-Class” – JYP / Republic **WINNER** TOMORROW X TOGETHER – “Sugar Rush Ride” – BIGHIT MUSIC / Republic Records
Best Afrobeats
Ayra Starr – “Rush” – Mavin Global Holdings Burna Boy – “It's Plenty” – Atlantic Records / Spaceship Entertainment Ltd Davido ft. Musa Keys – “UNAVAILABLE” – Sony Music U.K. / RCA Records Fireboy DML & Asake – ”Bandana” – Empire Distribution Libianca – “People” – Sony Music U.K. / RCA RecordsRema & Selena Gomez – “Calm Down” – Mavin Global Holdings Ltd / Jonzing World Entertainment / SMG Music / Interscope Records **WINNER** Wizkid ft Ayra Starr– “2 Sugar” – Starboy / RCA Records
Video for Good
Alicia Keys – If I Ain't Got You (Orchestral) – NETFLIX Bad Bunny – “El Apagón - Aquí Vive Gente” – Rimas Entertainment Demi Lovato – “Swine” – Island RecordsDove Cameron – “Breakfast” – Columbia Records **WINNER** Imagine Dragons – “Crushed” – KIDinaKORNER / Interscope Records Maluma – “La Reina” – Sony Music US Latin
Best Direction
Doja Cat - “Attention” - Kemosabe Records / RCA Records - Directed by Tanu Muiño Drake – “Falling Back” – OVO/Republic Records - Director X (Julien Christian Lutz) Kendrick Lamar – “Count Me Out” – pgLang / Top Dawg Entertainment / Aftermath / Interscope Records - Directed by Dave Free & Kendrick Lamar Megan Thee Stallion – “Her” – 300 Entertainment - Directed by Colin Tilley Sam Smith, Kim Petras – “Unholy” – Capitol Records - Directed by Floria Sigismondi SZA – “Kill Bill” – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records - Directed by Christian BreslauerTaylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” – Republic Records - Directed by Taylor Swift **WINNER**
Best Cinematography
Adele – “I Drink Wine” – Columbia Records - Cinematography by Adam Newport-Berra Ed Sheeran – “Eyes Closed” – Atlantic Records - Cinematography by Natasha Baier Janelle Monae – “Lipstick Lover” – Atlantic Records - Cinematography by Allison Anderson Kendrick Lamar – “Count Me Out” – pgLang / Top Dawg Entertainment / Aftermath / Interscope Records 0 Cinematography by Adam Newport-Berra Miley Cyrus – “Flowers” – Columbia Records - Cinematography by Marcell Rev Olivia Rodrigo – “vampire” – Geffen Records - Cinematography by Russ FraserTaylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” – Republic Records - Cinematography by Rina Yang **WINNER**
Best Visual Effects
Fall Out Boy – “Love From The Other Side” – Fueled By Ramen - Visual Effects by Thomas Bailey and Josh Shaffner Harry Styles – “Music For A Sushi Restaurant” – Columbia Records - Visual Effects by Chelsea Delfino and Black Kite Studios Melanie Martinez – “VOID” – Atlantic Records - Visual Effects by Carbon Nicki Minaj – “Super Freaky Girl” – Republic Records - Visual Effects by Max Colt and Sergio Mashevskyi Sam Smith, Kim Petras – “Unholy” – Capitol Records - Visual Effects by Max Colt / FRENDERTaylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” – Republic Records - Visual Effects by Parliament **WINNER**
Best Choreography
BLACKPINK – “Pink Venom” – YG Entertainment / Interscope Records - Choreography by Kiel Tutin, Sienna Lalau, Lee Jung (YGX), Taryn Cheng (YGX) **WINNER** Dua Lipa – “Dance The Night (From Barbie The Album)” – Atlantic Records - Choreography by Charm LaDonna Jonas Brothers – “Waffle House” – Republic Records - Choreography by Jerry Reece Megan Thee Stallion – “Her” – 300 Entertainment - Choreography by Sean Bankhead Panic! At The Disco – “Middle Of A Breakup” – Fueled By Ramen - Choreography by Monika Felice Smith Sam Smith, Kim Petras – “Unholy” – Capitol Records - Choreography by (LA)HORDE - Marine Brutti, Jonathan Debrouwer, Arthur Harel
Best Art Direction
boygenius – “the film” – Interscope Records - Art Direction by Jen Dunlap BLACKPINK – “Pink Venom” – YG Entertainment / Interscope Records - Art Direction by Seo Hyun Seung (GIGANT)Doja Cat – “Attention” – Kemosabe Records / RCA Records - Art Direction by Spencer Graves **WINNER** Lana Del Rey ft. Jon Batiste – “Candy Necklace” – Interscope Records - Art Direction by Brandon Mendez Megan Thee Stallion – “Her” – 300 Entertainment - Art Direction by Niko Philipides SZA – “Shirt” – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records - Art Direction by Kate Bunch
Best Editing
BLACKPINK – “Pink Venom” – YG Entertainment / Interscope Records - Editing by Seo Hyun Seung (GIGANT) Kendrick Lamar – “Rich Spirit” – pgLang / Top Dawg Entertainment / Aftermath / Interscope Records - Edited by Grason Caldwell Miley Cyrus – “River” – Columbia Records - Edited by Brandan WalterOlivia Rodrigo – “vampire” – Geffen Records - Edited by Sofia Kerpan and David Checel **WINNER** SZA – “Kill Bill” – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records - Edited by Luis Caraza Peimbert Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” – Republic Records - Edited by Chancler Haynes
It’s fair to say, the Swifties won out big time!
What happened at the 2022 MTV VMAs? In the previous year’s spectacular event, rapper Jack Harlow snagged the most coveted titles, securing four impressive awards. Bad Bunny rightfully claimed the title of Artist of the Year, while Taylor Swift’s ‘All Too Well: The Short Film’ clinched the prestigious Video of the Year and Best Direction awards. Billie Eilish also had her moment in the spotlight, walking away with the Song of the Year award.
VIDEO
Nicki Minaj was honored with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, a true testament to her lasting impact on the music world. Meanwhile, the legendary Red Hot Chili Peppers were crowned with the prestigious Global Icon Award, a recognition well-deserved.
Doja Cat gathered the most nominations on that star-studded night. And to keep the show’s energy buzzing, we were treated to the dynamic trio of hosts: Minaj, the iconic LL Cool J, and the ever-charismatic Jack Harlow.