MTV Reveals 2015 Video Music Awards Nominees

BY Sarah MurphyPublished Jul 21, 2015

In the past, the MTV Video Music Awards have delivered televised entertainment in all kinds of forms. From uncomfortable Madonna makeouts to Jay and Bey's pregnancy announcement to Kanye West's infamous interruption during Taylor Swift's acceptance speech, the show never fails to spark pop culture conversations.
 
Now, the network has unveiled the list of 2015 nominees. Some of the biggest names in music will be competing for the coveted Moonman trophies including Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar, Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars, the Weeknd, Nicki Minaj, and Rihanna.
 
The Artist to Watch category gives nods to Fetty Wap, Vance Joy, George Ezra, James Bay and FKA twigs.
 
In the more technical categories, videos from Jack White, the Chemical Brothers, Chet Faker, Flying Lotus (ft. Kendrick Lamar), Childish Gambino, A$AP Rocky and Tyler, the Creator get some love too.
 
Taylor Swift leads the nominations with nine chances to win, though the most exciting part of the evening will undoubtedly be Kanye West's reaction if she bests Beyoncé in the Video of the Year category again.
 
The annual awards show returns on August 30 and will be hosted by previous performer Miley Cyrus. Let's just hope there are fewer flesh-coloured pleather outfits and cameos from Robin Thicke this year.
 
Check out the full list of nominees below.
 
Video of the Year:
 
Beyoncé – "7/11″
Ed Sheeran – "Thinking Out Loud"
Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar – "Bad Blood"
Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars – "Uptown Funk"
Kendrick Lamar – "Alright"
 
Best Male Video:
 
Ed Sheeran – "Thinking Out Loud"
Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars – "Uptown Funk"
Kendrick Lamar – "Alright"
The Weeknd – "Earned It"
Nick Jonas – "Chains"
 
Best Female Video:
 
Beyoncé – "7/11″
Taylor Swift – "Blank Space"
Nicki Minaj – "Anaconda"
Sia – "Elastic Heart"
Ellie Goulding – "Love Me Like You Do"
 
Best Hip Hop Video:
 
Fetty Wap – "Trap Queen"
Nicki Minaj – "Anaconda"
Kendrick Lamar – "Alright"
Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth – "See You Again"
Big Sean ft. E-40 – "I Don't F–k With You"
 
Best Pop Video:
 
Beyoncé – "7/11″
Ed Sheeran – "Thinking Out Loud"
Taylor Swift – "Blank Space"
Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars – "Uptown Funk"
Maroon 5 – "Sugar"
 
Best Rock Video:
 
Hozier – "Take Me To Church"
Fall Out Boy – "Uma Thurman"
Florence + the Machine – "Ship To Wreck"
Walk the Moon – "Shut Up and Dance"
Arctic Monkeys – "Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?"
 
Artist to Watch:
 
Fetty Wap – "Trap Queen"
Vance Joy – "Riptide"
George Ezra – "Budapest"
James Bay – "Hold Back The River"
FKA Twigs – "Pendulum"
 
Best Collaboration:
 
Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar – "Bad Blood"
Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars – "Uptown Funk"
Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth – "See You Again"
Ariana Grande & The Weeknd – "Love Me Harder"
Jessie J + Ariana Grande + Nicki Minaj – "Bang Bang"
 
Video with a Social Message:
 
Jennifer Hudson – "I Still Love You"
Colbie Caillat – "Try"
Big Sean ft. Kanye West and John Legend – "One Man Can Change the World"
Rihanna – "American Oxygen"
Wale – "The White Shoes"
 
Best Art Direction:
 
Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar – "Bad Blood" (Charles Infante)
Snoop Dogg – "So Many Pros" (Jason Fijal)
Jack White – "Would You Fight For My Love" (Jeff Peterson)
The Chemical Brothers – "Go" (Michel Gondry)
Skrillex & Diplo – "Where Are U Now" with Justin Bieber (Brewer)
 
Best Choreography:
 
Beyoncé – "7/11″ (Beyoncé, Chris Grant, Additional choreography: Gabriel Valenciano)
OK Go – "I Won't Let You Down" (OK Go, air:man and Mori Harano)
Chet Faker – "Gold" (Ryan Heffington)
Ed Sheeran – "Don't" (Nappy Tabs)
Flying Lotus ft. Kendrick Lamar – "Never Catch Me" (Keone and Mari Madrid)
 
Best Cinematography:
 
Flying Lotus ft. Kendrick Lamar – "Never Catch Me" (Larkin Sieple)
Ed Sheeran – "Thinking Out Loud" (Daniel Pearl)
Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar – "Bad Blood" (Christopher Probst)
FKA Twigs – "Two Weeks" (Justin Brown)
Alt-J – "Left Hand Free" (Mike Simpson)
 
Best Direction:
 
Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar – "Bad Blood" (Joseph Kahn)
Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars – "Uptown Funk" (Cameron Duddy)
Kendrick Lamar – "Alright" (Colin Tilley & The Little Homies)
Hozier – "Take Me To Church" (Brendan Canty, Conal Thomson)
Childish Gambino – "Sober" (Hiro Murai)
 
Best Editing:
 
Beyoncé – "7/11″ (Beyoncé, Ed Burke, Jonathan Wing)
Ed Sheeran – "Don't" (Jacquelyn London)
Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar – "Bad Blood" (Chancler Haynes at Cosmo Street)
A$AP Rocky – "L$D" (Dexter Navy)
Skrillex & Diplo "Where Are U Now" with Justin Bieber (Brewer)
 
Best Visual Effects:
 
Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar – "Bad Blood" (Ingenuity Studios)
FKA Twigs – "Two Weeks" (Gloria FX, Tomash Kuzmytskyi, and Max Chyzhevskyy)
Childish Gambino – "Telegraph Ave." (Gloria FX)
Skrillex & Diplo "Where Are U Now" with Justin Bieber (Brewer)
Tyler, The Creator – "F****** Young/Death Camp" (Gloria FX)
 

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