Drake and Rihanna lead the nominees for this year's MTV Video Music awards. Each artist received five nods in a contest that will also see the UK boybands One Direction and the Wanted face off for the best new artist prize.
This year's VMAs will take place on 6 September at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. While Drake and Rihanna are at the top of the heap, Katy Perry received four nominations, with three each to Frank Ocean, MIA, Coldplay, and Jay-Z & Kanye West's Watch the Throne project. As for the biggest prize of the night, video of the year, there's an Australian earworm nestled in with the bangers: Gotye's Somebody That I Used to Know will contend with songs by Drake, Rihanna, Perry and MIA.
So far, organisers have announced only two of the gala's performers: One Direction, who have the bestselling debut album of the year in the US, and Alicia Keys, who will preview her upcoming fifth LP. "It's the perfect setting," Keys said in a statement. "I debuted No One at the [2007] VMAs – it was the first time anyone in the world heard [the song]. It's the right energy. It's the right vibe. People are so excited about the night of music and hearing different styles that it just goes over really well."
Despite attempting a comeback album this year, Madonna was completely overlooked in this year's VMA nominations. The same is true for Lady Gaga, who was eligible for – and ignored in – two categories.
The full list of nominations is:
Video of the year
Katy Perry – Wide Awake
Gotye – Somebody That I Used to Know
Rihanna – We Found Love
Drake feat. Rihanna – Take Care
MIA – Bad Girls
New artist
Fun. feat. Janelle Monae – We Are Young
Carly Rae Jepsen – Call Me Maybe
Frank Ocean – Swim Good
One Direction – What Makes You Beautiful
The Wanted – Glad You Came
Hip-hop video
Childish Gambino – Heartbeat
Drake feat. Lil Wayne – HYFR
Kanye West feat. Pusha T, Big Sean & 2 Chainz – Mercy
Watch the Throne – Paris
Nicki Minaj feat. 2 Chainz – Beez in the Trap
Male video
Justin Bieber – Boyfriend
Frank Ocean – Swim Good
Drake feat. Rihanna – Take Care
Chris Brown – Turn Up the Music
Usher – Climax
Female video
Rihanna – We Found Love
Katy Perry – Part of Me
Beyoncé – Love on Top
Nicki Minaj – Starships
Selena Gomez & the Scene – Love You Like a Love Song
Pop video
One Direction – What Makes You Beautiful
Fun. feat. Janelle Monae – We Are Young
Rihanna – We Found Love
Justin Bieber – Boyfriend
Maroon 5 feat. Wiz Khalifa – Payphone
Rock video
Coldplay – Paradise
The Black Keys – Lonely Boy
Linkin Park – Burn It Down
Jack White – Sixteen Saltines
Imagine Dragons – It's Time
Electronic dance music video
Duck Sauce – Big Bad Wolf
Calvin Harris – Feel So Close
Skrillex – First of the Year (Equinox)
Martin Solveig – The Night Out
Avicii – Le7els
Video with a message
Demi Lovato – Skyscraper
Rise Against – Ballad of Hollis Brown
Kelly Clarkson – Dark Side
Gym Class Heroes – The Fighter
K'Naan feat. Nelly Furtado – Is Anybody Out There?
Lil Wayne – How to Love
Art direction
Katy Perry – Wide Awake
Drake feat. Rihanna – Take Care
Lana Del Rey – Born to Die
Regina Spektor – All the Rowboats
Of Monsters & Men – Little Talks
Choreography
Chris Brown – Turn Up the Music
Rihanna – Where Have You Been
Beyoncé – Countdown
Avicii – Le7els
Jennifer Lopez feat. Pitbull – Dance Again
Cinematography
MIA – Bad Girls
Adele – Someone Like You
Drake feat. Rihanna – Take Care
Coldplay feat. Rihanna – Princess of China
Lana Del Rey – Born to Die
Direction
MIA – Bad Girls
Duck Sauce – Big Bad Wolf
Coldplay feat. Rihanna – Princess of China
Frank Ocean – Swim Good
Watch the Throne – Otis
Editing
Beyoncé – Countdown
A$AP Rocky – Goldie
Gotye – Somebody That I Used to Know
Watch the Throne – Paris
Kanye West feat. Pusha T, Big Sean and 2 Chainz – Mercy
Visual effects
Katy Perry – Wide Awake
Rihanna – Where Have You Been
David Guetta feat. Nicki Minaj – Turn Me On
Linkin Park – Burn It Down
