- Lady Gaga tops the 2025 VMAs with 12 nominations, followed by Bruno Mars and Kendrick Lamar.
- ROSÉ stuns with 8 nods, including Video of the Year and Best K-pop, sparking global fan celebrations.
- BTS’ Jimin faces controversy as voting integrity questions emerge, fueling debate over fan-led nominations.
The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards have unveiled a dazzling list of nominees, with Lady Gaga once again taking center stage with a record-breaking 12 nominations.
This year’s VMAs introduced new categories like Best Country Video and Best Pop Artist, signaling a broader embrace of genre diversity. The Artist of the Year race is stacked with icons including Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar, and The Weeknd, making it one of the most competitive yet.
ROSÉ Rises, Jimin Sparks Debate, and Lady Gaga Leads: Inside the 2025 MTV VMAs
BLACKPINK’s ROSÉ, visibly emotional, shared her disbelief on social media after receiving eight nominations, calling it “a wild and unbelievable moment.” Her collaborative single “APT.” with Bruno Mars is nominated in top-tier categories including Video of the Year and Best Pop. Her solo track “Toxic Til the End” also landed her a nomination for Best K-pop, competing against fellow BLACKPINK members JENNIE, JISOO, and LISA.
Sabrina Carpenter’s rapid rise in 2025 is marked by her recognition across major categories like Best Pop, Artist of the Year, and Best Album for Short n’ Sweet. Her hit single Manchild earned her a spot in Video of the Year, a clear signal of her mainstream breakthrough. Carpenter’s dual appeal to both Gen Z and millennial audiences underscores her emergence as a top-tier pop force.
While the excitement is palpable, the nomination of BTS’ Jimin for fan-voted categories has drawn scrutiny. Online users admitted to casting multiple votes fraudulently, prompting a firestorm over fairness in the VMAs’ digital ballot system. Despite these claims, Jimin’s fans maintain that their passion simply reflects global enthusiasm, not manipulation.
The 2025 VMAs will be held at UBS Arena in New York City on September 7 and broadcast live on CBS and Paramount+, a first for the award show. With veterans like Gaga, Swift, and Lamar battling rising stars and global acts, this year’s ceremony aims to blend legacy with the next wave of music icons. The global broadcast underscores MTV’s commitment to celebrating music on a truly international stage.
The 2025 MTV VMAs showcase a music industry in flux—bold, diverse, and at times divisive. With record-breaking nominees, surprise snubs, and heated fan debates, this year’s show promises both spectacle and substance.
“Popularity is not an indicator of quality, but it does show whose voice is being heard.” — Unknown
