2012 MTV Video Music Awards: Drake and Rihanna Lead Nominations
Rihanna and Drake are the leading contenders for the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards, while Katy Perry, Beyonce, Skrillex, Lana Del Rey and Frank Ocean also scored multiple nominations.
MTV reports that the ‘Take Care’ singers both snagged five nominations, although Rihanna actually pocketed a whopping 11 noms when technical categories like Best Direction and Best Choreography are taken into consideration. RiRi and Drizzy are up for Video of the Year for ‘Take Care,’ while Rihanna has a second nomination in that category for ‘We Found Love.’ The other nominees for the big award of the night are Gotye‘s ‘Somebody That I Used to Know,’ Katy Perry’s ‘Wide Awake,’ and M.I.A.‘s ‘Bad Girls.’
Justin Bieber‘s ‘Boyfriend’ and One Direction‘s ‘What Makes You Beautiful’ will face off for Best Pop Video, against Rihanna, Maroon 5, and Fun. Kanye West appears twice in the Best Hip-Hop Video category, for ‘Mercy’ and the Jay-Z collabo ‘N—-s in Paris.’
Check out the full list of 2012 Video Music Award nominees below. Lady Gaga is one of the few big names in pop music not on the list, although she didn’t release many videos during the eligibility window.
The 2012 MTV Video Music Awards air on Sept. 6 at 8 p.m. from Los Angeles. One Direction and Alicia Keys are already confirmed as performers.
List of 2012 MTV Video Music Awards Nominees:
Video of the Year
Katy Perry, ‘Wide Awake’
Gotye, ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’
Rihanna, ‘We Found Love’
Drake feat. Rihanna, ‘Take Care’
M.I.A., ‘Bad Girls’
Best 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’
Best 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’
Best Male Video
Justin Bieber, ‘Boyfriend’
Frank Ocean, ‘Swim Good’
Drake feat. Rihanna, ‘Take Care’
Chris Brown, ‘Turn Up the Music’
Usher, ‘Climax’
Best 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’
Best 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’
Best Rock Video
Coldplay, ‘Paradise’
The Black Keys, ‘Lonely Boy’
Linkin Park, ‘Burn it Down’
Jack White, ‘Sixteen Saltines’
Imagine Dragons, ‘It’s Time’
Best 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’
Best 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’
Best 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’
Best Choreography
Chris Brown, ‘Turn Up the Music’
Rihanna, ‘Where Have You Been’
Beyoncé, ‘Countdown’
Avicii, ‘Le7els’
Jennifer Lopez feat. Pitbull, ‘Dance Again’
Best Cinematography
M.I.A., ‘Bad Girls’
Adele, ‘Someone Like You’
Drake feat. Rihanna, ‘Take Care’
Coldplay feat. Rihanna, ‘Princess of China’
Lana Del Rey, ‘Born to Die’
Best Direction
M.I.A., ‘Bad Girls’
Duck Sauce, ‘Big Bad Wolf’
Coldplay feat. Rihanna, ‘Princess of China’
Frank Ocean, ‘Swim Good’
Watch the Throne, ‘Otis’
Best 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’
Best Visual Effects
Katy Perry, ‘Wide Awake’
Rihanna, ‘Where Have You Been’
David Guetta feat. Nicki Minaj, ‘Turn Me On’
Linkin Park, ‘Burn It Down’
Watch the Drake ‘Take Care’ Video Feat. Rihanna