Taylor Swift, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris make headlines for the MTV VMAs

We’re closing in now on the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards (MTV VMAs). The ceremony, show, and award presentations take place on September 11 at the UBS Arena, New York. It’s been a while since the Grammys and its live show and time for some more. The nominations for the VMAs are now in. The date is set, after a dramatic late change, and the host is all lined up and ready to perform.

Let's start with the host Megan Thee Stallion.  She will be in charge of proceedings and already has two MTV VMAs from her songs “Hot Girl Summer” and “Savage”. The rapper has 21 other VMA nominations, including four in 2024. She will also be one of the many artists performing on the night of the awards. Sounds like a great plan so far.

Back to the nominations, and I mean for the awards, not the Presidential campaign. I will explain where Donald Trump and Kamala Harris have been affecting the MTV VMAs shortly, though. There are a wide range of nominations for the video awards. There are also plenty of awards to be claimed with 25 different categories, including six technical or professional ones for the making of the videos. 

Taylor Swift leads MTV VMA nominations list

We might see some surprise award winners, but it’s no shock to see Taylor Swift taking the headlines and leading the way with ten nominations. Swift’s The Eras Tour and the launch of her latest album, The Tortured Poets Department, have kept her both busy and very prominent this year. To be fair, Post Malone isn’t far behind with nine nominations. We’ll have to wait to see who picks up the awards on the night.

There is one award for which we do know the recipient in advance.  That’s a special category, the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award. It’s a lifetime achievement style award for recording artists or music video directors. 

This year it will be presented to Katy Perry.  The singer already holds five MTV VMA awards and last appeared at the event back in 2017 when she hosted the show and also performed. She’ll be back on the stage on awards night to perform and to receive her recognition.

Talking about the night of the event brings the story back to when Trump and Harris feature. The awards were originally scheduled for September 10, a day earlier. But, during August that date was moved to avoid a clash with the first Presidential debate between Trump and Harris. Imagine being the event planner or artist booker for the MTV VMAs and getting that call to change plans. A few choice words were no doubt used!

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