Although viewers are not likely to see full music videos very often when they turn on MTV, the former music focused, turned reality TV focused network announced the nominations for the 30th annual MTV Video Music Awards on Thursday. The event is to be broadcast live from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Sunday, August 25th at 9pm ET/PT. The network sent out these highlights and the list of nominations:
Justin Timberlake and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis lead this year's VMA pack with six overall nominations each. Timberlake's nominations include "Video of the Year," "Best Male Video," "Best Pop Video" and "Best Editing" for "Mirrors," while his "Suit & Tie" featuring JAY Z, scored nods for "Best Collaboration," and "Best Direction." Previously, Timberlake has taken home seven Video Music Awards, including "Best Pop Video" for "Cry Me A River."
Justin Timberlake's "Mirrors," Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' "Thrift Shop," Bruno Mars' "Locked Out of Heaven," Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" featuring T.I. and Pharrell, and Taylor Swift's "I Knew You Were Trouble," are set for an epic battle to take home Video of the Year.
Video of the Year
Justin Timberlake, "Mirrors"
Bruno Mars, "Locked out of Heaven"
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, "Thrift Shop"
Robin Thicke, featuring T.I. and Pharrell, "Blurred Lines"
Taylor Swift, "I Knew You Were Trouble"
Best Male Video
Justin Timberlake, "Mirrors"
Robin Thicke feat. T.I. and Pharrell, "Blurred Lines"
Bruno Mars, "Locked out of Heaven"
Ed Sheeran, "Lego House"
Kendrick Lamar, "Swimming Pools"
Best Female Video
Rihanna feat. Mikky Ekko, "Stay"
Taylor Swift, "I Knew You Were Trouble"
Miley Cyrus, "We Can't Stop"
Pink feat. Nate Ruess, "Just Give Me a Reason"
Demi Lovato, "Heart Attack"
Best Pop Video
Bruno Mars, "Locked out of Heaven"
Justin Timberlake, "Mirrors"
Fun., "Carry on"
Miley Cyrus, "We Can't Stop"
Selena Gomez, "Come and Get It"
Artist to Watch, Presented by Taco Bell
Twenty One Pilots, "Holding on to You"
Zedd feat. Foxes, "Clarity"
Austin Mahone, "What About Love"
The Weeknd, "Wicked Games"
Iggy Azalea, "Work"
Best Collaboration
Justin Timberlake, feat. Jay-Z, "Suit & Tie"
Calvin Harris feat. Ellie Goulding, "I Need Your Love"
Robin Thicke feat. T.I. and Pharrell, "Blurred Lines"
Pink feat. Nate Ruess, "Just Give Me a Reason"
Christina Aguilera - "Feel This Moment"
Best Video With a Social Message
Kelly Clarkson, "People Like Us"
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, "Same Love"
Snoop Lion, "No Guns Allowed"
Miguel, "Candles in the Sun"
Beyoncé, "I Was Here"
Best Rock Video
Imagine Dragons, "Radioactive"
Fall Out Boy, "My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up)"
Mumford & Sons, "I Will Wait"
Thirty Seconds to Mars, "Up in the Air"
Vampire Weekend, "Diane Young"
Best Art Direction
Capital Cities, "Safe and Sound"
Thirty Seconds to Mars, "Up in the Air"
Janelle Monae feat. Erykah Badu, "Q.U.E.E.N"
Lana Del Rey, "National Anthem"
Alt-J, "Tesselate"
Best Choreography
Chris Brown, "Fine China"
Ciara, "Body Party"
Jennifer Lopez feat. Pitbull, "Live It Up"
will.i.am feat. Justin Bieber, "#thatPOWER"
Bruno Mars, "Treasure"
Best Cinematography
Thirty Seconds to Mars, "Up in the Air"
Lana Del Rey, "Ride"
Yeah Yeah Yeahs, "Sacrilege"
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton, "Can't Hold Us"
A-Trak & Tommy Trash, "Tuna Melt"
Best Direction
Justin Timberlake feat. Jay-Z, "Suit & Tie"
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton, "Can't Hold Us"
Yeah Yeah Yeahs, "Sacrilege"
Fun., "Carry on"
Drake, "Started From the Bottom"
Best Editing
Pink feat. Nate Ruess, "Just Give Me a Reason"
Calvin Harris feat. Florence Welch, "Sweet Nothing"
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton, "Can't Hold Us"
Justin Timberlake, "Mirrors"
Miley Cyrus, "We Can't Stop"
Best Visual Effects
Flying Lotus, "Tiny Tortures"
Skrillex feat. The Doors, "Breakin' A Sweat"
The Weeknd, "Wicked Games"
Duck Sauce, "It's You"
Capital Cities, "Safe and Sound"