Taylor Swift is the night’s biggest winner with nine trophies
MTV has revealed the winners of the 2023 Video Music Awards (VMAs). Taylor Swift owns the night with nine wins and solidifies her place in show history tying for most wins in one night and now second-most overall wins. She was nominated for 11 trophies, followed by Sza with eight, Blackpink, Doja Cat, Miley Cyrus, Nicki Minaj, Olivia Rodrigo with six, Kim Petras and Sam Smith with five each, Beyoncé, Diddy, Drake, Ice Spice, Karol G, Metro Boomin, Shakira and Tomorrow X Together with four apiece.
Swift topped the night with the coveted Video of the Year Award for “Anti-Hero.” The song also won Song of the Year, Best Pop, Best Direction, Best Cinematography, and Best Visual Effects. Swift also took home Artist of the Year, Show of the Summer for The Eras Tour and Album of the Year for Midnights.
A reunited NSYNC presented Swift with the Best Pop trophy, receiving big praise from the pop star herself. Reports are circulating that the group has recorded a new song written by Justin Timberlake for Trolls Band Together, the third installment of the franchise. Timberlake voices Branch in the film and has written a song for the upcoming movie. It’s also expected that Timberlake’s NSYNC band members, JC Chasez, Lance Bass, Joey Fatone and Chris Kirkpatrick join Timberlake in the film.
Other winners include Ice Spice, Tomorrow X Together, Karol G, Shakira, Nicki Minaj, Sza, Lana Del Rey, Måneskin, Anitta, Stray Kids, Blackpink, Olivia Rodrigo, Doja Cat, BTS’ Jung Kook and Latto.
The event had many show-stopping moments as well with Lil Wayne and Rodrigo opening the show with back-to-back performances, Demi Lovato performing two rock remakes of her own music, and a closing performance honoring hip hop’s 50th anniversary, among others.
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” – Republic Records
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Taylor Swift – Republic Records
SONG OF THE YEAR
Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” – Republic Records
BEST NEW ARTIST – TBD
Ice Spice – 10K Projects / Capitol Records
PUSH PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
April 2023: Tomorrow X Together – “Sugar Rush Ride” – BigHit Music / Republic Records
BEST COLLABORATION
Karol G, Shakira – “TQG” – UNIVERSAL MUSIC LATINO
BEST POP
Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” – Republic Records
BEST HIP-HOP
Nicki Minaj – “Super Freaky Girl” – Republic Records
BEST R&B
Sza – “Shirt” – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records
BEST ALTERNATIVE
Lana Del Rey ft. Jon Batiste – “Candy Necklace” – Interscope Records
BEST ROCK
Måneskin – “The Loneliest” – Arista Records
BEST LATIN
Anitta – “Funk Rave” – Republic Records
BEST K-POP
Stray Kids – “S-Class” – JYP / Republic
BEST AFROBEATS
Rema & Selena Gomez – “Calm Down” – Mavin Global Holdings Ltd / Jonzing World
VIDEO FOR GOOD
Dove Cameron – “Breakfast” – Columbia Records
BEST DIRECTION
Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” – Republic Records – Directed by Taylor Swift
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” – Republic Records – Cinematography by Rina Yang
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” – Republic Records – Visual Effects by Parliament
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
Blackpink – “Pink Venom” – YG Entertainment / Interscope Records – Kiel Tutin, Sienna Lalau,
BEST ART DIRECTION
Doja Cat – “Attention” – Kemosabe Records / RCA Records – Art Direction by Spencer Graves
BEST EDITING
Olivia Rodrigo – “Vampire” – Geffen Records – Edited by Sofia Kerpan and David Checel
SHOW OF THE SUMMER
Taylor Swift – Republic Records
GROUP OF THE YEAR
Blackpink – YG Entertainment / Interscope Records
SONG OF THE SUMMER
Jung Kook ft. Latto – “Seven” – BigHit Music / Geffen Records
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Taylor Swift – Midnights – Republic Records
