MTV VMA RECAP
AND WINNERS

Notably missing from the 2018 MTV VMAs—which returned to NYC’s Radio City Music Hall—were the stars viewers have grown accustomed to seeing and hearing in recent years. No Bruno, no Taylor, no Ed, Drake, Kanye, Beyoncé or Jay-Z. Doing the heavy lifting instead were Ariana Grande, Logic, Shawn Mendes, Post Malone and Travis Scott. The ringer was Madonna—representing MTV’s golden age, back in the previous century.

Mendes kicked off the show with a rendition of his recent hit “In My Blood,” while Grande performed “God Is a Woman” surrounded by female dancers seemingly dressed for the Last Supper.

After a career-making performance of “1-800-273-8255” at last year’s VMAs, Logic returned—with Ryan Tedder on piano—for their collab, “One Day.” Logic filled the stage with immigrant families in a timely reminder of the power of protest music.

Nicki Minaj, performing at the Oculus at the World Trade Center, offered a medley of three songs off Queen.

Travis Scott, assisted by James Blake, led a quick tour of ASTROWORLD with a three-song medley. Post Malone performed his smash “rockstar” with 21 Savage and ended the night jamming with Aerosmith.

Winners included Camila Cabello (Artist of the Year, Video of the Year), Grande (Best Pop Video), Minaj (Best Hip-Hop Video) and Post-Savage (Song of the Year).

The full list of winners:

Video of the Year:
Ariana Grande – “No Tears Left to Cry”
Bruno Mars ft. Cardi B – “Finesse (Remix)”
Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug – “Havana”
The Carters – “APES**T”
Childish Gambino – “This Is America”
Drake – “God's Plan”

Artist of the Year:
Ariana Grande
Bruno Mars
Camila Cabello
Cardi B
Drake
Post Malone

Song of the Year:
Bruno Mars ft. Cardi B. – “Finesse (Remix)”
Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug – “Havana”
Drake – “God's Plan”
Dua Lipa – “New Rules”
Ed Sheeran – “Perfect”
Post Malone ft. 21 Savage – “rockstar”

Best New Artist:
Bazzi
Cardi B
Chloe x Halle
Hayley Kiyoko
Lil Pump
Lil Uzi Vert

Best Collaboration:
Bebe Rexha ft. Florida Georgia Line – “Meant to Be”
Bruno Mars ft. Cardi B – “Finesse (Remix)”
The Carters – “APES**T”
Jennifer Lopez ft. DJ Khaled & Cardi B – “Dinero”
Logic ft. Alessia Cara & Khalid – “1-800-273-8255”
N.E.R.D ft. Rihanna – “Lemon”

Best Pop Video:
Ariana Grande – “No Tears Left to Cry”
Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug – “Havana”
Demi Lovato – “Sorry Not Sorry”
Ed Sheeran – “Perfect”
P!nk – “What About Us”
Shawn Mendes – “In My Blood”

Best Hip-Hop Video:
Cardi B ft. 21 Savage – “Bartier Cardi”
The Carters – “APES**T”
Drake – “God's Plan”
J. Cole – “ATM”
Migos ft. Drake – “Walk It Talk It”
Nicki Minaj – “Chun-Li”

Best Dance Video:
Avicii ft. Rita Ora – “Lonely Together”
Calvin Harris & Dua Lipa – “One Kiss”
The Chainsmokers – “Everybody Hates Me”
David Guetta & Sia – “Flames”
Marshmello ft. Khalid – “Silence”
Zedd & Liam Payne – “Get Low (Street Video)”

Best Latin Video:
Daddy Yankee – “Dura”
J Balvin ft. Willy William – “Mi Gente”
Jennifer Lopez ft. DJ Khaled & Cardi B – “Dinero”
Luis Fonsi ft. Demi Lovato – “Échame La Culpa”
Maluma – “Felices los 4”
Shakira ft. Maluma – “Chantaje”

Best Rock Video:
Fall Out Boy – “Champion”
Foo Fighters – “The Sky Is A Neighborhood”
Imagine Dragons – “Whatever It Takes”
Linkin Park – “One More Light”
Panic! at the Disco – “Say Amen (Saturday Night)”
Thirty Seconds to Mars – “Walk On Water”

Video With a Message:
Childish Gambino – “This Is America”
Dej Loaf and Leon Bridges – “Liberated”
Drake – “God’s Plan”
Janelle Monáe – “PYNK”
Jessie Reyez – “Gatekeeper”
Logic ft. Alessia Cara & Khalid – “1-800-273-8255”

Best Cinematography:
Alessia Cara – “Growing Pains”
Ariana Grande – “No Tears Left to Cry”
The Carters – “APES**T”
Childish Gambino – “This Is America”
Eminem ft. Ed Sheeran – “River”
Shawn Mendes – “In My Blood”

Best Direction:
The Carters – “APES**T”
Childish Gambino – “This Is America”
Drake – “God's Plan”
Ed Sheeran – “Perfect”
Justin Timberlake ft. Chris Stapleton – “Say Something”
Shawn Mendes – “In My Blood”

Best Art Direction:
The Carters – “APES**T”
Childish Gambino – “This Is America”
J. Cole – “ATM”
Janelle Monáe – “Make Me Feel”
SZA – “The Weekend”
Taylor Swift – “Look What You Made Me Do”

Best Visual Effects:
Ariana Grande – “No Tears Left to Cry”
Avicii ft. Rita Ora – “Lonely Together”
Eminem ft. Beyoncé – “Walk On Water”
Kendrick Lamar & SZA – “All The Stars”
Maroon 5 – “Wait”
Taylor Swift – “Look What You Made Me Do”

Best Choreography:
Bruno Mars ft. Cardi B – “Finesse (Remix)”
Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug – “Havana”
The Carters – “APES**T”
Childish Gambino – “This Is America”
Dua Lipa – “IDGAF”
Justin Timberlake – “Filthy”

Best Editing:
Bruno Mars ft. Cardi B – “Finesse (Remix)”
The Carters – “APES**T”
Childish Gambino – “This Is America”
Janelle Monáe – “Make Me Feel”
N.E.R.D ft. Rihanna – “Lemon”
Taylor Swift – “Look What You Made Me Do”

Push Artist of the Year:
July 2018 – Chloe x Halle
June 2018 – Sigrid
May 2018 – Lil Xan
April 2018 – Hayley Kiyoko
March 2018 – Jessie Reyez
February 2018 – Tee Grizzley
January 2018 – Bishop Briggs
December 2017 – Grace VanderWaal
November 2017 – Why Don’t We
October 2017 – PRETTYMUCH
September 2017 – SZA
August 2017 – Kacy Hill
July 2017 – Khalid
June 2017 – Kyle
May 2017 – Noah Cyrus

Song of the Summer:
Calvin Harris & Dua Lipa – "One Kiss"
Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin – "I Like It"
DJ Khaled ft. Justin Bieber, Chance the Rapper & Quavo – "No Brainer"
Drake – "In My Feelings"
Ella Mai – "Boo'd Up"
Juice WRLD – "Lucid Dreams"
Maroon 5 ft. Cardi B – "Girls Like You"
Post Malone – "Better Now"