News

2020 UK MVA Awards Submissions Open

The UK Music Video Awards 2020 is now accepting entries for its 2020 edition,  excellence in music video creativity and craft. One new category —ideally a one-time-only category — directly reflects these unique times: Best Lockdown Video, to celebrate work created under the extraordinary conditions of the recent Covid-19 crisis.

Entry deadline is August 3rd, with winnners are slated to be announced October 29th.

Read more for the full press release and/or visit ukmva.com for submission and other details.

BET AWARDS Nominations 2020

BET Awards nominations have been announced, including categories for Video of the Year and Best Director. The 2020 edition marks both the 20th anniversary of the awards and BET’s 40th anniversary, and will be aired Sunday,, June 28, 2020, at 8 pm ET on BET and various other ViacomCBS channels, including CBS itself.

Full nominations are at bet.com or Read More for the video-specific nods.

RIP, Adam Schlesinger - Fountains Of Wayne

The COVID-19 crisis has claimed the life of Fountains Of Wayne member Adam Schlesinger, known for his band's hit video "Stacy's Mom," writing The Wonders "That Thing You Do" for the Tom Hanks film of the same name, and winning an Emmy for his composing work on TV show Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.

Schlesinger was 52. He passed from Coronavirus complications. [NY Times obituary]

2019 Grammy Video Winners

It was an Awards show clearly affected by the day's tragic helicopter crash that killed all passengers, including basketball star Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna, but the Grammy's persevered at the Staples Center, home to many of Bryant's greatest moments.

Billie Eilish swept the main categories, but the Best Music Video Winner was "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X & Billy Ray Cyrus, with Calmatic as video director, and Candice Dragonas, Melissa Larsen & Saul Levitz as video producers. Best Music Film went to Beyoncé "Homecoming," directed by Beyoncé Knowles-Carter & Ed Burke; and produced by Steve Pamon and Erinn Williams.

Visit grammy.com for the full winners

2019 MTV VMA Winners

Winners of the 2019 MTV VMAs, via MTV.com...

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

  • WINNER: Taylor Swift – "You Need to Calm Down" – Republic Records
  • 21 Savage ft. J. Cole – "a lot" – Slaughter Gang LLC/Epic Records
  • Billie Eilish – "bad guy" – Darkroom/Interscope Records
  • Ariana Grande – "thank u, next" – Republic Records
  • Jonas Brothers – "Sucker" – Republic Records
  • Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus – "Old Town Road (Remix)" – Columbia Records

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

  • WINNER: Ariana Grande – Republic Records
  • Cardi B – Atlantic Records
  • Billie Eilish – Darkroom/Interscope Records
  • Halsey – Capitol Records
  • Jonas Brothers – Republic Records
  • Shawn Mendes– Island Records

SONG OF THE YEAR

  • WINNER: Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus – "Old Town Road (Remix)" – Columbia Records
  • Drake – "In My Feelings" – Young Money/Cash Money/Republic Records
  • Ariana Grande – "thank u, next" – Republic Records
  • Jonas Brothers – "Sucker" – Republic Records
  • Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper – "Shallow" – Interscope Records
  • Taylor Swift – "You Need to Calm Down" – Republic Records

BEST NEW ARTIST, presented by Taco Bell®

  • WINNER: Billie Eilish – Darkroom/Interscope Records
  • Ava Max – Atlantic Records
  • H.E.R. – MBK/RCA Records
  • Lil Nas X – Columbia Records
  • Lizzo – Atlantic Records
  • ROSALÍA – Columbia Records

BEST COLLABORATION

  • WINNER: Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello – "Señorita" – Island Records
  • Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus – "Old Town Road (Remix)" – Columbia Records
  • Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper – "Shallow" – Interscope Records
  • Taylor Swift ft. Brendon Urie of Panic! At The Disco – "ME!" – Republic Records
  • Ed Sheeran & Justin Bieber – "I Don’t Care" – Atlantic Records
  • BTS ft. Halsey – "Boy With Luv" – Columbia Records

PUSH ARTIST OF THE YEAR

  • WINNER: Billie Eilish – Darkroom/Interscope Records
  • Bazzi – Atlantic Records
  • CNCO – RCA Records
  • H.E.R. – MBK/RCA Records
  • Lauv – LAUV/AWAL
  • Lizzo – Atlantic Records

BEST POP

  • WINNER: Jonas Brothers – "Sucker" – Republic Records
  • 5 Seconds of Summer – "Easier" – Interscope Records
  • Cardi B & Bruno Mars – "Please Me" – Atlantic Records
  • Billie Eilish – "bad guy" – Darkroom/Interscope Records
  • Ariana Grande – "thank u, next" – Republic Records
  • Taylor Swift – "You Need to Calm Down" – Republic Records
  • Khalid - "Talk" - RCA Records

BEST HIP HOP

  • WINNER: Cardi B – "Money" – Atlantic Records
  • 2 Chainz ft. Ariana Grande – "Rule the World" – 2 Chainz Ps/Def Jam
  • 21 Savage ft. J. Cole – "a lot" – Slaughter Gang LLC/Epic Records
  • DJ Khaled ft. Nipsey Hussle & John Legend – "Higher" – We The Best/Epic Records
  • Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus – "Old Town Road (Remix)" – Columbia Records
  • Travis Scott ft. Drake – "SICKO MODE" – Epic Records/Grand Hustle/Cactus Jack

BEST R&B

  • WINNER: Normani ft. 6lack – "Waves" – Keep Cool/RCA Records
  • Anderson .Paak ft. Smokey Robinson – "Make It Better" – Aftermath Ent/12 Tone Music
  • Childish Gambino – "Feels Like Summer" – RCA Records
  • H.E.R. ft. Bryson Tiller – "Could’ve Been" – MBK/RCA Records
  • Alicia Keys – "Raise A Man" – RCA Records
  • Ella Mai – "Trip" – 10 Summers/Interscope Records

BEST K-POP

  • WINNER: BTS ft. Halsey – "Boy With Luv" – Columbia Records/Big Hit Entertainment
  • BLACKPINK – "Kill This Love" – YG Entertainment/Interscope Records
  • Monsta X ft. French Montana – "Who Do You Love" – Epic Records
  • TOMORROW X TOGETHER – "Cat & Dog" – Republic Records
  • NCT 127 – "Regular" – SM Entertainment
  • EXO – "Tempo" – SM Entertainment

BEST LATIN

  • WINNER: ROSALÍA & J Balvin ft. El Guincho – "Con Altura" – Columbia Records
  • Anuel AA, Karol G – "Secreto" – Universal Music Latino
  • Bad Bunny ft. Drake – "MIA" – OVO Sound/Warner Records
  • benny blanco, Tainy, Selena Gomez, J Balvin – "I Can’t Get Enough" – NEON16/Friends Keep Secrets/Interscope Records
  • Daddy Yankee ft. Snow – "Con Calma" – Universal Music Latin Entertainment
  • Maluma – "Mala Mía" – Sony Music US Latin

BEST DANCE

  • WINNER: The Chainsmokers, Bebe Rexha – "Call You Mine" – Disruptor/Columbia Records
  • Clean Bandit ft. Demi Lovato – "Solo" – Big Beat/Atlantic Records
  • DJ Snake ft. Selena Gomez, Ozuna & Cardi B – "Taki Taki" – DJ Snake Music Productions Ltd/Geffen
  • David Guetta, Bebe Rexha & J Balvin – "Say My Name" – Big Beat/Atlantic Records
  • Marshmello & Bastille – "Happier" – Capitol Records
  • Silk City & Dua Lipa ft. Diplo & Mark Ronson– "Electricity" – Columbia Records

BEST ROCK

  • WINNER: Panic! At The Disco – "High Hopes" – Elektra Music Group
  • The 1975 – "Love It If We Made It" – Dirty Hit/Interscope Records
  • Fall Out Boy – "Bishops Knife Trick" – Island Records
  • Imagine Dragons – "Natural" – KIDinaKORNER/Interscope Records
  • Lenny Kravitz – "Low" – BMG Rights Management (UK) Ltd.
  • twenty one pilots – "My Blood" – Elektra Music Group

VIDEO FOR GOOD

  • WINNER: Taylor Swift – "You Need to Calm Down" – Republic Records
  • Halsey – "Nightmare" – Capitol Records
  • The Killers – "Land of the Free" – Island
  • Jamie N Commons, Skylar Grey ft. Gallant – "Runaway Train" – KIDinaKORNER / Interscope Records
  • John Legend – "Preach" – Columbia Records
  • Lil Dicky – "Earth" – Dirty Burd, Inc./Commission/BMG

BEST GROUP

  • WINNER: BTS
  • 5 Seconds of Summer
  • Backstreet Boys
  • BLACKPINK
  • CNCO
  • Jonas Brothers
  • PRETTYMUCH
  • Why Don’t We

BEST POWER ANTHEM

  • WINNER: Megan Thee Stallion ft. Nicki Minaj & Ty Dolla $ign – "Hot Girl Summer"
  • Ariana Grande – "7 rings"
  • DJ Khaled ft. Cardi B & 21 Savage – "Wish Wish"
  • Halsey – "Nightmare"
  • Lizzo ft. Missy Elliott – "Tempo"
  • Maren Morris – "GIRL"
  • Miley Cyrus – "Mother’s Daughter"
  • Taylor Swift – "You Need To Calm Down"

SONG OF SUMMER

  • WINNER: Ariana Grande, Social House – "boyfriend"
  • Billie Eilish – "bad guy"
  • DaBaby – "Suge"
  • Ed Sheeran & Justin Bieber – "I Don't Care"
  • Jonas Brothers – Sucker"
  • Khalid – "Talk"
  • Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus – "Old Town Road (Remix)"
  • Lil Tecca – "Ransom"
  • Lizzo – "Truth Hurts"
  • Miley Cyrus – "Mother’s Daughter"
  • Post Malone ft. Young Thug – "Goodbyes"
  • ROSALÍA & J Balvin ft. El Guincho – "Con Altura"
  • Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello – "Señorita"
  • Taylor Swift – "You Need To Calm Down"
  • The Chainsmokers, Bebe Rexha – "Call You Mine"
  • Young Thug ft. J. Cole & Travis Scott – "The London"

BEST DIRECTION

  • WINNER: Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus – "Old Town Road (Remix)" – Columbia Records – Directed by Calmatic
  • Billie Eilish – "bad guy" – Darkroom/Interscope Records – Directed by Dave Meyers
  • FKA twigs – "Cellophane" – Young Turks – Directed by Andrew Thomas Huang
  • Ariana Grande – "thank you, next" – Republic Records – Directed by Hannah Lux Davis
  • LSD ft. Labrinth, Sia, Diplo – "No New Friends" – Columbia Records – Directed by Dano Cerny
  • Taylor Swift – "You Need to Calm Down" – Republic Records – Directed by Drew Kirsch & Taylor Swift

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

  • WINNER: Taylor Swift ft. Brendon Urie of Panic! At The Disco – "ME!" – Republic Records – Visual Effects by Loris Paillier & Lucas Salton for BUF VFX
  • Billie Eilish – "when the party’s over" – Darkroom/Interscope Records – Visual Effects by Bryan Fugal of Centralfugal Productions, Ryan Ross & Andres Jaramillo
  • FKA twigs – "Cellophane" – Young Turks – Visual Effects by Matt Chandler, Fabio Zaveti for Analog
  • Ariana Grande – "God is a Woman" – Republic Records – Visual Effects by Fabrice Lagayette, Kristina Prilukova & Rebecca Rice for Mathematic
  • DJ Khaled ft. SZA – "Just Us" – We The Best/Epic Records – Visual Effects by GloriaFX, Sergii Mashevskyi and Anatolii Kuzmytskyi
  • LSD ft. Labrinth, Sia, Diplo – "No New Friends" – Columbia Records – Visual Effects by Ethan Chancer

BEST EDITING

  • WINNER: Billie Eilish – "bad guy" – Darkroom/Interscope Records – Editing by Billie Eilish
  • Anderson .Paak ft. Kendrick Lamar – "Tints" – Aftermath Ent/12 Tone Music – Editing by Vinnie Hobbs
  • Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus – "Old Town Road (Remix)" – Columbia Record – Editing by Calmatic
  • Ariana Grande – "7 Rings" – Republic Records – Editing by Hannah Lux Davis & Taylor Walsh
  • Solange – "Almeda" – Columbia Records – Editing by Solange Knowles, Vinnie Hobbs, Jonathon Proctor
  • Taylor Swift – "You Need to Calm Down" – Republic Records – Editing by Jarrett Fijal

BEST ART DIRECTION

  • WINNER: Ariana Grande – "7 Rings" – Republic Records – Art Direction by John Richoux
  • BTS ft. Halsey – "Boy With Luv" – Columbia Records – Art Direction by JinSil Park, BoNa Kim (MU:E)
  • Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus – "Old Town Road (Remix)" – Columbia Records – Art Direction by Christian Zollenkopf for Prettybird
  • Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello – "Señorita" – Island Records – Art Direction by Tatiana Van Sauter
  • Taylor Swift – "You Need to Calm Down" – Republic Records – Art Direction by Brittany Porter
  • Kanye West and Lil’ Pump ft. Adele Givens – "I Love It" – Warner Records & Def Jam Music Group – Art Direction by Tino Schaedler

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY

  • WINNER: ROSALÍA & J Balvin ft. El Guincho – "Con Altura" – Columbia Records – Choreography by Charm La’Donna
  • FKA twigs – "Cellophane" – Young Turks – Choreography by Kelly Yvonne
  • LSD ft. Labrinth, Sia, Diplo – "No New Friends" – Columbia Records – Choreography by Ryan Heffington
  • Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello – "Señorita" – Island Records – Choreography by Calvit Hodge, Sara Biv
  • Solange – "Almeda" – Columbia Records – Choreography by Maya Taylor, Solange Knowles
  • BTS ft. Halsey – "Boy With Luv" – Columbia Records – Choreography by Son Sungdeuk, Quick Crew

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

  • WINNER: Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello – "Señorita" – Island Records – Cinematography by Scott Cunningham
  • Anderson .Paak ft. Kendrick Lamar – "Tints" – Aftermath Ent/12 Tone Music – Cinematography by Elias Talbot
  • Billie Eilish – "hostage" – Darkroom/Interscope Records – Cinematography by Pau Castejon
  • Ariana Grande – "thank you, next" – Republic Records – Cinematography by Christopher Probst
  • Solange – "Almeda" – Columbia Records – Cinematography by Chayse Irvin, Ryan Marie Helfant, Justin Hamilton
  • Taylor Swift ft. Brendon Urie of Panic! At The Disco – "ME!" – Republic Records – Cinematography by Starr Whitesides

WDMV Announces Proposed Guidelines for Pitching

The music video director advocacy and community group We Direct Music Videos (WDMV) has announced a set of Guidelines and Best Practices for the Pitching Process

WDMV is spearheaded by Daniel Kwan of the directing duo Daniels and is committed to sustainable directorial labor practices in the music video industry, with a current focus on respect, transparency, and the minimization of free work.. Pledged supporters include Award-winning directors Spike Jonze, Melina Matsoukas, Hiro Murai, DANIELS, Emily Kai Bock and Alma Har’el. 

To learn more about WDMV and its mission, visit wedirectmusicvideos.com.

2019 MTV VMA Nominations

MTV today unveiled the nominations for the 2019 “VMAs,” which includes dozens of artists whose reach and influence have elevated the music industry and global cultural conversation. Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift lead the nominations with 10 nods each in categories including, “Video of the Year,” “Song of the Year” and “Best Pop.” Other top contenders include first-time VMA nominees Billie Eilish and Lil Nas X who both entered the category of “Best New Artist,” presented by Taco Bell®.  This year’s show will introduce two new categories, “Best K-Pop” and “Video for Good.” 

Beginning today, fans can vote for their favorites across 14 gender-neutral VMA categories, including “Video of the Year,” “Artist of the Year,” “Best Collaboration” and more by visiting vma.mtv.com until Thursday, August 15. Voting for the “Best New Artist” award, presented by Taco Bell®, will remain active until the VMA broadcast. Fans onTwitter and Facebook Messenger can also slide into VMAs’ DMs to cast an additional vote for “Video of the Year,” “Song of the Year,” and more. Also launching this week, fans will be able to ask Alexa to “vote for the VMAs” for “Artist of the Year” within the MTV skill on Alexa-enabled devices. 

This year, for the first time ever, MTV is rewarding fans for voting through VMA Power Hour on vma.mtv.com, where their votes are doubled from 1-2pm ET daily. Superfans can come back each day within this voting window beginning tomorrow to show double the love for their favorite artists. 

Read More for a complete list of Nominees

UK MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS 2019 OPENS FOR ENTRIES

The UK Music Video Awards 2019 is now open for entries today, accepting music videos and music films from the past year. Entry deadline is August 2, 2019, and the event is scheduled to take place October 23 at London's Roundhouse.

There are over 30 categories, with opportunities for UK and International submissions.

Visit ukmva.com for submission information and more details. And read on for the full Press Release