Nigerian superstars dominate the Afrobeats category at the 2024 VMAs.

Afrobeats’ global popularity has earned it a place in the categories of several global award shows including the MTV Video Music Awards.

The VMAs has announced the nominations of the 2024 edition and Nigerian stars are well represented in the Best Afrobeats category.

Burna Boy‘s ‘City Boy,’ Tems‘ ‘Love Me Jeje,’ and Ayra Starr‘s ‘Last Heartbreak Song’ feat Giveon earned nominations.

Pheelz earned a nomination in the Best Afrobeats category courtesy of his decisive contributions to Usher‘s ‘Ruin’. Davido and Lojay also earned nominations for their guest verses on Chris Brown‘s ‘Sensational’ while South African star Tyla earned a nomination for her global smash hit ‘Water’.

Global superstar Taylor Swift leads the nominations with 10 while Post Malone follows behind with 9. Ariana Grande, Eminem, and Sabrina Carpenter are joint third with 6 nominations respectively.

The 2024 VMAs will take place in the United States on September 11 at the USB Arena in New York.

Full nomination list for he 2024 VMAs.

Video of the year

Ariana Grande – “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)” – Republic RecordsBillie Eilish – “Lunch” – Darkroom / Interscope RecordsDoja Cat – “Paint the Town Red” – Kemosabe Records / RCA RecordsEminem – “Houdini” – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope RecordsSZA – “Snooze” – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA RecordsTaylor Swift feat. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records

Artist of the year

Ariana Grande – Republic RecordsBad Bunny – Rimas EntertainmentEminem – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope RecordsSabrina Carpenter – IslandSZA – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA RecordsTaylor Swift – Republic Records

Song of the year

Beyoncé – “Texas Hold ‘Em” – Parkwood Entertainment / Columbia RecordsJack Harlow – “Lovin on Me” – Generation Now / Atlantic RecordsKendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” – pgLang, under exclusive license to Interscope RecordsSabrina Carpenter – “Espresso” – IslandTaylor Swift feat. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic RecordsTeddy Swims – “Lose Control” – Warner Records

Best new artist

Benson Boone – Night Street Records, Inc. / Warner RecordsChappell Roan – IslandGracie Abrams – Interscope RecordsShaboozey – American Dogwood / EMPIRETeddy Swims – Warner RecordsTyla – Epic Records

Best collaboration

Drake feat. Sexyy Red & SZA – “Rich Baby Daddy “ – OVO / Republic RecordsGloRilla, Megan Thee Stallion – “Wanna Be” – CMG / Interscope RecordsJessie Murph feat. Jelly Roll – “Wild Ones” – Columbia RecordsJung Kook feat. Latto – “Seven” – BIGHIT MUSIC / Geffen RecordsPost Malone feat. Morgan Wallen – “I Had Some Help” – Mercury / Republic / Big LoudTaylor Swift feat. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records

Best pop

Camila Cabello – Geffen / Interscope RecordsDua Lipa – Warner RecordsOlivia Rodrigo – Geffen RecordsSabrina Carpenter – IslandTate McCrae – RCA RecordsTaylor Swift – Republic Records

Best hip-hop

Drake feat. Sexyy Red & SZA – “Rich Baby Daddy “ – OVO / Republic RecordsEminem – “Houdini” – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope RecordsGloRilla – “Yeah Glo!” – CMG / Interscope RecordsGunna – “fukumean” – Young Stoner Life Records / 300 EntertainmentMegan Thee Stallion – “BOA” – Hot Girl ProductionsTravis Scott feat. Playboi Carti – “FE!N” – Cactus Jack / Epic Records

Best R&B

Alicia Keys – “Lifeline” – AK Records, under exclusive license to gamma.Muni Long – “Made for Me” – Def JamSZA – “Snooze” – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA RecordsTyla – “Water” – FAX Records / Epic RecordsUsher, Summer Walker, 21 Savage – “Good Good” – mega / gamma.Victoria Monét – “On My Mama” – Lovett Music / RCA Records

Best alternative

Benson Boone – “Beautiful Things” – Night Street Records, Inc. / Warner RecordsBleachers – “Tiny Moves” – Dirty HitHozier – “Too Sweet” – Columbia RecordsImagine Dragons – “Eyes Closed” – KIDinaKorner / Interscope RecordsLinkin Park – “Friendly Fire” – This Compilation / Warner RecordsTeddy Swims – “Lose Control (Live)” – Warner Records

Best rock

Bon Jovi – “Legendary” – IslandColdplay – “feelslikeimfallinginlove” – Atlantic RecordsGreen Day – “Dilemma” – Reprise Records / Warner RecordsKings of Leon – “Mustang” – Capitol RecordsLenny Kravitz – “Human” – ℗© 2024 Roxie Records Inc. under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management GmbHU2 – “Atomic City” – Interscope Records

Best Latin

Anitta – “Mil Veces” – Floresta Records / Republic Records / Universal Music Latin EntertainmentBad Bunny – “Monaco” – Rimas EntertainmentKarol G – “Mi Ex Tenía Razón” – Bichota / Interscope RecordsMyke Towers – “LaLa” – Warner Music LatinaPeso Pluma & Anitta – “Bellakeo” – Double P RecordsRauw Alejandro – “Touching the Sky” – Sony Music Latin / Duars EntertainmentShakira & Cardi B – “Puntería” – Sony Music US Latin

Best Afrobeats

Ayra Starr ft. Giveon – “Last Heartbreak Song” – Mavin / RepublicBurna Boy – “City Boys” – Spaceship / Bad Habit / Atlantic RecordsChris Brown ft. Davido & Lojay – “Sensational” – Chris Brown Entertainment / RCA RecordsTems – “Love Me JeJe” – Since ’93 / RCA RecordsTyla – “Water” – FAX Records / Epic RecordsUsher, Pheelz – “Ruin” – mega / gamma.

Best K-pop

Jung Kook ft. Latto – “Seven” – BIGHIT MUSIC / Geffen RecordsLISA – “Rockstar” – Lloud Co. / RCA RecordsNCT Dream – “Smoothie” – SM Entertainment / Virgin Music GroupNewJeans – “Super Shy” – ADOR / Geffen RecordsStray Kids – “LALALALA” – JYP Entertainment / Imperial / Republic RecordsTOMORROW X TOGETHER – “Deja vu” – BIGHIT MUSIC / IMPERIAL / Republic Records

Video for good

Alexander Stewart – “if only you knew” – FAE grpBillie Eilish – “What Was I Made For (From Barbie)” – Darkroom / Interscope RecordsColdplay – “feelslikeimfallinginlove” – Atlantic RecordsJoyner Lucas & Jelly Roll – “Best for Me” – Twenty Nine Music GroupRAYE – “Genesis.” – Human Re SourcesTyler Childers – “In Your Love” – Hickman Holler Records / RCA Records

MTV push performance of the year

August 2023: Kaliii – “Area Codes” – Atlantic RecordsSeptember 2023: GloRilla – “Lick or Sum” – CMG / Interscope RecordsOctober 2023: Benson Boone – “In The Stars” – Night Street Records, Inc. / Warner RecordsNovember 2023: Coco Jones – “ICU” – Def JamDecember 2023: Victoria Monét – “On My Mama” – Lovett Music / RCA RecordsJanuary 2024: Jessie Murph – “Wild Ones” – Columbia RecordsFebruary 2024: Teddy Swims – “Lose Control” – Warner RecordsMarch 2024: Chappell Roan – “Red Wine Supernova” – IslandApril 2024: Flyana Boss – “yeaaa” – vnclm_/ Atlantic RecordsMay 2024: Laufey – “Goddess” – Laufey / AWALJune 2024: LE SSERAFIM – “EASY” – SOURCE MUSIC / Geffen RecordsJuly 2024: The Warning – “Automatic Sun” – Lava / Republic Records

Technical awards

Best direction

Ariana Grande – “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)” – Republic Records; directed by Christian BreslauerBleachers – “Tiny Moves” – Dirty Hit; directed by Alex Lockett & Margaret QualleyEminem – “Houdini” – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records; directed by Rich LeeMegan Thee Stallion – “BOA” – Hot Girl Productions; directed by Daniel Iglesias Jr.Sabrina Carpenter – “Please Please Please” – Island; directed by Barbia ZeinaliTaylor Swift feat. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records; directed by Taylor Swift

Best cinematography

Ariana Grande – “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)” – Republic Records; cinematography by Anatol TrofimovCharli XCX – “Von dutch” – Atlantic Records; cinematography by Jeff BiermanDua Lipa – “Illusion” – Warner Records; cinematography by Nikita NuzmenkoOlivia Rodrigo – “obsessed” – Geffen Records; cinematography by Marz MillerRauw Alejandro – “Touching the Sky” – Sony Music Latin / Duars Entertainment; cinematography by Camilo MonsalveTaylor Swift feat. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records; cinematography by Rodrigo Prieto

Best editing

Anitta – “Mil Veces” – Floresta Records / Republic Records / Universal Music Latin Entertainment; editing by Nick YumulAriana Grande – “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)” – Republic Records; editing by Luis Caraza PeimbertEminem – “Houdini” – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records; editing by David ChecelLISA – “Rockstar” – Lloud Co. / RCA Records; editing by Nik KohlerSabrina Carpenter – “Espresso” – Island; editing by Jai ShuklaTaylor Swift feat. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records; editing by Chancler Haynes

Best choreography

Bleachers – Tiny Moves – Dirty Hit; choreography by Margaret QualleyDua Lipa – “Houdini” – Warner Records; choreography by Charm La’DonnaLISA – “Rockstar” – Lloud Co. / RCA Records; choreography by Sean BankheadRauw Alejandro – “Touching the Sky” – Sony Music Latin / Duars Entertainment – Choreography by Felix ‘Fefe’ BurgosTate McCrae – “Greedy” – RCA Records; choreography by Sean BankheadTroye Sivan – “Rush” – Capitol Records; choreography by Sergio Reis, Mauro Van De Kerkof

Best visual effects

Ariana Grande – “the boy is mine” – Republic Records; visual effects by Digital AxisEminem – “Houdini” – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records; visual effects by Synapse Virtual Production, Louise Lee, Rich Lee, Metaphysic, Flawless PostJustin Timberlake – “Selfish” – RCA Records; visual effects by Candice DragonasMegan Thee Stallion – “BOA” – Hot Girl Productions; visual effects by MathematicOlivia Rodrigo – “get him back!” – Geffen Records; visual effects by Cooper Vacheron, Preston Mohr, Karen Arakelian, Justin JohnsonTaylor Swift feat. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records; visual effects by Parliament

Best art direction

Charli XCX – “360” – Atlantic Records; art direction by Grace SurnowLISA – “Rockstar” – Lloyd Co. / RCA Records; art direction by Pongsan ThawatwichianMegan Thee Stallion – “BOA” – Hot Girl Productions; art direction by Brittany PorterOlivia Rodrigo – “bad idea right?” – Geffen Records; art direction by Nichaolas des JardinsSabrina Carpenter – “Please Please Please” – Island; art direction by Nicholas des JardinsTaylor Swift feat. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records; art direction by Ethan TobmanNigerian superstars dominate the Afrobeats category at the 2024 VMAs. Read More