August 30, 2020
by Carla Hay
With five prizes, including Artist of the Year, Lady Gaga emerged as the biggest winner at the 37th annual MTV Video Music Awards, which were presented at various outdoor locations in New York City on August 30, 2020. The MTV VMAs are voted for online by the public. The ceremony was originally going to be held indoors at Barclays Center in New York City’s Brooklyn borough, but those plans were scrapped because of the coronavirus pandemic. The ceremony, hosted by Keke Palmer, was dedicated to actor Chadwick Boseman, who died of colon cancer on August 28, 2020.
For the first time in MTV VMA history, the ceremony was simulcast on MTV and on The CW broadcast network. MTV and The CW are both owned by ViacomCBS. The MTV VMAs continued to have simulcasts on ViacomCBS-owned cable TV networks such as BET, BET Her, CMT, Comedy Central, Logo, MTV2, Nick at Nite, Paramount Network, Pop, TV Land and VH1.
In addition to the subdued, mostly serious tone of the show, this year’s MTV VMA ceremony was very different because many of the performers on stage wore masks due to the pandemic. Several of the acceptance speeches had messages addressing the pandemic and civil unrest affecting the world. This wasn’t a ceremony where people were going to pull any crazy publicity stunts that the MTV VMAs are known for having. And as with other award shows and similar events that are being held during the pandemic, the MTV VMAs in 2020 did not have “red carpet” arrivals or a backstage press room.
Lady Gaga had several costume changes during the numerous times she was on stage, either to perform or to accept a VMA trophy. She was given the MTV Tricon Award for career achievement (a non-competitive category) in addition to winning Artist of the Year. Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande’s duet “Rain on Me” picked up three prizes: Song of the Year, Best Collaboration and Best Cinematography. Grande and Lady Gaga performed “Rain on Me” at the ceremony. Lady Gaga and Grande had the most nominations (nine each) going into the ceremony.
Grande ended up winning four VMA prizes: The aforementioned three VMAs for “Rain on Me,” plus one for Grande and Justin Bieber’s duet “Stuck With U,” which was the first MTV VMA winner for Best Music Video From Home, a category that was created because of the pandemic. Another pandemic-created category this year was Best Quarantine Performance, which went to CNCO for “MTV Unplugged at Home.”
The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” won two prizes: Video of the Year and Best R&B. BTS picked up four prizes: Best Group, while BTS’s “On” video garnered the awards for Best Pop, Best K-Pop and Best Choreography.
The 2020 MTV VMA also added a pandemic-related category called Everyday Heroes: Frontline Medical Workers, “celebrating the best performances by first responders— doctors, nurses and other frontline medical workers—who kept everyone going with their impromptu and off-the-cuff performances,” according to a press release from MTV. All of the nominees ended up winning the award.
Chloe x Halle, Jack Harlow, Lewis Capaldi, Tate McRae and Machine Gun Kelly featuring Travis Barker and Blackbear performed during the 2020 VMAs Pre-Show, which was hosted by Jamila Mustafa and Nessa, and featured interviews by celebrity correspondents Kevan Kenney and Travis Mills.
The presenters at the 2020 MTV VMAs were host Palmer, Jaden Smith, Drew Barrymore, Anthony Ramos, Joey King, Madison Beer, Nicole Richie, Kelly Clarkson, Sofia Carson, Bella Hadid, Travis Barker, Machine Gun Kelly and Bebe Rexha.
Bruce Gillmer and Den of Thieves co-founder Jesse Ignjatovic were executive producers for the 2020 MTV VMAs. Barb Bialkowski was co-executive producer. Alicia Portugal and Jackie Barba served as executives in charge of production. Wendy Plaut was executive in charge of celebrity talent. Lisa Lauricella was the show’s music talent executive. Official sponsors of the 2020 MTV VMAS included Burger King, Chime Banking, Coors Light, Extra Gum and Pepsi.
Here is the list of performers and the songs they performed at the 2020 MTV VMAs:
- The Weeknd – “Blinding Lights”
- DaBaby – “Peep Hole,” “Blind” and “Rockstar”
- Miley Cyrus – “Midnight Sky”
- Maluma – “Hawái”
- BTS – “Dynamite”
- Lady Gaga – “Chromatica II” “911,” “Rain on Me” (with Ariana Grande) and “Stupid Love”
- Doja Cat – “Say So” and “Like That”
- Keke Palmer – “Snack”
- CNCO – “Beso”
- Black Eyed Peas with Nicky Jam and Tyga – “I Gotta Feeling”
- JP Saxe and Julia Michaels – “If the World Was Ending” (advertisement for Extra Gum)
COMPLETE LIST OF WINNERS AND NOMINEES
* = winner
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Billie Eilish – “Everything I Wanted” – Darkroom / Interscope Records
Eminem featuring Juice WRLD – “Godzilla” – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records
Future featuring Drake – “Life Is Good” – Epic Records / Freebandz
Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande – “Rain on Me” – Streamline / Interscope Records
Taylor Swift – “The Man” – Republic Records
The Weeknd – “Blinding Lights” – XO / Republic Records*
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
DaBaby – SCMG / Interscope Records
Justin Bieber – RBMG / Def Jam
Lady Gaga – Streamline / Interscope Records*
Megan Thee Stallion – 300 Entertainment
Post Malone – Republic Records
The Weeknd – XO / Republic Records
SONG OF THE YEAR
Billie Eilish – “Everything I Wanted” – Darkroom / Interscope Records
Doja Cat – “Say So” – Kemosabe / RCA Records
Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande – “Rain on Me” – Streamline / Interscope Records*
Megan Thee Stallion – “Savage” – 300 Entertainment
Post Malone – “Circles” – Republic Records
Roddy Ricch – “The Box” – Atlantic Records
BEST COLLABORATION
Ariana Grande & Justin Bieber – “Stuck With U” – Republic Records / Def Jam
Black Eyed Peas featuring J Balvin – “RITMO (Bad Boys for Life)” – Epic Records / We The Best
Ed Sheeran featuring Khalid – “Beautiful People” – Atlantic Records
Future featuring Drake – “Life Is Good” – Epic Records / Freebandz
Karol G featuring Nicki Minaj – “Tusa” – Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande – “Rain on Me” – Streamline / Interscope Records*
PUSH BEST NEW ARTIST, Presented by Chime Banking
Doja Cat – Kemosabe / RCA Records*
Jack Harlow – Generation Now / Atlantic Records
Lewis Capaldi – Capitol Records
Roddy Ricch – Atlantic Records
Tate McRae – RCA Records
YUNGBLUD – Locomotion Recordings / Geffen Records / Interscope Records
BEST POP
BTS – “On” – Big Hit Entertainment*
Halsey – “You Should Be Sad” – Capitol Records
Jonas Brothers – “What a Man Gotta Do” – Republic Records
Justin Bieber featuring Quavo – “Intentions” – RBMG / Def Jam
Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande – “Rain on Me” – Streamline / Interscope Records
Taylor Swift – “Lover” – Republic Records
BEST HIP-HOP
DaBaby – “BOP” – SCMG / Interscope Records
Eminem featuring Juice WRLD – “Godzilla” – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records
Future featuring Drake – “Life Is Good” – Epic Records / Freebandz
Megan Thee Stallion – “Savage” – 300 Entertainment*
Roddy Ricch – “The Box” – Atlantic Records
Travis Scott – “Highest in the Room” – Epic Records / Cactus Jack
BEST ROCK
Blink-182 – “Happy Days” – Columbia Records
Coldplay – “Orphans” – Atlantic Records*
Evanescence – “Wasted on You” – BMG
Fall Out Boy featuring Wyclef Jean – “Dear Future Self (Hands Up)” – Island Records
Green Day – “Oh Yeah!” – Reprise / Warner Records
The Killers – “Caution” – Island Records
BEST ALTERNATIVE
The 1975 – “If You’re Too Shy (Let Me Know)” – Dirty Hit / Interscope Records
All Time Low – “Some Kind of Disaster” – Fueled By Ramen
Finneas – “Let’s Fall in Love for the Night” – AWAL
Lana Del Rey – “Doin’ Time” – Interscope Records
Machine Gun Kelly – “Bloody Valentine” – Bad Boy / Interscope Records*
Twenty One Pilots – “Level of Concern” – Elektra Music Group / Fueled By Ramen
BEST LATIN
Anuel AA featuring Daddy Yankee, Ozuna, Karol G & J Balvin – “China” – Real Hasta La Muerte
Bad Bunny – “Yo Perreo Sola” – Rimas Entertainment
Black Eyed Peas featuring Ozuna and J. Rey Soul – “MAMACITA” – Epic Records
J Balvin – “Amarillo” – Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Karol G featuring Nicki Minaj – “Tusa” – Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Maluma featuring J Balvin – “Qué Pena” – Sony Music Latin*
BEST R&B
Alicia Keys – “Underdog” – RCA Records
Chloe x Halle – “Do It” – Parkwood / Columbia Records
H.E.R. featuring YG – “Slide” – MBK / RCA Records
Khalid featuring Summer Walker – “Eleven” – Right Hand Music / RCA Records
Lizzo – “Cuz I Love You” – Atlantic Records
The Weeknd – “Blinding Lights” – XO / Republic Records*
BEST K-POP
(G)I-DLE – “Oh My God” – Republic Records
BTS – “On” – Big Hit Entertainment*
EXO – “Obsession” – SM Entertainment
Monsta X – “Someone’s Someone” – Epic Records
Tomorrow X Together – “9 and Three Quarters (Run Away)” Republic Records
Red Velvet – “Psycho” – SM Entertainment
VIDEO FOR GOOD
Anderson .Paak – “Lockdown” – 12 Tone Music Group
Billie Eilish – “All the Good Girls Go to Hell” – Darkroom / Interscope Records
Demi Lovato – “I Love Me” – Island Records
H.E.R. – ”I Can’t Breathe” – MBK / RCA Records*
Lil Baby – “The Bigger Picture” – Quality Control Music / Motown / Capitol Music Group
Taylor Swift – “The Man” – Republic Records
BEST MUSIC VIDEO FROM HOME
5 Seconds of Summer – “Wildflower” – Interscope Records
Ariana Grande with Justin Bieber – “Stuck with U” – Republic Records / Def Jam*
Blink-182 – “Happy Days” – Columbia Records
Drake – “Toosie Slide” – OVO/Republic Records
John Legend – “Bigger Love” – Columbia Records
Twenty One Pilots – “Level of Concern” – Elektra Music Group / Fueled by Ramen
BEST QUARANTINE PERFORMANCE
Chloe & Halle – “Do It” from MTV’s Prom-athon
CNCO – Unplugged at Home*
DJ D-Nice – Club MTV presents #DanceTogether
John Legend – #togetherathome Concert Series
Lady Gaga – “Smile” from One World: Together at Home
Post Malone – Nirvana Tribute
BEST DIRECTION
Billie Eilish – “Xanny” – Darkroom / Interscope Records – Directed by Billie Eilish
Doja Cat – “Say So” – Kemosabe / RCA Records – Directed by Hannah Lux Davis
Dua Lipa – “Don’t Start Now” – Warner Records – Directed by Nabil
Harry Styles – “Adore You” – Columbia Records – Directed by Dave Meyers
Taylor Swift – “The Man” – Republic Records – Directed by Taylor Swift*
The Weeknd – “Blinding Lights” – XO / Republic Records – Directed by Anton Tammi
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
5 Seconds of Summer – “Old Me” – Interscope Records – Cinematography by Kieran Fowler
Camila Cabello featuring DaBaby – “My Oh My” – Syco Music / Epic Records – Cinematography by Dave Meyers
Billie Eilish – “All the Good Girls Go to Hell” – Darkroom / Interscope Records – Cinematography by Christopher Probst
Katy Perry – “Harleys In Hawaii” – Capitol Records – Cinematography by Arnau Valls
Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande – “Rain on Me” – Streamline / Interscope Records – Cinematography by Michael Merriman*
The Weeknd – “Blinding Lights” – XO / Republic Records – Cinematography by Oliver Millar
BEST ART DIRECTION
A$AP Rocky – “Babushka Boi” – Polo Grounds Music / RCA Records – Art Direction by A$AP Rocky, Nadia Lee Cohen and Brittany Porter
Dua Lipa – “Physical” – Warner Records – Art Direction by Anna Colomé Nogu ́
Harry Styles – “Adore You” – Columbia Records – Art Direction by Laura Ellis Cricks
Miley Cyrus – “Mother’s Daughter” – RCA Records – Art Direction by Christian Stone*
Selena Gomez – “Boyfriend” – Interscope Records – Art Direction by Tatiana Van Sauter
Taylor Swift – “Lover” – Republic Records – Art Direction by Kurt Gefke
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Billie Eilish – “All the Good Girls Go to Hell” – Darkroom / Interscope Records – Visual Effects by Drive Studios
Demi Lovato – “I Love Me” – Island Records – Visual Effects by Hoody FX
Dua Lipa – “Physical” – Warner Records – Visual Effects by EIGHTY4*
Harry Styles – “Adore You” – Columbia Records – Visual Effects by Mathematic
Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande – “Rain on Me” – Streamline / Interscope Records – Visual Effects by Ingenuity Studios
Travis Scott – “Highest in the Room” – Epic Records / Cactus Jack – Visual Effects by Artjail, Scissor Films & Frender
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
BTS – “On” – Big Hit Entertainment – Choreography by The Lab and Son Sung Deuk*
CNCO & Natti Natasha – “Honey Boo” – Sony Music Latin / RCA Records – Choreography by Kyle Hanagami
DaBaby – “BOP” – SCMG / Interscope Records – Choreography by Dani Leigh and Cherry
Dua Lipa – “Physical” – Warner Records – Choreography by Charm La’Donna
Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande – “Rain on Me” – Streamline / Interscope Records – Choreography by Richy Jackson
Normani – “Motivation” – Keep Cool / RCA Records – Choreography by Sean Bankhead
BEST EDITING
Halsey – “Graveyard” – Capitol Records – Edited by Emilie Aubry, Janne Vartia & Tim Montana
James Blake – “Can’t Believe the Way We Flow” – Republic Records – Edited by Frank Lebon
Lizzo – “Good as Hell” – Atlantic Records – Edited by Russell Santos & Sofia Kerpan
Miley Cyrus – “Mother’s Daughter” – RCA Records – Edited by Alexandre Moors, Nuno Xico*
Rosalía – “A Palé” – Columbia Records – Edited by Andre Jones
The Weeknd – “Blinding Lights” – XO / Republic Records – Edited by Janne Vartia & Tim Montana
BEST GROUP
5 Seconds of Summer
The 1975
BLACKPINK
BTS*
Chloe x Halle
CNCO
Little Mix
MONSTA X
Now United
Twenty One Pilots
SONG OF THE SUMMER
BLACKPINK – “How You Like That”*
Cardi B featuring Megan Thee Stallion – “WAP”
DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch – “Rockstar”
DJ Khaled featuring Drake – “Popstar”
Doja Cat – “Say So”
Dua Lipa – “Break My Heart”
Harry Styles – “Watermelon Sugar”
Jack Harlow – “Whats Poppin”
Lil Baby featuring 42 Dugg – “We Paid”
Megan Thee Stallion featuring Beyoncé – “Savage (Remix)”
Miley Cyrus – “Midnight Sky”
Pop Smoke featuring 50 Cent & Roddy Ricch – “The Woo”
SAINt JHN – “Roses”
Saweetie – “Tap In”
Taylor Swift – “Cardigan”
The Weeknd – “Blinding Lights”
EVERYDAY HEROES: FRONTLINE MEDICAL WORKERS
Dr. Elvis Francois and Dr. William Robinson – “Imagine”*
Dr. Nate Wood – “Lean on Me”*
Jefferson University Hospital’s Swab Squad – “Level Up”*
Jason “Tik Tok Doc” Campbell*
Lori Marie Key – “Amazing Grace”*
