This year’s 2025 VMAs were held on September 7 at the UBS Arena in New York. The award show was hosted by famous rapper/performer LL Cool J. It was broadcast live on networks like CBS, MTV, and Paramount+. Before the awards, everyone was excited to see amazing performances from artists like Tate Macrae, Sombr, and many other big names.
The Big Winners of the Night
- Lady Gaga (who won the most awards for that night): for Artist of the Year, Best Direction and Best Art Direction for her “Abracadabra” video, and Best Collaboration with Bruno Mars for “Die With a Smile.”
- Ariana Grande: for Video of the Year for her video “Brighter Days Ahead,” and she also picked up Best Pop Video.
- Sabrina Carpenter: for Album of the Year for her album “Short N sweet” and Best Pop Artist
- Rose and Bruno: for song of the year “APT”
- Mariah Carey: for the Video Vanguard Award, which honors an honorary lasting contribution to pop culture and music videos
- Alex Warren: for best new artist
- Busta Rhymes: for Rock The Bells Visionary Award
Surprising Snubs and Upsets
Although many artists had significant moments and achievements throughout the night, some expected winners did not receive awards, leaving fans and viewers shocked. For example:
- Taylor Swift, who was up for Artist of the Year, did not attend and also did not win, which left many fans surprised
- Beyoncé, another usual winner, was also nominated for Artist of the Year but lost to Lady Gaga.
- And lastly, Lisa’s win for Best K-pop had many K-pop fans questioning whether this song was truly considered K-pop, given its English and Western collaborations.
Why It’s Important
Although artists may have a huge following and fans, they are usually expected to win, so when they lose, it can cause upset and leave many people in a state of confusion. The VMAS were also always about showcasing the importance of music videos, being creative, and different. Additionally, Mariah Carey was visibly emotional and overjoyed to finally receive an award at the VMAs, which highlights her genuine and kind nature. Lastly, the controversy surrounding K-pop music is still ongoing, but hopefully, this may open doors to new categories that promote diversity.
Other Fun Highlights
Other than the wins and losses, there were some very prominent highlights and interesting things that occurred, including
- Mariah Carey finally took home a VMA award after being nominated countless times in the past for songs like ‘Honey” and “Obsessed”
- A very heartwarming tribute to Ozzy Osbourne by Yungblud, Joe Perry, and Steven Tyler, where they all performed together to honor and show respect/love
Overall, the 2025 VMAS was a fun, entertaining night that had viewers nervously watching to see who would win while maintaining a fun and engaging show/performance. The show incorporated many fun blasts from the past, including performances from Mariah Carey and tributes, to create a nostalgic atmosphere, while also showcasing fresh faces like Sombr and more.
