MTV VMA 2016 nominations: Beyoncé, Adele lead; Taylor Swift, Nick Jonas snubbed

As expected, Beyoncé leads the field with 11 nominations for her visual album Lemonade, followed by Grammy favourite Adele with eight nominations for her album 25. Beyoncé and Adele are up against each other in several categories, including Video of the Year. We have Beyoncé’s ‘Formation’, Adele’s ‘Hello’ competing against Drake’s catchy ‘Hotline Bling’, Justin Bieber’s dance-hall pop hit ‘Sorry’ and the controversial ‘Famous’ by Kanye West for the top category of nominations.
It was intriguing that Kendrik Lamar’s album To Pimp A Butterfly, which explores themes of African-American culture, racial inequality, depression, and institutional discrimination received only a single nomination for his collaboration with Beyoncé titled ‘Freedom’.




There were other, bigger, surprising snubs this year, the most prominent being Taylor Swift. This is a surprising turn of events for the pop singer, who led the nominations last year with 10 nods for the star-studded music video ‘Bad Blood’. But it is also possible that Swift isn’t eligible this year because she took home so many awards in 2015 and her album came out in late 2014.
Nick Jonas was also expected to win nominations for the video ‘Close’ featuring Tove Lo, which has received critical acclaim as well as adoration from fans. The drum assisted single is about both singers unable to physically touch each other as they're continuously pulled away from the other. As their clothes are ripped away, the pair is able to finally get close. The track is from Nick Jonas' solo album Last Year Was Complicated after he broke away from the Jonas Brothers.


FKA Twiigs, known for her trippy videos, didn’t receive a nomination in the mainstream category, but managed to make a cut for the professional ones. The same holds true for Fergie, David Bowie and the ex-One Direction star Zayn Malik whose video cinematographers, editors and directors received a nomination.
Winners are voted on through fan votes, which can be submitted through vma.mtv.com,  where the full list of nominations can also be viewed. The MTV VMA 2016 will air live from New York’s Madison Square Garden on Sunday, 28 August 2016.
2016 MTV VMA Nominees
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Adele – "Hello" [Director: Xavier Dolan]
Beyoncé – "Formation" [Director: Melina Matsoukas]
Drake – "Hotline Bling" [Director: Director X]
Justin Bieber – "Sorry" [Director: Parris Goebel]
Kanye West – "Famous" [Director: Kanye West]
BEST FEMALE VIDEO
Adele – "Hello" [Director: Xavier Dolan]
Beyoncé – "Hold Up" [Director: Jonas Åkerlund]
Sia – "Cheap Thrills" [Director: Lior Molcho]
Ariana Grande – "Into You" [Director: Hannah Lux Davis]
Rihanna ft. Drake – "Work" (short version) [Director: Director X]
BEST MALE VIDEO
Drake – "Hotline Bling" [Director: Director X]
Bryson Tiller – "Don't" [Director: Cris]
Calvin Harris ft. Rihanna – "This Is What You Came For" [Director: Emil Nava]
Kanye West – "Famous" [Director: Kanye West]
The Weeknd – "Can’t Feel My Face" [Director: Grant Singer]
BEST COLLABORATION
Beyoncé ft. Kendrick Lamar – "Freedom" [Director: Melina Matsoukas]
Fifth Harmony ft. Ty Dolla $ign – "Work From Home" [Director: Director X]
Ariana Grande ft. Lil Wayne – "Let Me Love You" [Director: Grant Singer]
Calvin Harris ft. Rihanna – "This Is What You Came For" [Director: Emil Nava]
Rihanna ft. Drake – "Work" (short version) [Director: Director X]