Source : PERTHNOW NEWS
The MTV Video Music Awards return to the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, anchored by an opening performance from Madonna and a highly anticipated appearance by Taylor Swift.
Swift will receive the inaugural Artist Director Honours, becoming the most awarded artist in VMA history.
Swift is currently tied with Beyonce for the title of most-awarded musician in VMA history. They have 30 each and Eminem is the male artist with the most VMAs with 15.
The new award, which according to the VMAs is meant to recognise artists “whose work behind the camera has expanded the possibilities of music video and advanced the art of visual storytelling,” will bring her total to 31.
Swift will also debut the music video for her new song, Patient Zero, during the awards on Monday AEST. The US star directed the visual, which stars Colin Farrell and Dakota Johnson.
It is the first time since 2017 that the VMAs have chosen a location that is not in New York or New Jersey.
Snoop Dogg, a 13-time VMAs nominee and three-time winner, will host the awards after making his debut on the VMAs stage in 1994. He closed the show in 1999 with Dr. Dre and Eminem and returned for a tribute to the Notorious B.I.G. and again for a performance with Eminem in 2022.
Madonna leads the VMA nominations with 11, including video, artist and song of the year, as well as best collaboration, dance, direction, art direction, cinematography, editing, choreography and visual effects.
Swift follows with the second-most nominations with nine. She is up for video and artist of the year as well as best pop, direction, art direction, cinematography, editing, choreography and visual effects.
Madonna and Swift are followed by Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter with seven nods each to their names, as well as Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson with five. Blackpink’s LISA has four and Shakira, Tate McRae, GENER8ION and Yung Lean are tied for three.
