Lady Gaga swept four MTV Video Music Awards including Artist of the Year, yet Ariana Grande walked away with the night’s most coveted prize. Grande’s “Brighter Days Ahead” claimed Video of the Year at Sunday’s ceremony, hosted by LL Cool J at Long Island’s UBS Arena. The upset highlighted a night where established stars and breakthrough artists shared the spotlight in unexpected ways.
Gaga’s dominance extended beyond her Artist of the Year win, collecting trophies for:
- Best Direction and Best Art Direction for “Abracadabra”
- Best Collaboration with Bruno Mars for “Die With a Smile”
Her clean sweep in technical categories proved that visual artistry still matters in an era of TikTok-length attention spans.
Global Sounds Take Center Stage
K-pop, Afrobeats, and Latin categories showcase music’s borderless evolution.
The MTV Video Music Awards reflected streaming’s global reach with Lisa’s “Born Again” featuring Doja Cat and Raye winning Best K-Pop, while Tyla’s “Push 2 Start” dominated Best Afrobeats. Shakira claimed Best Latin for “Soltera,” and Rosé partnered with Bruno Mars for Song of the Year with “Apt.” These wins signal how American awards shows now embrace music that transcends geographic boundaries.
Sabrina Carpenter emerged as another major winner, capturing three trophies including Best Pop Artist and Best Album for “Short n’ Sweet.” Her success alongside Alex Warren’s Best New Artist win demonstrates how streaming platform stars are reshaping traditional industry pathways. Warren’s victory particularly highlights the rise of artists who built their followings through social media engagement.
Legends Receive Their Flowers
Mariah Carey and Busta Rhymes honored for decades of visual innovation.
Mariah Carey received the Video Vanguard Award while Busta Rhymes earned the MTV VMA Rock the Bells Visionary Award, with Ricky Martin taking home the Latin Icon Award. These lifetime achievement recognitions balanced the night’s celebration of emerging talent, acknowledging artists who pioneered the music video medium that MTV championed.
The ceremony’s mix of veteran honorees and fresh faces mirrors today’s music landscape, where decades-spanning catalogs coexist on playlists with viral newcomers. Sunday’s winners prove that great music videos remain culturally significant, even as the medium continues evolving across platforms and formats.
