Watching MTV

So the big news is that VMA nominations were announced yesterday. Beyonce and Justin Timberlake each boast seven nominations, no small feat. The categories announced were:

Video of the year, male artist of the year, female artist of the year, best new artist, best new group, most earthshattering collaboration, quadruple threat of the year, monster single of the year, best directing, best editing, and best choreography.

Seriously! “Most earthshattering collaboration,” hmmmm… looks like MTV is hyping up ratings with the categories themselves. To get the FULL list of VMA nominees, click “read the rest of this entry.”

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

AMY WINEHOUSE
“Rehab”
Back To Black
Universal Republic
Director: Phil Griffin
Producer: Hywit Abate
Production Company: Bikini Films

BEYONCE
“Irreplaceable”
B’Day
Columbia Records
Director: Anthony Mandler
Producer: Kim Bradshaw
Production Company: Box Fresh Pictures

JUSTICE
“D.A.N.C.E.”
Vice Records
Director: Jonas & Francois
Producer: Jonas & Francois
Production Company: 75 Prod

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE
“What Goes Around … Comes Around”
Future Sex/Love Sounds
Jive Records/Zomba Label Group
Director: Samuel Bayer
Producer: Veronica Zelle
Production Company: H.S.I. Productions

KANYE WEST
“Stronger”
Graduation
Hip Hop Since 1978/Roc-A-Fella/Island Def Jam
Director: Hype Williams
Producer: Hype Williams
Production Company: Naaila Entertainment

RIHANNA featuring JAY-Z
“Umbrella”
Good Girl Gone Bad
Def Jam
Director: Chris Applebaum
Producer: John Hardin
Production Company: Reactor Films

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

AKON
“Don’t Matter”
Konvicted
Universal Motown
Director: Gil Green
Producer: Jeff Panteleo
Production Company: Partizan Entertainment

Featuring EMINEM
“Smack That”
Konvicted
Universal Motown
Director: Benny Boom
Producer: David Duarte
Production Company: F.M. Rocks

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE
Featuring T.I.
“Let Me Talk To You/My Love”
Future Sex/Love Sounds
Jive Records/Zomba Label Group
Director: Paul Hunter
Producer: Veronica Zelle
Production Company: H.S.I. Productions

Featuring TIMBALAND
“Sexy Back”
Future Sex/Love Sounds
Jive Records/Zomba Label Group
Director: Michael Haussman
Producer: Nina Huang
Production Company: H.S.I. Productions

And SNOOP DOGG
“I Wanna Love You”
Konvicted
Universal Motown
Director: Benny Boom
Producer: Jeff Panteleo
Production Company: Partizan Entertainment

“Love Stoned/I Think She Knows Interlude”
Future Sex/Love Sounds
Jive Records/Zomba Label Group
Director: Robert Hales
Producer: Richard Weaver & Oualid Mousaness
Production Company: H.S.I. Productions

“What Goes Around … Comes Around”
Future Sex/Love Sounds
Jive Records/Zomba Label Group
Director: Samuel Bayer
Producer: Veronica Zelle
Production Company: H.S.I. Productions

KANYE WEST
“Can’t Tell Me Nothing”
Graduation
Roc-A-Fella
Director: Hype Williams
Producer: Hype Williams
Production Company: Naaila Entertainment

“Stronger”
Graduation
hiphopsince1978/Roc-A-Fella/Island Def Jam
Director: Hype Williams
Producer: Hype Williams
Production Company: Naaila Entertainment

With NAS, KRS-ONE & RAKIM
“Classic (Better Than I’ve Ever Been DJ Premier Remix)”
Nike Air Force (25th Anniversary)
Nike
Director: Thibaut de Longeville
Producer: Jeff Tammes
Production Company: Partizan Entertainment

ROBIN THICKE
“Can U Believe”
The Evolution of Robin Thicke
Star Trak/Interscope Records
Director: Benny Boom
Producer: Roger Ubina
Production Company: Uncle Music

“Lost Without You”
The Evolution of Robin Thicke
Star Trak/Interscope Records
Director: Benny Boom
Producer: Roger Urbina
Production Company: F.M. Rocks

Featuring BUSTA RHYMES & PHARRELL
“I Wanna Love You Girl (Remix)”
The Evolution of Robin Thicke
Star Trak/Interscope Records
Director: P.R. Brown
Producer: Michael Angelos
Production Company: Anonymous

T.I.
“Big Things Poppin’ (Do It)”
T.I. vs T.I.P.
Grand Hustle/Atlantic Records
Director: Eric White
Producer: Joyce Washington
Production Company: Uncle Films, L.L.C

Featuring WYCLEF JEAN
“You Know What It Is”
T.I. vs T.I.P.
Grand Hustle/Atlantic Records
Director: Chris Robinson
Producer: Joyce Washington
Production Company: H.S.I. Productions
“What You Know”
KING (The Album), ATL (The Movie)
Grand Hustle/Atlantic Records
Director: Chris Robinson
Producer: Melissa Larsen
Production Company: H.S.I. Productions

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

AMY WINEHOUSE
“Rehab”
Back To Black
Universal Republic
Director: Phil Griffin
Producer: Hywit Abate
Production Company: Bikini Films

“You Know I’m No Good”
Back To Black
Universal Republic
Director: Phil Griffin
Producer: Kate Phillips for Alchemy
Production Company: Alchemy

BEYONCE
“Irreplaceable”
B’Day
Columbia Records
Director: Anthony Mandler
Producer: Kim Bradshaw
Production Company: Box Fresh Pictures

And SHAKIRA
“Beautiful Liar”
B’DAY Deluxe Edition & Video Anthology
Columbia Records
Director: Jake Nava
Producer: Ben Cooper
Production Company: Anonymous Content

FERGIE
“Big Girls Don’t Cry (Personal)”
The Dutchess
Wil.I.Am Music Group/A&M Records
Director: Anthony Mandler
Producer: Gina Leonard
Production Company: Cyclops Productions

“Glamorous”
Featuring LUDACRIS
The Dutchess
Wil.I.Am Music Group/A&M Records
Director: Dave Meyers
Producer: Gina Leonard
Production Company: @radical.media

Featuring WIL.I.AM
“Fergalicious”
The Dutchess
Wil.I.Am Music Group/A&M Records
Director: Fatima Robinson
Producer: Dawn Rose
Production Company: Black Dog Films

NELLY FURTADO
“Maneater”
Loose
Mosley Music/Geffen Records
Director: Anthony Mandler
Producer: Ciarro Pardo, Grace Miguel, Lou Miguel
Production Company: Box Fresh Pictures

“Say It Right”
Loose
Mosley Music/Geffen Records
Director: Rankin & Chris
Producer: Nicole Acacio
Production Company: North By North Six

RIHANNA featuring JAY-Z
“Umbrella”
Good Girl Gone Bad
Def Jam
Director: Chris Applebaum
Producer: John Hardin
Production Company: Reactor Films

BEST NEW ARTIST

AMY WINEHOUSE
“Rehab”
Back To Black
Universal Republic
Director: Phil Griffin
Producer: Hywit Abate
Production Company: Bikini Films

“You Know I’m No Good”
Back To Black
Universal Republic
Director: Phil Griffin
Producer: Kate Phillips
Production Company: Alchemy

CARRIE UNDERWOOD
“Before He Cheats”
Some Hearts
Arista Nashville
Director: Roman White
Producer: Randy Brewer
Production Company: Rev-o-lution Pictures

GYM CLASS HEROES
“Clothes Off”
As Cruel As School Children
DecayDance/Fueled By Ramen
Director: Alan Ferguson
Producer: Jose Carlos Mangual
Production Company: The Kompany

“Cupid’s Chokehold/Breakfast in America”
As Cruel As School Children
DecayDance/Fueled By Ramen
Director: Alan Ferguson
Producer: Jacqui Frisco
Production Company: Anonymous Content

LILY ALLEN
“Alfie”
Alright, Still
Capitol Records
Director: Sarah Chatfield
Producer: Fiona Wright
Production Company: Colonel Blimp

“Smile”
Alright, Still
Capitol Records
Director: Sophie Muller
Producer: Rob Small
Production Company: Factory Films

“LDN”
Alright, Still
Capitol Records
Director: Nima Nourizadeh
Producer: Grace Bodie
Production Company: Partizan Entertainment

PETER BJORN & JOHN
“Young Folks”
Writer’s Block
Almost Gold Recordings
Director: Ted Malmros
Producer: Ted Malmros
Production Company: Oktan

BEST GROUP

FALL OUT BOY
“This Ain’t A Scene, It’s An Arms Race”
Infinity On High
Island Records
Director: Alan Ferguson
Producer: Jacqui Frisco
Production Company: Anonymous Content

“THNKS FR TH MMRS”
Infinity On High
Island Records
Director: Alan Ferguson
Producer: Jacqui Frisco
Production Company: Anonymous Content

GYM CLASS HEROES
“Clothes Off”
As Cruel As School Children
DecayDance/Fueled By Ramen
Director: Alan Ferguson
Producer: Jose Carlos Mangual
Production Company: The Kompany

“Cupid’s Chokehold/Breakfast in America”
As Cruel As School Children
DecayDance/Fueled By Ramen
Director: Alan Ferguson
Producer: Jacqui Frisco
Production Company: Anonymous Content

LINKIN PARK
“What I’ve Done”
Minutes To Midnight
Warner Bros. Records
Director: Joseph Hahn
Producer: Bill Boyd
Production Company: @radical.media

MAROON 5
“Makes Me Wonder”
It Won’t Be Soon Before Long
A&M/Octone Records
Director: John Hillcoat
Producer: Shelli Jury
Production Company: Oil Factory

WHITE STRIPES
“Icky Thump”
Icky Thump
Third Man Records/Warner Bros. Records
Director: The Malloys & Jack White
Producer: John Hopgood
Production Company: Frames Per Second Productions, Inc.

MOST EARTHSHATTERING COLLABORATION

AKON featuring EMINEM
“Smack That”
Konvicted
Universal Motown
Director: Benny Boom
Producer: David Duarte
Production Company: F.M. Rocks

BEYONCE & SHAKIRA
“Beautiful Liar”
B’DAY Deluxe Edition & Video Anthology
Columbia Records
Director: Jake Nava
Producer: Ben Cooper
Production Company: Anonymous Content

GWEN STEFANI featuring AKON
“The Sweet Escape”
The Sweet Escape
Interscope Records
Director: Joseph Kahn
Producer: Maryann Tenado
Production Company: H.S.I. Productions

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE featuring TIMBALAND
“Sexy Back”
Future Sex/Love Sounds
Jive Records/Zomba Label Group
Director: Michael Haussman
Producer: Nina Huang
Production Company: H.S.I. Production

U2 featuring GREEN DAY
“The Saints Are Coming”
U218 Singles
Interscope Records
Director: Chris Milk
Producer: Barbara Benson
Production Company: @radical.media

QUADRUPLE THREAT OF THE YEAR

BEYONCE (Columbia Records)

BONO (Interscope)

JAY-Z (Roc-A-Fella)

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE (Jive Records/Zomba Label Group)

KANYE WEST (Roc-A-Fella)

MONSTER SINGLE OF THE YEAR

AVRIL LAVIGNE
“Girlfriend”
The Best Damn Thing
RCA
Director: The Malloys
Producer: John Winters
Production Company: Black Dog Films

DAUGHTRY
“Home”
Daughtry
RCA
Director: Danny Clinch
Producer: Lindha Narvaez
Production Company: Three on the Tree Productions

FALL OUT BOY
“THNKS FR TH MMRS”
Infinity On High
Island Records
Director: Alan Ferguson
Producer: Jacqui Frisco
Production Company: Anonymous Content

LIL’ MAMA
“Lip Gloss (No Music)”
The Voice of the Young People
Jive Records/Zomba Label Group
Director: Malcolm Jones
Producer: Brian Quinlan
Production Company: @radical.media

MIMS
“This Is Why I’m Hot”
M.I.M.S. (Music Is My Savior)
American King/UBO
Director: Dale Resteghini
Producer: Kim Resteghini
Production Company: Raging Nation Films

PLAIN WHITE T’S
“Hey There, Delilah”
All That We Need
Fearless Records
Director: Jay Martin
Producer: Kwame Amoaku
Production Company: 5 Guns No Cables

RIHANNA featuring JAY-Z
“Umbrella”
Good Girl Gone Bad
Def Jam
Director: Chris Applebaum
Producer: John Hardin
Production Company: Reactor Films

SHOP BOYZ
“Party Like A Rock Star”
Rockstar Mentality
ONDECK Records/Universal Republic
Director: Marc Klasfeld
Producer: Billy Parks
Production Company: Rockhard Films

TIMBALAND featuring KERI HILSON, D.O.E. & Sebastian
“The Way I Are”
Timbaland Presents: Shock Value
Interscope Records/Mosley Music Group/Blackground Records
Director: Shane Drake
Producer: Hiywet Abate & Kate Phillips
Production Company: Merge

T-PAIN featuring YUNG JOC
“Buy You A Drank (Shawty Snappin’)”
Epiphany
Jive Records
Director: Benny Boom
Producer: Joyce Washington
Production Company: Uncle Music

PROFESSIONAL CATEGORIES

BEST DIRECTOR

BEYONCE & SHAKIRA
“Beautiful Liar”
B’DAY Deluxe Edition & Video Anthology
Columbia Records
Director: Jake Nava
Producer: Ben Cooper
Production Company: Anonymous Content

CHRISTINA AGUILERA
“Candyman”
Back To Basics
RCA
Director: Mathew Rolston & Christina Aguilera
Producer: Barbara Benson
Production Company: @radical.media

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE
“What Goes Around … Comes Around”
Future Sex/Love Sounds
Jive Records/Zomba Label Group
Director: Samuel Bayer
Producer: Veronica Zelle
Production Company: H.S.I. Productions

KANYE WEST
“Stronger”
Graduation
Hip Hop Since 1978/Roc-A-Fella/Island Def Jam
Director: Hype Williams
Producer: Hype Williams
Production Company: Naaila Entertainment

LINKIN PARK
“What I’ve Done”
Minutes To Midnight
Warner Bros. Records
Director: Joseph Hahn
Producer: Bill Boyd
Production Company: @radical.media

RIHANNA featuring JAY-Z
“Umbrella”
Good Girl Gone Bad
Def Jam
Director: Chris Applebaum
Producer: John Hardin
Production Company: Reactor Films

BEST EDITING IN A VIDEO

BEYONCE & SHAKIRA
“Beautiful Liar”
B’DAY Deluxe Edition & Video Anthology
Columbia Records
Director: Jake Nava
Producer: Ben Cooper
Production Company: Anonymous Content
Editor: Jarett Figl

GNARLS BARKLEY
“Smiley Faces”
St. Elsewhere
Downtown/Atlantic Records
Director: Robert Hales
Producer: Coleen Haynes
Production Company: H.S.I. Productions, Inc.
Editor: Ken Mowe

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE
“What Goes Around … Comes Around”
Future Sex/Love Sounds
Jive Records
Director: Samuel Bayer
Producer: Veronica Zelle
Production Company: H.S.I. Productions
Editor: Hollee Singer

KANYE WEST
“Stronger”
Graduation
Hip Hop Since 1978/Roc-A-Fella/Island Def Jam
Director: Hype Williams
Producer: Hype Williams
Production Company: Naaila Entertainment
Editor: Peter Johnson & Corey Weisz

LINKIN PARK
“What I’ve Done”
Minutes To Midnight
Warner Bros. Records
Director: Joseph Hahn
Producer: Bill Boyd
Production Company: @radical.media
Editor: Igor Kovalik

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY IN A VIDEO

BEYONCE & SHAKIRA
“Beautiful Liar”
B’DAY Deluxe Edition & Video Anthology
Columbia Records
Director: Jake Nava
Producer: Ben Cooper
Production Company: Anonymous Content
Choreographer: Frank Gatson

CHRIS BROWN
“Wall To Wall”
Exclusive
Jive Records/Zomba
Director: Erik White
Producer: Roger Urbina
Production Company: Uncle Music
Choreographer: Rich & Tone and Flii Styles

CIARA
“Like A Boy”
Ciara: The Evolution
Laface/Zomba Label Group
Director: Ms. D
Producer: Michael Angelos
Production Company: DNA
Choreographer: Jamaica Craft (lead choreographer)

EVE
“Tambourine”
Here I Am
Aftermath/Geffen/interscope/Full Surface
Director: Melina
Producer: John Winter
Production Company: Black Dog Films
Choreographer: Tanesha Scott

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE featuring TIMBALAND
“My Love”
Future Sex/Love Sounds
Jive Records
Director: Michael Haussman
Producer: Nina Huang
Production Company: H.S.I. Production
Choreographer: Marty Kuldeka

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