Prudential Center sets stage for its 3rd MTV Video Music Awards this fall (updated)

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Prudential Center is rolling out the red carpet for the return of MTV’s Video Music Awards this fall.

Scheduled for Sept. 12, the live show will honor the best music videos of the past year with performances, tributes and appearances from the industry’s biggest stars (see below for the list of nominees).

In a May 23 press release, MTV and Prudential Center said additional details will be revealed closer to the VMAs but promised a “fan-filled spectacle” with “show-stopping surprises and epic performances.”

For the Newark sports and entertainment arena, this year will mark its third time hosting the show.

The VMAs made its debut at the Rock in 2019, with comedian Sebastian Maniscalco as emcee. In 2022, Prudential Center was also the venue of choice for the ceremony, which was jointly hosted by LL Cool J, Jack Harlow and Nicki Minaj.

In addition to Paramount-owned MTV, the VMAs program airs across several Viacom and CBS networks – including BET, CT, Comedy Central, Logo, The CW, Pop, TVLand and VH1 – in more than 150 countries, reaching over 319 million households, according to the network.

Prudential Center President Jake Reynolds said, “We are incredibly proud to have the Prudential Center once again serve as the home for the 40th Annual MTV Video Music Awards. All eyes of the entertainment industry will be focused on Newark, New Jersey, as the brightest stars come together to perform at a marquee showcase within our world-class venue.

“This event allows us the opportunity to celebrate all genres of music for fans throughout the world, as we do all year round,” he added. “We appreciate the ability to continue our long-standing partnership with MTV and look forward to an amazing evening.”

Bruce Gillmer, president of music, music talent, programming & events at Paramount and chief content officer, Music, for Paramount+, said, “We’re thrilled to be returning to the Prudential Center in Newark for this year’s VMAs! Celebrating one of our biggest nights in music with the Garden State’s incredible fans has been our goal since last year’s highly successful event.”

The 2022 VMAs saw Taylor Swift announce a new album and win the top award, while other big winners included Harry Styles, Lil Nas, Lizzo and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Newark at the crossroads

Sean Saadeh, executive vice president of entertainment, Prudential Center, said they’re “extremely excited” to welcome the event back to New Jersey.

“As Prudential Center continues to position itself as a top five venue in the world, we could not be more thankful for the strong relationship we have established with the entire VMAs’ team,” he said. “Last year’s show had some of the biggest superstars and legends hit the stage, and we can’t wait to see what is in store for this year!”

Over the past 15 years, the Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment-operated property has been recognized as one of the world’s premier options for music, sports and entertainment events, hosting over 2,500 programs and welcoming more than 20 million guests.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka cheered the news, saying, “Awarding Newark as host city for the 2023 VMAs echoes not only our selection by MTV in 2022 and 2019, but also reverberates our city’s historic vibe as a hotbed of musical genius.”

“Starting with America’s first known composer in 1759, through the jazz explosion in the 1920s, and up to today’s full spectrum of genres from hip hop to opera, Newark has long served as America’s turntable for harmonic expression,” the mayor said. “The relevance of the Video Music Awards rising up today from the same city that registered the film and video industry’s first nitrocellulose patent is not lost on me as Newark continues to sit squarely at the crossroads of motion picture and music.”

Gov. Phil Murphy said the return of such a high-profile ceremony to the Prudential Center “testifies to New Jersey’s enduring standing” as a premier place for large-scale entertainment events.

“As the home of some of the most internationally renowned names in the music industry, New Jersey is proud to once again partner with Paramount to showcase an array of exciting performances to a global audience,” he said. “By hosting this highly anticipated spectacle, our state and local economies will also benefit from the thousands of visitors who will shop, dine, and stay in our local communities.”

And the nominees are …

On Aug. 8, MTV revealed the nominations for the 2023 VMAs:

VIDEO OF THE YEAR (presented by Burger King)

• Doja Cat – “Attention” – Kemosabe Records / RCA Records
• Miley Cyrus – “Flowers” – Columbia Records
• Nicki Minaj – “Super Freaky Girl” – Republic Records
• Olivia Rodrigo – “vampire” – Geffen Records
• Sam Smith, Kim Petras – “Unholy” – Capitol Records
• SZA – “Kill Bill” – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records
• Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” – Republic Records

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

• Beyoncé – Parkwood Entertainment / Columbia Records
• Doja Cat – Kemosabe Records / RCA Records
• KAROL G – Interscope Records
• Nicki Minaj – Republic Records
• Shakira – Sony Music US Latin
• Taylor Swift – Republic Records

SONG OF THE YEAR

• Miley Cyrus – “Flowers” – Columbia Records
• Olivia Rodrigo – “vampire” – Geffen Records
• Rema & Selena Gomez – “Calm Down” – Mavin Global Holdings Ltd / Jonzing World Entertainment / SMG Music / Interscope Records
• Sam Smith, Kim Petras – “Unholy” – Capitol Records
• Steve Lacy – “Bad Habit” – L-M Records / RCA Records
• SZA – “Kill Bill” – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records Records
• Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” – Republic Records

BEST NEW ARTIST

• GloRilla – CMG / Interscope Records
• Ice Spice – 10K Projects / Capitol Records
• Kaliii – Atlantic Records
• Peso Pluma – Double P Records
• PinkPantheress – 300 Entertainment
• Reneé Rapp – Interscope Records

PUSH PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR

• August 2022: Saucy Santana – “Booty” – Arena Records / RCA Records
• September 2022: Stephen Sanchez – “Until I Found You” – Mercury Records / Republic Records
• October 2022: JVKE – “golden hour” – AWAL
• November 2022: Flo Milli – “Conceited” – ’94 Sounds / RCA Records
• December 2022: Reneé Rapp – “Colorado” – Interscope Records
• January 2023: Sam Ryder – “All The Way Over” – Elektra Entertainment
• February 2023: Armani White – “GOATED” – Def Jam
• March 2023: FLETCHER – “Becky’s So Hot” – Capitol Records
• April 2023: TOMORROW X TOGETHER – “Sugar Rush Ride” – BIGHIT MUSIC / Republic Records
• May 2023: Ice Spice – “Princess Diana” – Heavy On It / 10K Projects / Capitol Records
• June 2023: FLO – “Losing You” – Uptown/Republic Records
• July 2023: Lauren Spencer Smith – “That Part” – Island Records

BEST COLLABORATION

• David Guetta & Bebe Rexha – “I’m Good (Blue)” – Warner Records
• Post Malone, Doja Cat – “I Like You (A Happier Song)” – Mercury Records / Republic Records
• Diddy ft. Bryson Tiller, Ashanti, Yung Miami – “Gotta Move On” – Motown Records
• KAROL G, Shakira – “TQG” – Universal Music Latino
• Metro Boomin with The Weeknd, 21 Savage, and Diddy – “Creepin’ (Remix)” – Boominati / Republic Records
• Rema & Selena Gomez – “Calm Down” – Mavin Global Holdings Ltd / Jonzing World Entertainment / SMG Music / Interscope Records

BEST POP

• Demi Lovato – “Swine” – Island Records
• Dua Lipa – “Dance The Night (From Barbie The Album)” – Atlantic Records
• Ed Sheeran – “Eyes Closed” – Atlantic Records
• Miley Cyrus – “Flowers” – Columbia Records
• Olivia Rodrigo – “vampire” – Geffen Records
• P!NK – “TRUSTFALL” – RCA Records
• Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” – Republic Records

BEST HIP-HOP

• Diddy ft. Bryson Tiller, Ashanti, Yung Miami – “Gotta Move On” – Motown Records
• DJ Khaled ft. Drake & Lil Baby – “STAYING ALIVE” – We The Best / Epic Records
• GloRilla & Cardi B – “Tomorrow 2” – CMG / Interscope Records
• Lil Uzi Vert – “Just Wanna Rock” – Atlantic Records / Generation Now
• Lil Wayne ft. Swizz Beatz & DMX – “Kant Nobody” – Young Money Records
• Metro Boomin ft. Future – “Superhero (Heroes and Villains)” – Boominati / Republic Records
• Nicki Minaj – “Super Freaky Girl” – Republic Records

BEST R&B

• Alicia Keys ft. Lucky Daye – “Stay” – RCA Records
• Chlöe ft. Chris Brown – “How Does It Feel” – Parkwood Entertainment / Columbia
• Metro Boomin with The Weeknd, 21 Savage, and Diddy – “Creepin’ (Remix)” – Boominati / Republic Records
• SZA – “Shirt” – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records
• Toosii – “Favorite Song” – South Coast Music Group / Capitol Records
• Yung Bleu & Nicki Minaj – “Love In The Way” – Empire Distribution

BEST ALTERNATIVE

• blink-182 – “EDGING” – Columbia Records
• boygenius – “the film” – Interscope Records
• Fall Out Boy – “Hold Me Like A Grudge” – Fueled By Ramen
• Lana Del Rey ft. Jon Batiste – “Candy Necklace” – Interscope Records
• Paramore – “This Is Why” – Atlantic Records
• Thirty Seconds To Mars – “Stuck” – Concord Records / Concord

BEST ROCK

• Foo Fighters – “The Teacher” – RCA Records
• Linkin Park – “Lost (Original Version)” – Warner Records
• Red Hot Chili Peppers – “Tippa My Tongue” – Warner Records
• Måneskin – “THE LONELIEST” – Arista Records
• Metallica – “Lux Æterna” – Blackened Recordings
• Muse – “You Make Me Feel Like It’s Halloween” – Warner Records

BEST LATIN

• Anitta – “Funk Rave” – Republic Records
• Bad Bunny – “WHERE SHE GOES” – Rimas Entertainment
• Eslabon Armado, Peso Pluma – “Ella Baila Sola” – DEL Records, Inc. / Prajin Parlay, Inc. Grupo Frontera Bad Bunny – “un x100to” – Rimas Entertainment
• KAROL G, Shakira – “TQG” – Universal Music Latino
• ROSALÍA – “DESPECHÁ” – Columbia Records
• Shakira – “Acróstico” – Sony Music US Latin

BEST K-POP

• aespa – “Girls” – SM ENTERTAINMENT Co., Ltd.
• BLACKPINK – “Pink Venom” – YG Entertainment / Interscope Records
• FIFTY FIFTY – “Cupid” – ATTRAKT / Warner Records
• SEVENTEEN – “Super” – HYBE / Geffen Records
• Stray Kids – “S-Class” – JYP / Republic
• TOMORROW X TOGETHER – “Sugar Rush Ride” – BIGHIT MUSIC / Republic Records

BEST AFROBEATS

• Ayra Starr – “Rush” – Mavin Global Holdings
• Burna Boy – “It’s Plenty” – Atlantic Records / Spaceship Entertainment Ltd
• Davido ft. Musa Keys – “UNAVAILABLE” – Sony Music U.K. / RCA Records
• Fireboy DML & Asake – ”Bandana” – Empire Distribution
• Libianca – “People” – Sony Music U.K. / RCA Records
• Rema & Selena Gomez – “Calm Down” – Mavin Global Holdings Ltd / Jonzing World Entertainment / SMG Music / Interscope Records
• Wizkid ft Ayra Starr– “2 Sugar” – Starboy / RCA Records

VIDEO FOR GOOD

• Alicia Keys – If I Ain’t Got You (Orchestral) – NETFLIX
• Bad Bunny – “El Apagón – Aquí Vive Gente” – Rimas Entertainment
• Demi Lovato – “Swine” – Island Records
• Dove Cameron – “Breakfast” – Columbia Records
• Imagine Dragons – “Crushed” – KIDinaKORNER / Interscope Records
• Maluma – “La Reina” – Sony Music US Latin

BEST DIRECTION

• Doja Cat – “Attention” – Kemosabe Records / RCA Records – Directed by Tanu Muiño
• Drake – “Falling Back” – OVO/Republic Records – Director X (Julien Christian Lutz)
• Kendrick Lamar – “Count Me Out” – pgLang / Top Dawg Entertainment / Aftermath / Interscope Records – Directed by Dave Free & Kendrick Lamar
• Megan Thee Stallion – “Her” – 300 Entertainment – Directed by Colin Tilley
• Sam Smith, Kim Petras – “Unholy” – Capitol Records – Directed by Floria Sigismondi
• SZA – “Kill Bill” – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records – Directed by Christian Breslauer
• Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” – Republic Records – Directed by Taylor Swift

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

• Adele – “I Drink Wine” – Columbia Records – Cinematography by Adam Newport-Berra
• Ed Sheeran – “Eyes Closed” – Atlantic Records – Cinematography by Natasha Baier
• Janelle Monae – “Lipstick Lover” – Atlantic Records – Cinematography by Allison Anderson
• Kendrick Lamar – “Count Me Out” – pgLang / Top Dawg Entertainment / Aftermath / Interscope Records 0 Cinematography by Adam Newport-Berra
• Miley Cyrus – “Flowers” – Columbia Records – Cinematography by Marcell Rev
• Olivia Rodrigo – “vampire” – Geffen Records – Cinematography by Russ Fraser
• Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” – Republic Records – Cinematography by Rina Yang

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

• Fall Out Boy – “Love From The Other Side” – Fueled By Ramen – Visual Effects by Thomas Bailey and Josh Shaffner
• Harry Styles – “Music For A Sushi Restaurant” – Columbia Records – Visual Effects by Chelsea Delfino and Black Kite Studios
• Melanie Martinez – “VOID” – Atlantic Records – Visual Effects by Carbon
• Nicki Minaj – “Super Freaky Girl” – Republic Records – Visual Effects by Max Colt and Sergio Mashevskyi
• Sam Smith, Kim Petras – “Unholy” – Capitol Records – Visual Effects by Max Colt / FRENDER
• Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” – Republic Records – Visual Effects by Parliament

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY

• BLACKPINK – “Pink Venom” – YG Entertainment / Interscope Records – Choreography by Kiel Tutin, Sienna Lalau, Lee Jung (YGX), Taryn Cheng (YGX)
• Dua Lipa – “Dance The Night (From Barbie The Album)” – Atlantic Records – Choreography by Charm LaDonna
• Jonas Brothers – “Waffle House” – Republic Records – Choreography by Jerry Reece
• Megan Thee Stallion – “Her” – 300 Entertainment – Choreography by Sean Bankhead
• Panic! At The Disco – “Middle Of A Breakup” – Fueled By Ramen – Choreography by Monika Felice Smith
• Sam Smith, Kim Petras – “Unholy” – Capitol Records – Choreography by (LA)HORDE – Marine Brutti, Jonathan Debrouwer, Arthur Harel

BEST ART DIRECTION

• boygenius – “the film” – Interscope Records – Art Direction by Jen Dunlap
• BLACKPINK – “Pink Venom” – YG Entertainment / Interscope Records – Art Direction by Seo Hyun Seung (GIGANT)
• Doja Cat – “Attention” – Kemosabe Records / RCA Records – Art Direction by Spencer Graves
• Lana Del Rey ft. Jon Batiste – “Candy Necklace” – Interscope Records – Art Direction by Brandon Mendez
• Megan Thee Stallion – “Her” – 300 Entertainment – Art Direction by Niko Philipides
• SZA – “Shirt” – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records – Art Direction by Kate Bunch

BEST EDITING

• BLACKPINK – “Pink Venom” – YG Entertainment / Interscope Records – Editing by Seo Hyun Seung (GIGANT)
• Kendrick Lamar – “Rich Spirit” – pgLang / Top Dawg Entertainment / Aftermath / Interscope Records – Edited by Grason Caldwell
• Miley Cyrus – “River” – Columbia Records – Edited by Brandan Walter
• Olivia Rodrigo – “vampire” – Geffen Records – Edited by Sofia Kerpan and David Checel
• SZA – “Kill Bill” – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records – Edited by Luis Caraza Peimbert
• Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” – Republic Records – Edited by Chancler Haynes

Editor’s note: This story was updated at 5:29 p.m. ET Aug. 8, 2023, to include the just-released list of nominees.