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Bon Jovi's Triumphant Return: Reflecting on 40 Years with “Forever”

June 15, 2024

Forty years after they ran away with our hearts and into rock history, Bon Jovi is back with a reflective new album, Forever, taking stock of all the boys from New Jersey have accomplished.

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Kaytranada: A Decade of Dancefloor Domination and Timeless Sound

June 15, 2024

A decade on from his breakthrough Boiler Room DJ set, Canadian producer Kaytranada has cemented himself as a dance music powerhouse. His work blends the worlds of underground electronic sounds and...

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Central Cee: The New Voice of British Drill

June 15, 2024

Central Cee, born Oakley Neil H.T. Caesar-Su on June 4, 1998, in Shepherd's Bush, London, has swiftly emerged as one of the most prominent voices in the UK drill scene. With his raw lyricism...

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Preparing for the 11th Dimension: Reflections and New Beginnings

June 15, 2024

Believe it or not, it’s already been a decade since the SoundCloud rap era first ignited, and we’re seeing the lasting impact of the moshpit-dwelling artists who defined the movement...

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AURORA Ponders Life, Death, and the Heart in New Album

June 15, 2024

Norwegian alt-pop sensation AURORA is set to release her highly anticipated fifth album, "What Happened To The Heart?" Following a series of successful projects—2016's "All My Demons Greeting Me....

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Tate McRae: Dancing to the Beat of Her Drum

June 7, 2024

Tate McRae, born on July 1, 2003, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, has swiftly risen to fame as one of the most exciting young talents in the music industry today...

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Beyoncé's "Cowboy Carter": A Bold Reinvention in Music

June 7, 2024

Beyoncé has once again proven why she is a force to be reckoned with in the music industry with the release of her latest album, "Cowboy Carter."

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Revolutionizing Music Discovery: Spotify and Amazon Launch AI-Powered Playlists

June 7, 2024

In a bold move to redefine how we discover and interact with music, Spotify and Amazon Music have each introduced groundbreaking AI-powered playlist generators...

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Charli XCX admits that she “never really felt accepted” in the British music scene

June 7, 2024

Charli XCX has opened up about her early struggles in the British music scene, revealing that she often felt like an outsider whose innovative ideas were dismissed as "silly or childish."

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Ticketmaster's Data Breach: A Wake-Up Call for Cybersecurity in the Ticketing Industry

June 7, 2024

Ticketmaster, a leading ticket sales and distribution company, is currently under legal scrutiny due to a reported data breach, which has led to a class action complaint...

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Diddy Faces Potential Federal Grand Jury Trial: A Legal Storm Brewing for the Music Mogul

June 7, 2024

Sean 'Diddy' Combs, a prominent figure in the music industry and beyond, is potentially facing a significant legal challenge as reports indicate that the Department of Justice...

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Pop Conference 2024: Discussions on "Legacy, Music Collections, and Archives

June 7, 2024

The Pop Conference 2024 recently convened under the theme "Legacy, Music Collections, and Archives," offering attendees an in-depth exploration of the preservation and impact of musical legacies...

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MTV VMAs snubs and shocks: See who was left out of nominations

Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet

A Wide Net — But Not Quite Wide Enough

The 2025 MTV Video Music Award nominations have been announced, boasting a diverse lineup with 33 first-time nominees. Pop icons Taylor Swift and Beyoncé even earned artist of the year nods without releasing music videos during the eligibility period (June 20, 2024 – June 18, 2025). Bruno Mars racked up 11 nominations — all for collaborations — second only to Lady Gaga.

But amid the celebration, a number of major music videos failed to make the cut, leaving fans and industry watchers scratching their heads.

BigXthaPlug & Bailey Zimmerman — All The Way

Despite racking up over 32 million views, the cross-genre hit All The Way — blending rap from breakout star BigXthaPlug with rising country talent Bailey Zimmerman — was completely overlooked. Its strong viewership and genre-crossing appeal seemed like a natural fit for a nomination, but it didn’t land a single nod.

Mariah the Scientist — Burning Blue

Mariah the Scientist’s Burning Blue has pulled in 21 million views in just three months, making it one of the fastest-rising R&B visuals of the year. Still, the acclaimed video — praised for its sleek direction and emotional resonance — received no recognition from MTV.

Lisa’s Collaborative Power Plays

Lisa of Blackpink fame did earn one nomination for her collaboration Born Again with Doja Cat and Raye in the best K-pop category. But many expected more, especially given her high-profile collaborations this year:

  • Lisa & Rosalía — New Woman: A high-concept, star-studded video that amassed 40 million views in its first week.
  • Lisa & Tyla — When I’m with You: A sultry, dance-heavy visual with 21+ million views.

Despite their popularity, neither video found space in the best collaboration category.

The Weeknd — Dancing in the Flames

While The Weeknd earned several nods for Timeless and Hurry Up Tomorrow, another hit from his latest album, Dancing in the Flames, was left in the cold. The cinematic video — shot on an iPhone 16 Pro — features a surreal sequence in which The Weeknd is hit by a semitruck and miraculously recovers. With 70 million YouTube views, its omission feels particularly glaring.

Kesha — Boy Crazy and Joyride

Kesha’s much-discussed comeback era hasn’t yet been embraced by MTV. Her self-directed Boy Crazy, released in June, sparked social media buzz for its unapologetic feminist message. And Joyride, an action-packed November 2024 release featuring desert chases and campy shootouts, showcased her flair for spectacle. Both videos, however, went unrecognized.

The Bottom Line

The 2025 VMAs clearly aimed for broad representation — but even with dozens of new names in the mix, some of the year’s most compelling music videos were overlooked. Whether these omissions are due to stiff competition or shifting industry tastes, they’ve sparked a conversation about what it takes to make the cut in an era when viral reach and artistic ambition don’t always guarantee awards-show recognition.

MTV VMAs snubs and shocks: See who was left out of nominationsmtv-vmas-snubs-and-shocks-see-who-was-left-out-of-nominationsMuhammad SiddiquiAug 07, 2025The 2025 MTV Video Music Award nominations have been announced, boasting a diverse lineup with 33 first-time nominees. Pop icons Taylor Swift and Beyoncé even earned artist of the year nods without...