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Tobias Jesso Jr.: GRAMMY-Winning Canadian Sells His Song Rights

February 23, 2023

Tobias Jesso Jr. You may know his name from his 2015 solo album Goon. Or maybe from his work on various popular songs, such as “When We Were Young” by Adele and “Alive” by Sia. Or even from his rece

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How Popular TV Shows and Movies Resurrect Classic Songs

February 23, 2023

HBO’s The Last of Us is arguably the hottest show out right now, receiving near universal acclaim from viewers and critics alike. This holds especially true for episode three: “Long, Long Time”.

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Ginalina: Bringing Her Taiwan Roots Into Her Latest Album

February 21, 2023

Folk singer. Songwriter. Canadian. Polyglot. All of these titles belong to Gina Lam, also known by her stage name Ginalina. In November 2022, she released her latest album titled Going Back: Remembe

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Rihanna’s Super Bowl Performance

February 21, 2023

Rihanna is an illustrious artist. She is among the best selling female artists of all time, and was one of the greatest hitmakers of the 2000s and 2010s. She has since grown to become the richest...

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How do Streaming Platforms Pay Artists - Is It Fair?

February 20, 2023

Streaming is now the driving force of the music industry, making up 84% of the industry revenue in the U.S. While streaming is much more convenient for listeners, many artists argue that it is near im

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Why Jay-Z Was Named The #1 Rapper Of All Time

February 23, 2023

Who is the greatest rapper of all time? Is it even possible to crown just one person? Well, Billboard and Vibe did exactly that. And, according to them, that person is Jay-Z. In honor of Hip-Hop’s

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Behind Kaytranada’s Unique Sound

February 18, 2023

Kaytranada (Louis Celestin) is a Haitian-Canadian record producer and DJ. He is a highly acclaimed electronic artist, having earned two Grammys and countless other awards for his work. Kaytranada has

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The Creative Act: Rick Rubin’s Knowledge Turned Into A Book

February 17, 2023

What happens when a famous music producer takes an interest in self-help books? The Creative Act is your answer. But who is Rick Rubin? Without a doubt, Rubin has an impressive track record in the

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Behind the Music: The Audio Engineer

February 14, 2023

The music industry is a place full of musicians, producers, and creators who have the magical ability to make those perfect sounds we hear everyday through our digital devices. We want to listen close

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Koji Kondo: Nintendo’s Melody Maestro

February 14, 2023

What do popular video games franchises Super Mario, Legend of Zelda, and Star Fox all have in common? They were all produced and published by Nintendo, and the iconic music themes that you hear in...

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Taylor Swift on Industry Sexism and Music Rights

February 8, 2023

Being a successful woman in the music industry is no easy feat. Not only do they deal with the typical trials and tribulations of being a musician, but there are also gender-specific challenges.

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What’s the Ideal Length for a Single— Are Songs Getting Shorter?

February 8, 2023

“Is it just me, or are songs getting shorter these days?” This is a question I have often pondered, especially in the last few years. It appears that in the era of social media, attention spans are

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

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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...