MTV has officially announced the winners of the highly-anticipated 2023 “VMAs,” and in a remarkable moment, Nigerian artist Divine Ikubor, professionally known as Rema, alongside Selena Gomez, has clinched their first-ever VMA award in the prestigious category of Best Afrobeats Song for their outstanding ‘Calm Down’ Remix. In a competitive field featuring nominees like Ayra Starr, Burna Boy, Davido, Fireboy DML & Asake, Libianca, and Wizkid, Rema emerged as the standout victor, solidifying his place in the global music scene.
Taylor Swift had a standout night at the awards ceremony, claiming a total of nine wins, including accolades for “Anti-Hero” like Video of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Pop, Best Direction, Best Cinematography, and Best Visual Effects. She also secured Album of the Year for “Midnights,” along with Artist of the Year and Show of the Summer.
Speaking about the significance of the win, Monde Twala, the Senior Vice President and General Manager for Paramount Africa and Lead for BET International, emphasized, “These wins are not just a triumph for the artists, Rema and Selena Gomez, but they also mark a momentous milestone for the global reach of Afrobeats music. This recognition at the VMAs underscores Afrobeats’ growing influence and appeal on the international stage. It highlights the genre’s ability to bridge cultures, connect people, and establish itself as a powerful force in the global music industry’’.
WINNERS IN EACH CATEGORY BELOW:
VIDEO OF THE YEAR, Presented by Burger King®
Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” – Republic Records
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Taylor Swift – Republic Records
SONG OF THE YEAR
Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” – Republic Records
BEST NEW ARTIST – TBD
Ice Spice – 10K Projects / Capitol Records
PUSH PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
April 2023: TOMORROW X TOGETHER – “Sugar Rush Ride” – BIGHIT MUSIC / Republic Records
BEST COLLABORATION
KAROL G, Shakira – “TQG” – UNIVERSAL MUSIC LATINO
BEST POP
Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” – Republic Records
BEST HIP-HOP
Nicki Minaj – “Super Freaky Girl” – Republic Records
BEST R&B
SZA – “Shirt” – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records
BEST ALTERNATIVE
Lana Del Rey ft. Jon Batiste – “Candy Necklace” – Interscope Records
BEST ROCK
Ma?neskin – “THE LONELIEST” – Arista Records
BEST LATIN
Anitta – “Funk Rave” – Republic Records
BEST K-POP
Stray Kids – “S-Class” – JYP / Republic
BEST AFROBEATS
Rema & Selena Gomez – “Calm Down” – Mavin Global Holdings Ltd / Jonzing World
VIDEO FOR GOOD
Dove Cameron – “Breakfast” – Columbia Records
BEST DIRECTION
Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” – Republic Records – Directed by Taylor Swift
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” – Republic Records – Cinematography by Rina Yang
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” – Republic Records – Visual Effects by Parliament
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
BLACKPINK – “Pink Venom” – YG Entertainment / Interscope Records – Kiel Tutin, Sienna Lalau, Lee Jung, and Taryn Cheng
BEST ART DIRECTION
Doja Cat – “Attention” – Kemosabe Records / RCA Records – Art Direction by Spencer Graves
BEST EDITING
Olivia Rodrigo – “vampire” – Geffen Records – Edited by Sofia Kerpan and David Checel
SHOW OF THE SUMMER
Taylor Swift – Republic Records
GROUP OF THE YEAR
BLACKPINK – YG Entertainment / Interscope Records
SONG OF THE SUMMER presented by M&M’S®
Jung Kook ft. Latto – “Seven” – BIGHIT MUSIC / Geffen Records
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Taylor Swift – Midnights – Republic Records
Official sponsors of the 2023 “VMAs” include BACARDÍ® Rum, Burger King®, Clearblue®, DESCOVY®, Doritos®, HEINZ, M&M’S®, Swiffer, and Toyota Motor North America.
Bruce Gillmer and Den of Thieves co-founder Jesse Ignjatovic are Executive Producers. Barb Bialkowski is Co-Executive Producer. Alicia Portugal and Jackie Barba serve as Executives in Charge of Production. Wendy Plaut is Executive in Charge of Celebrity Talent. Lisa Lauricella is Music Talent Executive.
