MTV VMAs 2024: Taylor Swift Shines with Big Wins, but Kendrick Lamar Snubbed
The 2024 MTV Video Music Awards delivered a night of electrifying performances and unforgettable moments. Taylor Swift stole the spotlight, securing major victories such as Video of the Year and Artist of the Year, reaffirming her reign in pop music. However, not everyone left the ceremony with the recognition they deserved. Despite his nomination in multiple categories, it was a surprise and disappointment that Kendrick Lamar went home empty-handed, especially for his critically acclaimed track “Not Like Us” or even is mega feature on “Like That” by Future and Metro Boomin.
Here’s a full list of winners from one of the most exciting VMA nights in recent years.
Best Pop
- Taylor Swift (WINNER)
- Camila Cabello
- Dua Lipa
- Olivia Rodrigo
- Sabrina Carpenter
- Tate McRae
Video of the Year, Presented by Burger King®
- Taylor Swift Featuring Post Malone – “Fortnight” (WINNER)
- Ariana Grande – “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)”
- Billie Eilish – “Lunch”
- Doja Cat – “Pain the Town Red”
- Eminem – “Houdini”
- SZA – “Snooze”
Best Hip-Hop
- Eminem – “Houdini” (WINNER)
- Drake Featuring Sexyy Red & SZA – “Rich Baby Daddy”
- Glorilla – “Yeah Glo!”
- Gunna – “Fukumean”
- Megan Thee Stallion – “Boa”
- Travis Scott Featuring Playboi Carti – “Fe!n”
Despite multiple nominations, Kendrick Lamar didn’t secure any wins for his powerful song “Not Like Us,” a notable omission that sparked discussions among fans.
Best New Artist
- Chappell Roan (WINNER)
- Benson Boone
- Gracie Abrams
- Shaboozey
- Teddy Swims
- Tyla
Song of the Year
- Sabrina Carpenter – “Espresso” (WINNER)
- Beyoncé – “Texas Hold ’Em”
- Jack Harlow – “Lovin’ on Me”
- Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us”
- Taylor Swift Featuring Post Malone – “Fortnight”
- Teddy Swims – “Lose Control”
Best K-Pop
- Lisa – “Rockstar” (WINNER)
- Jung Kook Featuring Latto – “Seven”
- NCT Dream – “Smoothie”
- NewJeans – “Super Shy”
- Stray Kids – “Lalalala”
- Tomorrow X Together – “Deja Vu”
Best R&B
- SZA – “Snooze” (WINNER)
- Alicia Keys – “Lifeline”
- Muni Long – “Made for Me”
- Tyla – “Water”
- Usher, Summer Walker & 21 Savage – “Good Good”
- Victoria Monét – “On My Mama”
Best Alternative
- Benson Boone – “Beautiful Things” (WINNER)
- Bleachers – “Tiny Moves”
- Hozier – “Too Sweet”
- Imagine Dragons – “Eyes Closed”
- Linkin Park – “Friendly Fire”
- Teddy Swims – “Lose Control (Live)”
Best Collaboration
- Taylor Swift Featuring Post Malone – “Fortnight” (WINNER)
- Drake Featuring Sexyy Red & SZA – “Rich Baby Daddy”
- Glorilla & Megan Thee Stallion – “Wanna Be”
- Jessie Murph Featuring Jelly Roll – “Wild Ones”
- Jung Kook Featuring Latto – “Seven”
- Post Malone Featuring Morgan Wallen – “I Had Some Help”
Best Latin
- Anitta – “Mil Veces” (WINNER)
- Bad Bunny – “Monaco”
- Karol G – “Mi Ex Tenía Razón”
- Myke Towers – “Lala”
- Peso Pluma & Anitta – “Bellakeo”
- Rauw Alejandro – “Touching the Sky”
- Shakira & Cardi B – “Puntería”
Best Rock
- Lenny Kravitz – “Human” (WINNER)
- Bon Jovi – “Legendary”
- Coldplay – “Feelslikeimfallinginlove”
- Green Day – “Dilemma”
- Kings of Leon – “Mustang”
- U2 – “Atomic City”
Best Cinematography
- Ariana Grande – “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)” (WINNER)
- Charli XCX – “Von Dutch”
- Dua Lipa – “Illusion”
- Olivia Rodrigo – “Obsessed”
- Rauw Alejandro – “Touching the Sky”
- Taylor Swift Featuring Post Malone – “Fortnight”
Best Direction
- Taylor Swift Featuring Post Malone – “Fortnight” (WINNER)
- Ariana Grande – “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)”
- Bleachers – “Tiny Moves”
- Eminem – “Houdini”
- Megan Thee Stallion – “Boa”
- Sabrina Carpenter – “Please Please Please”
Best Art Direction
- Megan Thee Stallion – “Boa” (WINNER)
- Charli XCX – “360”
- Lisa – “Rockstar”
- Olivia Rodrigo – “Bad Idea Right?”
- Sabrina Carpenter – “Please Please Please”
- Taylor Swift Featuring Post Malone – “Fortnight”
Best Visual Effects
- Eminem – “Houdini” (WINNER)
- Ariana Grande – “The Boy Is Mine”
- Justin Timberlake – “Selfish”
- Megan Thee Stallion – “Boa”
- Olivia Rodrigo – “Get Him Back!”
- Taylor Swift Featuring Post Malone – “Fortnight”
Best Trending Video
- Megan Thee Stallion Featuring Yuki Chiba – “Mamushi” (WINNER)
- Beyoncé – “Texas Hold ’Em”
- Camila Cabello Featuring Playboi Carti – “I Luv It”
- Chappell Roan – “Hot to Go!”
- Charli XCX – “Apple”
- Tinashe – “Nasty”
MTV Push Performance of the Year
- Le Sserafim – “Easy” (WINNER)
- August 2023: Kaliii – “Area Codes”
- September 2023: Glorilla – “Lick or Sum”
- October 2023: Benson Boone – “In the Stars”
- November 2023: Coco Jones – “ICU”
- December 2023: Victoria Monét – “On My Mama”
- January 2024: Jessie Murph – “Wild Ones”
- February 2024: Teddy Swims – “Lose Control”
- March 2024: Chappell Roan – “Red Wine Supernova”
- April 2024: Flyana Boss – “Yeaaa”
- May 2024: Laufey – “Goddess”
- July 2024: The Warning – “Automatic Sun”
Song of the Summer, Presented by Hilton
- Taylor Swift Featuring Post Malone – “Fortnight” (WINNER)
- Ariana Grande – “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)”
- Benson Boone – “Beautiful Things”
- Billie Eilish – “Birds of a Feather”
- Chappell Roan – “Good Luck Babe!”
- Charli XCX & Billie Eilish – “Guess Featuring Billie Eilish”
- Eminem – “Houdini”
- Future, Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar – “Like That”
- Glorilla & Megan Thee Stallion – “Wanna Be”
- Hozier – “Too Sweet”
- Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us”
- Post Malone Featuring Morgan Wallen – “I Had Some Help”
- Sabrina Carpenter – “Please Please Please”
- Shaboozey – “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”
- SZA – “Saturn”
- Tommy Richman – “Million Dollar Baby”
VMAs Most Iconic Performance (+Video Vanguard Award Winner)
- Katy Perry – “Roar” (WINNER)
- Beyoncé – “Love on Top”
- Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Madonna & Missy Elliot – “Like a Virgin / Hollywood”
- Eminem – “The Real Slim Shady / The Way I Am”
- Lady Gaga – “Paparazzi”
- Madonna – “Like a Virgin”
- Taylor Swift – “You Belong With Me”
In the end, Taylor Swift’s “Fortnight,” featuring Post Malone, was the clear highlight of the night, winning multiple awards and capping off her historic year. While Sabrina Carpenter’s triumph with “Espresso” for Song of the Year marked a significant moment in her career, the snubbing of Kendrick Lamar for “Not Like Us” left a notable void in the celebrations. However, the 2024 VMAs undoubtedly showcased a blend of both established icons and rising stars like Chappell Roan and Benson Boone.
