Just weeks before the show is set to air, MTV announced the addition of a new category to the Video Music Awards listing – Best Video With a Message. The former music channel had this to say:
“The special category, in conjunction with MTV Act (that’s us!), celebrates the union between music and social activism, and highlights artists who created music videos that made us think about the world around us.
These artists could have just made party songs, but instead they also took a stand against bullying, fought for LGBT rights and reminded us why we’re all special.”
Find out the nominees after the jump:
‘Best Video With a Message’
+ P!nk – “F*ckin’ Perfect”
+ Lady Gaga – “Born This Way”
+ Katy Perry – “Firework”
+ Eminem feat. Rihanna – “Love The Way You Lie”
+ Rise Against – “Make it Stop (September’s Children)”
+ Taylor Swift – “Mean”
The new category raises frontrunner Katy Perry‘s nomination tally to 10 for this year’s ceremony. Rih-latedly, while we here at TGJ aren’t exactly presidents of Rihanna fan clubs, even we admit the new category almost adds insult to injury to her unceremonious snubbing at this year’s showing. ‘Man Down’ was clearly a more socially conscious effort than some of the nods listed above and probably Ms. Fenty’s most to date. And, of course, there’s Marsha Ambrosius‘s ‘Far Away’.
Either way, fans have until August 16th to vote for their favorite as the show will air live via MTV on August 28th. Click here to cast your vote.
Your thoughts?