Ayra Starr, Tems, Burna Boy Miss Out As Taylor Swift, Others Win Big [See Full List]

The 2024 MTV Video Music Awards held at the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, on September 11, 2024, saw American singer, Taylor Swift, emerge as the standout performer.

The 34-year-old achieved the status of the most-awarded solo artist in the history of the VMAs by winning seven categories, which included the prestigious Video of the Year award.

Unfortunately, the Nigerian trio consisting of Damini Ogulu, widely recognized as Burna Boy; Oyinkansola Aderibigbe, known in the music industry as Ayra Starr; and Temilade Openiyi, more commonly referred to as Tems, were unable to secure any awards at the MTV Video Music Awards held on Wednesday evening.

On the other hand, South African artist Tyla won the male-dominated category of best Afrobeats with her hit Water, edging out both Burna Boy, Ayra Starr, and Tems.

“The global impact that Water had on the world just proves that African music can be pop music, too,” Tyla remarked after winning the award in Elmont, New York.

She remarked that the award carried a “bittersweet” sentiment, as there is a tendency to categorize all African artists within the Afrobeats genre, emphasizing that African music encompasses a rich diversity that extends beyond just Afrobeats.

Below is the Full List of winners at the 2024 MTV VMAs.

• VIDEO OF THE YEAR
  Ariana Grande – “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)”
  Billie Eilish – “Lunch”
  Doja Cat – “Paint The Town Red”
  Eminem – “Houdini”
  SZA – “Snooze”
  Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight” — WINNER
• ARTIST OF THE YEAR
  Ariana Grande
  Bad Bunny
  Eminem
  Sabrina Carpenter
  SZA
  Taylor Swift — WINNER
• SONG OF THE YEAR

Beyoncé – “Texas Hold ‘Em”
Jack Harlow – “Lovin On Me”
Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us”
Sabrina Carpenter – “Espresso” — WINNER
Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight”
Teddy Swims – “Lose Control”

• BEST NEW ARTIST
  Benson Boone
  Chappell Roan — WINNER
  Gracie Abrams
  Shaboozey
  Teddy Swims
  Tyla
• BEST COLLABORATION
  Drake ft. Sexyy Red & SZA – “Rich Baby Daddy “
  GloRilla, Megan Thee Stallion – “Wanna Be”
  Jessie Murph ft. Jelly Roll – “Wild Ones”
  Jung Kook ft. Latto – “Seven”
  Post Malone ft. Morgan Wallen – “I Had Some Help”
  Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight” — WINNER
• BEST POP
  Camila Cabello
  Dua Lipa
  Olivia Rodrigo
  Sabrina Carpenter
  Tate McRae
  Taylor Swift — WINNER
• BEST HIP-HOP
  Drake ft. Sexyy Red & SZA – “Rich Baby Daddy “
  Eminem – “Houdini” — WINNER
  GloRilla – “Yeah Glo!”
  Gunna – “Fukumean”
  Megan Thee Stallion – “BOA”
  Travis Scott ft. Playboi Carti – “FE!N”
• BEST R&B
  Alicia Keys – “Lifeline”
  Muni Long – “Made For Me”
  SZA – “Snooze” — WINNER
  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 ROCK
  Bon Jovi – “Legendary”
  Coldplay – “Feelslikeimfallinginlove”
  Green Day – “Dilemma”
  Kings of Leon – “Mustang”
  Lenny Kravitz – “Human” — WINNER
  U2 – “Atomic City”
• BEST LATIN
  Anitta – “Mil Veces” — WINNER
  Bad Bunny – “Monaco”
  Karol G – “Mi Ex Tenia Razon”
  Myke Towers – “Lala”
  Peso Pluma & Anitta – “Bellakeo”
  Rauw Alejandro – “Touching the Sky”
  Shakira & Cardi B – “Puntería”
• BEST AFROBEATS
  Ayra Starr ft. Giveon – “Last Heartbreak Song”
  Burna Boy – “City Boys”
  Chris Brown ft. Davido & Lojay – “Sensational”
  Tems – “Love Me JeJe”
  Tyla – “Water” — WINNER
  Usher, Pheelz – “Ruin”
• BEST K-POP
  Jung Kook ft. Latto – “Seven”
  Lisa – “Rockstar” — WINNER
  NCT Dream – “Smoothie”
  NewJeans – “Super Shy”
  Stray Kids – “Lalalala”
  Tomorrow X Together – “Deja vu”
• VIDEO FOR GOOD
  Alexander Stewart – “If You Only Knew”
  Billie Eilish – “What Was I Made For (From the Motion Picture “Barbie”)” — WINNER
  Coldplay – “Feelslikeimfallinginlove”
  Joyner Lucas & Jelly Roll – “Best for Me”
  Raye – “Genesis”
  Tyler Childers – “In Your Love”
• BEST DIRECTION
  Ariana Grande – “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)” – Directed by Christian Breslauer
  Bleachers – “Tiny Moves” – Directed by Alex Lockett & Margaret Qualley
  Eminem – “Houdini” – Directed by Rich Lee
  Megan Thee Stallion – “BOA” – Directed by Daniel Iglesias Jr.
  Sabrina Carpenter – “Please Please Please” – Directed by Bardia Zeinali
  Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Directed by Taylor Swift — WINNER
• BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
  Ariana Grande – “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)” – Cinematography by Anatol Trofimov — WINNER
  Charli XCX – “Von Dutch” – Cinematography by Jeff Bierman
  Dua Lipa – “Illusion” – Cinematography by Nikita Kuzmenko
  Olivia Rodrigo – “Obsessed” – Cinematography by Marz Miller
  Rauw Alejandro – “Touching the Sky” – Cinematography by Camilo Monsalve
  Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Cinematography by Rodrigo Prieto
• BEST EDITING
  Anitta – “Mil Veces” – Editing by Nick Yumul
  Ariana Grande – “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)” – Editing by Luis Caraza Peimbert
  Eminem – “Houdini” – Editing by David Checel
  Lisa – “Rockstar” – Editing by Nik Kohler
  Sabrina Carpenter – “Espresso” – Editing by Jai Shukla
  Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Editing by Chancler Haynes — WINNER
• BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
  Bleachers – “Tiny Moves” – Choreography by Margaret Qualley
  Dua Lipa – “Houdini” – Choreography by Charm La’Donna — WINNER
  Lisa – “Rockstar” – Choreography by Sean Bankhead
  Rauw Alejandro – “Touching the Sky” – Choreography by Felix ‘Fefe’ Burgos
  Tate McRae – “Greedy” – Choreography by Sean Bankhead
  Troye Sivan – “Rush” – Choreography by Sergio Reis, Mauro Van De Kerkhof
• BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
  Ariana Grande – “The Boy is Mine” – Visual Effects by Digital Axis
  Eminem – “Houdini” – Visual Effects by Synapse Virtual Production, Louise Lee, Rich Lee, Metaphysic, Flawless Post — WINNER
  Justin Timberlake – “Selfish” – Visual Effects by Candice Dragonas
  Megan Thee Stallion – “BOA” – Visual Effects by Mathematic
  Olivia Rodrigo – “Get Him Back!” – Visual Effects by Cooper Vacheron, Preston Mohr, Karen Arakelian, Justin Johnson
  Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Visual Effects by Parliament
• BEST ART DIRECTION
  Charli XCX – “360” – Art Direction by Grace Surnow
  Lisa – “Rockstar” – Art Direction by Pongsan Thawatwichian
  Megan Thee Stallion – “BOA” – Art Direction by Brittany Porter — WINNER
  Olivia Rodrigo – “Bad Idea Right?” – Art Direction by Nicholas des Jardins
  Sabrina Carpenter – “Please Please Please” – Art Direction by Nicholas des Jardins
  Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Art Direction by Ethan Tobman