MTV VMA Nominations: Does MTV still even play music videos?

I have been bad with my blog this month, between starting a new job, getting to meet and hang out with new people, being bad about keeping touch with friends etc...this has suffered.  One of the things I have thought about is how much pop culture I consume (not just film) so I want to make sure I start to cover things that are a part of the different avenues, specifically more music and television.  So what better way to move in this direction than to discuss something that involves music television.

While I was on a work retreat, I came back to find that MTV had announced their Video Music Award (VMA) nominations.  This has become a yearly tradition for this network since the year I was born 1984.  During the eighties into even the very 2000s MTV actually played music videos on a consistent basis.  Since the cancellation of Total Request Live and the inception of more shows like Teen Mom, 16 and Pregnant, True Life, endless dating shows etc. MTV has not played music videos much anymore.  The only time you can see them is very early in the morning.  I hate what this network has become.  this network was once the pioneer for launching great music careers, now it launches the career of "celebrities" like Snookie from the Jersey Shore.  The VMAs helped launch Madonna, and many other artists to great careers.  My rant against MTV could go on forever, like the fact that they control the programming for LOGO (the LGBT channel) and the programming is awful, but I want to focus a little more on the nominations today.

Here is a list of all the nominees (from Perez Hilton)  Katy Perry had the most nominations; she is is not the best singer, but this year her videos went above and beyond most, and she deserves many nominations.  I think that Firework is one of my favorite videos because it just has a wonderful message. The problem is I since these music videos are on I have to search for them, and predicting the winners or even picking a favorite is difficult.

VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Adele, "Rolling In The Deep"
Tyler, The Creator, "Yonkers"
Katy Perry, "Firework"
Bruno Mars, "Grenade"
Beastie Boys, "Make Some Noise"

After watching these videos I would pick either Katy Perry or the Beastie Boys, but none of these videos had that WOW factor.

BEST FEMALE VIDEO
Adele, "Rolling In The Deep"
Katy Perry, "Firework"
Beyonce, "Run The World (Girls)"
Nicki Minaj, "Super Bass"
Lady Gaga, "Born This Way"

This is always one of the best categories at the VMAs for me.  Beyonce's video is fun.  Adele's is classic.  Gaga is well Gaga, and Nicki Minaj is eh...I would go with Katy Perry's video.

BEST MALE VIDEO
Cee Lo Green, "F*** You"
Eminem feat. Rihanna, "Love The Way You Lie"
Bruno Mars, "Grenade"
Kanye West feat. Rihanna & Kid Cudi, "All Of The Lights"
Justin Bieber, "U Smile"

I like Cee Lo's video hands down, its just fun

BEST HIP HOP VIDEO
Lil Wayne feat. Cory Gunz, "6’7’"
Kanye West feat. Rihanna & Kid Cudi, "All Of The Lights"
Chris Brown feat. Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes, "Look At Me Now"
Nicki Minaj, "Super Bass"
Lupe Fiasco, "The Show Goes On"

This one goes to Kanye for me, its pretty good!

BEST NEW ARTIST
Foster The People, "Pumped Up Kicks"
Wiz Khalifa, "Black and Yellow"
Tyler, The Creator, "Yonkers"
Big Sean feat. Chris Brown, "My Last"
Kreayshawn, "Gucci Gucci"

With a a video of the year nomination Tyler the creator will most likely win, but the video is not for me 

BEST POP VIDEO
Adele, "Rolling In The Deep"
Bruno Mars, "Grenade"
NE-YO, Nayer & Afrojack, "Give Me Everything"
Katy Perry, "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)"
Britney Spears, "Till The World Ends"

This will be Adele's prize, but I'd like to give it to Britney

BEST ROCK VIDEO
The Black Keys, "Howlin For You"
Foo Fighters, "Walk"
Foster The People, "Pumped Up Kicks"
Mumford & Sons, "The Cave"
Cage The Elephant, "Shake Me Down"

I think Mumford and Sons will win this, there surge of popularity helps

BEST COLLABORATION
Pitbull feat. NE-YO, Nayer & Afrojack, Give Me Everything
Chris Brown feat. Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes, "Look At Me Now"
Rihanna & Kid Cudi, "All Of The Lights"
Katy Perry feat. Kanye West, "E.T."
Nicki Minaj feat. Drake, "Moment 4 Life"

Another win for Katy Perry, and this video is out there!

BEST ART DIRECTION
Adele, "Rolling In The Deep"
Katy Perry, "Firework"
Lady Gaga, "Judas"
Kanye West, "Power"
Death Cab For Cutie, "You Are A Tourist"

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
Beyonce, "Run The World (Girls)"
Britney Spears, "Till The World Ends"
Lady Gaga, "Judas"
Bruno Mars, "The Lazy Song"
LMFAO feat. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock, "Party Rock Anthem"

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Adele, "Rolling In The Deep"
Beyonce, "Run The World (Girls)"
Eminem feat. Rihanna, "Love The Way You Lie"
Katy Perry, "Teenage Dream"
Thirty Seconds To Mars, "Hurricane"

BEST DIRECTION
Beastie Boys, "Make Some Noise"
Katy Perry feat. Kanye West, "E.T."
Thirty Seconds To Mars, "Hurricane"
Eminem feat. Rihanna, "Love The Way You Lie"
Adele, "Rolling In The Deep"

BEST EDITING
Katy Perry feat. Kanye West, "E.T."
Thirty Seconds To Mars, "Hurricane"
Adele, "Rolling In The Deep"
Kanye West feat. Rihanna & Kid Cudi, "All Of The Lights"
Manchester Orchestra, "Simple Math"

BEST SFX (SPECIAL EFFECTS)
Manchester Orchestra, "Simple Math"
Katy Perry feat. Kanye West, "E.T."
Kanye West, "Power"
Linkin Park, "Waiting For The End"
Chromeo, "Don’t Turn The Lights On"