The VMAs took place at the Prudential Center in New Jersey on Sept. 12, 2023. They captured the essence of the music industry, with over 3.9 million viewers. According to Variety Magazine, there were 46 million interactions online talking about the VMAs.
Celebrities such as Nicki Minaj, Demi Lovato and Dua Lipa attended. According to Variety Magazine, they brought in a new audience this year by showing artist performances at the VMAs for the first time, which included Peso Pluma, Metro Boomin, and Kelsea Ballerini.
Categories include Best New Artist, Best Video, Song of the Summer, etc.
Throughout the night there were a couple of record breaking moments with Shakira winning the Video Vanguard Award and being the first South American to do so. Taylor Swift came close to breaking the record of most wins in a night by winning nine awards total, with the record being set at ten. Nicki Minaj continued her record of being the most awarded artist for Best Hip Hop category, as she has won the award a total of five times.
In the past, there has been controversy surrounding the fairness of award shows. Because the voting majority is fans, there has been speculation on if people were gaining wins based on race. Since awards are rewarded based on the fans it could become unfair with who really made the best music, videos, etc. This year everyone was included with tons of diversity throughout the production, with awards that recognize other races such as best Latino Artist.
According to Variety Magazine, viewers went up by 37%. Although there were some awkward moments, like Saweetie struggling to read her transition speech, it flowed relatively smoothly.
Producing an award show that could be enjoyed by many, Alan Goodman is an American writer and producer. He is known for The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo, Kids’ Court, and The Movie Masters. He also produces the MTV, VMAs. The VMAs are available to watch on Hulu Live TV, YoutubeTV, AT&T TV, and FuboTV. This show is recommended for younger audiences like teens and early adults.
Although I really loved the performances and pace of the show, there were some flaws in the production. However, it did bring the title of a good award show packed with comedic moments. There was lots of diversity and inclusion of all different types of music from all different parts of the world. I recommend the VMAs to anyone who enjoys award shows and pop culture.
*Editor’s note: Isabella Langham is a student writer. All views expressed in the commentary are her own and are independent of the district, Rouse High School and the publication.