14 DAY TRIAL // Music lovers looking to support their favorite artist or act win another accolade can do so now: the nominations for the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards have been announced, and their vote will also count.
Below is a complete list of the nominees.
As is the case every year, Rihanna is one of the most nominated artists, which more than makes sense considering how she never seems to take a breather from recording music and releasing new videos.
She's up for 5 awards this year, as also is one-time rumored boyfriend and longtime collaborator Drake.
The two are actually competing in some of the night's biggest categories, such as Best Pop Video and Video of the Year. In the latter, Rihanna's in the running with “We Found Love” and her Drake duet “Take Care.”
Both Drake and Rihanna are up for Best Male and Best Female video as well.
Up next in terms of number of nods is Katy Perry, with 4 nominations. Beyonce, Coldplay, Jay-Z, Frank Ocean and Nicki Minaj follow suit with 3 nods each.
Lana Del Rey, one of the hottest newcomers on the scene (at least, under her current name, because she's been around for longer, just not in this “packaging”), also scored 2 nominations, for Best Art Direction and Best Cinematography, both for “Born to Die.”
Justin Bieber too landed just two nods, which is somewhat of a letdown for the world's most famous and successful heartthrob, especially since he has a new album out.
He's in the running for Best Male Video and Best Pop Video for “Boyfriend,” his lead single off the “Believe” album.
Before you head on to the full list of nominees, here's what you should know about the voting process, just in case you're thinking of showing some love for your favorite number.
“Beginning Tuesday (July 31) at 6 a.m. EST, viewers can vote for general VMA categories, including Video of the Year, Best New Artist and more by visiting vma.mtv.com online or m.mtv.com on their mobile phone. In addition, Best New Artist is available for voting via all wireless carrier subscribers by texting BNA to 22444 or by visiting MTV's official Facebook page,” MTV reports.
“Voting for all VMA categories, except Best New Artist, will end on August 24 at 6 p.m. ET. Voting for Best New Artist continues through the show on September 6,” says the same media outlet.
Video of the Year
Katy Perry, "Wide Awake" Gotye, "Somebody That I Used To Know" Rihanna, "We Found Love" Drake feat. Rihanna, "Take Care" M.I.A., "Bad Girls"
Best New Artist
Fun. feat. Janelle Monae, "We Are Young" Carly Rae Jepsen, "Call Me Maybe" Frank Ocean, "Swim Good" One Direction, "What Makes You Beautiful" The Wanted, "Glad You Came"
Best Hip-Hop Video
Childish Gambino, "Heartbeat" Drake feat. Lil Wayne, "HYFR" Kanye West feat. Pusha T, Big Sean & 2 Chainz, "Mercy" Watch the Throne, "Paris" Nicki Minaj feat. 2 Chainz, "Beez in the Trap"
Best Male Video
Justin Bieber, "Boyfriend" Frank Ocean, "Swim Good" Drake feat. Rihanna, "Take Care" Chris Brown, "Turn Up the Music" Usher, "Climax"
Best Female Video
Rihanna, "We Found Love" Katy Perry, "Part of Me" Beyoncé, "Love on Top" Nicki Minaj, "Starships" Selena Gomez & The Scene, "Love You Like a Love Song"
Best Pop Video
One Direction, "What Makes You Beautiful" Fun. feat. Janelle Monae, "We Are Young" Rihanna, "We Found Love" Justin Bieber, "Boyfriend" Maroon 5 feat. Wiz Khalifa, "Payphone"
Best Rock Video
Coldplay, "Paradise" The Black Keys, "Lonely Boy" Linkin Park, "BURN IT DOWN" Jack White, "Sixteen Saltines" Imagine Dragons, "It's Time"
Best Electronic Dance Music Video
Duck Sauce, "Big Bad Wolf" Calvin Harris, "Feel So Close" Skrillex, "First of the Year (Equinox)" Martin Solveig, "The Night Out" Avicii, "Le7els"
Best Video With a Message
Demi Lovato, "Skyscraper" Rise Against, "Ballad of Hollis Brown" Kelly Clarkson, "Dark Side" Gym Class Heroes, "The Fighter" K'Naan feat. Nelly Furtado, "Is Anybody Out There?" Lil Wayne, "How to Love"
Best Art Direction
Katy Perry, "Wide Awake" Drake feat. Rihanna, "Take Care" Lana Del Rey, "Born to Die" Regina Spektor, "All the Rowboats" Of Monsters & Men, "Little Talks"
Best Choreography
Chris Brown, "Turn Up the Music" Rihanna, "Where Have You Been" Beyonce, "Countdown" Avicii, "Le7els" Jennifer Lopez f/Pitbull, "Dance Again"
Best Cinematography
M.I.A., "Bad Girls" Adele, "Someone Like You" Drake feat. Rihanna, "Take Care" Coldplay feat. Rihanna, "Princess of China" Lana Del Rey, "Born to Die"
Best Direction
M.I.A., "Bad Girls" Duck Sauce, "Big Bad Wolf" Coldplay feat. Rihanna, "Princess of China" Frank Ocean, "Swim Good" Watch the Throne, "Otis"
Best Editing
Beyonce, "Countdown" A$AP Rocky, "Goldie" Gotye, "Somebody That I Used to Know" Watch the Throne, "Paris" Kanye West feat. Pusha T, Big Sean and 2 Chainz, "Mercy"
Best Visual Effects
Katy Perry, "Wide Awake" Rihanna, "Where Have You Been" David Guetta feat. Nicki Minaj, "Turn Me On" Linkin Park, "BURN IT DOWN" Skrillex, "First of the Year (Equinox)"