The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) streamed live on Sept. 7 to recognize excellence in music video production and music overall.
Since the event, sand and rain-drenched performances from pop princesses Tate McRae and Sabrina Carpenter flood our “For You” pages and rankings of should-have-been winners circulate the internet.
But did the VMAs winners list leave anyone out?
As the last bits of VMAs confetti hit the floor, The Beacon staff rounded up the albums, songs and artists we deem worthy of taking home a moon person.
Artist of the Year: Tyler, The Creator
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In the fall of 2024, less than ten days after its announcement, Tyler, The Creator's eighth studio album “Chromakopia” was released. The album opens with Tyler whispering in the listener's ear and Daniel Caesar’s vocals as accompaniment. "St. Chromastarts off the theme of the album: pursuing your passion and recognizing your inner light. Tyler raps on the album about the dark side of fame, the paranoia that comes with celebrity, pregnancy scares, revelations, and his relationship with his estranged father. It concludes with the repetition of the words “The light comes from within." Less than a year later, Tyler released a shorter, 10-song album titled “DON'T TAP THE GLASS.” The theme is entirely different with Tyler taking a break from his introspective, emotional work. His newest release asks its listeners to stop sitting still and to check their baggage at the door. The album combines elements of hip-hop, funk, house and techno, making it the perfect album to get up and dance to. Tyler’s release of two stylistically diverse albums has earned him the title of 2025 Artist of the Year, no competition.
Video of the Year: Lady Gaga, “The Dead Dance”
Recommended by Camille Kuroiwa-Lewis, Editor-in-Chief
Popped-off doll heads and flowing ribbons that look like gauze strips: this haunting music video is both the perfect spooky watch for fall and the best video of 2025. In “The Dead Dance,” Lady Gaga stuns as a brought-to-life dancing doll. The choreography of Gaga and back-up dancers is a truly wicked delight, reminiscent of other Halloween classics like “Thriller.” Tim Burton’s direction is also obvious in more than just the hair, makeup and costume, making this the perfect video for fans of "Wednesday" and “Beetlejuice.” And to tie it all together, the black and white filter, coupled with the full moon in the background, gives the video the perfect angst. If you are looking for a fun, unique and emo video to complete your year of music, “The Dead Dance” is one you can’t miss.
Best Pop Artist: PinkPantheress
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Known for her collaboration with Ice Spice for “Boy’s a liar Pt. 2” and hit song “Illegal,” listeners continue to be enamoured by PinkPantheress’ poppy discography and catchy, fast-paced lyricism. Pink left us in a musical drought that lasted two years since the release of her last album, “Heaven Knows.” However, on May 9 this year, she satiated our thirst for British bedroom pop with “Fancy That,” her second mixtape since her last one in 2021, “To Hell With It.” The most notable track of her latest mixtape, as mentioned before, was “Illegal,” which blew up on TikTok and left us all scrambling for the nearest phone to record coy looks and silly handshakes with our favorite pals. It feels illegal not to consider PinkPantheress one of the greatest singers of the modern pop music scene.
Best Album: Mumford & Sons, “Rushmere”
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After a nearly seven-year hiatus, British folk-rock band Mumford & Sons made a triumphant return to the music scene this year with their lively and nostalgic new album, “Rushmere.” You might remember their iconic hits from the 2010s — including “I Will Wait” and “The Cave” — which, for me, were the soundtracks of my childhood. I can still picture myself lying on the living room floor with my dad, flipping through their CD collection as we listened to each album from start to finish. To celebrate their comeback, I had the chance to see them live this summer in Bend, Oregon, where they kicked off their first tour in years — and it was unforgettable. Sure, Sabrina Carpenter’s album “Short n’ Sweet” might be dominating the internet and the VMAs, but “Rushmere” is ruling my heart — and my Spotify.
Best New Artist: Olivia Dean
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I can say with confidence, the only thing I’ve ever been early to is Olivia Dean. I first discovered her in the spring of 2023. Fresh off a semester in London, I needed to be transported back across the pond, and my does Dean’s music have a transportational quality. The English singer puts out a consistent blend of pop-soul, R&B and jazz, but each track sends you to a different place. On “Ok Love You Bye,” you’re pep-talking yourself in the mirror while applying lipstick for a night at the pub. On the grandly romantic and danceable “Dive,” you’re tipsy-swinging in the kitchen with a lover. Combined with vibrant live shows and style, this rising “Lady Lady” deserves to be the Best New Artist.
Best Pop Video: Ariana Grande, “Brighter Days Ahead”
Recommended by Evan Guerra, Photographer and Video Producer
I couldn’t come up with anyone else who deserved this win over the 2025 Best Pop Video award winner Ariana Grande, so I’m not recommending anyone else. Grande is a name in pop that, similar to Taylor Swift, almost transcends pop itself. Even if you don’t listen to their music, you likely know their names. Grande didn’t hold anything back with her video, “brighter days ahead.” It’s a full short-film experience that marks the end of her eternal sunshine era. This kind of effort isn’t commonly seen in music, so these videos stand out when they come around. Additionally, Grande’s “Eternal Sunshine” album was a pleasant surprise to me as a casual fan of her music. It stands up to some of her older projects and is an era that I recommend you check out. If you haven’t yet watched the video, then go listen, or re-listen to “Eternal Sunshine” and finish your experience by watching this extraordinary video.
Best Collaboration: Kendrick Lamar & SZA, “Luther”
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In the past year and a half, few names in the music industry have been spoken as much as Kendrick Lamar. And no artist in recent years has been on top of R&B like SZA. The two have collaborated on songs before, most notably in 2018 with “All the Stars” peaking atseventh on the Billboard Hot 100. So, it shouldn’t be a surprise to hear that the pair’s most recent collaborations on Kendrick Lamar’s album “GNX” made waves. “Luther” is a hip-hop and R&B ballad produced by a stacked roster of production talent — including Sounwave, Jack Antonoff and Kamasi Washington — and samples soul legends Luther Vandross and Cheryl Lynn’s, “If This World Were Mine”. The track spent 13 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 for good reason. Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s vocal chemistry is natural. The strings are lush. And the melody feels like a late-day summer drive down the Pacific Coast Highway with your better half —or your homies. You’re welcome for the date idea.
Best Group: Rainbow Kitten Surprise
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Rainbow Kitten Surprise (RKS) released their newest album, “Love Hate Music Box,” in 2024 after a few years of turmoil among their band members. RKS fans had expressed their concerns for the group after a series of show cancellations and six years without any new content. In May of 2024, they returned better than ever with an album full of meaningful and irresistible songs. The band, previously considered indie-rock, launched their latest tour with a complete rebrand into alternative pop. Rainbow Kitten Surprise’s “Love Hate Music Box” tour left fans with a redeemed sense of loyalty and enthusiasm, particularly with songs such as “Superstar” and “LOL.”
Song of the Summer: Sabrina Carpenter, “Manchild”
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Sabrina Carpenter’s chart-topping single, “Manchild,” comes from her equally chart-topping album, “Man’s Best Friend.” The album itself debuted on the Billboard 200 chart and has been taking the chart by storm since it was released this summer. Carpenter’s music video for “Man’s Best Friend” was also nominated for Video of the Year, and it isn’t hard to see why. The video itself is a colorful array of chaos and nostalgia. It works to remind viewers of — or introduce them to — romantic life from the 1980s. The actors, scenes and cars throughout the video are both eye-catching and headline grabbing, making this instant classic a first-choice summer favorite.
Best Direction: Bardia Zeinali
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Bardia Zeinali’s music videos and fashion films are known for a very recognizable “house style.” His video style also includes seamless blends of fashion and music, pop-culture mashups and playful, honest humor. His most iconic music videos of 2025 include “Born Again” by Lisa ft. Doja Cat & RAYE where he created a black-and-white masterpiece that just feels like part of a runway show, including mythic scenes filled with symbolic costumes, and a strong message of growth and female strength. Most recently, “Tears” by Sabrina Carpenter hits a totally different direction with moody and campy nods to the 1975 classic movie, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, completed with drag-club flair. Both videos show that Zeinalis can make pop visuals feel stylish, like little movies that are full of striking personalities.
Best Country: Megan Moroney, “You Had To Be There”
Recommended by Kalena O’Connell, Living Editor
For the first time in VMAs history, a category was dedicated to country music, and who better to accept the inaugural award than the Emo Cowgirl herself, Megan Moroney. Her first moon person recognized the leading single of her sophomore album, “Am I Okay?”, though if you ask me, another of her singles deserves the spotlight. Premiered at the start of the summer, “You Had To Be There” is a collaboration with Kenny Chesney that celebrates her run as opener for his 2024 “Sun Goes Down Tour.” The single is a favorite in my country playlist that captures the euphoria of Moroney’s rise from fan to pop-country star, a feeling that resonates even without the fame attached. Crank the volume, kick off your boots and revel in the nostalgia of those moments when, as Moroney sings, “there was magic in the air, you had to be there.”
Best K-pop: SEVENTEEN, “THUNDER”
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May 26 was a memorable date for CARATS and the K-pop community. K-pop group, SEVENTEEN, surprised everyone with the release of their fifth album, “HAPPY BURSTDAY,” on the day of their 10th anniversary. The main title, “THUNDER,” was full of energy and a fresh, renewed vibe that sets them apart. Their powerful comeback shook the whole of Seoul until it reached the world. SEVENTEEN offered a statement in the shape of an energetic melody: they are still going strong. Though they weren’t nominated, “THUNDER’S” impact goes beyond other songs, from the memorable release date, the doubts and worries from fans as the members slowly depart for their mandatory military service, to a song that fully encapsulates SEVENTEEN’s style. This group, in my opinion, deserves all the awards in the world.
Best Alternative: 9Million, “9Million”
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This band from Toronto, Ontario is making waves in the alternative scene with their new album, “9Million,” released Aug. 12 of this year. The album is a roller coaster. Ranging from grungy metal guitar and drums, to slow and groovy instrumentals, their music has this 2000s type of nostalgia while still being incredibly creative and fresh. This is an album to listen to at full volume with all the windows down. Disturb the neighborhoods, it's the type of anarchy that alternative music demands.
Best Hip-Hop: Clipse, “Chains & Whips”
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Amid one of the most thrilling years for hip-hop in recent memory, Pusha T and No Malice’s official return to the scene as brother-duo, Clipse, with “Let God Sort Em Out” stands out from the pack. The record’s excellence is perhaps best exemplified by its second track, “Chains & Whips.” Following the intro “The Birds Don’t Sing,” an unusually emotional ballad detailing each brother’s reaction to the subsequent losses of their mother and father, the listener is then transported to an entirely new world by the pulsing drums of producer Pharrell Williams and eerie guitar strummed by Lenny Kravitz. Over the mystical but gritty instrumental, the duo and feature, Kendrick Lamar, demonstrate with lavish and prideful wordplay why they are acclaimed by fans and legends alike. Lamar’s verse was so potent that, faced with pressure from Def Jam to censor the verse for fear of another Drake lawsuit, “Clipse” chose to release the album under Roc Nation in order to keep the verse. The song is backed by an equally attention-grabbing video.
Best Latin: Bad Bunny, “DtMF”
Recommended by Samantha Zavala, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Editor
Bad Bunny’s homage to Puerto Rico is nothing short of inspiring. With catchy beats, infectious melodies and thoughtful lyrics, the whole album is a love letter to his beloved home. “DtMF,” the title track of the album, brought the whole Latino community together through its nostalgic message of missing the places and people we leave behind. Lyrics like “Debí tirar más fotos de cuando te tuve” leave fans reminiscing of times spent with loved ones and are reminded of time’s fleeting nature.
This list was compiled by The Beacon staff. We can be reached at beaconeditor@upbeacon.com.
