MTV Video Music Awards 2013: The Nominees

Bruno Mars

The second-most nominated artist this year for Unorthodox Jukebox, Bruno Mars earned one nod for Best Choreography for "Treasure" and three others for "Locked Out of Heaven," including Video of the Year.

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Leading the pack with six nominations, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis will go head-to-head against Justin Timberlake, who will also walk into the Barclays Center with six nods to his name. The duo's three singles—"Thrift Shop," "Can't Hold Us," and "Same Love"—could sweep in multiple categories, such as Best Cinematography and Best Video With A Social Message.

Taylor Swift

In addition to Video of the Year, the Red songstress will compete in the Best Female Video category for "I Knew You Were Trouble," going up against Miley Cyrus's "We Can't Stop" and Demi Lovato's "Heart Attack."

Drake

Nominated multiple times last year with Rihanna for "Take Care," Drake returns to the ceremony this year with three nominations—two for Best Hip Hop Video and one for Best Direction.

Pink

Pink will head to Barclays Center with nominations for Best Female Video, Best Collaboration, and Best Editing for "Just Give Me A Reason," her hit single featuring fun. lead vocalist, Nate Ruess.

Robin Thicke

Nominated again for the first time in five years, Robin Thicke returns to the fray with three nods for his controversial summer hit, "Blurred Lines," including one for Best Collaboration with T.I. and Pharrell. 

fun.

Capitalizing off last year's multiple nods for "We Are Young," fun. returns to the VMAs with two nominations for "Carry On." The band will compete with heavyweight Justin Timberlake in the Best Pop Video and Best Direction categories.

Kendrick Lamar

Aside from two nominations in the Best Hip Hop Video category, Kendrick Lamar will go up against British import and Taylor Swift collaborator Ed Sheeran for Best Male Video with "Swimming Pools."

Calvin Harris

After earning a nomination last year for Best Electronic Dance Music Video, the Scottish DJ will return to this year's ceremony with nods in the Best Collaboration and Best Editing categories for "I Need Your Love" featuring Ellie Goulding and "Sweet Nothing" featuring Florence Welch, respectively.

Imagine Dragons

Coming off last year's nomination for "It's Time," Imagine Dragons returns for a second shot at Best Rock Video with "Radioactive." They'll contend with Fall Out Boy and Mumford & Sons, both previous nominees in the category.

Snoop Lion

His first VMA nomination since his reincarnation as Snoop Lion, the rapper earned a nod for "No Guns Allowed" for Best Video With A Social Message, a category already packed with artists such as Beyoncé and Kelly Clarkson.

30 Seconds to Mars

30 Seconds to Mars' "Up in the Air" will compete against the likes of Vampire Weekend, Alt-J, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs in the categories of Best Rock Video, Best Art Direction, and Best Cinematography.

Lana Del Rey

Last year a multiple nominee for "Born to Die," Lana Del Rey will return to the categories of Best Art Direction and Best Cinematography for "National Anthem" and "Ride," respectively.

Twenty One Pilots

Twenty One Pilots, who will perform as the opening act on Fall Out Boy's tour later this year, earned a nod for Artist To Watch with single "Holding on to You." The duo will go up against the likes of Iggy Azalea and Austin Mahone.

Flying Lotus

Competing against artists such as Skrillex and The Weeknd at this year's ceremony, first-time nominee Flying Lotus earned a nod for Best Visual Effects for "Tony Tortures."