Anitta to Make Main Stage Performance Debut at This Year’s MTV Video Music Awards

Anitta is ready for a special first…

MTV has revealed the first batch of performers for this year’s MTV Video Music Awards, with the 29-year-old Brazilian singer/ songwriter among those set to take the stage.

AnittaIt will be Anitta’s VMAs main stage debut, And she will perform her latest hit single, “Envolver,” for the first-time on television.

“Envolver” recently earned the Brazilian superstar a Guinness Book of World Records certification as the first solo Latin artist to hit No. 1 at Spotify.

Anitta also is up for her first VMA in the Best Latin category, making her the first Brazilian artist to be nominated for a Moon Person.

But Anitta isn’t the only Latinx artist set to perform.

J Balvin will take the stage

The 37-year-old Colombian superstar will return to the show for the television/world premiere of “Nivel de Perreo” with Ryan Castro, back for the first time since his epic on-stage collaboration with Bad Bunny for “Que Pretendes” in 2019.

The 13-time nominee with five wins also is looking to take his sixth Moon Person for Best Latin (“In Da Getto” with Skrillex), which would crown him as the most awarded Latin artist in VMAs history.

Other performers include Marshmello x Khalid and Panic! at the Disco.

The MTV VMAs will take place on August 28, live from the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ.

Kendrick Lamar, Jack Harlow & Lil Nas X are coming into the show tied for the nominations lead with seven apiece. Next up are Doja Cat and Harry Styles with six each and Billie Eilish, Drake, Dua Lipa, Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift and The Weeknd with five.

The 2022 VMAs will air at 8:00 pm ET/PT on Sunday, August 28, across MTV’s global linear and digital platforms in more than 170 countries. For the third straight year, the VMAs will simulcast on the CW, in addition to BET, BET Her, CMT, Comedy Central, Logo, MTV2, Nickelodeon, Paramount Network, Pop, TVLand and VH1.

Here are MTV’s mini-bios of the performers set so far:

Anitta
The charismatic global pop sensation is slated to make her VMAs main stage debut with a first-time TV performance of her newest hit single, “Envolver,” which recently earned the Brazilian superstar Guinness Book of World Records certification as the first solo Latin artist to hit No. 1 at Spotify. Anitta also is up for her first VMA in the Best Latin category, making her the first Brazilian artist to be nominated for a Moon Person.

J Balvin
Colombian global star J Balvin returns with a TV/world premiere of “Nivel de Perreo” with Ryan Castro, back for the first time since his epic on-stage collaboration with Bad Bunny for “Que Pretendes” in 2019. The 13-time nominee with five wins also is looking to take his sixth Moon Person for Best Latin (“In Da Getto” with Skrillex), which would crown him as the most awarded Latin artist in VMAs history.

Marshmello x Khalid
Together, Marshmello and Khalid are set to take over the MTV stage for a world premiere TV performance of new chart climbing collaboration “Numb.” Marshmello — a five-time VMAs nominee — will make his main stage debut this year. Khalid returns to the VMAs stage for the first time since his 2017 debut with Logic and Alessia Cara for “1-800-273-8255,” where he also took home Best New Artist.

Panic! at the Disco
Panic! At The Disco returns to the VMAs stage for the first time since 2018 to world premiere new single “Middle of a Breakup,” from the forthcoming album Viva Las Vengeance. The nine-time nominee, who first won in 2006 for Video of the Year, also looks to take home a win for Alternative Video, its first nomination in this category.

Becky G to Serve as Judge on MTV’s New Music Competition Series “Becoming A Popstar”

Becky G is helping discover the next popstar…

MTV has teamed with TikTok and Pepsi on Becoming A Popstar, a first-of-its-kind music competition series that showcases artists originally discovered on TikTok, featuring the 25-year-old Mexican American singer/actress as a judge.

Becky GIn addition to Becky G, the show’s other judges include Joe Jonas and Sean Bankhead.

Becoming A Popstar will premiere on Thursday, March 24 on MTV.

Produced by Jesse CollinsCollins Entertainment and VelocityBecoming a Popstar features eight up-and-coming artists originally discovered on TikTok who will showcase their talents to the judges, who are TikTok creators themselves.

One winner will walk away as a popstar with their very own Pepsi commercial set to premiere on television during the upcoming MTV VMAs.

In addition, Pepsi will provide funding and resources to support the winner’s career ambitions. 

Becoming a Popstar will air across five episodes every Thursday at 10 PM ET, beginning March 24.

Each week, contestants will create original themed songs and accompanying one-minute music videos on air, that will first be available on TikTok. With episode themes like ‘The Duets’, contestants will be paired off to create an original song and visual performance.

Contestants will be critiqued by the celebrity judges, with eliminations occurring each week until two final artists are chosen to battle it out in a finale special.

After each episode airs on MTV, fans at home will be able to vote for their favorite artist videos of the week by searching #MTVPopstar on TikTok. Voting opens immediately following the episode and stays open until 48 hours before the next episode premieres. The winning artist each week will score a cash prize from Pepsi on top of the eventual grand prize. Winners of the previous week will be announced during a live pre-show on @MTV on TikTok that will include exclusive content and opportunities for fans to connect and engage with judges and talent.

Becky G is a multi-platinum singer, songwriter, actress, and activist, noted for her contributions to the Latin music world and impact on the Hispanic community.

Jonas and Becky G will also serve as executive producers on the series.

Rosalia Wins Second Consecutive “Best Latin” Moon Person at the MTV Video Music Awards

Rosalia won’t olvidar this year’s MTV Video Music Awards

The 28-year-old Spanish Grammy-winning singer and songwriter picked up her third career Moon Person at the MTV VMAs, which took place on Sunday from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY.

Rosalia ELLE Summer 2020

Rosalia took home the Best Latin prize for her moody collaboration with Billie Eilish, “Lo Vas a Olvidar.”

It’s her second straight win in the category, following her win last year for “Con Altura,” which also won in the Best Choreography category.

 

Bruno Mars, who’d previously won three Moon Persons in his career, took home the prize for Best R&B.

 

The 35-year-old part-Puerto Rican Grammy-winning singer won the award for “Leave the Door Open,” his Silk Sonic single with Anderson .Paak.

Newcomer Olivia Rodrigo won three Moon Persons during the ceremony — for Song of the Year, Best New Artist and Push Performance of the YearJustin Bieber was also a multiple winner, scoring Artist of the Year and Best Pop Video for “Peaches” along with Daniel Caesar and Giveon.

Here’s the full list of tonight’s winners:

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Lil Nas X – “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)”
Columbia Records

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Justin Bieber
Def Jam

SONG OF THE YEAR

Olivia Rodrigo – “drivers license”
Geffen Records

BEST NEW ARTIST

Olivia Rodrigo
Geffen Records

BEST COLLABORATION

Doja Cat ft. SZA – “Kiss Me More”
Kemosabe Records / RCA Records

BEST POP

Justin Bieber ft. Daniel Caesar, Giveon – “Peaches”
Def Jam

BEST HIP-HOP

Travis Scott ft. Young Thug & M.I.A. – “Franchise”
Cactus Jack / Epic Records

BEST ALTERNATIVE

Machine Gun Kelly ft. blackbear – “my ex’s best friend”
Bad Boy / Interscope Records

BEST K-POP

BTS – “Butter”
BIGHIT MUSIC

VIDEO FOR GOOD

Billie Eilish – “Your Power”
Darkroom / Interscope Records

PUSH PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR

Olivia Rodrigo
May 2021: “drivers license”

BEST ROCK

John Mayer – “Last Train Home”
Columbia Records

BEST LATIN

Billie Eilish & ROSALÍA – “Lo Vas A Olvidar”
Darkroom / Interscope Records

BEST R&B

Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic – “Leave The Door Open”
Aftermath Entertainment / Atlantic Records

BEST DIRECTION

Lil Nas X – “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)”
Columbia Records – Directed by: Lil Nas X and Tanu Muino

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY

Harry Styles – “Treat People With Kindness”
Columbia Records – Choreography by: Paul Roberts

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Beyoncé, Blue Ivy, SAINt JHN, WizKid – “BROWN SKIN GIRL”
Parkwood Entertainment / Columbia Records – Cinematography by: Benoit Soler, Malik H. Sayeed, MOHAMMAED ATTA AHMED, Santiago Gonzalez, Ryan Helfant

BEST ART DIRECTION

Saweetie ft. Doja Cat – “Best Friend”
Warner Records – Art Direction by: Alec Contestabile

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

Lil Nas X – “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)”
Columbia Records – Visual Effects by: Mathematic

BEST EDITING

Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic – “Leave The Door Open”
Aftermath Entertainment/Atlantic Records – Editing by: Troy Charbonnet

GROUP OF THE YEAR: BTS

SONG OF THE SUMMER: BTS – “Butter” – BIGHIT MUSIC
Monsta X – “Gambler” – Starship Entertainment

Ozuna Reveals Next Single Will Feature DJ Snake, Megan Thee Stallion & BLACKPINK

Ozuna is going global with his next single…

The 29-year-old Puerto Rican singer, who performed at Sunday’s MTV Video Music Awards alongside a bunch of dancing teddy bears during a high-energy showcase of his new single “La Funka,” Ozuna revealed that he’s calling on two global stars to perform on his latest track.

Ozuna

Speaking to MTV News on the red carpet of the show, Ozuna revealed that his next single will feature DJ Snake, Megan Thee Stallion and BLACKPINK.

“It’s coming up next,” Ozuna said excitedly of his reconnection with French DJ/record producer Snake, who also backed him up on the hit 2018 single “Taki Taki featuring Selena Gomez and Cardi B.

At press time no further details were available about the song title or release date.

After releasing Los Dioses, his collaborative project with Anuel AA, in January, Ozuna recently released the uptempo single “La Funka” and appeared in the Fast & Furious franchise’s ninth film, F9.

This year he also became the first artist to score a large-scale partnership with the Call of Duty mobile game. Ozuna’s partnership with Call of Duty: Mobile includes an official skin (meaning an outfit for player avatars) and other in-game content, which was timed to the release of the game’s seventh season, “Elite of the Elite,” on August 25.

That same day, he also released an original song, titled “A La Buena El Mejor,” to serve as the season’s official theme.

https://twitter.com/MTVNEWS/status/1437241913950748674?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1437241913950748674%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.billboard.com%2Farticles%2Fcolumns%2Flatin%2F9628781%2Fozuna-teases-single-megan-thee-stallion-blackpink%2F

Maluma Becomes First Celebrity to Fully Design a Collection for Balmain

Maluma is getting some real hands on fashion design experience…

The 27-year-old Colombian singer has teamed up with fashion house Balmain to launch a limited edition collection that’ll be available from April 12 through June 1 in all Balmain stores, including brick and mortar and online.

Maluma

The collection, which includes sneakers, blazers, t-shirts, pants and other ready-to-wear clothing, will also be available at Saks Fifth Avenue as of April 15.

This marks Balmain’s second-ever celebrity collaboration (the first was with Beyonce), and the first time ever that the brand has collaborated with a celebrity in the actual designing of a collection.

Maluma x Balmain

Although Balmain has featured other celebrities in advertising campaigns and runway shows, it has never actually enlisted a celebrity to help design a full, name-branded line.

The brand’s high profile, along with the haute-couture retail price of the collection, underscores how entrenched Maluma is now in the global fashion world and how valuable his endorsement and name is perceived by high fashion.

Maluma x Balmain

“Maluma, more than being an incredible singer, is bringing a lot to the fashion community with his joy and his happiness and the fact that he’s always playing his style from different kinds of houses from around the world, mixing different cultures as well,” Balmain creative director Olivier Rousteing told Billboard. “For Balmain, which is a French brand from Paris, the collaboration with Maluma is obviously [adding] to Balmain and pushing the aesthetic more internationally.”

“It’s been one of my goals to work with a respected fashion house on a collection, but this journey was more exciting, as Olivier pushed me to design with him and sketch looks that I personally will wear off the stage and showcase high couture with a bit of Papi Juancho,” says Maluma, referencing both his album name and alter ego.

Maluma x Balmain

Items in the Balmain + Maluma collection range from a black cotton T-shirt that retails for $495, to $1,500 high top sneakers to a $2,555 multi-color print bomber jacket. Photos and billboards of Maluma wearing the new line will be featured at Balmain stores and at Saks.

Maluma, a Balmain fan who’s often worn the brand in high-profile appearances, first collaborated with Balmain creative director Olivier Rousteing for his 2020 performance at the MTV Video Music Awards.

“From that, point we just exchanged texts and were like, ‘Why don’t we work together? Because your aesthetic and your vision of music can really combine with my fashion world,’” says Rousteing.

“We ended up riffing on the sherbet tones, sexy styling and ’80s silhouette of Crockett and Tubbs for Maluma’s amazing performance of Hawái,” says Rousteing in a statement. “And, after the success of that VMA appearance, we knew we had to push our partnership further.”

Initially, the plan was to design a collection that Maluma would wear for his 2020 tour. When Covid-19 shifted those dates, “we decided to release our Balmain-Maluma collaboration as a special, limited-edition collection,” as Rousteing explains.

Maluma has long publicly spoken of his desire to partner with a fashion brand and he is known for wearing couture in his tours and photo shoots. At a Billboard Latin Music Conference in 2018, he specifically said he wanted to launch his own line clothing with a high fashion brand.

While Balmain would not disclose financials on the deal, Maluma, as a creative partner and face of the line, will be compensated in some way.

Most immediately, he is expected wear his new line during the Latin American Music Awards that air live April 15 on Telemundo.

“This process was exciting, as I have always dreamt to design one day, and I was happy to have a friend like Olivier let me express creatively through fashion,” Maluma says.

Maluma Wins His First-Ever Moon Person Prize at This Year’s MTV Video Music Awards

Maluma is officially over the Moon (person)

The 26-year-old Colombian singer-songwriter, who recently released his surprise new album Papi Juancho, won his first-ever Moon Person trophy at Sunday’s MTV Video Music Awards ceremony.

Maluma

During this year’s socially distanced and COVID-19-compliant awards ceremony, Maluma and J Balvin picked up the Best Latin award for their hit collaboration “Que Pena.” It’s J Balvin’s fifth MTV VMAs trophy, and his third straight in the Best Latin category.

Maluma, who performed during this year’s VMAs ceremony, had previously been nominated three times in the Best Latin category.

But Maluma wasn’t the only Latinx act with reason to celebrate…

CNCO picked up their first MTV Video Music Awards prize.

The Latin boy band, a Push Artist of the Year nominee at last year’s ceremony, won in the Best Quarantine Performance category for their “MTV Unplugged at Home” at-home concert earlier this year. The performance featured the songs “De Cero” and “Honey Boo.”

Airing live on MTV and simulcast on The CW and other ViacomCBS brands, the 37th annual ceremony was hosted by Keke Palmer with performances by Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, The Weeknd and others. Shot in the various boroughs of New York City, the ceremony was an homage to the city and its resilience.

Here’s the complete list of winners:

Video of the Year: The Weeknd – “Blinding Lights” – XO / Republic Records
Best Art Direction: Miley Cyrus – “Mother’s Daughter” – RCA Records – Art Direction by Christian Stone
Best Editing: Miley Cyrus – “Mother’s Daughter” – RCA Records – Edited by Alexandre Moors, Nuno Xico
Best Cinematography: Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande – “Rain On Me” – Streamline / Interscope Records – Cinematography by Thomas Kloss
Best Quarantine Performance: CNCO – Unplugged At Home
Best Choreography: BTS – “On” – Big Hit Entertainment – Choreography by Son Sung Deuk, Lee Ga Hun, Lee Byung Eun
Best Visual Effects: Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande – “Rain On Me” – Streamline / Interscope Records – Visual Effects by Ingenuity Studios
Best Rock: Coldplay – “Orphans” – Atlantic Records
Push Best New Artist: Doja Cat – Kemosabe / RCA Records
Best Hip-Hop: Megan Thee Stallion – “Savage” – 300 Entertainment
Tricon Award: Lady Gaga
Video for Good: H.E.R. – ”I Can’t Breathe” – MBK / RCA Records
Artist of the Year: Lady Gaga – Streamline / Interscope Records
Best R&B: The Weeknd – “Blinding Lights” – XO / Republic Records
Best Pop: BTS – “On” – Big Hit Entertainment
Best Music Video from Home: Ariana Grande & Justin Bieber – “Stuck with U” – Republic Records / Def Jam
Song of the Year: Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande – “Rain On Me” – Streamline / Interscope Records
Best Latin: Maluma ft. J Balvin – “Qué Pena” – Sony Music Latin
Best Direction: Taylor Swift – “The Man” – Republic Records – Directed by Taylor Swift
Best Collaboration: Ariana Grande & Justin Bieber – “Stuck with U” – Republic Records / Def Jam
Best K-Pop: BTS – “On” – Big Hit Entertainment
Best Group: BTS
Best Alternative: Machine Gun Kelly – “Bloody Valentine” – Bad Boy / Interscope Records
Song of the Summer:
BLACKPINK “How You Like That”

CNCO Debuts New Single “Beso” During First-Ever MTV Video Music Awards Main Show Performance

It’s a special first for CNCO

The Latin boy band brought their signature style and flare as they live-debuted their new single “Beso” at Sunday night’s MTV Video Music Awards.

CNCO, MTV VMAs

It’s the first time CNCO has performed on the big show. The band had previously performed their single “De Cero” on the red carpet during the MTV VMAs pre-show last year.

CNCO, which was formed during the first season of La Banda, began their set while singing in — and on top of — parked cars at Brooklyn’s Skyline Drive-In, the same place Maluma had performed earlier in the night.

Busting out their best dance moves, the band got the socially distanced crowd hyped as they delivered the first public performance of their new song “Beso.”

Getting as close to the crowd as they could, the band members later moved to the main stage, then danced their way to a second stage in the middle of the venue, where one member was flipped around by his bandmates after fireworks went off in the background.

“We are super excited to be performing at the VMA’s this year,” said CNCO members Christopher Velez, Richard Camacho, Joel Pimentel, Erick Brian Colon and Joel Pimentel prior to the show. “It means so much that we’re able to share our culture with the world. It makes it even better that this year that after not being able to perform for so long, Toyota is giving us the chance to not only do that, but do it in front of our fans. There’s nothing like it, and we can’t wait!”

This year, CNCO is nominated for three VMAs, including Best Quarantine Performance, Best Choreography for “Honey Boo” and Best Group

Maluma Performs “Hawai’ at the Skyline Drive-In During the MTV Video Music Awards

The Skyline’s the limit for Maluma

The 26-year-old Colombian singer/songwriter brightened up the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday night with his performance from the Skyline Drive-In in New York City.

Maluma, MTV VMAs

Performing from the Greenpoint, Brooklyn waterfront, Maluma opened his epic, socially-distanced number while sitting on top of a motorcycle and wearing a sunny yellow suit.

With a glittery moon backdrop — and the shimmering water — behind him, Maluma shined bright during his rendition of “Hawai.”

Surrounded by backup dancers in coordinating yellow outfits, Maluma performed to a distanced audience watching from their cars. He capped off the set with an explosion of fireworks.

It was Maluma’s second time performing at the MTV VMAs. He first appeared on the awards show in 2018, performing his hit single “Felices Los 4.”

Anthony Ramos to Serve as a Presenter at This Weekend’s MTV Video Music Awards

Anthony Ramos wants his MTV…

The 28-year-old Puerto Rican singer/actor, who currently appears in the film version of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway musical Hamilton on Disney+, will participate in this weekend’s MTV Video Music Awards.

Anthony Ramos

Ramos will serve a presenter during Sunday’s award show, which will be hosted by Keke Palmer. Other presenters include Nicole Richie, Drew Barrymore and Kelly Clarkson.

There will be several “first” moments during this year’s MTV VMAs, besides the fact that it’s being held virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

BTS will make their first television performance of their English-language single “Dynamite,” while Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande will perform “Rain On Me” on stage for the first time on television since releasing their No. 1 hit. The two pop stars lead this year’s nominations with nine each. Maluma and CNCO are also confirmed to perform.

Taboo and his fellow Black Eyed Peas members, who performed “Where Is the Love?” on the VMAs pre-show 17 years ago, are making their way to the main stage for their first time ever to perform “Vida Loca,” from their eighth studio album Translationfor the first time. 

But previously announced acts J Balvin and Roddy Ricch will no longer appear at the socially distanced ceremony.

Here’s a look at the presenters and performers for the 2020 MTV VMAs, which will broadcast live around various NYC locations at 8:00 pm ET:

Presenters: 
Anthony Ramos
Bebe Rexha
Bella Hadid
Drew Barrymore
Jaden Smith
Joey King
Kelly Clarkson
Machine Gun Kelly
Madison Beer
Nicole Richie
Sofia Carson
Travis Barker

Pre-Show Performers:
Chloe x Halle
Jack Harlow
Lewis Capaldi
Machine Gun Kelly featuring Travis Barker and blackbear
Tate McRae

Performers: 
Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga
Black Eyed Peas
BTS
CNCO
DaBaby
Doja Cat
Maluma
Miley Cyrus
The Weeknd