Fridae

Last night, MTV announced the nominees for the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards that will be held on August 28 in Los Angeles. Leading the pack of nominees is Katy Perry who received an impressive nine nominations, including nods for Video Of The Year and Best Female Video (both for that exploding "Firework").

Katy Perry

Kanye West and Adele closely follow Perry, each racking up seven nominations. Adele is also nominated in the Video Of The Year Category (for "Rolling In The Deep") and West received nominations for "All The Lights," plus a nod for "Best Art Direction" for "Power."

Lady Gaga, one of last year's big winners at the VMAs, received three nominations for "Born This Way" (Best Female Video) and "Judas" (Best Art Direction, Best Choreography). Gaga was shut out in all other major categories, including Best Pop Video, which is an upset. 

As expected, MTV made some adventurous picks in the Best New Artist category that includes indie faves Foster The People, plus online sensation Kreayshawn and shock MC Tyler, The Creator whose nominated "Yonkers" may be too disturbing for most but does rise to the top for its daring execution.

Conspicuously missing from any category is Robyn. Even though she may be on the edge of the mainstream, the video for "Call Your Girlfriend" would have been a fitting nomination in the Best Art Direction and Best Choreography categories. Robyn's label mates LMFAO did get a nod in the Best Choreography category for "Party Rock Anthem." Yeah, that everyday party shuffle is going places. 

Overall, I expect the VMAs to be a race between Katy Perry and Adele, but given the fact that Perry has released more videos in the past year I think Perry has a leading edge in the main categories. Perry will sweep, but Adele will get her big night at The GRAMMYs. That's pretty much guaranteed. 

Adele has a good chance of capturing some of the awards in the Art Direction, Direction and Editing categories for the beautifully executed "Rolling In The Deep" video. 

Britney Spears made a strong impact with "Till The World Ends" and I expect her to be the leading lady in pop only to be outdone by Katy Perry. Nicki Minaj is the likely underdog in the hip hop category and Wiz Khalifa may surprise in the Best New Artist Category. 

VIDEO OF THE YEAR:

1. Adele - "Rolling in the Deep"

2. Tyler, The Creator - "Yonkers"

3. Katy Perry - "Firework"

4. Beastie Boys - "Make Some Noise"

5. Bruno Mars - "Grenade"

BEST NEW ARTIST:

1. Foster the People - "Pumped Up Kicks"

2. Wiz Khalifa - "Black and Yellow"

3. Tyler, The Creator - "Yonkers"

4. Big Sean featuring Chris Brown - "My Last"

5. Kreayshawn - "Gucci Gucci"

BEST HIP-HOP VIDEO:

1. Wayne featuring Cory Gunz - "6'7"

2. Kanye West featuring Rihanna and Kid Cudi - "All Of The Lights"

3. Chris Brown featuring Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes - "Look at Me Now"

4. Lupe Fiasco - "The Show Goes On"

5. Nicki Minaj - "Super Bass"

BEST MALE VIDEO:

1. Cee Lo Green - "F*** You"

2. Eminem featuring Rihanna - "Love The Way You Lie"

3. Bruno Mars - "Grenade"

4. Kanye West Featuring Rihanna and Kid Cudi - "All Of The Lights"

5. Justin Bieber - "U Smile"

BEST FEMALE VIDEO:

1. Adele - "Rolling In The Deep"

2. Katy Perry - "Firework"

3. Beyoncé - "Run The World (Girls)"

4. Nicki Minaj - "Super Bass"

5. Lady Gaga - "Born This Way"

BEST POP VIDEO:

1. Adele - "Rolling In The Deep"

2. Bruno Mars - "Grenade"

3. Britney Spears - "Till The World Ends"

4. Katy Perry - "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)"

5. Pitbull featuring Ne-Yo, Nayer & Afrojack - "Give Me Everything"

BEST ROCK VIDEO:

1. The Black Keys - "Howlin For You"

2. Foo Fighters - "Walk"

3. Foster the People - "Pumped Up Kicks"

4. Mumford & Sons - "The Cave"

5. Cage The Elephant - "Shake Me Down"

BEST COLLABORATION:

1. Pitbull featuring Ne-Yo, Nayer & Afrojack - "Give Me Everything"

2. Chris Brown featuring Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes - "Look At Me Now"

3. Kanye West Featuring Rihanna and Kid Cudi - "All Of The Lights"

4. Katy Perry Featuring Kanye West - "E.T."

5. Nicki Minaj featuring Drake - "Moment 4 Life"

BEST ART DIRECTION:

1. Adele - "Rolling In The Deep"

2. Katy Perry featuring Kanye West - "E.T."

3. Lady Gaga - "Judas"

4. Kanye West featuring Dwele - "Power"

5. Death Cab For Cutie - "You Are A Tourist"

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY:

1. Beyoncé - "Run The World (Girls)"

2. Britney Spears - "Till The World Ends"

3. Lady Gaga - "Judas"

4. Bruno Mars - "The Lazy Song"

5. LMFAO featuring Lauren Bennett & Goon - "Rock Party Rock Anthem"

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY:

1. Adele - "Rolling In The Deep"

2. 30 Seconds To Mars - "Hurricane"

3. Eminem featuring Rihanna - "Love The Way You Lie"

4. Katy Perry - "Teenage Dream"

5. Beyoncé - "Run The World (Girls)"

BEST DIRECTION:

1. Adele - "Rolling In The Deep"

2. Katy Perry featuring Kanye West - "E.T."

3. Eminem featuring Rihanna - "Love The Way You Lie"

4. 30 Seconds To Mars - "Hurricane"

5. Beastie Boys - "Make Some Noise"

BEST EDITING:

1. Katy Perry featuring Kanye West - "E.T."

2. 30 Seconds To Mars - "Hurricane"

3. Adele - "Rolling In The Deep"

4. Manchester Orchestra - "Simple Math"

5. Kanye West Featuring Rihanna and Kid Cudi - "All Of The Lights"

BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS:

1. Katy Perry featuring Kanye West - "E.T."

2. Linkin Park - "Waiting For The End"

3. Manchester Orchestra - "Simple Math"

4. Kanye West featuring Dwele - "Power"

5. Chromeo - "Don't Turn The Lights On"