Published Tuesday, 31 July 2012
The biggest prize of the evening - the Video of the Year trophy - will be a showdown between Rihanna (We Found Love), Drake featuring Rihanna (Take Care), Gotye (Somebody That I Used To Know), Katy Perry (Wide Awake) and M.I.A. (Bad Girls).
Elsewhere, the Bajan beauty will also battle it out for Best Female Video, Best Pop Video, Best Choreography and Best Visual Effects.
Drake, who was once romantically linked to the Umbrella hitmaker, was nominated in categories including Best Hip-Hop Video, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography and Best Male Video - where he will go up against his rival, Chris Brown.
Close on their heels is Katy Perry with four nominations, while several acts including Beyonce, Coldplay, Frank Ocean and M.I.A. have three shots at taking home 'Moonmen' trophies.
The Best New Artist race is between fun. (We Are Young), Carly Rae Jepsen (Call Me Maybe), Frank Ocean (Swim Good), One Direction (What Makes You Beautiful) and The Wanted (Glad You Came).
R&B singer Alicia Keys and boyband One Direction are among the acts who will perform at the 29th annual ceremony, scheduled to take place at Los Angeles' Staples Center on 6 September.
Key 2012 MTV Video Music Awards nominees
Video of the Year
- Katy Perry - Wide Awake
- Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know
- Rihanna - We Found Love
- Drake featuring Rihanna - Take Care
- M.I.A. - Bad Girls
Best New Artist
- Fun. featuring 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 Male Video
- Justin Bieber - Boyfriend
- Frank Ocean - Swim Good
- Drake featuring Rihanna - Take Care
- Chris Brown - Turn Up the Music
- Usher - Climax
Best Female Video
- Rihanna - We Found Love
- Katy Perry - Part of Me
- Beyonce - 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. featuring Janelle Monae - We Are Young
- Rihanna - We Found Love
- Justin Bieber - Boyfriend
- Maroon 5 featuring 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 Video With a Message
- Demi Lovato - Skyscraper
- Rise Against - Ballad of Hollis Brown
- Kelly Clarkson - Dark Side
- Gym Class Heroes - The Fighter
- K'Naan featuring Nelly Furtado - Is Anybody Out There?
- Lil Wayne - How to Love
Best Visual Effects
- Katy Perry - Wide Awake
- Rihanna - Where Have You Been
- David Guetta featuring Nicki Minaj - Turn Me On
- Linkin Park - Burn It Down