As we reported earlier this month, Eminem is set to perform at the first-ever YouTube Music Awards going down November 3rd in New York City. As we approach the date, YouTube has released their nomination categories and nominees.
Categories for the new event include Video of the Year, Artist of the Year, Response of the Year, YouTube Phenomenon, YouTube Breakthrough and Innovation of the Year. The nominees were selected based on views over the past 12 months. The show itself will be hosted by actor Jason Schwartzman, while Spike Jonze is directing. YouTube has also announced Avicii and M.I.A. as performers, alongside the already-announced Eminem, Lady Gaga and Arcade Fire.
Eminem, Nicki Minaj, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, and Rihanna compete against Country star Taylor Swift and pop stars like Justin Bieber and Katy Perry, among others for the Artist of the Year title. Kendrick Lamar is nominated for YouTube Breakthrough (also along with Macklemore & Ryan Lewis). Check out the full list of nominations below via Billboard.
Video of the Year: Nominees represent the videos with the most fan engagement on YouTube over the last year.
Epic Rap Battles Of History "Barack Obama vs Mitt Romney"
Demi Lovato "Heart Attack"
Girls' Generation "I Got A Boy"
Justin Bieber (feat. Nicki Minaj) "Beauty And A Beat"
Lady Gaga "Applause"
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (feat. Mary Lambert) "Same Love"
Miley Cyrus "We Can't Stop"
One Direction "Best Song Ever"
PSY "Gentleman"
Selena Gomez "Come & Get It"
Artist of the Year: Focused on acts YouTube fans have made stars, nominees represent the most watched, shared, liked, and subscribed to artists.
Eminem
Epic Rap Battles
Justin Bieber
Katy Perry
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Nicki Minaj
One Direction
PSY
Rihanna
Taylor Swift
Response of the Year: Best fan remix, parody or response video, these nominees represent the top “unofficial” fan videos on YouTube based on views, shares and other social activity.
Boyce Avenue (feat. Fifth Harmony) "Mirrors
Jayesslee "Gangnam Style"
Lindsey Stirling and Pentatonix "Radioactive"
ThePianoGuys "Titanium / Pavane"
Walk Off the Earth (feat. KRNFX) "I Knew You Were Trouble"
YouTube Phenomenon: Nominees are based on the phenomena that generated the most fan videos.
Diamonds
Gangnam Style
Harlem Shake
I Knew You Were Trouble
Thrift Shop
YouTube Breakthrough: Focusing on breakout new acts, nominees represent the artists who experienced the biggest growth in views and subscribers.
Kendrick Lamar
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Naughty Boy
Passenger
Rudimental
Innovation of the Year: Most creative and innovative music videos on YouTube.
Anamanaguchi "ENDLESS FANTASY"
Atoms For Peace "Ingenue"
Bat For Lashes "Lilies"
DeStorm "See Me Standing"
Toro Y Moi "Say That"