2023 VMA Award Winners

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero”

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Taylor Swift

SONG OF THE YEAR

Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero”

BEST NEW ARTIST

Ice Spice

PUSH PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR

April 2023: TOMORROW X TOGETHER – “Sugar Rush Ride”

BEST COLLABORATION

KAROL G, Shakira – “TQG”

BEST POP

Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero”

BEST HIP-HOP

Nicki Minaj – “Super Freaky Girl”

BEST R&B

SZA – “Shirt”

BEST ALTERNATIVE

Lana Del Rey ft. Jon Batiste – “Candy Necklace”

BEST ROCK

Måneskin – “THE LONELIEST”

BEST LATIN

Anitta – “Funk Rave”

BEST K-POP

Stray Kids – “S-Class”

BEST AFROBEATS

Rema & Selena Gomez – “Calm Down”

VIDEO FOR GOOD

Dove Cameron – “Breakfast”

BEST DIRECTION

Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” – Directed by Taylor Swift

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” – Cinematography by Rina Yang

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” – Visual Effects by Parliament

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY

BLACKPINK – “Pink Venom” – Choreography by Kiel Tutin, Sienna Lalau, Lee Jung (YGX), Taryn Cheng (YGX)

BEST ART DIRECTION

Doja Cat – “Attention” – Art Direction by Spencer Graves

BEST EDITING

Olivia Rodrigo – “vampire” – Edited by Sofia Kerpan and David Checel

SHOW OF THE SUMMER

Taylor Swift

GROUP OF THE YEAR

BLACKPINK

SONG OF SUMMER

Jung Kook ft. Latto – “Seven”

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Taylor Swift – “Midnights”

2023 Country Music Association (CMA) Award Nominations

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

Carrie Underwood

Chris Stapleton

Lainey Wilson

Luke Combs

Morgan Wallen

SINGLE OF THE YEAR

“Fast Car” – Luke Combs; Producers: Luke Combs, Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton; Mix Engineer: Chip Matthews 

“Heart Like A Truck” – Lainey Wilson; Producer: Jay Joyce; Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce 

“Need A Favor” – Jelly Roll; Producer: Austin Nivarel; Mix Engineer: Jeff Braun 

“Next Thing You Know” – Jordan Davis; Producer: Paul DiGiovanni; Mix Engineer: Jim Cooley 

“wait in the truck” – HARDY featuring Lainey Wilson; Producers: HARDY, Joey Moi, Jordan Schmidt, Derek Wells; Mix Engineer: Joey Moi

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville – Ashley McBryde; Producers: John Osborne, John Peets; Mix Engineers: Gena Johnson, John Osborne 

Bell Bottom Country – Lainey Wilson; Producer: Jay Joyce; Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce 

Gettin' Old – Luke Combs; Producers: Luke Combs, Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton; Mix Engineers: Michael H. Brauer, Jim Cooley, Chip Matthews 

One Thing At A Time – Morgan Wallen; Producers: Jacob Durrett, Charlie Handsome, Joey Moi, Cameron Montgomery; Mix Engineers: Josh Ditty, Joey Moi, Eivind Nordland 

Rolling Up the Welcome Mat – Kelsea Ballerini; Producers: Kelsea Ballerini, Alysa Vanderheym; Mix Engineers: Dan Grech-Marguerat, Alysa Vanderheym 

SONG OF THE YEAR

“Fast Car” – Luke Combs; Songwriter: Tracy Chapman 

“Heart Like A Truck” – Lainey Wilson; Songwriters: Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson, Lainey Wilson 

“Next Thing You Know” – Jordan Davis; Songwriters: Jordan Davis, Greylan James, Chase McGill, Josh Osborne 

“Tennessee Orange” – Megan Moroney; Songwriters: David Fanning, Paul Jenkins, Megan Moroney, Ben Williams 

“wait in the truck” – HARDY featuring Lainey Wilson; Songwriters: Renee Blair, Michael Hardy, Hunter Phelps, Jordan Schmidt 

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Ashley McBryde

Carly Pearce

Kelsea Ballerini 

Lainey Wilson

Miranda Lambert 

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Chris Stapleton 

Cody Johnson 

Jelly Roll

Luke Combs

Morgan Wallen 

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR

Lady A 

Little Big Town 

Midland 

Old Dominion 

Zac Brown Band 

VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR

Brooks & Dunn 

Brothers Osborne 

Dan + Shay  

Maddie & Tae  

The War And Treaty  

MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR

“Save Me” – Jelly Roll featuring  Lainey Wilson; Producers: Zach Crowell, David Ray Stevens 

“She Had Me At Heads Carolina (Remix)” – Cole Swindell & Jo Dee Messina; Producer: Zach Crowell 

“Thank God” – Kane Brown featuring Katelyn Brown; Producer: Dann Huff 

“wait in the truck” – HARDY featuring Lainey Wilson; Producers: HARDY, Joey Moi, Jordan Schmidt, Derek Wells

“We Don't Fight Anymore” – Carly Pearce featuring Chris Stapleton; Producers: Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, Carly Pearce 

MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR

Charlie Worsham 

Derek Wells 

Jenee Fleenor 

Paul Franklin 

Rob McNelley 

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR

“Light On In The Kitchen” –  Ashley McBryde; Director: Reid Long

“Memory Lane” –  Old Dominion; Directors: Mason Allen, Nicki Fletcher

“Need a Favor – Jelly Roll; Director: Patrick Tohill 

“Next Thing You Know” – Jordan Davis; Director: Running Bear

“wait in the truck” – HARDY featuring Lainey Wilson; Director: Justin Clough

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR 

Hailey Whitters 

Jelly Roll  

Megan Moroney 

Parker McCollum 

Zach Bryan

2023 Venice Film Festival Winners

Golden Lion

“Poor Things” (Yorgos Lanthimos)

Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize

“Evil Does Not Exist” (Ryusuke Hamaguchi)

Silver Lion for Best Director

Matteo Garrone, “Io Capitano”

Special Jury Prize

“Green Border” (Agnieszka Holland)

Best Screenplay

“El Conde” (Guillermo Calderón, Pablo Larraín)

Best Actress

Cailee Spaeny, “Priscilla”

Best Actor

Peter Sarsgaard, “Memory”

Marcello Mastroianni Best Young Actor Award

Seydou Sarr, “Io Capitano”

Orizzonti Best Film

“Explanation for Everything” (Gábor Reisz)

Orizzonti Best Director

Mika Gustafson, “Paradise Is Burning”

Orizzonti Special Jury Prize

“Una Sterminata Domenica” (Alain Parroni)

Orizzonti Best Actress

Margarita Rosa de Francisco, “El Paraiso”

Orizzonti Best Actor

Tergel Bold-Erdene, “City of Wind”

Orizzonti Best Screenplay

“El Paraiso” (Enrico Maria Artale)

Orizzonti Best Short Film

“A Short Trip” (Erenik Beqiri)

Lion of the Future Award for a Debut Film

“Love Is a Gun” (Lee Hong-Chi)

Orizzonti Extra Audience Award 

“Felicita” (Micaela Ramazzotti)

Venice Classics — Best Documentary

“Thank You Very Much” (Alex Braverman)

Venice Classics — Best Restored Film

“Moving” (Shinji Somai)

Venice Immersive Grand Prize

“Songs for a Passerby” (Celine Daemen)

Venice Immersive Achievement Prize

“Empereur” (Marion Burger, Ilan Cohen)

Venice Immersive Special Jury Prize

“Flow” (Adriaan Lokman)

The Oscar Narrative: First 2024 Nomination Predictions - Best Picture

First 2024 Nomination Predictions

Barbie

The Bikeriders

The Color Purple

The Holdovers

Killers of the Flower Moon

Maestro

Oppenheimer

Past Lives

Poor Things

The Zone of Interest

Other Contenders - Saltburn, Anatomy of a Fall, Origin, May December, Rustin, Air, The Boy and the Heron, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Ferrari, Napoleon, Asteroid City, All of Us Strangers, Dumb Money, Freud's Last Session, The Killer, The Boys in the Boat, Are You There God? It's Me Margaret, BlackBerry, The Iron Claw, Priscilla, Nyad, The Burial, You Hurt My Feelings, Joy Ride, John Wick: Chapter 4, Bottoms, The Marvels, Bob Marley: One Love, Next Goal Wins, Theater Camp, Wonka, The Little Mermaid

Commentary - Barbie and Oppenheimer have all the components that a Best Picture needs, rave reviews, smashing box office, and beloved by fans. Killers of the Flower Moon premiered at Cannes to rave reviews, and the studio thinks it could also be a huge box office hit. Past Lives is the big contender from the first half that critics swooned over. The Bikeriders, The Zone of Interest, and Poor Things have all landed at the festivals with raves. Maestro got good reviews, not necessarily raves, but I think it will play well with the Academy. Two big question marks The Holdovers and The Color Purple, I am adding in until proven otherwise. They both feel like if they land, they will do well with voters. Beyond those ten, you have Priscilla, which recently played well to Venice, the divisive Saltburn (remember passion helps in the nomination stage, so don't discount it), Palme D'Or winner Anatomy of a Fall, Ava DuVernay's Origin, Todd Haynes May December, Michael Mann's Ferrari, Andrew Haigh's All of Us Strangers, Ridley Scott's Napoleon, David Fincher's The Killer, George C. Wolfe's Rustin, Ben Affleck's Air, Sean Durkin's The Iron Claw, and George Clooney's The Boys in the Boat. Animated contenders Across the Spider-Verse and The Boy and the Heron could make a splash. Through in comedies, biopics, and blockbusters like Asteroid City, Dumb Money, Are You There God? It's Me Margaret, The Marvels, Bottoms, John Wick: Chapter 4, Bob Marley: One Love, Nyad, Theater Camp, Wonka, The Little Mermaid, Next Goal Wins, and Joy Ride and you have a great race to watch. 

The Oscar Narrative: First 2024 Nomination Predictions - Best Director

First 2024 Nomination Predictions

Greta Gerwig "Barbie"

Christopher Nolan "Oppenheimer" 

Martin Scorsese "Killers of the Flower Moon"

Yorgos Lanthimos "Poor Things"

Jonathan Glazer "The Zone of Interest"

Other Contenders - Bradley Cooper "Maestro", Greta Lee "Past Lives", Alexander Payne "The Holdovers", George C. Wolfe "Rustin", Blitz Bazawule "The Color Purple", Michael Mann "Ferrari", Jeff Nichols "The Bikeriders", Emerald Fennell "Saltburn", Todd Haynes "May December", Ben Affleck "Air", David Fincher "The Killer", Craig Gillespie "Dumb Money", Ridley Scott "Napoleon", Sofia Coppola "Priscilla", Andrew Haigh "All of Us Strangers", Sean Durkin "The Iron Claw", Taika Waititi "Next Goal Wins", Justine Triet "Anatomy of a Fall", Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse", Hayao Miyazaki "The Boy and the Heron", Ava DuVernay "Origin", Wes Anderson "Asteroid City"

Commentary - Can voters ignore Barbie? They might try, but my guess is that Greta Gerwig rides the creativity and the popularity of this film phenomenon to Oscar glory. I also expect Christopher Nolan, the other half of Barbenheimer to make the cut as well for Oppenheimer. Martin Scorsese rarely missed, especially when he gets the kind of reviews he got for Killers of the Flower Moon. The Zone of Interest has almost rave attention. I'm not sure how it will play across the Academy, but I expect the Directors branch to really respect it, and give Jonathan Glazer some love. Finally, after premiering it looks like Yorgos Lanthimos may return to the race for Poor Things. Beyond those five though are a lot of folks who could ride some buzz including Bradley Cooper for Maestro, which didn't have raves, but I think will play well with the Academy. Greta Lee's debut Past Lives is getting a lot of attention as is Alexander Payne's The Holdovers. Rustin is getting a lot of attention, so don't forget George C. Wolfe, and The Color Purple, if it stays in 2023, could be a big holiday hit. Throw in previous nominees and winners like Michael Mann, Emerald Fennell, David Fincher, Ridley Scott, Sofia Coppola, Taika Waititi, and Wes Anderson. Will this be the year that previous nominees in other categories finally get a directors nod, like Ben Affleck, Ava DuVernay, Todd Haynes, Hayao Miyazaki, and Kemp Powers breakthrough? Finally, can veterans like Craig Gillespie, Sean Durkin, and Jeff Nichols breakthrough? What about the wildcard Justine Triet? A lot of questions heading into the fall season. 

The Oscar Narrative: First 2024 Nomination Predictions - Best Actor

First 2024 Nomination Predictions

Bradley Cooper "Maestro" 

Leonardo DiCaprio "Killers of the Flower Moon"

Colman Domingo "Rustin"

Paul Giamatti "The Holdovers" 

Cillian Murphy "Oppenheimer"

Other Contenders - Anthony Hopkins "Freud's Last Session", David Strathairn "A Little Prayer", Joaquin Phoenix "Napoleon", Barry Keoghan "Saltburn", Kingsley Ben-Adir "Bob Marley: One Love", Matt Damon "Air", Teo Yoo “Past Lives”, Adam Driver "Ferrari", Christian Friedel "The Zone of Interest", Jeffrey Wright "American Fiction", Alden Ehrenreich "Fair Play", Paul Dano "Dumb Money", Michael Fassbender "The Killer", Gael García Bernal "Cassandro", Jamie Foxx "The Burial", Austin Butler "The Bikeriders", Jay Baruchel "BlackBerry", Timothee Chalamet "Wonka", Tobias Menzies “You Hurt My Feelings”, Kenneth Branagh "A Haunting in Venice", Kelvin Harris Jr. "Chevalier", Paul Mescal "Foe", Michael B. Jordan “Creed III”, Chris Pine “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves”, Keanu Reeves “John Wick: Chapter 4”

Commentary - We now know that Cillian Murphy, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Colman Domingo are real contenders. Bradley Cooper's Maestro is getting pretty decent reviews. I think it is going to hit bigger with Oscar voters, which helps Bradley Cooper's case. Finally, they have owed Paul Giamatti a lot of Oscar attention over the years, and The Holdovers could be his ticket back to the race. Beyond those five, watch out for the Hopkin renaissance, David Strathairn's buzzed role, Joaquin Phoenix as Napoleion, Barry Keoghan who is getting raves for Emerald Fennell's latest Saltburn, Teo Yoo for Past Lives, and Kingsley Ben-Adir as Bob Marley. Adam Driver is getting overshadowed by his co-star Penelope Cruz, but he is a recent nominee. Christian Friedel could benefit from the universal acclaim for The Zone of Interest, and I would love to see one of my favorite actors Jeffrey Wright finally get some Oscar attention. There are other previous nominees and winners like Jamie Foxx, Austin Butler, Timothee Chalamet, Kenneth Branagh, Michael Fassbender, and Paul Mescal. Throw in veterans like Paul Dano, Kelvin Harris Jr., Chris Pine, Keanu Reeves, Tobias Menzies, Alden Ehrenreich, and Michael B. Jordan and you have quite the race.