Changes to the MTV's VMA for 2013-New Catergory, New Location, New Moonman

New Category:

A highly sought after category for many up and coming artists is the "Best New Artist" category.  However, this year, that category has been renamed to the "Artists To Watch" category.  I like the new title more because it give recongniation to each artist who is nominated.  It also takes away the dreaded "Best New Artist" curse that a lot of artists fear, including this being the highest point in their career. 

New Location:
The VMAs are usually held in either Radio City Music Hall or the Staples Center.  MTV use to switch coast each years but couple of years it has been in LA.  Sometimes, the VMAs are in different locations like Miami in 2005 or Vegas in 2007.  This year, the VMAs will be on the East Coast in New York, but not in the typical location, Radio City Music Hall.  This year it will be in Brooklyn at the new Barclay's Center that Jay-Z christened with an 8 show run last year.  Having been to the Barclay's Center before, I think it will have a cool vibe because of the location.  It seems like the VMAs are already influnced by Brooklyn, with the tagline "No Sleep Till 8/25" and the special edition Moonman.

New Moonman:
Artist KAWS has reinterpreted the Moonman for this year's show, the first time that it has happen in its 30 year history.  KAWS is known for his X out eyes are putting a new spin on iconic figures, such as Mickey Mouse.  Below is a video of him discussing his Moonman and some images of his previous work.

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2013 VMA, Artists.MTV, Music

VMA Nominees 2013

*Bold and italics is who I voted for:
Video of the Year
Justin Timberlake, "Mirrors"
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Wanz, "Thrift Shop"
Bruno Mars, "Locked Out of Heaven"
Robin Thicke feat. T.I. and Pharrell, "Blurred Lines"
Taylor Swift, "I Knew You Were Trouble"

Best Hip Hop Video
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton, "Can't Hold Us"
Drake, "Started From The Bottom"
Kendrick Lamar, "Swimming Pools"
A$AP Rocky feat. Drake, 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar, "F--kin' Problems"
J. Cole feat. Miguel, "Power Trip"

Best Male Video
Justin Timberlake, "Mirrors"
Robin Thicke feat. T.I. and Pharrell, "Blurred Lines"
Bruno Mars, "Locked Out of Heaven"
Ed Sheeran, "Lego House"
Kendrick Lamar, "Swimming Pools"

Best Female Video
Rihanna feat. Mikky Ekko, "Stay"
Taylor Swift, "I Knew You Were Trouble"
Miley Cyrus, "We Can't Stop"
Pink feat. Nate Ruess, "Just Give Me A Reason"
Demi Lovato, "Heart Attack"

Best Pop Video
Bruno Mars, "Locked Out of Heaven"
Justin Timberlake, "Mirrors"
Fun., "Carry On"
Miley Cyrus, "We Can't Stop"
Selena Gomez, "Come and Get It"

Artist To Watch, Presented by Taco Bell
Twenty One Pilots, "Holding On To You"
Zedd feat. Foxes, "Clarity"
Austin Mahone, "What About Love"
The Weeknd, "Wicked Games"
Iggy Azalea, "Work"

Best Collaboration
Justin Timberlake, feat. Jay-Z, "Suit & Tie"
Pitbull feat. Christina Aguilera, "Feel This Moment"
Calvin Harris feat. Ellie Goulding, "I Need Your Love"
Robin Thicke feat. T.I. and Pharrell, "Blurred Lines"
Pink feat. Nate Ruess, "Just Give Me A Reason"

Best Video With A Social Message
Kelly Clarkson, "People Like Us"
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, "Same Love"
Snoop Lion, "No Guns Allowed"
Miguel, "Candles in the Sun"
Beyoncé, "I Was Here"

Best Rock Video
Imagine Dragons, "Radioactive"
Fall Out Boy, "My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up)" 
Mumford & Sons, "I Will Wait"
Thirty Seconds To Mars, "Up in the Air"
Vampire Weekend, "Diane Young"

Best Art Direction
Capital Cities, "Safe and Sound"
Thirty Seconds To Mars, "Up in the Air"
Janelle Monae feat. Erykah Badu, "Q.U.E.E.N"
Lana Del Rey, "National Anthem"
Alt-J, "Tesselate"

Best Choreography
Chris Brown, "Fine China"
Ciara, "Body Party"
Jennifer Lopez feat. Pitbull, "Live It Up"
will.i.am feat. Justin Bieber, "#thatPOWER"
Bruno Mars, "Treasure"

Best Cinematography
Thirty Seconds To Mars, "Up in the Air"
Lana Del Rey, "Ride"
Yeah Yeah Yeahs, "Sacrilege"
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton, "Can't Hold Us"
A-Trak & Tommy Trash, "Tuna Melt"

Best Direction
Justin Timberlake feat. Jay-Z, "Suit & Tie"
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton, "Can't Hold Us"
Yeah Yeah Yeahs, "Sacrilege"
Fun., "Carry On"
Drake, "Started From The Bottom"

Best Editing
Pink feat. Nate Ruess, "Just Give Me A Reason"
Calvin Harris feat. Florence Welch, "Sweet Nothing"
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton, "Can't Hold Us"
Justin Timberlake, "Mirrors"
Miley Cyrus, "We Can't Stop"

You can vote here