Rihanna, Drake Lead 2012 MTV Video Music Award Nominees

MTV has announced the nominees for the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards. The awards will be  held in Los Angeles on September 6. 

Since the first "MTV Video Music Awards" aired in 1984, the VMAs instantly earned its reputation for delivering the most popular bands and artists to create the loudest, most influential and at times, the most controversial, annual live celebration of music in the world. No other award show has been responsible for creating more memorable or bigger musical moments in pop culture history than the MTV Video Music Awards. From Madonna, Michael Jackson, Guns N' Roses and Nirvana to Britney Spears, Taylor Swift, Kanye West and Beyoncé, an appearance on the VMA stage can forever change the trajectory of an artist's career in one single night.

The 2012 "MTV Video Music Awards" will air across MTV's global network of more than 60 channels reaching more than 600 million households around the world as well as through syndication. In addition, its convergent programming and content will reach the entire interactive community, via MTV's more than 200 digital media properties around the world. Ratings for the 2011 VMAs were up +30% YOY internationally, and the show was one of MTV's top performers in key markets across Europe, Latin America, Asia and Australia.

The full list of nominees at the MTV Video Music Awards 2012 is as follows:

Best Pop Video
fun. f/ Janelle Monae - 'We Are Young'
Justin Bieber - 'Boyfriend'
Maroon 5 f/ Wiz Khalifa - 'Payphone'
One Direction - 'What Makes You Beautiful'
Rihanna - 'We Found Love'

Best Rock Video
The Black Keys - 'Lonely Boy'
Coldplay - 'Paradise'
Imagine Dragons - 'It's Time'
Jack White - 'Sixteen Saltines'
Linkin Park - 'Burn It Down'

Best Hip-Hop Video
Childish Gambino - 'Heartbeat'
Drake f/ Lil Wayne - 'HYFR'
Kanye West f/ Pusha T, Big Sean, and 2 Chainz - 'Mercy'
Nicki Minaj f/ 2 Chainz - 'Beez in the Trap'
The Throne - 'Paris'

Best New Artist
Carly Rae Jepsen - 'Call Me Maybe'
Frank Ocean - 'Swim Good'
fun. f/ Janelle Monae - 'We Are Young'
One Direction - 'What Makes You Beautiful'
The Wanted - 'Glad You Came'

Best Female Video
Beyoncé - 'Love on Top'
Katy Perry - 'Part of Me'
Nicki Minaj - 'Starships'
Rihanna - 'We Found Love'
Selena Gomez & The Scene - 'Love You Like a Love Song'

Best Male Video
Chris Brown - 'Turn Up the Music'
Drake f/ Rihanna - 'Take Care'
Frank Ocean - 'Swim Good'
Justin Bieber - 'Boyfriend'
Usher - 'Climax'