Justin Timberlake Receives Nominations For the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards

The nominations for the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards were announced via Instagram’s IGTV on Monday (Jul. 16), for the awards to take place on August 20.

While much of what we learned in the announcement was consistent with trends from the past few years of VMAs, including the de-emphasizing of both gender and actual music videos in the category names — though R.I.P. to the “best fight against the system” category, now apparently reverted to “video with a message” — there were a number of interesting takeaways to be gleaned about what’s to come at 2018’s ceremonies. Here are five of the biggest.

A handful of veteran stars are also MIA. It’s not just the newbies who’ll find themselves snubbed at this year’s Video Music Awards, however. Longtime pop star Justin Timberlake, a video of the year winner (and Michael Jackson vanguard award recipient) in 2013, is nowhere to be found among the major categories for his Man of the Woods videos, only nominated for his “Say Something” in the best direction category and for “Filthy” in best choreography.

BEST DIRECTION
The Carters — “APES**T” — Directed by Ricky Saix
Childish Gambino — “This Is America” — Directed by Hiro Murai
Drake — “God’s Plan” — Directed by Karena Evans
Ed Sheeran — “Perfect” — Directed by Jason Koenig
Justin Timberlake ft. Chris Stapleton — “Say Something” — Directed by Arturo Perez Jr.
Shawn Mendes — “In My Blood” — Directed by Jay Martin

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
Bruno Mars ft. Cardi B — “Finesse (Remix)” — Choreography by Phil Tayag & Bruno Mars
Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug — “Havana” — Choreography by Calvit Hodge and Sara Bivens
The Carters — “APES**T” — Choreography by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and Jaquel Knight
Childish Gambino — “This Is America” — Choreography by Sherrie Silver
Dua Lipa — “IDGAF” — Choreography by Marion Motin
Justin Timberlake — “Filthy” — Choreography by Marty Kudelka, AJ Harpold, Tracy Phillips, and Ivan Koumaev

Billboard