For the first time ever, MTV Video Music Awards (VMA) 2022 will include a category for the new universe we have been hearing about in the past two years. Yes, it’s ‘the metaverse’ and the category has been termed as Best Metaverse Performance. The new category demonstrates widespread interest in the metaverse’s possibilities and highlights the efforts made by studios such as Epic Games to embrace the concept over the years. Several musicians held performances virtually in popular games throughout 2022. This year, Ariana Grande’s Fortnite performance and Twenty One Pilots’ Roblox concert will compete in MTV’s new Best Metaverse Performance category for the Video Music Awards.
According to reports, voting for the metaverse category and 21 other categories is currently open, and MTV will announce the winners at the VMA live show on 28 August.
The complete list of nominees and corresponding platforms for the Best Metaverse Performance category of the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards are as follows:
- Rift Tour ft. Ariana Grande – Fortnite
- Blackpink the Virtual – PUBG Mobile
- BTS – Minecraft/YouTube
- Charli XCX – Roblox
- Justin Bieber – An Interactive Virtual Experience – Wave
- Twenty One Pilots Concert Experience – Roblox
MTV claimed that the rise of musicians hosting concerts online was the impetus for the new category. “We saw the opportunity to highlight and honour some of the best, most impactful executions of this and celebrate artists who have found creative ways to use these spaces, which led to the addition of the Metaverse Performance category this year,” said MTV.
When Travis Scott performed at the Astronomical concert back in 2020, he was one of the first musicians to host a performance in this way, and since then, the connection between music and the metaverse has only grown.
Fortnite, which continues to lead the movement, also worked with Coachella earlier this year to incorporate elements of the renowned festival into the game.
