The 2015 MTV Video Music Awards were held on August 30, 2015. The 32nd installment of the event was held at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California, and hosted by Miley Cyrus. Taylor Swift led the nominations with a total of ten, followed by Ed Sheeran, who had six, bringing his total number of mentions to 13. Swift's "Wildest Dreams" music video premiered during the pre-show. Cyrus also announced and released her studio album Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz, right after her performance at the end of the show. During his acceptance speech, Kanye West announced that he would be running in the 2020 United States presidential election. Taylor Swift won the most awards with four, including Video of the Year and Best Female Video. The VMA trophies were redesigned by Jeremy Scott.
This 2015 edition was seen by 9.8 million people in the United States during its simulcast across ten Viacom-owned networks. However, the ceremony's airing on the flagship MTV network alone had one of the lowest audience in the ceremony's 31-year history (with the following year's ceremony being the lowest of all time). According to Nielsen, it logged 5.03 million viewers on MTV, 39% less than the previous year, while cumulative viewers drew 9.8 million with the nine other simulcasting networks. The lowest viewed edition since Nielson began tracking in 1994 was in 1996, with 5.07 million viewers. This broadcast, however, broke the "US Twitter record", being the most tweeted about non-sports program, with 21.4 million tweets delivered by 2.2 million people. It was also streamed live through the MTV app for authenticated users on mobile devices and television sets via iOS, Android and Chromecast. Through its website, viewers could also get to see un-aired audience shots and backstage coverage. mtvU aired a behind-the-scenes feed and MTV Hits went dark.
Performances
Presenters
Pre-show
Sway and Kelly Osbourne – hosts
Kelly Osbourne and Jeremy Scott – presented Best Rock Video
Carly Aquilino, Charlamagne Tha God, and Vic Mensa – presented Best Pop Video
Awkwafina and Nessa – presented Song of Summer
Main show
Ike Barinholtz and Andy Samberg – appeared in a pre-taped skit with host Miley Cyrus Britney Spears – presented Best Male Video Jared Leto – introduced The Weeknd Rebel Wilson – presented Best Hip-Hop Video Tyga, Juicy J, Mike Will Made It and Billy Ray Cyrus – appeared in a pre-taped skit with host Miley Cyrus Big Sean and Nick Jonas – presented Best Female Video Hailee Steinfeld – introduced Demi Lovato outside The Orpheum Theatre Serayah and Jussie Smollett – presented Best Video with a Social Message Ne-Yo and Kylie Jenner – introduced Tori Kelly Taylor Swift – presented Video Vanguard Award John Legend – introduced Pharrell Williams outside The Orpheum Theatre Rita Ora and Emily Ratajkowski – presented Artist to Watch Miguel and Gigi Hadid – introduced Twenty One Pilots and ASAP Rocky Ice Cube and O'Shea Jackson, Jr. – presented Video of the Year Happy Hippie Foundation members – introduced Miley Cyrus
Winners and nominees
The nominations were announced on July 21, 2015 via Apple Music's Beats 1. Nominees for the social media-driven category, Song of Summer, were announced on August 18, 2015. Taylor Swift and Kendrick Lamar were tied with most nominations, 10. Ed Sheeran had 6, Nicki Minaj had 4.
Video of the Year
Taylor Swift (featuring Kendrick Lamar) – "Bad Blood" Beyoncé – "7/11" Kendrick Lamar – "Alright" Mark Ronson (featuring Bruno Mars) – "Uptown Funk" Ed Sheeran – "Thinking Out Loud"
Best Male Video
Mark Ronson (featuring Bruno Mars) – "Uptown Funk" Nick Jonas – "Chains" Kendrick Lamar - "Alright" Ed Sheeran – "Thinking Out Loud" The Weeknd – "Earned It"
Best Female Video
Taylor Swift – "Blank Space" Beyoncé – "7/11" Ellie Goulding – "Love Me Like You Do" Nicki Minaj – "Anaconda" Sia – "Elastic Heart"
Artist to Watch
Fetty Wap – "Trap Queen" James Bay – "Hold Back the River" George Ezra – "Budapest" FKA Twigs – "Pendulum" Vance Joy – "Riptide"
Best Pop Video
Taylor Swift – "Blank Space" Beyoncé – "7/11" Maroon 5 – "Sugar" Mark Ronson (featuring Bruno Mars) – "Uptown Funk" Ed Sheeran – "Thinking Out Loud"
Best Rock Video
Fall Out Boy – "Uma Thurman" Arctic Monkeys – "Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?" Florence + the Machine – "Ship to Wreck" Hozier – "Take Me to Church" Walk the Moon – "Shut Up + Dance"
Best Hip-Hop Video
Nicki Minaj – "Anaconda" Big Sean (featuring E-40) – "I Don't Fuck with You" Fetty Wap – "Trap Queen" Kendrick Lamar – "Alright" Wiz Khalifa (featuring Charlie Puth) – "See You Again"