The 2012 MTV Video Music Awards, hosted by Kevin Hart, took place on Thursday, September 6, 2012, honoring the best music videos from the previous year.
The awards were broadcast from the Staples Center arena at L.A. Live in Downtown Los Angeles. Nominations were announced on July 31, 2012. Rihanna and Drake received five nominations, while Katy Perry and Beyoncé received four.
One Direction were the biggest winners of the night winning their three nominations, including Best New Artist, and Rihanna went on to win Video of the Year, becoming the first female artist, and only second artist overall, to win the award twice.
MTV Video Music Awards 2012: Full Winners List
Members of the British band One Direction, from left, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik and Niall Horan pose backstage with their awards at the MTV Video Music Awards on Thursday, Sept. 6, 2012, in Los Angeles.
Video of the Year
Drake f/ Rihanna – ‘Take Care’
Gotye – ‘Somebody That I Used to Know’
Katy Perry – ‘Wide Awake’
M.I.A. – ‘Bad Girls’
Rihanna – ‘We Found Love’ – WINNER
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’ – WINNER
Rihanna – ‘We Found Love’
Best Rock Video
The Black Keys – ‘Lonely Boy’
Taylor Swift performs at the MTV Video Music Awards on Thursday, Sept. 6, 2012, in Los Angeles.
Coldplay – ‘Paradise’ – WINNER
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’ – WINNER
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’ – WINNER
The Wanted – ‘Glad You Came’
Best Female Video
Alicia Keys performs at the MTV Video Music Awards on Thursday, Sept. 6, 2012, in Los Angeles.
Beyoncé – ‘Love on Top’
Katy Perry – ‘Part of Me’
Nicki Minaj – ‘Starships’ – WINNER
Rihanna – ‘We Found Love’
Selena Gomez & The Scene – ‘Love You Like a Love Song’
Best Male Video
Chris Brown – ‘Turn Up the Music’ – WINNER
Drake f/ Rihanna – ‘Take Care’
Frank Ocean – ‘Swim Good’
Justin Bieber – ‘Boyfriend’
Usher – ‘Climax’
Best Electronic Dance Music Video
Avicii – ‘Le7els’
Calvin Harris – ‘Feels So Close’ – WINNER
Duck Sauce – ‘Big Bad Wolf’
Martin Solveig – ‘The Night Out’
Skrillex – ‘First of the Year (Equinox)’
Best Video with a Message
Katy Perry, left, presents the best pop video award to Niall Horan and Harry Styles, right, of musical group One Direction, for “What Makes You Beautiful” at the MTV Video Music Awards on Thursday, Sept. 6, 2012, in Los Angeles.
Demi Lovato – ‘Skyscraper’ – WINNER
Gym Class Heroes f/ Ryan Tedder – ‘The Fighter’
Kelly Clarkson – ‘Dark Side’
K’Naan f/ Nelly Furtado – ‘Is Anybody Out There?’
Lil Wayne – ‘How to Love’
Rise Against – ‘Ballad of Hollis Brown’
Best Art Direction
Drake f/ Rihanna – ‘Take Care’
Katy Perry – ‘Wide Awake’ – WINNER
Lana Del Rey – ‘Born to Die’
Of Monsters & Men – ‘Little Talks’
Regina Spektor – ‘All the Rowboats’
Best Choreography
Avicii – ‘Le7els’ Beyoncé – ‘Countdown’
Chris Brown – ‘Turn Up the Music’ – WINNER
Jennifer Lopez f/ Pitbull – ‘Dance Again’
Rihanna – ‘Where Have You Been’
Best Cinematography
Adele – ‘Someone Like You’
Rihanna performs at the MTV Video Music Awards on Thursday, Sept. 6, 2012, in Los Angeles.
Coldplay f/ Rihanna – ‘Princess of China’
Drake f/ Rihanna – ‘Take Care’
Lana Del Rey – ‘Born to Die’
M.I.A. – ‘Bad Girls’ – WINNER
Best Direction
Coldplay f/ Rihanna – ‘Princess of China’
Duck Sauce – ‘Big Bad Wolf’
Frank Ocean – ‘Swim Good’
M.I.A. – ‘Bad Girls’ – WINNER
The Throne – ‘Otis’
Best Editing
A$AP Rocky – ‘Goldie’
Beyoncé – ‘Countdown’ – WINNER
Gotye – ‘Somebody That I Used to Know’
Kanye West f/ Pusha T, Big Sean and 2 Chainz – ‘Mercy’
The Throne – ‘Paris’
From left, Rebel Wilson and Max George, Jay McGuiness, Nathan Sykes, Siva Kaneswaran and Tom Parker, of musical group The Wanted, present an award onstage at the MTV Video Music Awards on Thursday, Sept. 6, 2012, in Los Angeles.
Best Visual Effects
David Guetta f/ Nicki Minaj – ‘Turn Me On’
Katy Perry – ‘Wide Awake’
Linkin Park – ‘Burn It Down’
Rihanna – ‘Where Have You Been’
Skrillex – ‘First of the Year (Equinox)’ – WINNER
Most Share-Worthy Video
Beyoncé – ‘Countdown’
Carly Rae Jepsen – ‘Call Me Maybe’
Gotye (featuring Kimbra) – ‘Somebody That I Used to Know’
Justin Bieber – ‘Boyfriend’
One Direction – ‘What Makes You Beautiful’ – WINNER
