MTV has added a “Best Metaverse Performance” category to the Video Music Awards, pitting the likes of Ariana Grande’s performance in Fortnite against Twenty One Pilots’ concert in Roblox.
As reported by The Hill, voting is now open for the metaverse category and 21 others, and MTV will announce the winners at the VMA live show on August 28.
The full list of nominees are: Ariana Grande’s headlining performance at the Fortnite Rift Tour, Blackpink’s concert in PUBG: Mobile, BTS’s performance in Minecraft, Charli XCX’s appearance in Roblox, Justin Bieber’s interactive virtual experience in Wave, and Twenty One Pilots’ concert in Roblox.
MTV said the increasing number of artists hosting performances digitally led them to create 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] Best Metaverse Performance category this year,” MTV said.
Travis Scott was one of the first artists to host a performance in this way when he played the Astronomical concert back in 2020, and the connection between music and the metaverse has only grown since.
Remaining at the forefront of the movement, Fortnite also collaborated with Coachella earlier this year to bring elements of the iconic festival into the game.
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.
