The VMAs 2025: A Night of Legacy, Limelight, and a Cultural Reckoning

On Sunday, September 7, 2025, the music industry descended upon the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, for the MTV Video Music Awards. The event, broadcast for the first time on CBS and available to stream on Paramount+, with a simultaneous telecast across a wide range of sister networks including MTV, MTV2, BET, and Comedy Central, established itself as a multi-platform spectacle in a fragmented media world. From the moment hip-hop pioneer LL Cool J took the stage as host, the atmosphere crackled with a palpable tension—the event was a grand, theatrical meeting point between the legends who built the industry and the new guard charting its future.   

The 2025 VMAs were not a simple awards ceremony; they were a meticulously choreographed cultural statement. The night's narrative was a compelling tug-of-war between two opposing forces: a heartfelt celebration of long-standing music icons and a concerted effort to crown the next generation of pop royalty. The evening honored decades of artistry with historic, long-overdue accolades for pioneers like Mariah Carey and Busta Rhymes, while simultaneously elevating rising stars such as Sabrina Carpenter and Alex Warren. In this ever-evolving landscape, the VMAs have proven that their enduring relevance is not about being a crystal ball predicting the future. Instead, the ceremony has cemented its role as a chaotic, unpredictable, and utterly mesmerizing cultural mirror, reflecting the contradictions, compromises, and sheer spectacle of the contemporary music landscape.   

The Winners' Circle: A Shifting of the Guard

The narrative of the 2025 VMAs was written in the winners' circle, where a definitive transition was underway. The night belonged to a pop trinity: Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, and Sabrina Carpenter. Their combined triumphs signaled a clear and purposeful changing of the guard, with the veteran icons passing the torch to their ascendant successors.

Leading the charge was Lady Gaga, who once again proved her legendary status. She arrived with an astounding 12 nominations and swept four trophies, making her the most-awarded artist of the night. Gaga took home the prestigious Artist of the Year award, a win she had also secured in 2020, and used her platform to deliver a poignant and powerful speech. She spoke about the profound responsibility of being an artist, describing it as "an attempt to connect the souls of people all over the world" and a "craft meant for reaching into someone's heart". Her words set a high-minded artistic tone for the evening, reinforcing her position as a cornerstone of modern pop.   

Ariana Grande’s victory was a testament to the increasing cinematic ambition of music videos. She secured the night's most coveted prize, Video of the Year, for "Brighter Days Ahead," a short film that accompanied her recent album, Eternal Sunshine. The win, which was one of her three trophies for the night, including Best Pop and Best Longform Video, underscores how the visual component of music has transcended the traditional music video to become a full-fledged narrative art form. This shift was also evident in the recognition of Bruno Mars, who became the night's quiet MVP. He clinched a victory for Best Collaboration alongside Lady Gaga for "Die With a Smile" and shared an even more significant win for Song of the Year with Rosé for their viral sensation, "APT.". Rosé's win marked a historic moment as she became the first K-pop star to win the honor, a powerful reflection of the genre's global mainstream domination.   

However, no single artist's triumph better defined the night's transitional narrative than Sabrina Carpenter's. Already a dominant force in pop, Carpenter was formally anointed as the next-generation pop monarch. Her album, Short n' Sweet, was named Album of the Year, and she was the inaugural winner of the newly created Best Pop Artist category. The establishment of a new category specifically for a rising star is a strategic move by an awards show to actively shape the industry's discourse and formalize a cultural moment. While music veterans like Taylor Swift and Beyoncé, who are tied as the most-awarded artists in VMA history, were nominated, they did not take home any awards this year, a subtle but significant detail that created the necessary space for a new narrative to take hold. It was a planned, televised coronation that celebrated the past while decisively signaling the future of the genre.   

The awards also demonstrated a commitment to highlighting a wide range of diverse, rising talent. Alex Warren, a YouTube star turned singer-songwriter, was voted by fans as the Best New Artist for his viral hit "Ordinary". Meanwhile, Tyla secured her second consecutive Moon Person for Best Afrobeats with "PUSH 2 START," and Megan Moroney took home the inaugural Best Country trophy, showcasing the show's efforts to embrace a truly global and genre-inclusive landscape.   

Major Award Winners

Performance as Provocation: Stages and Statements

The core of the VMAs has always been its live performances, but the 2025 show revealed a significant evolution in this aspect of the broadcast. The most universally acclaimed moments were not necessarily new, but rather emotionally charged, career-spanning tributes to living legends and one who passed on. At the same time, the show’s most nominated artists delivered pre-recorded segments, revealing that the VMAs have become a platform for curated, pre-packaged content rather than a venue for spontaneous, career-defining live moments.

The Power of the Medley

The heart of the ceremony beat to the rhythm of legacy. The evening’s most show-stopping and unforgettable moments were delivered by artists who have spent decades perfecting their craft. This was evident in the long-awaited honor bestowed upon Mariah Carey, who was presented with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award by her longtime admirer Ariana Grande. Carey’s career-spanning medley of hits, including "Fantasy," "Heartbreaker," and "We Belong Together," was a dazzling reminder of her vocal prowess. Upon accepting her first-ever Moon Person trophy, she delivered an iconic, witty remark that resonated deeply with fans, asking, "What in the Sam Hill were you waiting for?". Her moment was not just a win; it was a vindication and a powerful acknowledgment of her enduring influence.   

Similarly, hip-hop legend Busta Rhymes received the inaugural Rock the Bells Visionary Award, his first VMA in a career spanning over 35 years and 16 nominations. Introduced by host LL Cool J, Rhymes delivered an impassioned medley of classics, including “Break Ya Neck” and “Touch It”. In his acceptance speech, he joked about the long wait, stating, "Y'all know I usually do these long speeches, I'm not gonna do one today, but next time y'all take 35 years to give me one of these, y'all gonna let me talk as long as I want!". The ceremony also paid a genuine, heartfelt tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, who passed away in July. Led by Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, and Yungblud, the tribute resonated with a profound sense of authenticity and reverence that captured the audience’s emotions.   

The Pre-Recorded & The Politically Charged

In stark contrast to the emotional medleys, the VMAs showcased a new industry reality: the artists who dominate today's charts are also dominating the global touring circuit, and the awards show has become a digital extension of those tours. Lady Gaga, the most-nominated artist of the night, did not perform live. Instead, her segment was pre-recorded from her sold-out Mayhem Ball tour stop at Madison Square Garden. Likewise, Post Malone and Jelly Roll's performance was pre-taped at a show in Germany. This shift, where the VMA stage is not the primary destination for a performance but a promotional platform for a more lucrative, self-produced event, contributed to the critique from some media outlets that the broadcast was "a relatively muted show" and "light on star power". The show's spectacle is now often sourced from external events, with the live show acting as a curator of pre-packaged viral moments.   

Amidst this blend of old and new, some performances were designed to be both spectacle and political statement. Sabrina Carpenter's VMA debut of her single "Tears" transcended a mere dance break. The stage was transformed into a theatrical "dirty alleyway" populated with drag performers who held up signs reading "Protect Trans Rights" and "Support Drag". The performance, which culminated in a staged downpour, was a powerful and deliberate act of using a mainstream platform for political advocacy, a defining characteristic of a new generation of artists unafraid to merge their art with their activism.   

The Red Carpet as a Runway: A Look at the New Language of Style

For Modish Muse, the red carpet is not just an entrance; it is a performance in itself. The 2025 VMAs arrivals were a living mood board of spectacle and rebellion, proving that the VMAs are the only awards show where an architectural catsuit, Nike sweats, and a vintage Chanel minidress can all share the same stage. This year’s red carpet was a masterclass in over-the-top glamour, where fashion choices were meticulously curated to create a narrative designed for real-time digital consumption.   

The Dominant Trends

The prevailing trend of the evening was undoubtedly “naked dressing,” a high-fashion approach to sheer and skin-baring silhouettes. Leading the charge was Sabrina Carpenter, who stunned in a sheer, form-hugging crimson lace gown by Valentino that gave off a siren-like charm. Tate McRae also embraced the trend, walking the carpet in a custom sheer white Grecian-style gown by Ludovic de Saint Sernin, which she described as being inspired by a "scorned woman inspired by medusa". This statement reveals how the trend is not merely about revealing skin but about embodying a specific narrative and persona.   

The menswear of the night was defined by a rock-and-roll rebellion, with artists embracing the "shirtless suiting" trend. Lenny Kravitz, ever the style icon, strolled in with an unbuttoned brown plaid suit and no shirt, a look that stopped time in 1999. He was joined by Yungblud, who sported dangerously low-cut leather pants with a jacket and no shirt. The trend was a clear challenge to traditional red-carpet formality, favoring attitude and authenticity over a buttoned-up approach.   

Another key trend was the return to archival and vintage fashion. Tyla wore a top from Chanel’s 1993 collection, reimagining it as a cheeky minidress. Latto made a similarly sophisticated statement in an archival Gianni Versace gown, showcasing a deep respect for fashion history and cementing their place within a greater cultural lineage.   

Standout Style Moments

Beyond the trends, certain looks were undeniable digital-first statements. Doja Cat, never one to conform, leaned into pure camp with a harlequin-print Balmain mini-dress and a viral moment of eating from her lipstick-shaped clutch. Her fashion was less an outfit and more "a performance art piece disguised as fashion," designed to be memed in real time. Ariana Grande brought a touch of whimsy in a custom polka-dot Fendi gown, a conscious choice to subvert expectations after her recent album's subdued aesthetic.   

The most profound fashion statement, however, was a "quiet protest". Colin Kaepernick and Nessa arrived in matching Nike sweats and sneakers, a stark contrast to the surrounding sequins and glamour. This choice served as a powerful reminder that "authenticity outshines excess," a sentiment that resonated as a bold and unmissable statement in a sea of high-fashion spectacle.   

The Red Carpet Lookbook

Part IV: The Culture Beat: Why This VMA Night Mattered

Beyond the awards and the outfits, the 2025 VMAs provided a fascinating glimpse into the state of contemporary pop culture itself. The event’s meta-narrative centered on the industry’s fragmentation, a palpable generational divide, and its renewed focus on honoring legacy.

A key point of commentary came from online forums, where a recurring sentiment lamented a noticeable generational divide in public speaking. Fans on Reddit noted the stark difference between the "polished, media trained" confidence of veteran stars like Mariah Carey and the "awkward" and "boring" demeanor of some younger artists and influencers. This observation is not a critique of talent, but rather a symptom of a fundamental shift in celebrity training. Older stars were groomed for the structured, formal environments of live television and traditional press junkets, where a witty, confident response was a key to success. In contrast, the new generation, born from the raw, unpolished, and hyper-authentic culture of platforms like TikTok and YouTube, is rewarded for a sense of "relatability" that can feel out of place in a traditional awards show setting. This contrast was a significant undercurrent throughout the night, revealing the tensions between the old and new celebrity ecosystems.   

At the same time, the show’s most powerful moments were derived from its reverence for the past. The VMAs awarded historic "first-time" honors to music icons like Mariah Carey, Busta Rhymes, and Ricky Martin. This strategy is a direct response to a fragmented media landscape where the show can no longer guarantee a single, universal, culture-defining moment as it did in its heyday. By celebrating legacy with the reverence it deserves, the VMAs are actively righting past wrongs and repositioning themselves as an authoritative cultural institution. In a world where music consumption is siloed, a shared sense of history provides a unifying force.   

This focus on legacy was balanced by a sincere nod to a truly global pop takeover. The show celebrated the continued rise of Afrobeats with Tyla’s win, and it honored the multinational girl group KATSEYE with the Push Performance of the Year award. These moments illustrate the VMAs’ commitment to reflecting a landscape where music is no longer geographically bound, an essential element for a contemporary cultural publication. The overall broadcast, however, was widely critiqued as being "relatively muted" and "light on star power" by some outlets, particularly due to the absence of nominees like Taylor Swift and Beyoncé. The fact that only seven awards were handed out during the three-hour telecast, while host LL Cool J was "largely off-screen," indicates that the show is no longer a traditional awards ceremony but is evolving into a "clip show" of pre-packaged, viral-ready moments.   

An Eternal Evolution

The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards was a fascinating study in contradictions. The event was a testament to the live energy and polish of music’s veteran acts, while the night’s biggest winners were seen delivering pre-taped performances that were extensions of their global tours. The red carpet was a canvas for carefully curated, digitally optimized style moments, yet the most universally praised performance was a heartfelt tribute to a musical icon who had recently passed. The stage itself was a battleground for political statements and choreographed dance breaks, while online discourse highlighted a generational divide in the very art of public communication.

Ultimately, the power of the 2025 VMAs lies not in its ability to predict the future, but in its unique capacity to reflect the chaotic and fragmented present. The awards themselves may seem secondary, and the spectacle may be more curated than spontaneous, but the cultural conversation they spark is as vital as ever. The VMAs are still the epicenter of pop culture; they just look and sound a little different now, a little less like a star-making machine and a little more like a dynamic, living document of a truly global and complex industry.