2025 MTV VMAs

The 2025 MTV VMAs are about to bring the heat—and our artist partners are all over the nominee list.
This year, 11 MAX/SET artist partners are in the running for 17 awards, proving that our roster doesn’t just play in the cultural conversation—they help define it.

Bailey Zimmerman, Blake Shelton, Chris Stapleton, Cody Johnson, Evanescence, Gigi Perez, Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, Leon Thomas, Luke Combs, and Megan Moroney are all in the mix—competing across categories that spotlight country icons, rock powerhouses, genre-blenders, and breakout stars. From Jelly Roll’s raw, unfiltered storytelling to Evanescence’s haunting rock anthems, these artists bring a range of sounds and styles as diverse as the fans who champion them.

The VMAs return on Sunday, September 7, live from the New York's UBS Arena—an arena known for hosting high-voltage performances and iconic pop culture moments. And just like their music, our partners bring that same energy to the brand activations we create together.

At MAX, we’re proud to work with artists who own the stage, the stream, and the spotlight. Ready to tap into that kind of cultural firepower? Let’s talk.

Here’s to the nominees. And here’s to whatever they do next. 🚀🎤

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Lainey Wilson

MAX/SET Partnership Details:
Ford Truck Month / Coors Light 

2025 Nominations:

• Best country - Lainey Wilson - "4x4xU" (Broken Bow Records)
  

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Evanescence

MAX/SET Partnership Details:
Cooper Tires

2025 Nominations:

• Best rock - Evanescence - "Afterlife (From the Netflix Series "Devil May Cry")" (Netflix Music)

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Cody Johnson

MAX/SET Partnership Details:
Ford Truck Month / SET user since 2023

2025 Nominations:

• Best country - Cody Johnson with Carrie Underwood - "I'm Gonna Love You" (CoJo Music / Warner Music Nashville)

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Luke Combs

MAX/SET Partnership Details:
Miller Lite

2025 Nominations:

• Best collaboration - Bailey Zimmerman with Luke Combs - "Backup Plan (Stagecoach Official Music Video)" - Atlantic Records/Warner Music Nashville

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Bailey Zimmerman

MAX/SET Partnership Details:
SET user since 2024

2025 Nominations:

• Best collaboration - Bailey Zimmerman with Luke Combs - "Backup Plan (Stagecoach Official Music Video)" - Atlantic Records/Warner Music Nashville
  

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Blake Shelton

MAX/SET Partnership Details:
SET user since 2024

2025 Nominations:

• Best collaboration - Post Malone ft. Blake Shelton - "Pour Me A Drink" - Mercury Records
  

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Chris Stapleton

MAX/SET Partnership Details:
SET user since 2025

2025 Nominations:

• Best country - Chris Stapleton - "Think I'm In Love with You" (Mercury Nashville)
  

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Gigi Perez

MAX/SET Partnership Details:
SET user since 2025

2025 Nominations:

• Best new artist
• MTV Push performance of the year - June 2025 - Gigi Perez - "Sailor Song" (Island)
• Best alternative - Gigi Perez - "Sailor Song" (Island)

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Jelly Roll

MAX/SET Partnership Details:
SET user since 2023

2025 Nominations:

• Best hip-hop - Eminem ft. Jelly Roll - "Somebody Save Me" (Shady/Aftermath/Interscope Records)
• Best alternative - mgk & Jelly Roll - "Lonely Road" (EST 19XX/Interscope Records)
• Best country - Jelly Roll - "Liar" (BBR Music Group/BMG/Republic Records)
• Video for good - Eminem ft. Jelly Roll - "Somebody Save Me" (Shady/Aftermath/Interscope Records)
  

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Leon Thomas

MAX/SET Partnership Details:
SET user since 2024

2025 Nominations:

• MTV Push performance of the year - Mar 2025 - Leon Thomas - "YES IT IS" (EZMNY Records/Motown Records)
• Best R&B - Leon Thomas & Freddie Gibbs - "MUTT (REMIX)" (EZMNY Records/Motown Records)
  

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Megan Moroney

MAX/SET Partnership Details:
SET user since 2025

2025 Nominations:

• Best country - Megan Moroney - "Am I Okay?" (Columbia Records)
  

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About MAX

MAX was founded in 2014 with a mission to help champion incredible music and the artists who make it through strategic, data-driven partnerships with brands. MAX brings brands into the music promotional space in a way that puts engaging content into the world through a value-exchange model that drives the brand's objectives, and elevates breakthrough bands along the way. If you’d like to learn more about Music Audience Exchange and what a music promotion program would look like for your brand, send us a note.