The VMAs are a big deal to anyone who enjoys music. There’s nothing better for a music fan than sitting down on a Sunday night to relax, watch their favorite artists perform, and most importantly, see the awards. But imagine how that person feels when all the awards go to the same three people. Imagine how they feel when half of the awards are given to less deserving, but more “trendy” performers. This has been the theme of the VMAs for years, and this year is no different.

The trendy winners who took home the awards:

• Song of the year: APT by Bruno Mars and Rosé 
• Artist of the year: Lady Gaga  
• Best New Artist: Alex Warren 

So, without further ado, here’s why these winners make me face-palm 

Song of the Year

This award went to Bruno Mars and Rosé for the hit single, “APT”. The song “APT” was very popular, I’ll admit. However, it became overplayed extremely fast. Many didn’t like it simply because it is classified as “ear candy,” which basically just means that it’s a song with no purpose other than to make you feel good. That’s fine when you’re looking for a fun song, but it becomes an issue when it wins Song of the Year. Yes, it was catchy, but compared to other nominees, this song should be ranked much lower. 

One of the songs “APT” was against was “Birds of A Feather” by Billie Eilish, a heartfelt track about her appreciation for her older brother. Billie’s song connected with listeners worldwide, which made it widely popular. So, what did “APT” have that “Birds of a Feather” didn’t? Was it just the familiar names attached to it? I guess we’ll never know.

Artist of the Year

Don’t get me wrong– Lady Gaga has been an extremely iconic and influential artist for many consecutive years; however, compared to other nominees like The Weeknd and Kendrick Lamar, she truly hasn’t done enough this year to deserve that award. She did release an album, but it lacked memorable songs, with the exception of “Abracadabra,” which originally came out as a single anyway. This doesn’t hold up next to The Weeknd’s standout album or Lamar’s consistently strong performances and albums. This choice only reinforced the idea that the VMAs give awards to the more familiar and safe options instead of the more deserving.

Best New Artist

Awarded to Alex Warren, an up-and-coming TikTok artist. Although he has had quite a few popular songs, other nominees on the list would be much more deserving because of their recent performances and releases. Sombr had an insanely fast growth of followers with his new album, and multiple of his songs have become popular very fast, making him a better candidate for this award. Even though he would be a better option, I believe the best option for this award would be Gigi Perez. Perez had a breakout year with multiple hits, including her emotional tracks “Sailor Song” and “Fable”. She even opened for Hozier, who has been relevant in the music industry for 20+ years. That kind of recognition and talent should have made her the clear winner.

At the end of the day, the VMAs have started to feel more like a popularity contest than a true celebration of true artistry. Every trophy seems based on large fanbases and trending topics rather than skill and talent. If I were in charge, I’d make sure that both fans and critics had a say, and I’d add more awards for new artists and specific categories so recognition actually goes to those who deserve it.

Until then, we’ll just sit here disappointed, venting about the results to our friends. After all, the real winners are our own playlists.