Nearly four decades ago, MTV hosted the first Video Music Awards. Since then, the awards show has become a staple of the music industry and granted prestigious titles and name recognition to countless artists.
One of the most coveted awards is “Best New Artist,” previously won by musicians like Guns N’ Roses, Nirvana, Eminem, Lady Gaga, One Direction and, most recently, Ice Spice. This year's VMAs will be hosted on Sept. 11 and will bring with it the newest addition to this list of winners.
One of the nominees is the modern queer pop icon Chappell Roan. Much debate has been held about the origin of Roan’s fame and her seemingly overnight success, even though the artist has been releasing music for the better part of a decade. Roan released her first single under her stage name in 2017 but began releasing singles from her debut album, “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess,” in 2020. The full album was released in September 2023 and was followed by her most streamed single, “Good Luck, Babe!,” in early 2024. Although she has previously opened for artists like Declan McKenna and Vance Joy, the most influential part of Roan’s rise to stardom was her opening slot on the most recent tour of the VMAs “Best New Artist” of 2021, Olivia Rodrigo.
Another nominee for “Best New Artist” is Gracie Abrams, whose fame is also due in part to a stint opening for Rodrigo on tour. Abrams first debuted in 2019, before eventually performing on Rodrigo’s Sour tour in 2022. She then released her first album, “Good Riddance,” in 2023. Abrams recently grew her fanbase by opening for Taylor Swift on the Eras Tour in 2022 while simultaneously releasing her latest album, “The Secret of Us,” in June 2024.
Further proving the impact established artists can have on the up-and-comers of the industry is Benson Boone, who also opened for the Eras Tour in London over the summer. Previously, Boone auditioned for American Idol in 2021, and although he was invited to the Hollywood Week, the singer withdrew from competition to focus on releasing his music. Boone gained some traction on TikTok in 2024 and has released multiple singles this year, including a song featured in the 2024 film “Twisters.” On April 5, Boone released his first full length album, “Fireworks & Rollerblades,” and has continued to grow his following since then.
Teddy Swims also found his start on an online platform, specifically through posting covers on YouTube. The R&B-pop-country fusion artist released his first single through a major label in 2020 and has been consistently releasing music ever since. His breakthrough single, “Lose Control,” was released in June of 2023, in anticipation of his album “I've Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 1).” Also proving the influence major artists can have on a burgeoning career, the “Best New Artist” nominee recently opened for Greta Van Fleet on their latest tour.
Another artist on the list of nominees who offers a creative blend of sound and styles is Shaboozey. The singer debuted in 2014 as a trap artist, but he has since shifted into a folk-pop style which creates a unique alt-country aesthetic. Shaboozey has previously collaborated with artists like Beyoncé and Noah Cyrus, and is set to open for Jessie Murph while promoting his recent album, “Where I've Been, Isn't Where I'm Going.”
The final artist on the list of nominees is South African singer-songwriter Tyla. She self-released her debut single in 2019 but broke into the mainstream four years later with “Water.” The single features a chorus of “Make me sweat, make me hotter / Make me lose my breath, make me water” that is guaranteed to still be stuck in the heads of young social media users over a year after its release. The single went on to be a part of Tyla’s self-titled debut album, which dropped in March 2024.
Each nominee for the “Best New Artist” award offers a different facet of artistry and genre-bending techniques, and each would be a worthy recipient of the sought-after accolade. In just over two weeks, one of the six artists will join the list of iconic performers who have all gone on to achieve high success in the competitive industry.
