2023 MTV VMAs: Rema, Selena Gomez Win First Afrobeats Award (See full list)

Calm Down singers, Rema and Selena Gomez win the first Afrobeats Award at the 2023 MTV VMAs. See the complete list of winners.

Rema and Selena Gomez have won a 2023 MTV Video Music Award in the inaugural Best Afrobeats category for their hit song “Calm Down.” This achievement marks another milestone in Rema’s career as he becomes the first African artist to reach a billion streams on Spotify with the song “Calm Down,” featuring Selena Gomez.

The song “Calm Down” was also nominated in the “song of the year” category and the “best collaboration” category. It was first released on February 11, 2022, as the second single from Rema’s debut studio album, “Rave & Roses.” The remix featuring Selena Gomez was released on August 25, 2022, and has been a global hit since then.

In his acceptance speech, Rema expressed his gratitude to his fans, his team, Selena Gomez, and several Nigerian music icons for their pioneering work in Afrobeats. He also thanked the new generation of artists for their efforts in continuing to elevate Afrobeats to greater heights.

This award is a testament to the global appeal and influence of Afrobeats music, and it highlights Rema’s growing stature as an international music sensation. Congratulations to Rema and Selena Gomez on this remarkable achievement!

See his speech below and the highlights of his appearance below:

Rema and Selena Gomez accept the #VMA for Best Afrobeats pic.twitter.com/GD5SRFVH6E

— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) September 13, 2023

Taylor Swift cheering for Selena Gomez and Rema’s #VMAs win! ✨#TaylorSwift #SelenaGomez #Rema #VMAs2023 #VMA pic.twitter.com/uw11FFScdv

— Odyssey Street (@OdysseyStreet) September 13, 2023

See the full list of winners below:

VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Doja Cat – “Attention”
Miley Cyrus – “Flowers”
Nicki Minaj – “Super Freaky Girl”
Olivia Rodrigo – “vampire”
Sam Smith, Kim Petras – “Unholy”
SZA – “Kill Bill”
Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” WINNER

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Beyoncé
Doja Cat
Karol G
Nicki Minaj
Shakira
Taylor Swift

SONG OF THE YEAR
Miley Cyrus – “Flowers”
Olivia Rodrigo – “vampire”
Rema & Selena Gomez – “Calm Down”
Sam Smith, Kim Petras – “Unholy”
Steve Lacy – “Bad Habit”
SZA – “Kill Bill”
Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” WINNER

BEST NEW ARTIST
GloRilla
Ice Spice *WINNER
Kaliii
Peso Pluma
PinkPantheress
Reneé Rapp

PUSH PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
August 2022: Saucy Santana – “Booty”
September 2022: Stephen Sanchez – “Until I Found You”
October 2022: JVKE – “golden hour”
November 2022: Flo Milli – “Conceited”
December 2022: Reneé Rapp – “Colorado”
January 2023: Sam Ryder – “All The Way Over”
February 2023: Armani White – “GOATED”
March 2023: Fletcher – “Becky’s So Hot”
April 2023: Tomorrow X Together – “Sugar Rush Ride” WINNER
May 2023: Ice Spice – “Princess Diana”
June 2023: FLO – “Losing You”
July 2023: Lauren Spencer Smith – “That Part”

BEST COLLABORATION
David Guetta & Bebe Rexha – “I’m Good (Blue)”
Post Malone, Doja Cat – “I Like You (A Happier Song)”
Diddy ft. Bryson Tiller, Ashanti, Yung Miami – “Gotta Move On”
Karol G, Shakira – “TQG” WINNER
Metro Boomin with The Weeknd, 21 Savage, and Diddy – “Creepin’ (Remix)”
Rema & Selena Gomez – “Calm Down”

BEST POP
Demi Lovato – “Swine”
Dua Lipa – “Dance The Night (From Barbie The Album)”
Ed Sheeran – “Eyes Closed”
Miley Cyrus – “Flowers”
Olivia Rodrigo – “vampire”
P!NK – “Trustfall”
Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” WINNER

BEST HIP-HOP
Diddy ft. Bryson Tiller, Ashanti, Yung Miami – “Gotta Move On”
DJ Khaled ft. Drake & Lil Baby – “Staying Alive”
GloRilla & Cardi B – “Tomorrow 2”
Lil Uzi Vert – “Just Wanna Rock”
Lil Wayne ft. Swizz Beatz & DMX – “Kant Nobody”
Metro Boomin ft Future – “Superhero (Heroes and Villains)”
Nicki Minaj – “Super Freaky Girl” WINNER

BEST R&B
Alicia Keys ft. Lucky Daye – “Stay”
Chlöe ft. Chris Brown – “How Does It Feel”
Metro Boomin with The Weeknd, 21 Savage, and Diddy – “Creepin’ (Remix)”
SZA – “Shirt” WINNER
Toosii – “Favorite Song”
Yung Bleu & Nicki Minaj

BEST ROCK
Foo Fighters – “The Teacher”
Linkin Park – “Lost (Original Version)”
Red Hot Chili Peppers – “Tippa My Tongue”
Måneskin – “The Loneliest” WINNER
Metallica – “Lux Æterna”
Muse – “You Make Me Feel Like It’s Halloween”

BEST LATIN
Anitta – “Funk Rave” WINNER
Bad Bunny – “Where she goes”
Eslabon Armado, Peso Pluma – “Ella Baila Sola”
Bad Bunny – “un x100to”
Karol G, Shakira – “TQG”
Rosalía – “Despechá”
Shakira – “Acróstico”

BEST AFROBEATS
Ayra Starr – “Rush”
Burna Boy – “It’s Plenty”
Davido ft. Musa Keys – “Unavailable”
Fireboy DML & Asake – “Bandana”
Libianca – “People”
Rema & Selena Gomez – “Calm Down” WINNER
Wizkid ft. Ayra Starr– “2 Sugar”

BEST K-POP
aespa – “Girls”
BLACKPINK – “Pink Venom”
FIFTY FIFTY – “Cupid”
SEVENTEEN – “Super”
Stray Kids – “S-Class” WINNER
TOMORROW X TOGETHER – “Sugar Rush Ride”