Beyonce set to dominate this year's VMAs, but Nicki Minaj draws attention early ...
Beyonce is set to take the most prestigious prize at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards, but it's hard to predict just about anything else about Sunday night's big award show.
Besides netting the 'Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award' -- an honor previously bestowed on pop's most visually-savvy artists, from Madonna to Peter Gabriel to Justin Timberlake to Jackson himself -- Beyonce was up eight other awards. Her nominations included 'Video of the Year' for 'Drunk In Love,' which features husband Jay-Z.
Following Beyonce in nominations were Eminem and Iggy Azalea, who each came into the evening claiming seven.
The Aussie-born Azalea also has a bid for 'Video of the Year' for her clip 'Fancy,' which features singer Charli XCX, in a cheeky homage to the '90s movie comedy 'Clueless.'
Other 'Video of the Year' nominees include Sia, for 'Chandelier,' in which the star refused to appear, Miley Cyrus, for her controversial 'Wrecking Ball' clip, and Pharrell Williams for his song of joy, 'Happy.'
Williams was the only male candidate to appear in the top category.
Before the telecast began, boy band 5 Seconds of Summer continued their season to remember by winning the award for Best Lyric Video for their hit, 'Don't Stop.'
Expected to be in the audience for the show is Chris Brown, host of a pre-VMA party where record exec Suge Knight was shot six times early Sunday. Brown is up for the Best Collaboration award for his video for 'Loyal,' featuring Lil Wayne and Tyga.
A wide array of stars are scheduled to perform on the always glittering show Sunday. A trio of artists are set to open the two hour show: 21 year old breakout singer Ariana Grande, Brit-soul belter Jesse J and rapper Nicki Minaj are recreating their three-way collaboration, 'Bang Bang.'
Minaj is also performing her own single, the posterior-friendly new song 'Anaconda,' while Azalea will sing her latest single with British singer Rita Ora, 'Black Widow.'
Also making notable appearances aree Sam Smith, in his American award show debut, R&B star Usher, 5 Seconds of Summer, Taylor Swift, and Maroon 5.
Star attraction Beyonce is offering a set fashioned around her 'Vanguard' honor.
The night also includes a return appearance from the last year's shock queen: Miley Cyrus.
Presenters for the year include Lorde, Gwen Stefani, Kim Kardashian, Demi Lovato, Taylor Schilling, Laverne Coz, Uzo Aduba, Dylan O'Brien, Nina Dobrev, Jason Derulo and R&B singer Trey Songz.
The show is coming live from The Forum in the Inglewood section of Los Angeles. The venerable venue had gone through a major renovation this year, adding seats to now hold 17,500 fans. Sunday's show represented its national unveiling.
Last year, the VMAs made news by taking place for the first time in Brooklyn, at the Barclay Center.
The VMAs have been on a ratings upswing. Last year's event ranked as cable's No. 1 entertainment show among the 12 to 34 age demographic. Its audience of 10.1 million represented a 66 per cent increase in viewership over 2012, with a ratings leap of 47 per cent. Last year's pre-show program, which takes place an our before the official show begins, saw its ratings jump 100% over the year before.
The VMAs rarely fail to make international headlines. Last year's show did so courtesy of Miley Cyrus' appearance on Robin Thicke's 'Blurred Lines,' through her lascivious tongue-action and wild dancing. Her co-opting of 'twerking' brought that term, created in black culture, into the mainstream.
jfarber@nydailynews.com
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