MTV has announced it will be adding a new category for videos that featured a positive social message or raised awareness of issues that are important to today's youth for this year's Video Music Awards show. The new category, called "Best Video With a Message", is in recognition of the many artists that have come out recently with gripping videos that centered around key issues for many young people today, and spoke out against bullying, discrimination against gays, and promoted self-empowerment. Some of the socially active artists have been Pink, who recently came out with a powerful video "F***** Perfect", which dealt with female self-empowerment, and Rise Against did "Make it Stop (September's Children)", a video speaking out against gay teens being bullied at school.
Stephen Friedman, MTV's president, said in a statement, "During the past year, we've seen a remarkable number of artists use their music to explore deeply personal experiences and issues they were passionate about to create powerful videos that resonated with and inspired millions of their fans." The videos that were nominated are:
Eminem and Rihanna – "Love the Way You Lie"
A video that illuminates the pain and perils of domestic violence.
Katy Perry – "Firework"
Celebrating the spark and originality in all of us.
Lady Gaga – "Born This Way"
Mother Monster gives birth to a world free from prejudice, judgment and self- doubt.
Pink – "F****** Perfect"
Pink lets out a cry of reassurance for anyone who's ever felt less than perfect.
Rise Against – "Make it Stop (September's Children)"
Rise Against reminds LBGT teens pushed to the edge that "It gets better".
Taylor Swift – "Mean"
Taylor cautions negative naysayers that being mean gets you nowhere.
To check out the videos and to VOTE for the best "social activist" video, go the MTV website by clicking here.
