The 2020 MTV Video Music Awards should actually take place in a hall in Brooklyn. Because of the corona pandemic, this is now empty.
The corona pandemic continues to cause plan changes, especially in the severely affected USA. The most recent example: the MTV Video Music Awards. Originally, the annual awards ceremony was supposed to take place on August 30th at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. On Friday (August 7th), the music broadcaster MTV announced a report by People magazine that the show will take place open air – with live performances at various locations within the Big Apple and in some cases completely without an audience.
Tribute to "New York's Resilience"
"The VMAs 2020 will take place on Sunday, August 30th, as a tribute to the incredible resilience of New York, including several open-air performances distributed throughout the city with few or no spectators," said a press release from the organizer. MTV adheres to the guidelines of the state and the city of New York City.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (62) had previously given the music channel the green light to host the award ceremony in the Barclays Center. However, it now seems "more plausible and safer" to those in charge that the appearances of the announced stars do not take place in the hall with almost 19,000 seats, but in the open air.
Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga are favorites in the race
At the MTV VMAs, which have been awarded since 1984, the South Korean boy group sensation BTS ("Boy With Luv"), US rapper Doja Cat (24) and reggaeton star J Balvin (35) appear at the end of the month. Ariana Grande (27) and Lady Gaga (34) have the greatest chance of winning a "Moonman" – the nickname of the coveted trophy. They enter the race with nine nominations each. "No Time To Die" singer Billie Eilish (18) and The Weeknd (30, "Blinding Lights") each have six chances to win.