VMAs Audience Rises to 4-Year High

More than four million people watched the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards on Wednesday night, marking the telecast’s largest audience since the COVID-safe, largely virtual ceremony held in August 2020.

Including first airings and encores simulcast on MTV, Comedy Central, Paramount Network and 10 other channels, the VMAs racked up 4.1 million total viewers, up 8% from last year’s comp.

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Simulcasts of just the first airing alone, across 13 networks, delivered 3.1 million viewers, surging 25% from last year.

Among the night’s highlights, Taylor Swift surpasses Beyoncé in collecting the most Moon Persons of all time, by adding another seven to her career haul, which now totals 30.

In her final speech of the night, Swift celebrated her Video of the Year victory by giving a special shout-out to boyfriend Travis Kelce. “Everything this man touches turns to happiness and fun and magic, so I want to thank him.” She also stressed the importance of 18+ fans to register to vote in the upcoming presidential election.

This year’s many performances includes Eminem opening the show flanked by an army of Slim Shady clones; Video Vanguard honoree Katy Perry serving up a medley of the hits that paved the way to this career-defining moment; Sabrina Carpenter singing “Please Please Please,” her new single “Taste” and — after some PDA with an alien –her monster hit “Espresso”; Chappell Roan belting “Good Luck, Babe!” amid a flaming castle set; and GloRilla just barely dodging a wardrobe malfunction while pairing “Yeah Glo!” with “TGIF.”

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