By Sean Michaels
Guardian.co.uk

Drake and Rihanna lead the nominees for this year's MTV Video Music awards. Each artist received five nods in a contest that will also see the UK boybands One Direction and the Wanted face off for the best new artist prize.

This year's VMAs will take place on 6 September at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. While Drake and Rihanna are at the top of the heap, Katy Perry received four nominations, with three each to Frank Ocean, MIA, Coldplay, and Jay-Z & Kanye West's Watch the Throne project. As for the biggest prize of the night, video of the year, there's an Australian earworm nestled in with the bangers: Gotye's Somebody That I Used to Know will contend with songs by Drake, Rihanna, Perry and MIA.

So far, organisers have announced only two of the gala's performers: One Direction, who have the bestselling debut album of the year in the US, and Alicia Keys, who will preview her upcoming fifth LP. "It's the perfect setting," Keys said in a statement. "I debuted No One at the [2007] VMAs - it was the first time anyone in the world heard [the song]. It's the right energy. It's the right vibe. People are so excited about the night of music and hearing different styles that it just goes over really well."

Despite attempting a comeback album this year, Madonna was completely overlooked in this year's VMA nominations. The same is true for Lady Gaga, who was eligible for - and ignored in - two categories.