MTV EMAs in Manchester: Highlights and Observations from the Night

The MTV Awards were held in Manchester on Sunday night, marking the first time in their 30-year history the event took place in the city. Despite this, the ceremony was noted for its limited local character, with no appearances from Take That, Aitch, or Liam Gallagher, even though Gallagher was named best rock star. Organizers did include subtle tributes to Manchester, such as the stage being framed with the black and yellow stripes of Factory Records, and New Order’s “Blue Monday” playing whenever nominees were announced. The show, however, adopted a more global outlook, featuring acts from Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, and America. Taylor Swift secured expected victories in the night’s two major categories, best artist and video of the year, but appeared only via video. She chose instead to watch her boyfriend, American Football player Travis Kelce, lead the Kansas City Chiefs to a win against the Denver Broncos. Many other stars were present at the event and on the red carpet. The following are some notable observations from the evening. Raye had previously disclosed to fans, two weeks prior, that her second album’s release was postponed after thieves stole her car, which contained several notebooks filled with lyrics and song ideas. Speaking on the red carpet, she confirmed that the police had not been able to locate the stolen items, stating: “I’ve just had to let it go.” The singer explained that recreating many of the ideas was not possible