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The 2013 Video Music Awards (or VMAs, as everyone calls them) bring MTV and a cadre of pop’s biggest acts to Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on Sunday. This year marks the 30th anniversary for the VMAs, a milestone MTV celebrated with a redesign of the famed Moonman statuette courtesy of KAWS.
Pre-awards rumors included an *NSYNC reunion, but plenty of exciting pop moments were already set: Justin Timberlake, Miley Cyrus, Daft Punk, Kanye West, Drake, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars were among those confirmed to perform. Buzzy starlets like Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez were teased as announcers in the walk-up to the big night.
The party, hosted by One Direction, is MTV’s celebration of music videos and had been heavily promoted by the network in the lead up to Sunday. The Beastie Boys’ 1987 hit “No Sleep Till Brooklyn” served as something of a theme song for the event. The Barclays Center is perhaps equally famous as the home of Brooklyn Nets and the setting for Jay Z’s inaugural run of concerts at the venue, which has since hosted the likes of Paul McCartney and Beyonce.