MTV held its annual Video Music Awards tonight – the only major awards show where you’re likely to think, “Holy crap, did Chappell Roan have a crossbow?” while watching. (FYI: Chappell Roan had a crossbow.) Between the speeches, the performances, the part where Katy Perry demanded that we all acknowledge that she is still relevant — something every relevant person does all the time — and more, the network that used to show music videos did to give out some real music video awards and thus honor once again this particularly populist type of musical greatness.

Sabrina Carpenter, for example, can now write “beating Beyoncé and Taylor Swift at the same time” on her resume for the rest of her life, as her track “Espresso” came out on top in the Song of the Year category. Not that Taylor didn’t get to Moon People pretty early on: She won early on for Best Collaboration and Song of the Summer, both for “Fortnight,” featuring Post Malone. In the genre mines, Lenny Kravitz won Best Rock Song for his track “Human,” Tyla won Best Afrobeats for “Water,” and Benson Boone was named Best Alternative for “Beautiful Things.” And if you want a study in contrasts, Megan Thee Stallion took home Best Trending Video for “Mamushi,” while Perry (who put on a Greatest Hits performance) took home the award for “Most Iconic VMA Performance” for her rendition of “Roar”… which she pulled off in 2013. (And it was a great performance! All we’re saying is, it’s a “what have you done for me lately?” kind of victory.)

More to follow …

Updated 2024 VMA winners list:

Song of the Summer: Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone, “Fortnight”

The most legendary performance of the VMAs: Katy Perry, “Roar”

Song of the year: Sabrina Carpenter, “Espresso”

Best collaboration: Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone, “Fortnight”

Best alternative: Benson Boone, “Beautiful Things”

Best Rock: Lenny Kravitz, “Human”

Best Afrobeats: Tyla, “water”

Best trending video: Megan Thee Stallion feat. Yuki Chiba, “Mamushi”