Former collaborators Rihanna and Drake look set to steal the show at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards after picking up the lion's share of nominations.

The biggest prize of the evening - the Video of the Year trophy - will be a showdown between Rihanna (We Found Love), Drake featuring Rihanna (Take Care), Gotye (Somebody That I Used To Know), Katy Perry (Wide Awake) and M.I.A. (Bad Girls).

Elsewhere, the Bajan beauty will also battle it out for Best Female Video, Best Pop Video, Best Choreography and Best Visual Effects.

Drake, who was once romantically linked to the "Umbrella" hitmaker, was nominated in categories including Best Hip-Hop Video, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography and Best Male Video - where he will go up against his rival, Chris Brown.

Close on their heels is Katy Perry with four nominations, while several acts including Beyonce, Coldplay, Frank Ocean and M.I.A. have three shots at taking home 'Moonmen' trophies.

The Best New Artist race is between fun. (We Are Young), Carly Rae Jepsen (Call Me Maybe), Frank Ocean (Swim Good), One Direction (What Makes You Beautiful) and The Wanted (Glad You Came).

R&B singer Alicia Keys and boyband One Direction are among the acts who will perform at the 29th annual ceremony, scheduled to take place at Los Angeles' Staples Center on Sept. 6.

The full list of 2012 MTV Video Music Awards nominees is as follows:
 
Video of the Year:
Katy Perry, Wide Awake
Gotye, Somebody That I Used To Know
Rihanna, We Found Love
Drake featuring Rihanna, Take Care
M.I.A., Bad Girls
 
Best New Artist:
Fun. featuring Janelle Monae, We Are Young
Carly Rae Jepsen, Call Me Maybe
Frank Ocean, Swim Good
One Direction, What Makes You Beautiful
The Wanted, Glad You Came
 
Best Hip-Hop Video:
Childish Gambino, Heartbeat
Drake featuring Lil Wayne, HYFR
Kanye West featuring Pusha T, Big Sean & 2 Chainz, Mercy
Jay-Z and Kanye West, N**gas in Paris
Nicki Minaj featuring 2 Chainz, Beez in the Trap
 
Best Male Video:
Justin Bieber, Boyfriend
Frank Ocean, Swim Good
Drake featuring Rihanna, Take Care
Chris Brown, Turn Up the Music
Usher, Climax
 
Best Female Video:
Rihanna, We Found Love
Katy Perry, Part of Me
Beyonce, Love on Top
Nicki Minaj, Starships
Selena Gomez & The Scene, Love You Like a Love Song
 
Best Pop Video:
One Direction, What Makes You Beautiful
Fun. featuring Janelle Monae, We Are Young
Rihanna, We Found Love
Justin Bieber, Boyfriend
Maroon 5 featuring Wiz Khalifa, Payphone
 
Best Rock Video:
Coldplay, Paradise
The Black Keys, Lonely Boy
Linkin Park, Burn It Down
Jack White, Sixteen Saltines
Imagine Dragons, It's Time
 
Best Electronic Dance Music Video:
Duck Sauce, Big Bad Wolf
Calvin Harris, Feel So Close
Skrillex, First of the Year (Equinox)
Martin Solveig, The Night Out
Avicii, Le7els
 
Best Video With a Message:
Demi Lovato, Skyscraper
Rise Against, Ballad of Hollis Brown
Kelly Clarkson, Dark Side
Gym Class Heroes, The Fighter
K'Naan featuring Nelly Furtado, Is Anybody Out There?
Lil Wayne, How to Love
 
Best Art Direction:
Katy Perry, Wide Awake
Drake featuring Rihanna, Take Care
Lana Del Rey, Born to Die
Regina Spektor, All the Rowboats
Of Monsters & Men, Little Talks
 
Best Choreography:
Chris Brown, Turn Up the Music
Rihanna, Where Have You Been
Beyonce, Countdown
Avicii, Le7els
Jennifer Lopez featuring Pitbull, Dance Again
 
Best Cinematography:
M.I.A., Bad Girls
Adele, Someone Like You
Drake featuring Rihanna, Take Care
Coldplay featuring Rihanna, Princess of China
Lana Del Rey, Born to Die
 
Best Direction:
M.I.A., Bad Girls
Duck Sauce, Big Bad Wolf
Coldplay featuring Rihanna, Princess of China
Frank Ocean, Swim Good
Jay-Z and Kanye West, Otis
 
Best Editing:
Beyonce, Countdown
A$AP Rocky, Goldie
Gotye, Somebody That I Used to Know
Jay-Z and Kanye West, N**gas in Paris
Kanye West featuring Pusha T, Big Sean and 2 Chainz, Mercy
 
Best Visual Effects:
Katy Perry, Wide Awake
Rihanna, Where Have You Been
David Guetta featuring Nicki Minaj, Turn Me On
Linkin Park, Burn It Down.