The music channel said Rihanna had been shortlisted for best song (We Found Love), best female, best pop, best video for the same song, biggest fans and in the new category, best look.

She is up against Swift in the female, pop and look sections, while Swift was also nominated for best live and best world stage act.

Lady Gaga dominated last year’s awards held in Belfast, coming away with four prizes and performing Marry the Night.

This year she is nominated for three awards — best live act, video (Marry the Night) and “biggest” fans.

A host of other acts, including Lana Del Rey, Nicki Minaj, Jay-Z and Kanye West also earned three nominations each.

The awards, many of which are voted for by MTV fans online, are one of the biggest pop events outside the United States, and, despite being based in Europe, are generally dominated by American artists.

This year they will be held in Frankfurt’s Festhalle on November 11.

Following are the main nominations:
Best song: Carly Rae Jepsen/Call Me Maybe; Rihanna feat. Calvin Harris/We Found Love; Gotye/Somebody That I Used To Know; Pitbull feat. Chris Brown/International Love; fun. feat. Janelle Moné/We Are Young
Best New: Rita Ora; fun.; One Direction; Lana Del Rey; Carly Rae Jepsen
Best Female: Rihanna; Katy Perry; P!nk; Taylor Swift; Nicki Minaj
Best Male: Justin Bieber; Kanye West; Flo Rida; Pitbull; Jay-Z
Best Pop: Justin Bieber; No Doubt; Katy Perry; Taylor Swift; Rihanna
Best Live: Taylor Swift; Lady Gaga; Jay-Z & Kanye West; Green Day; Muse
Best Hip Hop: Jay-Z & Kanye West; Nas; Rick Ross; Drake; Nicki Minaj
Best Rock: Linkin Park; Green Day; Muse; The Killers; Coldplay
Best Electronic: David Guetta; Swedish House Mafia; Avicii; Skrillex; Calvin Harris
Best Alternative: Jack White; The Black Keys; Arctic Monkeys; Florence + The Machine; Lana Del Rey
Best Video: M.I.A./Bad Girls; Lady Gaga/Marry The Night; Katy Perry/Wide Awake; Rihanna feat. Calvin Harris/We Found Love; PSY/Gangnam Style.