2012 Best New Artist Nominees: Road to the VMAs
University of New Orleans is one of 2012 Best New Artist Nominees: Road to the VMAs.

1. University of New Orleans

2000 Lakeshore Dr, New Orleans, LA
University · Gentilly · 13 tips and reviews

MTVMTV: Before Frank Ocean was producing mega hits for some of your favorite musicians, he went to college at UNO!

Bowery Ballroom is one of 2012 Best New Artist Nominees: Road to the VMAs.

2. Bowery Ballroom

9.1
6 Delancey St (at Bowery), New York, NY
Rock Club · Lower East Side · 216 tips and reviews

MTVMTV: Frank Ocean killed the stage here for a small audience on 11/27/2011 during his first NYC performance.

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon is one of 2012 Best New Artist Nominees: Road to the VMAs.

3. Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

30 Rockefeller Plz, New York, NY
Arts and Entertainment · Rockefeller Center · 24 tips and reviews

MTVMTV: Not only was Frank Ocean’s first TV performance on the 7/9/12 episode of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, he then dropped his debut album, "Channel Orange," right after he got off stage!

4. Empire Polo Club

8.9
81800 Avenue 51 (at Monroe St), Indio, CA
Stable · 22 tips and reviews

MTVMTV: Frank Ocean brought his smooth R&B vocals to the 2012 Coachella show as one of the headlining performers.

5. Millennium Park Chiropractic

155 N Michigan Ave (Randolph and Michigan), Chicago, IL
Chiropractor · The Loop · No tips or reviews

MTVMTV: Frank Ocean had a HUGE summer performance at Lollapalooza on 8/4/12. He rocked an audience of more than 60,000 fans who came back to see him after a crazy Chicago storm.

6. Central Park

9.7
59th to 110th St (btwn 5th Ave & Central Park W), New York, NY
Park · Central Park · 1842 tips and reviews

MTVMTV: Your Central Park stroll just got a lot better – The Wanted rocked the stage here on 8/24/11 for GMA’s Summer Concert Series.

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno is one of 2012 Best New Artist Nominees: Road to the VMAs.

7. The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

3000 W Alameda Ave (at Bob Hope Dr.), Burbank, CA
Arts and Entertainment · 29 tips and reviews

MTVMTV: Not only did The Wanted kill their performance here on 3/20/11 but they brought some of the audience members on stage to sing with them. Bet they were glad they came. (See what we did there?)

8. Palms Casino Resort

7.8
4321 W Flamingo Rd (at Wynn Rd), Las Vegas, NV
Casino · 187 tips and reviews

MTVMTV: During The Wanted’s 2012 mtvU Spring Break performance, they showered screaming fans with a few bottles of champagne! In other words: Vegas-appropriate.

The Ellen DeGeneres Show is one of 2012 Best New Artist Nominees: Road to the VMAs.

9. The Ellen DeGeneres Show

8.2
4301 W Olive Ave. (at Hood Ave.), Burbank, CA
Comedy Club · 336 tips and reviews

MTVMTV: The Wanted made their American television debut here on 1/9/12 and even brought Ellen on stage during their performance to serenade her!

MGM Grand Hotel & Casino is one of 2012 Best New Artist Nominees: Road to the VMAs.

10. MGM Grand Hotel & Casino

8.8
3799 Las Vegas Blvd S (at E Tropicana Ave), Las Vegas, NV
Hotel · 314 tips and reviews

MTVMTV: The Wanted’s 2012 Billboard Music Awards performance made us glad we watched. One of our favorite live performances of “Glad You Came!"

11. Canadian College of Performing Arts

1701 Elgin Road, Oak Bay, BC
College and University · 3 tips and reviews

MTVMTV: Believe it or not, you're in the company of Ms. “Call Me Maybe” herself. Yep — Carly Rae Jepsen attended this university, too! You just got a little cooler.

The Ellen DeGeneres Show is one of 2012 Best New Artist Nominees: Road to the VMAs.

12. The Ellen DeGeneres Show

8.2
4301 W Olive Ave. (at Hood Ave.), Burbank, CA
Comedy Club · 336 tips and reviews

MTVMTV: The first time the world saw a live U.S. TV performance of “Call Me Maybe” was right here on Ellen!

CityWalk Plaza Stage is one of 2012 Best New Artist Nominees: Road to the VMAs.

13. CityWalk Plaza Stage

6.6
6000 Universal Blvd (at Universal CityWalk), Orlando, FL
Performing Arts Venue · 7 tips and reviews

MTVMTV: Not only did Carly Rae Jepsen tear up the stage here for a group of screaming kids on 4/14/12 but she did it in style…cute suspenders for the win!

Gibson Amphitheatre is one of 2012 Best New Artist Nominees: Road to the VMAs.

14. Gibson Amphitheatre

100 Universal City Plz, Universal City, CA
Concert Hall · 65 tips and reviews

MTVMTV: Carly Rae Jepsen rocked the Kid’s Choice Awards right here in 2012!

MGM Grand Hotel & Casino is one of 2012 Best New Artist Nominees: Road to the VMAs.

15. MGM Grand Hotel & Casino

8.8
3799 Las Vegas Blvd S (at E Tropicana Ave), Las Vegas, NV
Hotel · 314 tips and reviews

MTVMTV: After “Call Me Maybe” dominated the charts for weeks, it only made sense for her first U.S. awards show performance to be at the 2012 Billboard Music Awards, right here in lovely Las Vegas!

Brophy College Preparatory is one of 2012 Best New Artist Nominees: Road to the VMAs.

16. Brophy College Preparatory

4701 N Central Ave (at Highland Ave), Phoenix, AZ
High School · 5 tips and reviews

MTVMTV: fun.’s front man, Nate Ruess, attended this school too. (You should feel a little cooler now.)

17. Gibson Amphitheatre

100 Universal City Plz, Universal City, CA
Concert Hall · 65 tips and reviews

MTVMTV: fun. + Janelle Monae + the 2012 summer anthem = one hell of an MTV Movie Awards performance in 2012. Missed it? We got your back on mtv.com!

Palms Casino Resort is one of 2012 Best New Artist Nominees: Road to the VMAs.

18. Palms Casino Resort

7.8
4321 W Flamingo Rd (at Wynn Rd), Las Vegas, NV
Casino · 187 tips and reviews

MTVMTV: fun.’s 2012 mtvU Spring Break performance is one I’ll dream about forever. They shut down the stage — big league move.

19. Millennium Park Chiropractic

155 N Michigan Ave (Randolph and Michigan), Chicago, IL
Chiropractor · The Loop · No tips or reviews

MTVMTV: It made perfect since for fun. to perform here at Lolla in 2012, when their anthem "We Are Young" ruled the summer!

Barker Hangar is one of 2012 Best New Artist Nominees: Road to the VMAs.

20. Barker Hangar

3021 Airport Ave (Bundy), Santa Monica, CA
Event Space · 14 tips and reviews

MTVMTV: The 2012 Do Something Awards here at Barker Hanger saw fun.'s first live performance with our friends at VH1!

J&R is one of 2012 Best New Artist Nominees: Road to the VMAs.

21. J&R

1 Park Row (at Ann St.), New York, NY
Electronics Store · Financial District · 72 tips and reviews

MTVMTV: Yeah, the One Direction guys were here for a meet & greet/CD signing. Scream if you want, we'll still think you're cool.

Galen Center (GEC) is one of 2012 Best New Artist Nominees: Road to the VMAs.

22. Galen Center (GEC)

3400 S Figueroa St (at W Jefferson Blvd.), Los Angeles, CA
College Basketball Court · South LA · 21 tips and reviews

MTVMTV: One Direction killed it here at the 2012 Kid’s Choice Awards show. Still drooling over that performance.

Rockefeller Plaza is one of 2012 Best New Artist Nominees: Road to the VMAs.

23. Rockefeller Plaza

9.2
1 Rockefeller Plz (btwn W 49th & W 50th St), New York, NY
Plaza · Rockefeller Center · 28 tips and reviews

MTVMTV: One Direction shut down the streets of New York with a Today Show mini-concert here. We may or may not have been among the screaming, poster-waving superfans.

Mall of America is one of 2012 Best New Artist Nominees: Road to the VMAs.

24. Mall of America

8.3
60 E Broadway (btwn Lindau Ln & Killebrew Dr), Bloomington, MN
Shopping Mall · East Bloomington · 417 tips and reviews

MTVMTV: So, One Direction was here for a meet & greet/CD signing, and yes, that's what makes you beautiful.

Studio 8H - Saturday Night Live is one of 2012 Best New Artist Nominees: Road to the VMAs.

25. Studio 8H - Saturday Night Live

8.6
30 Rockefeller Plz (at 6th Ave), New York, NY
Film Studio · Rockefeller Center · 31 tips and reviews

MTVMTV: One Direction performed on SNL in 2012, and even showed off their acting skills in the hilarious skit, "The Manuel Ortez Show.”