Ariana Grande named first performer at VMAs

Ariana Grande has more-or-less become the official performer of MTV, as the last week has found the pop star teaming up with the network for a number of co-promotional campaigns. The most recent was when the "Problem" singer was named the first performer of the August 24 Video Music Awards.

The announcement came from Grande when she appeared on a revitalization of MTV's once immensely popular TRL programming, except it was retitled "Total Ariana Live" to meld to its guest star. The vocalist debuted "Break Free," a new single from her forthcoming album My Everything, for the first time, and announced that she would be playing the track for the first time at the VMA's. The track also became available on iTunes July 3, the day following her TRL performance.

And last but not least, My Everything will drop the day after the VMA's, less than coincidentally we're sure.

"Break Free" features production from Zedd. Much like the first single on the album, aforementioned "Problem," this single features Grande lamenting time devoted to a boyfriend that just wasn't worth it. This one serves as much more the club jam however, again, thanks to Zedd's EDM-background pitching in.

The VMA's tend to be the most talked-about live performances of the year-outside of the Super Bowl-thanks to what seems to be a one-up battle for attention between the big names that take the stage. So expect a boatload of other performers to be named as we approach the event. Grande performed at last year's event during the pre-show outside of the Barclays Center, playing her tracks "Baby I" and "The Way." This year's event will go down at the Forum in Inglewood outside of Los Angeles.

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Ariana Grande