BTS: DX7 Design Delivers For The 2021 MTV Video Music Awards

The 2021 MTV Video Music Awards celebrated the network's 40th birthday with a mouth-watering marathon of performances from the world's biggest stars. LD Tom Sutherland, of DX7 Design, delivered a design as energizing as a stadium concert with the polish needed on camera for a global broadcast - and we loved every second of it.

It is a massive gig balancing the needs of remote stages, cameras, VR elements, set changes, pyrotechnics, cryogenics, and lasers for performance after performance. Check out below for a complete crew list, full gear list, photo gallery, and more.

All photos by: Stephen Bondio

The 2021 MTV Video Music Awards produced the most performances in VMA's history. Doja Cat, Madonna, Justin Beiber, Olivia Rodrigo, and Kid LAROI all arrive in the opening minutes, and it only gets better from there. Our favorite moment? Without any doubt: Busta Rhymes and all the pyro we could have hoped for. 🔥🔥🔥

FACTS

Broadcast Live from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY
Most VMA Performances in Show History
Performances by Justin Bieber, The Kid LAROI, Olivia Rodrigo, Kacey Musgraves, Twenty One Pilots, Lil Nas X, Jack Harlow, Camila Cabello, Shawn Mendes, Tainy, Doja Cat, Chloe, Normani, Ozuna, Busta Rhymes, Spliff Star, Machine Gun Kelly, Travis Barker, and Global Icon Recipient Foo Fighters
Additional Performances Included Remote Performances by Ed Sheeran, Alicia Keys, and Swae Lee, Pre-Show Performances by Polo G, Kim Petras, and Swedish House Mafia, and Extended Play Stage Performances by Saint Jhn and Latto
Appearances by Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, Hailey Bieber, Cyndi Lauper, Madison Beer, Rita Ora, Billy Porter, Avril Lavigne, Charlie XCX, Leslie Grace, Simone Biles, Conor McGregor, Halle Bailey, Wyclef Jean, Ciara, Fat Joe, Ashanti, Ja Rule, AJ McLean, Lance Bass, Nick Lachey, Billie Eilish, SZA, Tommy Lee, Swizz Beats, David Lee Roth, Megan Fox, and Kourtney Kardashian
Celebrated MTV’s 40th Anniversary
Show Received 38 Million Interactions Across All U.S. Platforms, Beating Out the Super Bowl for the 1st Time
Audiences Have Viewed 1.4 Billion Minutes of Content from the Show Across All Platforms
2021’s Top Telecast in Social Media Buzz
Broadcast Across 13 ViacomCBS Networks: MTV, The CW, MTV2, VH1, BET, BET Her, Nick at Nite, CMT, Comedy Central, Paramount Network, TV Land, Pop TV, and Logo TV, in Addition to Streaming on Paramount+
Top Awards Included Lil Nas X for Video of the Year, Olivia Rodrigo for Song of the Year and Best New Artist, and Justin Bieber for Artist of the Year
BTS, Lil Nas X, and Olivia Rodrigo were the Most Awarded Artists with 3 Wins Each