Katy Perry and Adele garnered the most nominations Wednesday night for the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards while Lady Gaga, who took home eight awards last year, got only three nominations this time around.

Ms. Perry, 26, whose pop compositions have a playful, almost childlike quality, got nine nominations. She has had an extraordinary year with a string of hits “California Gurls,” “Teenage Dream,” “Firework,” and “E.T.” Her “Firework” video, in which at one point fireworks shoot from her bosom, was nominated for video of the year and best female video.

Lady Gaga & Katy Perry

But it was her “E.T.” video, a dramatization of her song about a sex fantasy involving an alien, that got the most nominations: best collaboration, best art direction, best editing, best sfx.

Adele, the young soul singer from Britain, racked up seven nominations for her video of her hit song, “Rolling in the Deep,” a heartfelt wail about lost love that spent weeks on top of the charts.

On the male side, Kanye West received seven nominations for his collaboration with Ms. Perry on “E.T.” as well as his own music videos for “All of the Lights” and “Power.” Bruno Mars, the singer-songwriter, earned four nominations for his hit “Grenade,” including best video.

There was one newcomer in the best video category: Tyler, The Creator, the rap artist who is the main creative force in the Los Angeles group Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All.

He was nominated for both best video and best new artist for his music video “Yonkers,” a depressing rant shot in black and white during which he eats a bug, throws up, threatens to stab Bruno Mars, and then hangs himself.

Despite months of hype Lady Gaga did not receive a nod in the best video category for her “Born This Way” video, which begins with her reciting a warped genesis myth full of puns then segues into a self-affirming dance song.

But she was nominated for best female video, along with Beyoncé and Nicki Minaj. Her video “Judas” was also nominated for art direction and choreography. She was the big winner last year; among her eight awards was the one for best video for “Bad Romance.”