MOVE over One Direction, there's an old boy band back in town.

Justin Timberlake reunited with his 'N Sync band mates at yesterday's MTV Video Music Awards, performing a short compilation of the group's hits Bye Bye Bye and Girlfriend before accepting the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.

With three awards each, the biggest winners of the night were Timberlake and hip-hop duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, who took home the Best Video With a Social Message Award for their marriage equality anthem Same Love.

"I am covered in goose bumps," Macklemore told fans backstage on the awards show's live "thank you cam".

The 30th annual awards were held in Brooklyn in New York City for the first time.

Elusive French dance duo Daft Punk made an appearance in black suits and their trademark helmets but did not perform, instead opting to preview the new clip for their latest single Lose Yourself to Dance.

Instead, a white-robe clad Lady Gaga opened the night with her new single Applause, while new dad Kanye West performed his song Blood on the Leaves and Katy Perry closed the night by performing her new hit Roar from a purpose-built stage under the Brooklyn Bridge.

But Miley Cyrus took home the shock award of the night for her raunchy performance with Blurred Lines singer Robin Thicke during which the former Disney star stripped down to a nude bra-and-panty set.

Her gyrating moves with a large foam finger certainly had punters talking on social media.

Aussie rapper Iggy Azalea, who was nominated for Artists to Watch, missed out on an award but represented the country on the red carpet alongside sister-duo Nervo.

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The winners