The 2014 Video Music Awards was Sunday's top cable program with a 4.2 adults 18-49 rating/8.2 million viewers, down from last year's 5.2 adults 18-49 rating/10.1 million viewers. Your predictions were too optimistic.
Very low ratings! Beyonce made one hell of a show but huge mistake from MTV on relying all on her to attract viewers. I think the only star you could rely on that way was Britney in 2008, but there was a hugeeee media circus around her at the time.