Even while MTV no longer broadcasts as many music videos as it once did, the MTV Video Music Awards are still one of the most eagerly awaited musical occasions of the year. Except for below-the-line professional categories like Best Direction and Best Cinematography, the VMAs have been chosen by fans since 2006, while the Grammys are chosen by the experts in the business that make up the Recording Academy. Who are the greatest winners of these honors ever? View the list of historically honored artists by scrolling down.
The drama and spectacle of the show frequently eclipses the actual VMA Moon Person prizes. A large portion of that spectacle originates from performances, such as the iconic provocateur Madonna’s 1984 rendition of “Like a Virgin” while decked up as a bride in a bustier. In 1990, she also sang a legendary rendition of “Vogue” while dressed as Marie Antoinette. In 2003, she gave Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera a passionate kiss on the lips.
Even the hosts have garnered media attention. For example, Diana Ross made news in 1999 when she caressed rapper Lil’ Kim’s nude breast, and Howard Stern did the same in 1992 when he entered the stage dressed as Fartman. A portion of the shenanigans have taken place off-air. For example, in 1989, Mötley Crüe frontman Vince Neil attacked Guns N’ Roses guitarist Izzy Stradlin, and in 1991, Bret Michaels and C.C. DeVille got into a fight as members of Poison.
In hindsight, the winners have shown to be a mixed bag. In retrospect, it seems odd that Michael Jackson’s revolutionary “Thriller” was surpassed in 1984 by The Cars’ “You Might Think,” but other hits endure, such as the most revered music video of all time, Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer,” R.E.M.’s “Losing My Religion,” Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance,” and Beyonce’s “Formation.” View the list of VMA winners below.
Fatboy Slim (9 wins)
With “Praise You,” he won three times, and with “Weapon of Choice,” one of the most awarded videos in VMA history, he won six times.
Ariana Grande (9 wins)
“Problem” (1), “No Tears Left to Cry” (1), “7 Rings” (1), “Boyfriend” (1), “Rain On Me” (3), and “Stuck With U” (1) were the VMAs that she claimed. The Artist of the Year honor was also given to her. Despite receiving three nominations, she has not taken home the coveted Video of the Year title.
Janet Jackson (9 wins)
The renowned pop icon received awards for her videos “Rhythm Nation” (1), “Nasty” (1), “The Pleasure Principle” (1), “Love Will Never Do (Without You)” (1), “If” (1), and “Scream” (3). The Video Vanguard Award was also asserted by her. Despite being nominated twice for Video of the Year, she has not taken home the trophy.
Red Hot Chili Peppers (9 wins)
The rock group received awards for their videos “Dani California” (1), “Give It Away” (2), “Under the Bridge” (1), and “Californication” (2). They also took home the Global Icon Award, the Video Vanguard Award, and the Best Artist Website. Despite having three nominations for Video of the Year, they have not taken home the grand title.
Aerosmith (10 wins)
The rock group has won honors for two of their songs, “Janie’s Got a Gun,” “The Other Side,” “Livin’ on the Edge,” “Cryin’,” “Falling in Love (Is Hard on the Knees),” “Pink,” and “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing.” They were three times nominated for Video of the Year, which they won with “Cryin’.”
BTS (10 wins)
With their videos “Boy with Luv” (1), “On” (3), and “Butter” (2), the K-pop trailblazers took home the awards. They won Best Group four times as well. For Video of the Year, they are not a nominee.
Green Day (11 wins)
For “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” (1), “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” (6), “American Idiot” (1), and “21 Guns” (3), the punk band won. “Boulevard” is one of the most awarded videos in VMA history and won Video of the Year.
R.E.M. (12 wins)
The winning videos were “Orange Crush” (1), “Losing My Religion” (6), and “Everybody Hurts” (4) by the alternative band. the honorary Video Vanguard Award as well. One of the most honored videos in VMA history, “Losing My Religion” took home the Video of the Year award.
Eminem (13 wins)
“My Name Is” (1), “Forgot About Dre” (1), “The Real Slim Shady” (2), “Without Me” (4), “Lose Yourself” (1), “We Made You” (1), “Not Afraid” (2), and “Rap God” (1) were the VMAs that the rapper won. More than any other artist, he has received eight nominations for Video of the Year, winning with “Real Slim Shady” and “Without Me.”
Peter Gabriel (13 wins)
For “Sledgehammer” (9), “Steam” (2), and “Kiss That Frog” (1), he was awarded three VMAs. The Video Vanguard Award was given to him as well. “Sledgehammer” is the most awarded video in the history of these awards, having won Video of the Year.
Lady Gaga (18 wins)
For her videos “Paparazzi” (2), “Poker Face” (1), “Bad Romance” (7), “Telephone” (1), “Born This Way” (2), and “Rain on Me” (3), the iconoclastic pop artist won. In addition, she was given the Artist of the Year and Tricon Awards. “Bad Romance” is the second most awarded video in the history of these awards, having won Video of the Year.
Justin Timberlake (18 wins)
He received awards with NSYNC for the videos “Pop” (4) and “Bye Bye Bye” (3). He won two Video Music Awards for “Cry Me a River,” one for “Rock Your Body,” one for “What Goes Around… Comes Around,” one for “Let Me Talk to You/My Love,” one for “Suit & Tie,” and two for “Mirrors” while performing alone. In addition, he received the Video Vanguard Award, Quadruple Threat of the Year, and Male Artist of the Year. He received five nominations for Video of the Year, which he won with “Mirrors.”
Madonna (20 wins)
Vogue (3), “The Immaculate Collection” (1), “Rain” (2), “Take a Bow” (1), “Ray of Light” (5), “Frozen” (1), “Papa Don’t Preach” (1), and “Beautiful Stranger” (1) were among the videos that won the pop queen’s VMAs. The honorary Video Vanguard Award was also given to her. She received one win for Video of the Year (for “Ray of Light”) out of her four nominations.
Taylor Swift (23 wins)
I Don’t Wanna Live Forever (1), “You Belong with Me” (1), “I Knew You Were Trouble” (1), “Blank Space” (2), “Bad Blood” (2), “I Need to Calm Down” (1), “Me!” (1), “The Man” (1), “All Too Well: The Short Film” (3), and “Anti-Hero” (6) were the songs for which she received VMAs. She has received more Video of the Year awards than any other artist, with her wins coming from the songs “Bad Blood,” “You Need to Calm Down,” “All Too Well,” and “Anti-Hero.”
Beyonce (29 wins)
She was a member of Destiny’s Child and received one VMA for “Survivor” and one for “Say My Name.” She won a VMA for “Apeshit” (2) while she was a part of The Carters. “Crazy in Love” (3), “Naughty Girl” (1), “Check on It” (1), “Beautiful Liar” (1), “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” (3), “Countdown” (1), “Pretty Hurts” (2), “Drunk in Love” (1), “7/11” (1), “Hold Up” (1), “Lemonade” (1), “Formation” (6), and “Brown Skin Girl” (1) were among the accolades she won as a solo performer. The Video Vanguard Award was given to her as well. She won for “Single Ladies” and “Formation,” the latter of which is among the most awarded videos ever, out of seven nominations for Video of the Year.
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