Michael Jackson
Video Vanguard Award
Awarded forOutstanding contributions and influence on music video and popular culture
CountryUnited States
Presented byMTV
Formerly calledVideo Vanguard Award
Lifetime Achievement Award
First awarded1984
Most recent winner(s)Shakira (2023)
WebsiteVMA website

The Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, also known as the Video Vanguard Award or the Lifetime Achievement Award, is a merit given to recording artists and music video directors at the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), a ceremony that was established in 1984. It is presented by MTV for "outstanding contributions" and "profound impact" on music videos and popular culture.[1][2][3] As the ceremony's special category, the trophy is a gold-plated "moonman" rather than the silver ones of the other VMA categories.[4] The Beatles and director Richard Lester were honored with the Video Vanguard Award at the inaugural VMAs for "essentially inventing the music video."[5] David Bowie also received the award at the same ceremony. Two years later, Madonna became the first female recipient. In 1991, the award was renamed after Michael Jackson, who had previously won the 1988 trophy.

It was presented as the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2003 VMAs to Duran Duran, and in 2006 as the Video Vanguard Award to director Hype Williams. Following Jackson's death, the award returned with his name restored in 2011. According to MTV, his name was attached to the award due to "Jackson's groundbreaking work as a video artist".[6] This naming again caused controversy after the release of Leaving Neverland (2019), a documentary about alleged child sexual abuse by Jackson.[7][8][9] As in previous ceremonies, MTV did not explicitly display Jackson's name on the television broadcast of the 2019 VMAs, although the year's recipient, Missy Elliott, did mention him in her speech,[10] as did Nicki Minaj in her 2022 speech,[11] and MTV issued documents keeping Jackson's name.[12] Shakira is the most recent recipient of the award at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards.[13]

Since its inception, the Video Vanguard Award has been awarded to 35 acts, with most of them being of American or British origin, except Russell Mulcahy (1985, Australian), Zbigniew Rybczyński (1986, Polish), U2 (2001, Irish), Rihanna (2016, Barbadian), Nicki Minaj (2022, Trinidadian), and Shakira (2023, Colombian). Out of all the winners, nine acts have also won the VMAs' biggest prize, Video of the Year,[14][15] including Peter Gabriel and Justin Timberlake, who both earned the two awards in the same night. Since 2013, recipients have been invited to perform a medley of hits leading up to their acceptance speech.[16]

Recipients

Key
* Indicates Video of the Year winners
Year Image Recipient Nationality Notes Ref.
1984 The Beatles United Kingdom Presented by the Police members Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland. The Beatles and Richard Lester, director of A Hard Day's Night (1964) and Help! (1965), were honored for "essentially inventing the music video." [5]
[17]
Richard Lester United States
David Bowie United Kingdom Presented by Herbie Hancock. [17]
1985 David Byrne United Kingdom Presented by Chrissie Hynde. Byrne was honored for his work with Talking Heads. [18]
— Russell Mulcahy Australia Presented by John Taylor and Andy Taylor. Mulcahy was the director of The Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star", the first video played on MTV. [19]
Godley & Creme United Kingdom Presented by Herbie Hancock. [20]
1986 Madonna * United States Presented by Robert Palmer. Madonna became the first woman to receive the honor. She later won the Video of the Year for "Ray of Light" in 1998. [21]
[22]
[23]
Zbigniew Rybczyński Poland Presented by Pet Shop Boys. [24]
1987 Peter Gabriel * United Kingdom Presented by Laurie Anderson. Gabriel also won the Video of the Year for "Sledgehammer" on the same night. [23]
[25]
Julien Temple United Kingdom Presented by David Bowie. [25]
1988 Michael Jackson United States Presented by Peter Gabriel. Jackson was the first African-American artist to receive the honor. [6]
[26]
[27]
1989 George Michael United Kingdom Presented by Madonna. [28]
1990 Janet Jackson United States Presented by Magic Johnson. Jackson remains the youngest person to receive the honor at 24 years old. [26]
[29]
1991 Bon Jovi United States Presented by Arsenio Hall. The honor was renamed the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award. [30]
[31]
Wayne Isham United States
1992 Guns N' Roses United States Presented by Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor. [32]
1993 —
1994 The Rolling Stones United Kingdom Presented by Jann Wenner. Given as the Lifetime Achievement Award. [33]
Tom Petty United States Presented by Billy Corgan. [34]
1995 R.E.M. * United States Presented by Drew Barrymore. R.E.M. previously won the Video of the Year for "Losing My Religion" in 1991. [23]
1996 —
1997 LL Cool J United States Presented by Mariah Carey. LL Cool J became the first hip-hop rapper to receive the honor. [35]
[36]
Mark Romanek United States Presented by Janet Jackson. [35]
1998 Beastie Boys United States Presented by Chuck D. [37]
1999 —
2000 Red Hot Chili Peppers United States Presented by Chris Rock and Lance Crouther [38]
2001 U2 Ireland Presented by Carson Daly. [39]
2002 —
2003 Duran Duran United Kingdom Presented by Kelly Osbourne and Avril Lavigne. Given as the Lifetime Achievement Award. [40]
2004 —
2005 —
2006 — Hype Williams United States Presented by Kanye West. Given as the Video Vanguard Award. [41]
2007 —
2008 —
2009 —
2010 —
2011 Britney Spears * United States Presented by Lady Gaga. The award was renamed again to the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award. Spears previously won the Video of the Year for "Piece of Me" in 2008. [23]
[42]
2012 —
2013 Justin Timberlake * United States Presented by Jimmy Fallon. Timberlake also won the Video of the Year for "Mirrors" on the same night. [16]
2014 Beyoncé * United States Presented by her husband Jay-Z and daughter Blue Ivy Carter. Beyoncé won the Video of the Year twice, for "Single Ladies" in 2009 and "Formation" in 2016. [23]
[43]
2015 Kanye West United States Presented by Taylor Swift. [44]
2016 Rihanna * Barbados Presented by Drake. Rihanna previously won the Video of the Year twice, for "Umbrella" in 2007 and "We Found Love" in 2012. [23]
[45]
2017 P!nk * United States Presented by Ellen DeGeneres. P!nk previously won the Video of the Year for "Lady Marmalade" in 2001. [23]
[46]
2018 Jennifer Lopez United States Presented by Shawn Mendes. Lopez became the first ethnic Latin artist to receive the honor. Lopez was later the recipient of the MTV Generation Award at the 2022 MTV Movie & TV Awards, becoming the first entertainer to receive both honors from MTV. [47]
2019 Missy Elliott * United States Presented by Cardi B. Elliott previously won the Video of the Year for "Work It" in 2003. She became the first female rapper to receive the honor. [23]
[48]
2020 —
2021 —
2022 Nicki Minaj Trinidad and Tobago Presented by members of her fan club "The Barbz". [49]
[50]
[51]
2023 Shakira Colombia Presented by Wyclef Jean. Shakira is the first South American artist to receive the honor. [52]

See also

References

Citations

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  20. ^ Hoye, Levin & Cohn 2001, p. 70
  21. ^ Hoye, Levin & Cohn 2001, p. 80
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  25. ^ a b Hoye, Levin & Cohn 2001, p. 103
  26. ^ a b Ransom, Danielle (August 27, 2019). "Here Are All The Black Artists That Have Been Awarded MTV's Video Vanguard Award". BET. Archived from the original on April 7, 2020. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  27. ^ Halstead & Cadman 2003, p. 94
  28. ^ Rees 1991, p. 16
  29. ^ "That's All Folks!" (PDF). The Network Forty. September 14, 1990. p. 20. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
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  38. ^ Stephens, Britt (August 11, 2018). "Red Hot Chili Peppers, 2000". PopSugar. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  39. ^ Dangelo, Joe (September 7, 2001). "Fatboy Slim, 'NSYNC, 'Lady Marmalade' Gather Most Moonmen". MTV News. Archived from the original on April 7, 2020. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
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  42. ^ Schutte, Lauren (August 28, 2011). "MTV VMAs: Lady Gaga Continues Her Alter Ego Act for Britney Spears Tribute". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 8, 2020. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
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  44. ^ Feeney, Nolan (August 30, 2015). "Taylor Swift Presents Kanye West With Video Vanguard Award". Time. Archived from the original on October 7, 2019. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
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  46. ^ "Pink admits her daughter was 'unimpressed' by her viral self-acceptance VMA speech". ABC News. September 7, 2017. Archived from the original on January 29, 2020. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
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  48. ^ "Missy Elliott's Vanguard Award Speech at the 2019 MTV VMAs: Watch". Billboard. August 26, 2019. Archived from the original on April 8, 2020. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  49. ^ Grein, Paul (August 8, 2022). "Nicki Minaj to Receive Video Vanguard Award and Perform Live at 2022 VMAs". Billboard. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
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Book sources

External links

Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award
MTV Video Music Awards
Michael Jackson
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