Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award


The Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award is a special award of merit given to recording artists and music video directors at the MTV Video Music Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1984. It is presented by MTV for "outstanding contributions" and "profound impact" on music video and popular culture. As the ceremony's special category, the trophy is a gold-plated "moonman" rather than the silver ones of the other VMA categories. The Beatles and director Richard Lester were honored with the Video Vanguard Award at the inaugural VMAs for "essentially inventing the music video." 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. Several authors documented that it was Jackson's lawyer John Branca who approached MTV with the idea, following Jackson's complaint of Madonna receiving MTV's Artist of the Decade award. Later that year, in MTV's 10th anniversary short film, Madonna responded, "I never asked you to name an award after me, did I?" Axl Rose of Guns N' Roses, the 1992 honorees, also rejected the Jackson association in his acceptance speech, declaring "This has nothing to do with Michael Jackson. Thank you." The Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award was last presented at the 2001 VMAs. 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." This naming again caused controversy after the release of Leaving Neverland, a documentary about alleged child sexual abuse by Jackson. Since its inception, the Video Vanguard Award has been awarded to 34 acts, with most of them being of American or British origin, except Russell Mulcahy, Zbigniew Rybczyński, U2 and Rihanna. Out of all the winners, nine acts have also won the VMAs' biggest prize Video of the Year, including Peter Gabriel and Justin Timberlake, who both earned the two awards in the same night. Since 2013 recipients are invited to perform a medley of hits leading up to their acceptance speech.

Recipients

YearImageRecipientNationalityNotes
1984United KingdomPresented by the Police members Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland. The Beatles and Richard Lester, director of A Hard Day's Night and Help!, were honored for "essentially inventing the music video."
1984United StatesPresented by the Police members Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland. The Beatles and Richard Lester, director of A Hard Day's Night and Help!, were honored for "essentially inventing the music video."
1984United KingdomPresented by Herbie Hancock
1985United KingdomPresented by Chrissie Hynde. Byrne was honored for his work with Talking Heads.
1985AustraliaPresented by John Taylor and Andy Taylor. Mulcahy was the director of the Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star", the first video played on MTV.
1985United KingdomPresented by Herbie Hancock
1986 *United StatesPresented 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.
1986PolandPresented by Pet Shop Boys
1987 *United KingdomPresented by Laurie Anderson. Gabriel also won the Video of the Year for "Sledgehammer" on the same night.
1987United KingdomPresented by David Bowie
1988United StatesPresented by Peter Gabriel. Jackson was the first black artist to receive the honor.
1989United KingdomPresented by Madonna
1990United StatesPresented by Magic Johnson. Jackson remains the youngest person to receive the honor at 24 years old.
1991United StatesPresented by Arsenio Hall. The honor was renamed to the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.
1991United StatesPresented by Arsenio Hall. The honor was renamed to the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.
1992United StatesPresented by Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor
1994United KingdomPresented by Jann Wenner. Given as the Lifetime Achievement Award.
1994United StatesPresented by Billy Corgan
1995 *United StatesPresented by Drew Barrymore. R.E.M. previously won the Video of the Year for "Losing My Religion" in 1991.
1997United StatesPresented by Mariah Carey. LL Cool J became the first rapper to receive the honor.
1997United StatesPresented by Janet Jackson
1998United StatesPresented by Chuck D
2000United StatesPresented by Chris Rock and Lance Crouther
2001IrelandPresented by Carson Daly
2003United KingdomPresented by Kelly Osbourne and Avril Lavigne. Given as the Lifetime Achievement Award.
2006United StatesPresented by Kanye West. Given as the Video Vanguard Award.
2011 *United StatesPresented 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.
2013 *United StatesPresented by Jimmy Fallon. Timberlake also won the Video of the Year for "Mirrors" on the same night.
2014 *United StatesPresented 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.
2015United StatesPresented by Taylor Swift
2016 *BarbadosPresented by Drake. Rihanna previously won the Video of the Year twice, for "Umbrella" in 2007 and "We Found Love" in 2012.
2017 *United StatesPresented by Ellen DeGeneres. Pink previously won the Video of the Year for "Lady Marmalade" in 2001.
2018United StatesPresented by Shawn Mendes. Lopez became the first Latin artist to receive the honor.
2019 *United StatesPresented by Cardi B. Elliott previously won the Video of the Year for "Work It" in 2003.

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