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Moonwalk ArchiveIndependent · Est. 2025

MTV

MTV Video Music Awards

Overview

The MTV Video Music Awards belong to the era when Michael Jackson turned the music video into event television. His short films for songs like "Beat It," "Bad," and "Black or White" pushed budgets, choreography, and storytelling far past the norm, and MTV rewarded them across its craft and viewer categories. The network later gave its Video Vanguard Award his name, a rare tribute tying its highest video honor directly to the artist who did the most to make the form matter.

The Record

  1. 1988

    Video Vanguard AwardWon

    for Body of video work

    MTV's Video Vanguard Award was later renamed the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award in his honor.

  2. 1995

    Best Dance VideoWon

    for Scream

    The Janet Jackson duet was among the most expensive music videos ever made; it also won for choreography and art direction.