The MTV Video Music Awards were established in 1984 by MTV to celebrate the top music videos of the year. Originally beginning as an alternative to the Grammy Awards, the MTV Video Music Awards is now a respected pop culture awards show in its own right.

The statues given to winners of the award are often called "Moon Men" because the statue is of a astronaut on the moon, one of the earliest representations of MTV.

Unlike the Academy Awards, for which the eligiblilty period begins January 1, the eligibility period for the Video Music Awards begins July 1.

The awards are presented annually and broadcast live on MTV.

Award categories

• Best Video of the Year
• Best Male Video
• Best Female Video
• Best Group Video
• Best Rap Video
• Best R&B Video
• Best Hip Hop Video
• Best Dance Video
• Best Rock Video
• Best Pop Video
• Best New Artist
• Best Direction
• Best Choreography
• Best Special Effects
• Best Art Direction
• Best Editing
• Best Cinematography
• MTV2 Award
• Breakthrough Video
• Viewer's Choice

The following awards are in question.

• Best Video from a Film

The following awards are no longer given out.

• Best Concept Video
• Best Stage Performance
• Best Overall Performance
• Best Post-Modern Video
• Best Long Form Video
• Most Experimental Video
• Best Alternative Video
• Best Video Game Soundtrack

External links

• South Beach Magazine Article on MTV's Video Music Awards in Miami, with photos.
• The MTV Video Music Awards Web Site