Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award

The Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award is presented at the MTV Video Music Awards to music performers, recognizing accomplishments in music and film.^[1] The first Vanguard awards were presented in 1984 at the inaugural VMAs, and renamed in 1991 in honor of Michael Jackson. The award is also given to music video directors who have created some of the most acclaimed music videos aired by the network.^[2] Awarded corporately, it is not given annually, and in certain years it was presented under the name Lifetime Achievement Award.

List of recipients

Year	Image	Recipient(s)	Notes	Ref.
1984		David Bowie	Presented by Herbie Hancock. David Bowie worked with Mick Rock to shoot some of the earliest music videos in the 1970s.	[3] [2]
		The Beatles	Presented by Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers of The Police. The Beatles created short films for several of their songs.
		Richard Lester	Lester directed several short films for The Beatles, among them, A Hard Day's Night.
1985		David Byrne	Presented by Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders. Byrne was honored for his work with Talking Heads.	[4]
	–	Russell Mulcahy	Presented by John Taylor and Andy Taylor of Duran Duran and The Power Station. Mulcahy was honored as the director of The Buggles' "Video Killed The Radio Star", the first video played on MTV.
		Kevin Godley & Lol Creme	Godley & Creme were acclaimed music video directors.
1986		Madonna	Presented by Robert Palmer. Madonna achieved popularity by pushing the boundaries of lyrical content in mainstream popular music and imagery in her music videos, which became a fixture on MTV. Her videos have depicted controversial subjects such as teen pregnancy, racism, religion, sex, and violence. She is the first woman to receive this award.	[5]
		Zbigniew Rybczyński	Presented by the Pet Shop Boys. Rybczyński was honored for his work as a filmmaker and music video director.
1987		Peter Gabriel	Presented by Laurie Anderson. Gabriel also won Video of the Year in the same night.	[6]
		Julien Temple	Presented by David Bowie. Temple was honored for his work as a music video director.
1988		Michael Jackson	Presented by Peter Gabriel. Michael Jackson changed the music video from a mere promotional tool featuring musicians playing instruments and singing, to "short films" with a storyline. His video "Thriller" influenced and changed music videos into what it is like today.	[7] [8]
1989		George Michael	Presented by Madonna, honored George Michael for his music videos from Faith.	[9]
1990		Janet Jackson	Her music videos from the 1980s became a catalyst for MTVs developing demographics. Her visuals included Broadway-style choreography and militant iconography, also imbuing her performances with a socially conscious message. She is the first African-American woman to receive this award.	[10]
1991		Bon Jovi & Wayne Isham	Presented by Arsenio Hall. Isham directed several music videos for Bon Jovi. Renamed Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award from this year.	[11]
1992		Guns N' Roses	Presented by Queen members Roger Taylor and Bryan May. The group's frontman Axl Rose finished his acceptance speech by saying "And, oh yeah, this has nothing to do with Michael Jackson. Thank you."	[12] [13]
1994		Tom Petty	Presented by Billy Corgan.	[14]
		The Rolling Stones	Presented by Jann Wenner. Given as Lifetime Achievement Award.
1995		R.E.M.	Presented by Drew Barrymore.	[15]
1997		Mark Romanek	Romanek was honored for his work as a music video director.	[16] [17]
		LL Cool J	Presented by Mariah Carey, LL Cool J became the first rap artist to receive this award.
1998		Beastie Boys	Chuck D of Public Enemy delivered a glowing appraisal of the band before presenting them with the award. Upon receiving the award, Adam Yauch took the opportunity to speak his mind on some political issues, condemning military aggression in the Middle East.	[18]
2000		Red Hot Chili Peppers	Presented by Chris Rock and Lance Crouther.	[19]
2001		U2	Presented by Carson Daly. U2 invited the remaining members of the punk group Ramones to honor the memory of lead singer Joey Ramone, who recently passed away.	[20] [21]
2003		Duran Duran	Given as Lifetime Achievement Award.	[22]
2006	–	Hype Williams	Presented by Kanye West in honor of his work as a music video director.	[23]
2011		Britney Spears	Presented by Lady Gaga, as her male alter ego Jo Calderone. The award was given after a choreographed tribute of Spears' greatest hits.	[24] [25]
2013		Justin Timberlake	Presented by Jimmy Fallon. The award was preceded by a fifteen-minute performance of his greatest hits, including a mini reunion with NSYNC. Timberlake also won Video of the Year in the same night.	[26]
2014		Beyoncé	Presented by her husband Jay-Z and daughter Blue Ivy Carter after a sixteen-minute medley of her self-titled fifth studio album.	[27]
2015		Kanye West	Presented by Taylor Swift. During his acceptance speech, West claimed he would run for president in 2020.	[28]
2016		Rihanna	Presented by Drake after several medley performances during the ceremony.	[29]
2017		Pink	Presented by Ellen DeGeneres after a seven-minute medley of her greatest hits.	[30]
2018		Jennifer Lopez	Presented by Shawn Mendes after a ten-minute medley of her greatest hits. She is the first Latin artist to receive this award.	[31]

See also

• Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award

References

External links

• Official website