The MTV Video Music Awards were devised as an alternative to the Grammys to celebrate music videos and their impact on pop culture. The awards show is one of the most talked-about TV events of the year, with many shocking and controversial things happening at the shows over the years, from Kanye West storming the stage and interrupting Taylor Swift, to Madonna kissing Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. Here are 11 things you never knew about the MTV Video Music Awards.
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Most popular host
The show has had various hosts throughout the years and the person who’s hosted it the most times is Arsenio Hall, who hosted it four times from 1988-1991
2. Least watched show
The least watched show was the 2015 ceremony, which drew in just 5.03 million people. It was hosted by Miley Cyrus and saw Taylor Swift as the night’s big winner, with four awards won.
3. Video of the Year
Eminem and Rihanna are the only artists to have won the Video of the Year award twice. Eminem won it for ‘The Real Slim Shady’ and ‘Without Me’, while Rihanna won it for ‘Umbrella’ and ‘We Found Love’
4. Quadruple threat
The award for Quadruple Threat of the Year was only given out in 2007 and the winner was Justin Timberlake.
5. Most awarded video
Peter Gabriel’s ‘Sledgehammer’ video won a total of 9 awards back in 1987; the next most awarded video is Lady Gaga’s ‘Bad Romance’ video, which won 7 awards in 2010.
6. A long time coming
Britney Spears had received 16 nominations without receiving a single award, until 2008 when she finally walked away with three awards.
7. Celebrating ringtones
In 2006 there was an award for Ringtone of the Year, which went to ‘Where’d You Go’ by Fort Minor ft. Holly Brook
8. The most watched show
The 2011 VMAs remain the most watched show to date, with 12.4 million people tuning in; this was the show when Beyonce announced her pregnancy to the world.
9. The first show
The first VMAs were held back in 1984 and was hosted by Dan Ackroyd and Bette Midler; Herbie Hancock was the show’s biggest winner with five awards, while Michael Jackson walked away with three.
10. New York or California
The show has nearly always been held in New York or California; it has been held outside of the two states only three times, when in 2004 and 2005 it was held in Miami then in 2007 when it was held in Las Vegas.
11. Most awarded artist
The artist who’s received the most VMAs is Madonna, who’s won a total of 20 awards. The last time she won an award was back in 1999.