MTV Video Music Award – Breakthrough Video

Annual music video award

MTV Video Music Award
for Breakthrough Video

Country| United States
Presented by| MTV
First awarded| 1988
Last awarded| 2010
Currently held by| The Black Keys – "Tighten Up" (2010)
Most awards| R.E.M. & Fatboy Slim (2)
Website| VMA website

The MTV Video Music Award for Breakthrough Video was first awarded in 1988, replacing the award for Most Experimental Video. Along with Best Direction in a Video, this award was considered to be one of the most important professional categories at the VMAs, as every once in a while it was even presented during the main show (unlike most technical awards which were presented during the pre-show).

The award for Breakthrough Video was given out every year from 1988 to 2005, after which it was retired. In 2009, however, MTV decided to bring back this category and continued to present it until 2010, after which it was retired again.

R.E.M. and Fatboy Slim are the two biggest winners of this award, as they each have won it twice. Art of Noise, meanwhile, is the only artist or group to have won this award under its two incarnations: Most Experimental Video in 1985 and Breakthrough Video in 1989.

## Recipients

[edit]

### 1980s

[edit]

Recipients Year[a] | Winner(s)  | Video  | Nominees  | Ref.

|
|
|
|

1988 | INXS | "Need You Tonight" / "Mediate"  |

* George Harrison – "When We Was Fab"
* Squeeze – "Hourglass"
* Suzanne Vega – "Luka"
* XTC – "Dear God"

| [1]
1989 | Art of Noise (featuring Tom Jones) | "Kiss"  |

* Paula Abdul – "Straight Up"
* Elvis Costello – "Veronica"
* The Escape Club – "Wild, Wild West"
* Fine Young Cannibals – "She Drives Me Crazy"
* Michael Jackson – "Leave Me Alone"
* Jody Watley – "Real Love"

| [2]

### 1990s

[edit]

Recipients Year[b] | Winner(s)  | Video  | Nominees  | Ref.

|
|
|
|

1990 | Tears for Fears | "Sowing the Seeds of Love"  |

* Paula Abdul – "Opposites Attract"
* Sinéad O'Connor – "Nothing Compares 2 U"
* Red Hot Chili Peppers – "Higher Ground"

| [3]
1991 | R.E.M. | "Losing My Religion"  |

* Deee-Lite – "Groove Is in the Heart"
* Enigma – "Sadeness (Part I)"
* Seal – "Crazy"

| [4]
1992 | Red Hot Chili Peppers | "Give It Away"  |

* Tori Amos – "Silent All These Years"
* David Byrne – "She's Mad"
* Van Halen – "Right Now"

| [5]
1993 | Los Lobos | "Kiko and the Lavender Moon"  |

* Aerosmith – "Livin' on the Edge"
* Terence Trent D'Arby – "She Kissed Me"
* Green Jellÿ – "Three Little Pigs"
* George Michael – "Killer" / "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone"
* Porno for Pyros – "Pets"

| [6]
1994 | R.E.M. | "Everybody Hurts"  |

* Beastie Boys – "Sabotage"
* Björk – "Human Behaviour"
* Deep Forest – "Sweet Lullaby"
* Nine Inch Nails – "Closer"

| [7]
1995 | Weezer | "Buddy Holly"  |

* Green Day – "Basket Case"
* Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson – "Scream"
* TLC – "Waterfalls"

| [8]
1996 | The Smashing Pumpkins | "Tonight, Tonight"  |

* Björk – "It's Oh So Quiet"
* Busta Rhymes – "Woo Hah!! Got You All in Check"
* Foo Fighters – "Big Me"
* Garbage – "Queer"
* Radiohead – "Just"

| [9]
1997 | Jamiroquai | "Virtual Insanity"  |

* The Chemical Brothers – "Setting Sun"
* Daft Punk – "Da Funk"
* Missy Elliott – "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)"
* Radiohead – "Paranoid Android"

| [10]
1998 | The Prodigy | "Smack My Bitch Up"  |

* Busta Rhymes – "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See"
* Garbage – "Push It"
* Sean Lennon – "Home"
* Madonna – "Ray of Light"
* Roni Size/Reprazent – "Brown Paper Bag"

| [11]
1999 | Fatboy Slim | "Praise You"  |

* Busta Rhymes – "Gimme Some More"
* Eels – "Last Stop: This Town"
* Eminem (featuring Dr. Dre) – "Guilty Conscience"
* Korn – "Freak on a Leash"
* Unkle (featuring Thom Yorke) – "Rabbit in Your Headlights"

| [12]

### 2000s

[edit]

Recipients Year[c] | Winner(s)  | Video  | Nominees  | Ref.

|
|
|
|

2000 | Björk | "All Is Full of Love"  |

* Blur – "Coffee & TV"
* The Chemical Brothers – "Let Forever Be"
* Nine Inch Nails – "Into the Void"
* Supergrass – "Pumping on Your Stereo"

| [13]
2001 | Fatboy Slim | "Weapon of Choice"  |

* Common (featuring Macy Gray) – "Geto Heaven (Remix)"
* Gorillaz – "Clint Eastwood"
* NSYNC – "Pop"
* R.E.M. – "Imitation of Life"
* Robbie Williams – "Rock DJ"

| [14]
2002 | The White Stripes | "Fell in Love with a Girl"  |

* Cake – "Short Skirt/Long Jacket"
* Coldplay – "Trouble"
* The Crystal Method – "Name of the Game"
* DMX – "Who We Be"
* Maxwell – "This Woman's Work"

| [15]
2003 | Coldplay | "The Scientist"  |

* Floetry – "Floetic"
* Kenna – "Freetime"
* Queens of the Stone Age – "Go with the Flow"
* Sum 41 – "The Hell Song"

| [16]
2004 | Franz Ferdinand | "Take Me Out"  |

* Modest Mouse – "Float On"
* New Found Glory – "All Downhill from Here"
* Steriogram – "Walkie Talkie Man"
* Kanye West (featuring Syleena Johnson) – "All Falls Down"
* The White Stripes – "The Hardest Button to Button"

| [17]
2005 | Gorillaz | "Feel Good Inc."  |

* Missy Elliott (featuring Ciara and Fatman Scoop) – "Lose Control"
* Eminem – "Mosh"
* Sarah McLachlan – "World on Fire"
* U2 – "Vertigo"

| [18]
2006 – 2008 | —
2009 | Matt & Kim | "Lessons Learned"  |

* Anjulie – "Boom"
* Bat for Lashes – "Daniel"
* Chairlift – "Evident Utensil"
* Cold War Kids – "I've Seen Enough"
* Death Cab for Cutie – "Grapevine Fires"
* Gnarls Barkley – "Who's Gonna Save My Soul"
* Major Lazer – "Hold the Line"
* Passion Pit – "The Reeling"
* Yeah Yeah Yeahs – "Heads Will Roll"

| [19]

### 2010s

[edit]

Recipients Year[d] | Winner(s)  | Video  | Nominees  | Ref.

|
|
|
|

2010 | The Black Keys | "Tighten Up"  |

* Dan Black – "Symphonies"
* Coldplay – "Strawberry Swing"
* Gorillaz (featuring Bobby Womack and Mos Def) – "Stylo"

| [20]

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Each year is linked to the article about the MTV Video Music Awards held that year.
2. ^ Each year is linked to the article about the MTV Video Music Awards held that year.
3. ^ Each year is linked to the article about the MTV Video Music Awards held that year.
4. ^ Each year is linked to the article about the MTV Video Music Awards held that year.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "MTV Video Music Awards 1988". MTV. Archived from the original on August 21, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
2. ^ "MTV Video Music Awards 1989". MTV. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
3. ^ "MTV Video Music Awards 1990". MTV. Archived from the original on February 19, 2017. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
4. ^ "MTV Video Music Awards 1991". MTV. Archived from the original on October 18, 2015. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
5. ^ "MTV Video Music Awards 1992". MTV. Archived from the original on June 30, 2012. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
6. ^ "MTV Video Music Awards 1993". MTV. Archived from the original on May 4, 2013. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
7. ^ "MTV Video Music Awards 1994". MTV. Archived from the original on May 4, 2015. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
8. ^ "MTV Video Music Awards 1995". MTV. Archived from the original on May 10, 2016. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
9. ^ "MTV Video Music Awards 1996". MTV. Archived from the original on June 12, 2015. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
10. ^ "MTV Video Music Awards 1997". MTV. Archived from the original on October 24, 2012. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
11. ^ "MTV Video Music Awards 1998". MTV. Archived from the original on July 1, 2012. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
12. ^ "MTV Video Music Awards 1999". MTV. Archived from the original on September 12, 2008. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
13. ^ "MTV Video Music Awards 2000". MTV. Archived from the original on March 25, 2016. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
14. ^ "MTV Video Music Awards 2001". MTV. Archived from the original on February 16, 2015. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
15. ^ "MTV Video Music Awards 2002". MTV. Archived from the original on August 11, 2011. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
16. ^ "MTV Video Music Awards 2003". MTV. Archived from the original on April 22, 2015. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
17. ^ "MTV Video Music Awards 2004". MTV. Archived from the original on April 8, 2013. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
18. ^ "MTV Video Music Awards 2005". MTV. Archived from the original on July 29, 2013. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
19. ^ "MTV Video Music Awards 2009". MTV. Archived from the original on February 12, 2015. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
20. ^ "MTV Video Music Awards 2010". MTV. Archived from the original on February 5, 2015. Retrieved July 23, 2012.

* v
* t
* e

MTV Video Music Award – Breakthrough Video

1980s|

* INXS – "Need You Tonight/Mediate" (1988)
* Art of Noise featuring Tom Jones – "Kiss" (1989)

1990s|

* Tears for Fears – "Sowing the Seeds of Love" (1990)
* R.E.M. – "Losing My Religion" (1991)
* Red Hot Chili Peppers – "Give It Away" (1992)
* Los Lobos – "Kiko and the Lavender Moon" (1993)
* R.E.M. – "Everybody Hurts" (1994)
* Weezer – "Buddy Holly" (1995)
* The Smashing Pumpkins – "Tonight, Tonight" (1996)
* Jamiroquai – "Virtual Insanity" (1997)
* The Prodigy – "Smack My Bitch Up" (1998)
* Fatboy Slim – "Praise You" (1999)

2000s|

* Björk – "All Is Full of Love" (2000)
* Fatboy Slim – "Weapon of Choice" (2001)
* The White Stripes – "Fell in Love with a Girl" (2002)
* Coldplay – "The Scientist" (2003)
* Franz Ferdinand – "Take Me Out" (2004)
* Gorillaz – "Feel Good Inc." (2005)
* No Award (2006–2008)
* Matt & Kim – "Lessons Learned" (2009)

2010s|

* The Black Keys – "Tighten Up" (2010)

* v
* t
* e

MTV Video Music Awards

Years|

* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

Awards|

* Video of the Year
* Artist of the Year
* Song of the Year
* Group of the Year
* New Artist
* Pop
* Rock
* R&B
* Hip-Hop
* Alternative
* Latin
* K-Pop
* Afrobeats
* Collaboration
* Direction
* Choreography
* Visual Effects
* Art Direction
* Editing
* Cinematography
* Song of Summer
* Video for Good
* Global Icon Award
* Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award✯

Defunct|

* Album of the Year
* Artist Website
* Breakthrough Video
* Concept Video
* Dance
* Female Video
* International Viewer's Choice Awards
* Latino Artist
* Longform Video
* Lyric Video
* Male Video
* Metaverse Performance
* Monster Single of the Year
* Most Experimental Video
* Most Share-Worthy Video
* MTV2 Award
* Overall Performance
* Performance in a Pepsi Rock Band Video
* Post-Modern Video
* Quadruple Threat of the Year
* Rap Video
* Ringtone of the Year
* Show of the Summer
* Stage Performance
* UK Video
* Video Game Score
* Video Game Soundtrack
* Video from a Film
* Video (That Should Have Won a Moonman)
* Viewer's Choice Award

Key: ✯ Have special significance and are not necessarily awarded annually
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