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The MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist is one of the four original general categories that have been given out since the first annual MTV Video Music Awards in 1984. From then to 2006, the award was named Best New Artist in a Video; in 2007 its name was changed to Best New Artist, as the category underwent a format change to award the artist's body of work for the full year rather than a specific video. For the 2008 ceremony, though, while the award retained its 2007 name, it returned to the format of awarding a specific video rather than the artist's full body of work. This award is often poked fun at as the "Death Award", as it represented the peak of some winners' careers. Four artists who won the award (Eurythmics, Nirvana, Avenged Sevenfold and Gym Class Heroes) were technically ineligible since the winning song did not come off of their respective debut records (which were released in 1981, 1989, 2001 and 2004, respectively). Justin Bieber is the youngest artist so far to win this award or any Video Music Award at the age of 16. Only three artists have won the VMA for Best New Artist and also the Grammy Award for Best New Artist: Alicia Keys, Hootie & The Blowfish and Maroon 5.

Recipients [edit]

1992 awards winners Nirvana.

1998 awards winner Natalie Imbruglia.

1999 award winner Eminem.

2001 award winner Alicia Keys.

2002 award winner Avril Lavigne.

2003 award winner 50 Cent.

2008 awards winners Tokio Hotel.

2009 award winner Lady Gaga.

See also [edit]

• MTV Europe Music Award for Best New Act