1993 MTV Video Music Awards

Background

MTV announced in late June that the 1993 Video Music Awards would be held on September 2 at the Universal Amphitheatre. MTV cited complaints from members of the music industry concerning staging, traffic problems, and overcrowding during the 1992 ceremony as reasons for not returning to the Pauley Pavilion. Nominees were announced at a press conference held on July 21. Christian Slater was announced as host on the same day. Over 25 television programs contributed to the nominations packages, which were inspired by U2's Zoo TV Tour, including Roseanne, Jeopardy!, and Murder, She Wrote. The venue was modified to permit scenery and set changes for performers including doubling the width of the proscenium and replacing the back wall with a video projection screen. Producer Joel Gallen noted that the ceremony would "definitely have more of a sense of humor than past shows." The ceremony broadcast was preceded by the 1993 MTV Video Music Awards Opening Act. Hosted by Kurt Loder and Tabitha Soren with reports from Cindy Crawford, John Norris, and Alison Stewart, the broadcast featured red carpet interviews, pre-taped interviews with Mariah Carey and Soul Asylum, and pre-taped features on a day with Lenny Kravitz and the Video of the Year nominees.

Performances

Presenters

• Michael Richards – presented Best Alternative Video
• Dr. Dre, Snoop Doggy Dogg and George Clinton – presented Best R&B Video
• Kennedy and John Norris – appeared in a backstage vignette about Viewer's Choice voting
• Peter Gabriel and Natalie Merchant – presented Best Group Video
• Lyle Lovett and Arrested Development – presented Best New Artist in a Video
• Dan Cortese, Bill Bellamy and Steven Tyler – appeared in a backstage vignette about Viewer's Choice voting
• Christian Slater (host) – introduced the winners of previously announced categories
• Shaquille O'Neal and Cindy Crawford – presented Best Dance Video
• Martin Lawrence – presented Best Rap Video
• Beavis and Butt-head – presented Best Metal/Hard Rock Video
• John Walsh – appeared in a video vignette about Viewer's Choice voting
• VJs Sophiya Haque (Asia), Simone Angel (Europe), Daisy Fuentes (Internacional) and Gastão Moreira (Brasil) – announced their respective region's Viewer's Choice winner
• Milton Berle and RuPaul – presented Viewer's Choice
• Sharon Stone – presented Best Direction in a Video
• Whoopi Goldberg – introduced The Edge
• Keanu Reeves – presented Best Female Video and Best Male Video
• Tony Bennett and the Red Hot Chili Peppers (Anthony Kiedis and Flea) – presented Video of the Year
• Heather DeLoach (as "Bee Girl") – tap-danced for the audience during the show's closing

Winners and nominations

Nominees were selected by approximately 200 individuals representing record labels, music journalism, music video production, radio, and film studios. Winners in all categories, except for the Viewer's Choice awards, were selected by over 700 members of the music industry.

Winners are in bold text.

Artists with multiple wins and nominations

References

References

1. "RuPaul and Milton Berle dress each other down".
2. (July 1, 1993). "MTV Video Music Awards return to amphitheatre". [[Montgomery Advertiser]].
3. Cerone, Daniel. (September 2, 1993). "Bash Puts the Rock in Raucous". [[The Los Angeles Times]].
4. (July 22, 1993). "En Vogue snags 7 MTV nominations". Enterprise-Journal.
5. Cerone, Daniel. (September 2, 1993). "AWARDS: Show Moves Back to Universal Venue". [[The Los Angeles Times]].
6. (October 15, 2020). "Heather DeLoach Knows She Will Forever Be Known as the "Bee Girl"".
7. (July 22, 1993). "En Vogue, R.E.M. top MTV video nominee list". [[Lincoln Journal Star]].
8. Sandler, Adam. (July 22, 1993). "MTV vid awards come into Vogue – Entertainment News, Music News, Media – Variety".