1994 MTV Video Music Awards

Background

MTV announced in late June that the 1994 Video Music Awards would be held on September 8 at Radio City Music Hall, marking the ceremony's return to New York City for the first time since 1986 and to Radio City for the first time since 1985. Nominees were announced at a press conference held at New York City Hall on July 13. For the first time since the ceremony's inception, MTV chose not to syndicate the ceremony to broadcast television. The ceremony broadcast was preceded by the 1994 MTV Video Music Awards Opening Act. Hosted by Kurt Loder and Tabitha Soren with reports from Cindy Crawford, Juliette Hohnen, and Alison Stewart, the broadcast featured red carpet interviews, pre-taped features on Roseanne's VMA preparations and New York City's music landmarks, a pre-taped interview with Courtney Love, and a remix of New York City hip-hop music produced by Grandmaster Flash.

Performances

Presenters

• Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley – opened the show and welcomed the audience
• Tom Jones – presented Best Female Video
• Coolio and Björk – presented Best Dance Video
• Bill Bellamy, Kennedy and Rudy Giuliani – appeared in a vignette about Viewer's Choice voting procedures
• Adam Sandler and Sandra Bullock – presented Best Video from a Film
• Beavis and Butt-Head – appeared in some pre-commercial break vignettes
• Natalie Merchant and Soundgarden (Chris Cornell and Kim Thayil) – presented Breakthrough Video
• Jann Wenner – presented the Lifetime Achievement Award
• Ed Lover and Doctor Dré – appeared in a vignette about Viewer's Choice voting procedures
• Melissa Etheridge and Brendan Fraser – presented Best New Artist in a Video
• Mark Messier and Daisy Fuentes – presented Best Direction in a Video
• Roseanne (host) – introduced the winners of the professional categories
• Naomi Campbell and Denis Leary – presented Best Metal/Hard Rock Video
• Billy Corgan – presented the Video Vanguard Award
• Public Enemy (Chuck D and Flavor Flav) – presented Best Rap Video
• Fab 5 Freddy and Daisy Fuentes – appeared in a vignette about Viewer's Choice voting procedures
• Ben Stiller and Lisa Loeb – presented Best Group Video
• Sheryl Crow and Stephen Dorff – introduced the International Viewer's Choice Award winners
• VJs Gastão Moreira (Brasil), Kristiane Backer (Europe), Hannah (Japan) and Ruth Infarinato (Latin America) – announced their respective region's Viewer's Choice winner
• Toni Braxton and Tony Bennett – presented Best Alternative Video
• Bill Bellamy and Kennedy – presented the Viewer's Choice Award
• Cindy Crawford and Jon Stewart – presented Best R&B Video
• Queen Latifah – presented Best Male Video
• Krist Novoselic – paid a special tribute to Kurt Cobain
• David Letterman – accompanied Madonna on stage (and also appeared in a pre-commercial vignette with Beavis and Butthead)
• Madonna – presented Video of the Year
• John Goodman, Laurie Metcalf, Michael Fishman, Sara Gilbert, Sarah Chalke, Glenn Quinn, and Johnny Galecki – appeared in a post-credits scene on the Roseanne set commenting on the ceremony and its host

Winners and nominations

Nominees were selected by members of the music industry. Winners in general categories were selected by 500 members of the music industry and, for the first time, 500 MTV viewers. Winners in professional categories were selected by members of the music industry. Winners in the Viewer's Choice categories were selected by viewers, with the U.S. winner chosen via a phone poll conducted in the days prior to and during the ceremony.

Winners are in bold text.

Artists with multiple wins and nominations

References

References

1. Huff, Richard. (July 1, 1994). "We get our MTV back — awards in Apple". [[New York Daily News]].
2. Booth, Philip. (July 14, 1994). "MTV names music award nominees". [[The Tampa Tribune]].
3. Bobbin, Jay. (September 2, 1994). "Roseanne, MTV Awards A Melding of Attitudes". [[Albuquerque Journal]].
4. Deggans, Eric. (September 8, 1994). "Goodbye bland; hello Roseanne". [[Home News Tribune.