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1998 MTV Video Music Awards

Award ceremony


Award ceremony

FieldValue
name1998 MTV Video Music Awards
imageMTV VMA 1998 logo.svg
dateThursday, September 10, 1998
locationUniversal Amphitheatre, Los Angeles
countryUnited States
hostBen Stiller
most_awardsMadonna (6)
most_nominationsMadonna (9)
networkMTV
producerSalli Frattini
directorBeth McCarthy
previous[1997](1997-mtv-video-music-awards)
mainMTV Video Music Awards
next[1999](1999-mtv-video-music-awards)

The 1998 MTV Video Music Awards aired live on September 10, 1998, honoring the best music videos from June 17, 1997, to June 12, 1998. The show was hosted by Ben Stiller at Gibson Amphitheatre in Los Angeles.

Madonna was the most successful winner and nominee of the night, winning six awards out of a total nine nominations: five (out of eight) for "Ray of Light", including Video of the Year and Best Female Video, and one for "Frozen" (its only nomination). Other than Madonna, only Will Smith and The Prodigy won multiple awards that night, winning two apiece.

With regard to nominations, the two biggest nominees aside from Madonna were alt-rock band Garbage and rapper Will Smith. Smith split his nominations between two videos: "Gettin' Jiggy wit It" (five) and "Just the Two of Us" (one), each of which earned a Moonman. In contrast, Garbage received all eight nominations for "Push It" but went home completely empty-handed at the end of the night.

The mesh dress that actress Rose McGowan wore to the award show was the subject of much media attention following the awards. The dress went on to become one of the most iconic and controversial outfits in the history of the VMA's.

Background

After four consecutive ceremonies in New York City, and after lobbying from the Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Commission and the Entertainment Industry Development Corporation, MTV announced on April 9 that the 1998 Video Music Awards would be held in Los Angeles. Nominees were announced at a press conference hosted by Courtney Love, Mayor Richard Riordan, and MTV president Judy McGrath on July 14. Ben Stiller was announced as the host on August 13. The ceremony broadcast was preceded by the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards Opening Act. Hosted by Kurt Loder and Serena Altschul with reports from Chris Connelly, John Norris, and Rebecca Romijn, the broadcast featured red carpet interviews, pre-taped interviews with Madonna and Hole, a preview of the music video for Madonna's "The Power of Good-Bye," and performances from Usher and Barenaked Ladies.

In the weeks before the awards ceremony, MTV "hacked" its own website intentionally and graffitied the words "JF Was Here" across the page, at the same time that the British hacker JF was under investigation by Scotland Yard for the milw0rm hacktivist attacks. Hundreds of pages hosted on MTV.com sported the new JF logo, including one page that read, "JF was here, greets to milw0rm". MTV later confirmed that the alleged JF "hack" was a publicity stunt to promote the appearance of a commentator named Johnny Fame at their upcoming awards show. Many were puzzled by the apparent hack committed by JF since the hacker was "known for relatively high ethical standards."

Performances

Artist(s)Song(s)Pre-showMain show
Usher"My Way"
Barenaked Ladies"One Week"
Madonna"Shanti/Ashtangi"
"Ray of Light" (featuring Lenny Kravitz)
Pras
Ol' Dirty Bastard
Mýa
Wyclef Jean
Canibus"Gone Till November" (Wyclef Jean and Canibus only)
"Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)"
Hole"Celebrity Skin" (with an excerpt from R.E.M.'s "Pretty Persuasion")
Master P
Fiend
Silkk Tha Shocker
Mystikal
Mia X"Make 'Em Say Uhh!"
Backstreet Boys"Everybody (Backstreet's Back)"
Beastie Boys"Three MC's and One DJ"
"Intergalactic"
Brandy
Monica"The Boy Is Mine"
Dave Matthews Band"Stay (Wasting Time)"
Marilyn Manson"The Dope Show"
Brian Setzer Orchestra"Jump Jive an' Wail"

Presenters

Pre-show

  • Kurt Loder and Serena Altschul – presented the professional categories
  • John Norris and Serena Altschul – presented Best Dance Video and Breakthrough Video

Main show

  • Andy Dick and the Backstreet Boys – appeared in the opening skit
  • Jerry Stiller – made a special appearance during the opening monologue
  • Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey – presented Best Male Video
  • Chris Rock – appeared in a taped vignette discussing "security measures" at the event
  • Rupert Everett and Salma Hayek – presented Best Group Video
  • Tyra Banks – introduced Pras, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Mýa, Wyclef Jean and Canibus
  • Johnny Gomez and Nick Diamond (from Celebrity Deathmatch) – appeared in vignettes about the Viewer's Choice award
  • Sarah Michelle Gellar and Hanson – presented Best New Artist in a Video
  • Rob Thomas – introduced Hole
  • Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan – presented Best Video from a Film
  • Jada Pinkett Smith and Maxwell – presented Best Alternative Video
  • Shaquille O'Neal – introduced Master P
  • Will Smith and Tatyana Ali – presented Best Female Video
  • Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa – introduced the Backstreet Boys
  • Jack Black and Puff Daddy – appeared in a parody skit of FANatic
  • Jennifer Love Hewitt and Mase – presented Best Direction in a Video
  • Sarah McLachlan and Natalie Imbruglia – introduced the International Viewer's Choice Awards winners
  • Tori Amos and Beck – presented Best Rap Video
  • Usher – introduced Brandy and Monica
  • Steven Tyler, Joe Perry and David Spade – presented Viewer's Choice
  • Chuck D – presented the Video Vanguard Award
  • Matt Stone and Trey Parker – introduced the Dave Matthews Band
  • Jennifer Lopez and Mark Wahlberg – presented Best R&B Video
  • Lenny Kravitz and Gwen Stefani – presented Best Rock Video
  • Geri Halliwell – presented Video of the Year
  • Busta Rhymes and the Flipmode Squad – introduced the Brian Setzer Orchestra

Winners and nominees

Winners are in bold text.

Video of the YearBest Male VideoBest Female VideoBest Group VideoBest New Artist in a VideoBest Rock VideoBest R&B VideoBest Rap VideoBest Dance VideoBest Alternative VideoBest Video from a FilmBreakthrough VideoBest Direction in a VideoBest Choreography in a VideoBest Special Effects in a VideoBest Art Direction in a VideoBest Editing in a VideoBest Cinematography in a VideoViewer's ChoiceInternational Viewer's Choice: MTV AsiaInternational Viewer's Choice: MTV AustraliaInternational Viewer's Choice: MTV BrasilInternational Viewer's Choice: MTV IndiaInternational Viewer's Choice: MTV JapanInternational Viewer's Choice: MTV Latin America (North)International Viewer's Choice: MTV Latin America (South)International Viewer's Choice: MTV MandarinMichael Jackson Video Vanguard Award
**Beastie Boys**

Artists with multiple wins and nominations

WinsArtist
6Madonna
2Aerosmith
Molotov
The Prodigy
Will Smith
NominationsArtist
9Madonna
8Garbage
6Will Smith
4Aerosmith
Busta Rhymes
Radiohead
The Prodigy
3Foo Fighters
Natalie Imbruglia
Puff Daddy
The Notorious B.I.G.
The Verve
Wyclef Jean
2Backstreet Boys
Brandy
Celine Dion
Dave Matthews Band
Fiona Apple
Fuzzbubble
Green Day
Illya Kuryaki and the Valderramas
Lil' Kim
Mase
Matchbox 20
Molotov
Monica
Mýa
Ol' Dirty Bastard
Pras
The LOX

References

References

  1. (27 June 2019). "Rose McGowan explains why her 'naked dress' defied Harvey Weinstein". Evening Standard.
  2. (28 January 2020). "10 times celebrities ripped up the red carpet rule book".
  3. (April 10, 1998). "MTV Awards to Be Broadcast From L.A.". [[Los Angeles Times]].
  4. (July 15, 1998). "Garbage trails Madonna in award nominations". [[Chicago Tribune]].
  5. (August 13, 1998). "Ben Stiller to host MTV Video Music Awards". [[Republican Herald]].
  6. (September 9, 1998). "MTV "hack" backfires". CNet.
  7. (September 9, 1998). "MTV Cries 'Hacked!'". Wired.
  8. (September 1998). "AntiOnline's Editorial Coverage Of The MTV Site "Hack" ?". AntiOnline.
  9. "News - Articles - 1425376 - 19980911".
  10. [https://web.archive.org/web/19991012050006/http://www.mtv.com.au/awards/98vma/ausnoms/ausnom.html MTV - Logo Competition]
  11. [http://vmb.mtv.uol.com.br/videos/1998/vmb-1998-escolha-da-audiencia UOL - O melhor conteúdo] {{webarchive. link. (March 31, 2012)
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