MTV Video Music Award for Best Alternative Video
Annual music video award
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The MTV Video Music Award for Best Alternative (also known as Best Alternative Music Video) was first given out at the 1991 MTV Video Music Awards. Prior to being called Best Alternative Video, it was known as Best Post-Modern Video in 1989 and 1990.
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| MTV Video Music Award for Best Alternative | |
|---|---|
Sombr is the most recent recipient for Back to Friends | |
| Awarded for | Alternative rock music videos |
| Country | United States |
| Presented by | MTV |
| First award | 1991 |
| Currently held by | Sombr – "Back to Friends" (2025) |
| Most awards | Nirvana (3) |
| Most nominations | (4 each) |
| Website | VMA website |
After the 1998 ceremony, this award was eliminated, and it was not presented until over two decades later, when it was brought back for the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards, under the name Best Alternative. During its discontinuation, artists and videos who would have normally been eligible for this award became eligible for other genre categories, including Best Rock Video.
Nirvana is the biggest winner of this award, winning all three of their consecutive bids for the Moonman from 1992 to 1994. Imagine Dragons and MGK have the most nominations with four each.
Recipients
1990s
| Year[a] | Winner(s) | Video | Nominees | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Jane's Addiction | "Been Caught Stealing" |
|
[1] |
| 1992 | Nirvana | "Smells Like Teen Spirit" |
|
[2] |
| 1993 | Nirvana | "In Bloom" |
|
[3] |
| 1994 | Nirvana | "Heart-Shaped Box" | [4] | |
| 1995 | Weezer | "Buddy Holly" | [5] | |
| 1996 | The Smashing Pumpkins | "1979" |
|
[6] |
| 1997 | Sublime | "What I Got" |
|
[7] |
| 1998 | Green Day | "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" |
|
[8] |
| 1999 | N/a | |||