The Washington Post and HuffPost stated that the stature of the ceremony had declined by 2019. HuffPost cited reasons such as a lack of interest (declining attendances and viewership: in 2019 ratings hit an all-time low for the third straight year), lack of musical diversity, lack of celebrity, lack of credibility, and access to music online. The Washington Post states, 'The moment the VMAs ceased to matter might have happened in 2014, when Drake didn't bother appearing to receive his award. Or maybe it was even earlier than that: The Associated Press compared the energy of the VMAs to the scripted reality-TV show Cribs all the way back in 2006'.
MTV has also faced criticism for devoting most of its airtime outside the VMAs to reality shows and dramas, with music videos mainly airing in off-peak graveyard slots to suffice the minimum amount of music programming in the network's carriage agreements.
Radio City Music Hall, site of 12 VMAs, including the firstġ984: At the first MTV Video Music Awards in 1984, Madonna performed her hit ' Like a Virgin' wearing a combination bustier/ wedding gown, including her trademark 'Boy Toy' belt. Cyndi Lauper spoke in ' Exorcist-esque gibberish' to explain the VMA rules right before winning the Best Female video for ' Girls Just Want to Have Fun'.ĭuring the performance, she rolled around on the floor, revealing lace stockings and a garter.
