While Nirvana and Billie Eilish won Best New Artist at the VMAs, Rihanna and Taylor Swift actually lost the award. View ...

Forty years ago, MTV launched what would become a pop culture juggernaut. The first-ever MTV Video Music Awards took over New York City's Radio City Music Hall on Sept. 14, 1984, with Dan Aykroyd ...

It all started with Tina Turner. She was the first artist to sign on to perform at the first MTV Video Music Awards 40 years ago on Sept. 14, 1984. And with her blond mane and black miniskirt, the ...

The first Video Music Awards in 1984 didn't just begin a tradition for MTV, it saved the network's very existence.

And while no one can deny the profound influence MTV has had—on music, fashion, and film—it’s equally hard to defend MTV’s bullying tactics and virtual exclusion of black entertainers.

No one knew quite what to expect at the first MTV Video Music Awards, which was held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on Sept. 14, 1984.

The reporter asked why people would pay money to watch music videos when, at this time, at least, they were playing on MTV 24/7. Watch the video above to see why some people chose the video ...