What do Chumbawamba, Tasmin Archer, Cherry Poppin’ Daddies, B2K, Meredith Brooks, Gerardo, Timbuk3, and Nikka Costa have in common? They were all nominated for Best New Artist at the MTV Video Music Awards. And now they’re long forgotten.
To be fair, a number of artists who went on to become superstars have also been nominated over the years, including Coldplay, Pink, Kanye West, Taylor Swift, Madonna, Whitney Houston, Green Day and Lenny Kravitz.
Of course, those artists all lost the award. Meanwhile, acts like Avenged Sevenfold, Tokio Hotel, Natalie Imbruglia, Michael Penn and Jesus Jones have actually taken home the VMAs Best New Artist trophy.
It’s hard to make sense of all that. But the VMAs have never had the best track record of predicting future stars.
Best New Artist was also the award that Fiona Apple won when she gave her infamous “This world is bullsh–” speech.
Best New Artist Winners and Nominees in MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) History
Here’s the rundown of nominees and winners throughout the VMAs’ 40+ year history. Winners are shown in bold.
Note that for most of its history, the award was called “Best New Artist in a Video,” and artists were nominated for specific videos. Since 2016, the nomination goes to the artist themselves and their entire body of work.
2026: Winner tbd
Bella Kay
Cortiss
Magnus Ferrell
Malcolm Todd
Stella Lefty
Myles Smith
Sienna Spiro
2025: Alex Warren
Ella Langley
The Marias
Gigi Perez
Sombr
Lola Young
2024: Chappell Roan
Gracie Abrams
Benson Boone
Shaboozey
Teddy Swims
Tyla
2023: Ice Spice
GloRilla
Kaliii
PinkPantheress
Peso Pluma
Renee Rapp
2022: Dove Cameron
Baby Keem
Gayle
Latto
Maneskin
Seventeen
2021: Olivia Rodrigo
24kGoldn
Giveon
Polo G
The Kid Laroi
Saweetie
2020: Doja Cat
Lewis Capaldi
Jack Harlow
Tate McRae
Roddy Ricch
Yungblud
2019: Billie Eilish
H.E.R.
Lil Nas X
Lizzo (runner-up)
Ava Max
Rosalia
2018: Cardi B
Bazzi
Chloe x Halle
Hayley Kiyoko (runner-up)
Lil Pump
Lil Uzi Vert
2017: Khalid
Noah Cyrus
Kodak Black
Julia Michaels (runner-up)
SZA
Young M.A
2016: DNCE
Desiigner
Zara Larsson
Lukas Graham
Bryson Tiller (runner-up)
2015: Fetty Wap, Trap Queen
James Bay, Hold Back the River
George Ezra, Budapest
FKA Twigs, Pendulum
Vance Joy, Riptide
2014: Fifth Harmony, Miss Movin’ On
5 Seconds of Summer, She Looks So Perfect
Charli XCX, Boom Clap
Schoolboy Q, Man of the Year
Sam Smith, Stay With Me
2013: Austin Mahone, What About Love
Iggy Azalea, Work
Twenty One Pilots, Holding On to You
The Weeknd, Wicked Games
Zedd, Clarity
2012: One Direction, What Makes You Beautiful
fun., We Are Young
Carly Rae Jepsen, Call Me Maybe
Frank Ocean, Swim Good
The Wanted, Glad You Came
2011: Tyler the Creator, Yonkers
Big Sean, My Last
Foster the People, Pumped Up Kicks
Wiz Khalifa, Black and Yellow
Kreayshawn, Gucci Gucci
2010: Justin Bieber, Baby
Broken Bells, The Ghost Inside
Jason Derulo, In My Head
Kesha, Tik Tok
Nicki Minaj, Massive Attack
2009: Lady Gaga, Poker Face
3OH!3, Don’t Trust Me
Drake, Best I Ever Had
Kid Cudi, Day n Nite
Asher Roth, I Love College
2008: Tokio Hotel, Ready Set Go!
Miley Cyrus, 7 Things
Katy Perry, I Kissed a Girl
Jordin Sparks, No Air
Taylor Swift, Teardrops on My Guitar
2007: Gym Class Heroes
Lily Allen
Peter Bjorn and John
Carrie Underwood
Amy Winehouse
2006: Avenged Sevenfold, Bat Country
Angles & Airwaves, The Adventure
James Blunt, You’re Beautiful
Chris Brown, Run It!
Panic! at the Disco, I Write Sins Not Tragedies
Rihanna, SOS
2005: The Killers, Mr. Brightside
Ciara, 1 2 Step
The Game, Dreams
John Legend, Ordinary People
My Chemical Romance, Helena
2004: This Love, Maroon 5
The Darkness, I Believe in a Thing Called Love
Jet, Are You Gonna Be My Girl
JoJo, Leave (Get Out)
Kanye West, All Falls Down
Yellowcard, Ocean Avenue
2003: 50 Cent, In da Club
All-American Rejects, Swing Swing
Kelly Clarkson, Miss Independent
Evanescence, Bring Me to Life
Sean Paul, Get Busy
Simple Plan, Addicted
2002: Avril Lavigne, Complicated
Ashanti, Foolish
B2K, Uh Huh
John Mayer, No Such Thing
Puddle of Mudd, Blurry
2001: Alicia Keys, Fallin’
Coldplay, Yellow
Nikka Costa, Like a Feather
David Gray, Babylon
Sum 41, Fat Lip
2000: Macy Gray, I Try
Christina Aguilera, What a Girl Wants
Papa Roach, Last Resort
Pink, There You Go
Sisqo, Thong Song
1999: My Name Is, Eminem
Kid Rock, Bawitdaba
Jennifer Lopez, If You Had My Love
Orgy, Blue Monday
1998: Natalie Imbruglia, Torn
Cherry Poppin Daddies, Zoot Suit Riot
Chumbawamba, Tubthumping
Fastball, The Way
Mase, Feel So Good
1997: Fiona Apple, Sleep to Dream
Meredith Brooks, Bitch
Hanson, MMMBop
Jamiroquai, Virtual Insanity
Wallflowers, One Headlight
1996: Alanis Morissette, Ironic
Tracy Bonham, Mother Mother
Garbage, Stupid Girl
Jewel, Who Will Save Your Soul
1995: Hootie & the Blowfish, Hold My Hand
Jeff Buckley, Last Goodbye
Des’ree, You Gotta Be
Filter, Hey Man Nice Shot
Portishead, Sour Times
1994: Counting Crows, Mr. Jones
Beck, Loser
Bjork, Human Behaviour
Green Day, Longview
Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories, Stay
Me’Shell NdegeOcello, If That’s Your Boyfriend
1993: Stone Temple Pilots, Plush
Tasmin Archer, Sleeping Satellite
Belly, Feed the Tree
Porno for Pyros, Pets
1992: Nirvana, Smells Like Teen Spirit
Tori Amos, Silent All These Years
Arrested Development, Tennessee
Cracker, Teen Angst
1991: Jesus Jones, Right Here Right Now
C&C Music Factory, Gonna Make You Sweat
Deee-Lite, Groove is in the Heart
Gerardo, Rico Suave
Seal, Crazy
1990: Michael Penn, No Myth
Bell Biv DeVoe, Poison
Black Crowes, Jealous Again
Jane Child, Don’t Wanna Fall in Love
Lenny Kravitz, Let Love Rule
Alannah Myles, Black Velvet
Lisa Stansfield, All Around the World
1989: Living Colour, Cult of Personality
Paula Abdul, Straight Up
Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, What I Am
Neneh Cherry, Buffalo Stance
1988: Guns N Roses, Welcome to the Jungle
Godfathers, Birth School Work Death
Buster Poindexter, Hot Hot Hot
Swing Out Sister, Breakout
Jody Watley, Some Kind of Lover
1987: Crowded House, Don’t Dream It’s Over
Robert Cray, Smoking Gun
Georgia Satellites, Keep Your Hands to Yourself
Bruce Hornsby & the Range, The Way It Is
Timbuk3, The Future’s So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades
1986: a-ha, Take on Me
Hooters, And We Danced
Whitney Houston, How Will I Know
Pet Shop Boys, West End Girls
Simply Red, Holding Back the Years
1985: Til Tuesday, Voices Carry
Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Two Tribes
Julian Lennon, Too Late for Goodbyes
Sade, Smooth Operator
Sheila E., The Glamorous Life
1984: Eurythmics, Sweet Dreams
Cyndi Lauper, Girls Just Want to Have Fun
Cyndi Lauper, Time After Time
Madonna, Borderline
Wang Chung, Dance Hall Days
The award is now determined by fan voting, which means that popularity matters more than anything else. The MTV Video Music Awards are broadcast on MTV and CBS.
Last Updated on August 19, 2026