The MTV Europe Music Award are awarded in a series of categories, each of which isolate a specific contribution to the recording industry or geographical region.
Firstly awarded in 1994, in its originating idea, was to promote European local artists, become since 2011 an occasion to honor artists not only from the EMEA region. In 1994 MTV acknowledged local European artists by introducing Local Hero award.Billboard, November 28, 1998, page 41 Award was discontinued, but since 1998 there was a process of adding awards to regional musicians, starting with United Kingdom/Ireland, Italy, Germany, and Nordics.Billboard, December 10, 1994, page 41 In 2000 MTV launched awards to French, Spanish, Polish, Dutch. Within the next couple of years, the number of regional award categories systematically increased by adding awards to the musicians from Russia, Romania, Portugal, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Adria (former Yugoslavia: Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Hercegovina), Baltics (Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia), Hungary, Ukraine, Turkey, Greece, Switzerland, Czech Republic and Slovakia.
In 2005 award for best African act has been awarded, which was the first case when European in its name award was granted outside to the artists from geographical Europe. In 2007 awarded Arabic artists, and in 2008 awarded best Israeli act.
Since 2007 viewers were able to select Best European Act from the winners of the regional categories, where Israeli act were included, but African and Arabic musicians were excluded from the category.Why Don't the MTV European Music Awards Support European Music?
In 2011 MTV rebranded the award, and removed European from its name, shortening to MTV EMA only. It was the first year when Best Worldwide Act was granted. Award was given to the artists previously awarded in the regional categories for Best European Act, Best North American Act, Best Latin American Act, Best Africa, Middle East and India Act, Best Asian and Pacific Act.
There are only 3 categories that were awarded in every edition: Best Song, Best New Act, Best Rock.
Current main categories Best Video Best Song Best Artist Best New Act Best Group Best Pop Best Rock Best Hip-Hop Best R&B Best Alternative Best Electronic Best Live Act Best Push Act Best World Stage Performance
Social media categories Biggest Fans Best Look
Special awards Free Your Mind Global Icon Artist's Choice MTV Voice Ultimate Legend Video Visionary Power of Music Best Song with a Social Message Best Collaboration Generation Change
European regional categories Best Baltic Act Best Belgian Act Best Danish Act Best Dutch Act Best Finnish Act Best French Act Best German Act Best Greek Act Best Hungarian Act Best Israeli Act Best Italian Act Best Norwegian Act Best Polish Act Best Portuguese Act Best Romanian Act Best Spanish Act Best Swedish Act Best Swiss Act Best UK & Ireland Act Best Ukrainian Act
Non-European regional categories Best African Act Best Middle East Act Best Australian Act Best Brazilian Act Best Canadian Act Best Indian Act Best Japanese Act Best Korean Act Best Latin America North Act Best Latin America Central Act Best Latin America South Act Best Mainland China & Hong Kong Act Best New Zealander Act Best Southeast Asian Act Best Taiwanese Act Best US Act Best Asian Act
Worldwide categories Best Africa, Middle East and India Act Best Asian Act Best European Act Best Latin American Act Best North American Act Best Worldwide Act
Defunct categories
Best Cover (1994) MTV Amour (1996) MTV Select (1996–1998) Best Hard Rock (2002) Best Nordic Act (1999–2004) Web Award (2001–2003, 2007) Best Album (1998–2008) Best Urban (2007–2009) Best European Act (2008–2012) Best Turkish Act (2007–2009, 2011) Best Dutch & Belgian Act (2004–2010) Best Romanian & Moldovan Act (2007–2009) Best New UK & Ireland Act (2008–2010) Best Czech & Slovak Act (2010–2013) Best Hungarian Act (2007–2013) Best MTV2 UK Act (2003) Best Asia and Pacific Act (2011–2012) Best Male (1994–2006, 2009–2016) Best Female (1994–2006, 2009–2016) Best Adria Act (2005-2017) Best Russian Act (2004-2021)
Timeline Main categories Editions: 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022Best Song Best Video Best Longform Video Best New ActBest Female Best Male Best Artist Best Act Best Act Ever Best Group Best Collaboration Best Rock Best Hard Rock Best Alternative Best Dance/Electronic Best Pop Best Rap/Hip-Hop Best R&B Best Urban Best Live Best Virtual Live Best World Stage Performance Best Metaverse Performance Best Album Best Push Artist On The Rise Artist's Choice Best Cover MTV Amour MTV Select Best Song with a Social Message / Video for Good Best Latin Best K-Pop
Non-music awards Editions: 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022Best Website Biggest Fans Best Look
Honorary awards Editions: 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022Ultimate Legend Global Icon Video Visionary Rock Icon
Awards for contributions to activism Editions: 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022Free Your Mind MTV Voices Power of Music Generation Change
European regional categories Editions: 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022Best European Best European - East Best European - West Best European - Central Best European - South Best UK & Ireland Best German Best Italian Best French Best Polish Best Dutch Best Dutch & Belgian Best Belgian Best Spanish Best Nordic Best Norwegian Best Swedish Best Finnish Best Danish Best Russian Best Romanian Best Romanian & Moldovan Best Portuguese Best Adria Best Baltic Best Hungarian Best Ukrainian Best Turkish Best Israeli Best Greek Best Swiss Best Czech & Slovak
Local Hero Award MTV Select
Non-European regional categories Editions: 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022Best Worldwide Best AMEI/AI Best African Best Arabia/Middle East Best Indian Best North American Best Canadian US Artist About to Go Global Best US Best Latin American Best Brazilian Best Latin America North Best Latin America Central Best Latin America South Best Latin America Caribbean Best Asian & Pacific Best Australia & New Zealand Best Australian Best New Zealander Best Asian Best Japanese Best Korean Best Southeast Asian Best Mainland China&Hong Kong Best Taiwanese Best Greater China
See also List of Grammy Award categories
References