MTV Video Music Award – Breakthrough Video

Template:Short description Template:Infobox award The MTV Video Music Award for Breakthrough Video was first awarded in 1988, replacing the award for Most Experimental Video. Along with Best Direction in a Video, this award was considered to be one of the most important professional categories at the VMAs, as every once in a while it was even presented during the main show (unlike most technical awards which were presented during the pre-show).

The award for Breakthrough Video was given out every year from 1988 to 2005, after which it was retired. In 2009, however, MTV decided to bring back this category and continued to present it until 2010, after which it was retired again.

R.E.M. and Fatboy Slim are the two biggest winners of this award, as they each have won it twice. Art of Noise, meanwhile, is the only artist or group to have won this award under its two incarnations: Most Experimental Video in 1985 and Breakthrough Video in 1989.

Recipients

1980s

Template:Sronly

YearTemplate:Efn	Winner(s)	Video	Nominees	Template:Abbr
Template:Mtvvma	INXS	"Need You Tonight" / "Mediate"	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name="VMA1988">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Mtvvma	Art of Noise Template:Small	"Kiss"	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name="VMA1989">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

1990s

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YearTemplate:Efn	Winner(s)	Video	Nominees	Template:Abbr
Template:Mtvvma	Tears for Fears	"Sowing the Seeds of Love"	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name="VMA1990">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Mtvvma	R.E.M.	"Losing My Religion"	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name="VMA1991">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Mtvvma	Red Hot Chili Peppers	"Give It Away"	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name="VMA1992">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Mtvvma	Los Lobos	"Kiko and the Lavender Moon"	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name="VMA1993">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Mtvvma	R.E.M.	"Everybody Hurts"	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name="VMA1994">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Mtvvma	Weezer	"Buddy Holly"	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name="VMA1995">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Mtvvma	The Smashing Pumpkins	"Tonight, Tonight"	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name="VMA1996">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Mtvvma	Jamiroquai	"Virtual Insanity"	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name="VMA1997">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Mtvvma	The Prodigy	"Smack My Bitch Up"	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name="VMA1998">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Mtvvma	Fatboy Slim	"Praise You"	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name="VMA1999">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

2000s

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YearTemplate:Efn	Winner(s)	Video	Nominees	Template:Abbr
Template:Mtvvma	Björk	"All Is Full of Love"	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name="VMA2000">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Mtvvma	Fatboy Slim	"Weapon of Choice"	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name="VMA2001">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Mtvvma	The White Stripes	"Fell in Love with a Girl"	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name="VMA2002">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Mtvvma	Coldplay	"The Scientist"	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name="VMA2003">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Mtvvma	Franz Ferdinand	"Take Me Out"	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name="VMA2004">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Mtvvma	Gorillaz	"Feel Good Inc."	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name="VMA2005">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Mtvvma – Template:Mtvvma	colspan="4" Template:N/a
Template:Mtvvma	Matt & Kim	"Lessons Learned"	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name="VMA2009">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

2010s

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YearTemplate:Efn	Winner(s)	Video	Nominees	Template:Abbr
Template:Mtvvma	The Black Keys	"Tighten Up"	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name="VMA2010">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>