Country United States Network MTV Other ceremonies 1990, 1992 | Date 5 September 1991 | |
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Location Universal Amphitheatre, Universal City, California, United States |
The 1991 MTV Video Music Awards aired live on September 5, 1991, honoring the best music videos from June 2, 1990, to June 15, 1991. The show was hosted by Arsenio Hall at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles.
Contents
- Nominations
- Video of the Year
- Best Male Video
- Best Female Video
- Best Group Video
- Best New Artist in a Video
- Best MetalHard Rock Video
- Best Rap Video
- Best Dance Video
- Best Alternative Video
- Best Video from a Film
- Best Long Form Video
- Breakthrough Video
- Best Direction in a Video
- Best Choreography in a Video
- Best Special Effects in a Video
- Best Art Direction in a Video
- Best Editing in a Video
- Best Cinematography in a Video
- Viewers Choice
- MTV Asia
- MTV Australia
- MTV Brasil
- MTV Europe
- MTV Internacional
- MTV Japan
- Video Vanguard Award
- Performances
- Appearances
- References
This year saw the introduction of a new category, Best Long Form Video; however, this category would not be handed out again until the 2016 ceremony where it was renamed Breakthrough Long Form Video. Meanwhile, the award for Best Post-Modern Video was renamed Best Alternative Video.
R.E.M. led the night both in awards and in nominations. Their video for "Losing My Religion" not only won Video of the Year, but it also took home a total of six awards, making them the biggest winners of the night. Furthermore, R.E.M.'s ten nominations also made them the most nominated artist that night and "Losing My Religion" the most nominated video of the night.
Nominations
Winners are in bold text.
Video of the Year
R.E.M. – "Losing My Religion"

Best Male Video
Chris Isaak – "Wicked Game (Concept)"
Best Female Video
Janet Jackson – "Love Will Never Do (Without You)"

Best Group Video
R.E.M. – "Losing My Religion"
Best New Artist in a Video
Jesus Jones – "Right Here, Right Now"
Best Metal/Hard Rock Video
Aerosmith – "The Other Side"
Best Rap Video
LL Cool J – "Mama Said Knock You Out"

Best Dance Video
C+C Music Factory – "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)"
Best Alternative Video
Jane's Addiction – "Been Caught Stealing"
Best Video from a Film
Chris Isaak – "Wicked Game" (from Wild at Heart)
Best Long Form Video
Madonna – The Immaculate Collection
Breakthrough Video
R.E.M. – "Losing My Religion"
Best Direction in a Video
R.E.M. – "Losing My Religion" (Director: Tarsem)
Best Choreography in a Video
C+C Music Factory – "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)" (Choreographer: Jamale Graves)
Best Special Effects in a Video
Faith No More – "Falling to Pieces" (Special Effects: David Faithfull and Ralph Ziman)
Best Art Direction in a Video
R.E.M. – "Losing My Religion" (Art Director: José Montaño)
Best Editing in a Video
R.E.M. – "Losing My Religion" (Editor: Robert Duffy)
Best Cinematography in a Video
Chris Isaak – "Wicked Game (Concept)" (Director of Photography: Rolf Kestermann)
Viewer's Choice
Queensrÿche – "Silent Lucidity"
MTV Asia
Cui Jian – "Wild in the Snow"
MTV Australia
Yothu Yindi – "Treaty (Filthy Lucre Mix)"
MTV Brasil
Sepultura – "Orgasmatron"
MTV Europe
Roxette – "Joyride"
MTV Internacional
Franco De Vita – "No Basta"
MTV Japan
Flipper's Guitar – "Groove Tube"
Video Vanguard Award
Bon Jovi
Wayne Isham
Performances
House band