The 1998 MTV Video Music Awards aired live on September 10, 1998, honoring the best music videos from June 17, 1997, to June 12, 1998. The show was hosted by Ben Stiller at Gibson Amphitheatre in Los Angeles.
Madonna was the most successful winner and nominee of the night, winning six awards out of a total nine nominations: five (out of eight) for "Ray of Light", including Video of the Year and Best Female Video, and one for "Frozen" (its only nomination). Other than Madonna, only Will Smith and The Prodigy won multiple awards that night, winning two apiece.
With regard to nominations, the two biggest nominees aside from Madonna were alt-rock band Garbage and rapper Will Smith. Smith split his nominations between two videos: "Gettin' Jiggy wit It" (five) and "Just the Two of Us" (one), each of which earned a Moonman. In contrast, Garbage received all eight nominations for "Push It" but went home completely empty-handed at the end of the night.
The mesh dress that actor Rose McGowan wore to the award show was the subject of much media attention following the awards. The dress went on to become one of the most iconic and controversial outfits in the history of the VMA's.
Promotion
In the weeks before the awards ceremony, MTV "hacked" its own website intentionally and graffitied the words "JF Was Here" across the page, at the same time that the British hacker JF was under investigation by Scotland Yard for the milw0rm hacktivist attacks. Hundreds of pages hosted on MTV.com sported the new JF logo, including one page that read, "JF was here, greets to milw0rm". MTV later confirmed that the alleged JF "hack" was a publicity stunt to promote the appearance of a commentator named Johnny Fame at their upcoming awards show. Many were puzzled by the apparent hack committed by JF since the hacker was "known for relatively high ethical standards."
Nominations
Winners are in bold text.
Video of the Year
Madonna – "Ray of Light"
Brandy and Monica – "The Boy Is Mine"
Puff Daddy and the Family (featuring The LOX, Lil' Kim, The Notorious B.I.G. and Fuzzbubble) – "It's All About the Benjamins (rock remix)"
Will Smith – "Gettin' Jiggy wit It"
The Verve – "Bitter Sweet Symphony"
Best Male Video
Will Smith – "Just the Two of Us"
David Bowie (featuring Trent Reznor) – "I'm Afraid of Americans (Nine Inch Nails remix)"
Busta Rhymes – "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See"
Eric Clapton – "My Father's Eyes"
Brian McKnight – "Anytime"
Best Female Video
Madonna – "Ray of Light"
Fiona Apple – "Criminal"
Mariah Carey (featuring Puff Daddy and the Family) – "Honey (Bad Boy remix)"
Natalie Imbruglia – "Torn"
Shania Twain – "You're Still the One"
Best Group Video
Backstreet Boys – "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)"
Garbage – "Push It"
Matchbox 20 – "3 A.M."
Radiohead – "Karma Police"
The Verve – "Bitter Sweet Symphony"
Best New Artist in a Video
Natalie Imbruglia – "Torn"
Cherry Poppin' Daddies – "Zoot Suit Riot"
Chumbawamba – "Tubthumping"
Fastball – "The Way"
Mase – "Feel So Good"
Best Rock Video
Aerosmith – "Pink"
Foo Fighters – "Everlong"
Dave Matthews Band – "Don't Drink the Water"
Metallica – "The Unforgiven II"
Best R&B Video
Wyclef Jean – "Gone Till November"
Brandy and Monica – "The Boy Is Mine"
K-Ci & JoJo – "All My Life"
Usher – "You Make Me Wanna"
Best Rap Video
Will Smith – "Gettin' Jiggy wit It"
Busta Rhymes – "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See"
Master P (featuring Fiend, Silkk the Shocker, Mia X and Mystikal) – "Make 'Em Say Uhh!"
The Notorious B.I.G. (featuring Puff Daddy and Mase) – "Mo Money Mo Problems"
Pras (featuring Ol' Dirty Bastard and Mýa) – "Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)"
Best Dance Video
The Prodigy – "Smack My Bitch Up"
Backstreet Boys – "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)"
Janet Jackson – "Together Again"
Madonna – "Ray of Light"
Will Smith – "Gettin' Jiggy wit It"
Best Alternative Video
Green Day – "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)"
Ben Folds Five – "Brick"
Garbage – "Push It"
Radiohead – "Karma Police"
The Verve – "Bitter Sweet Symphony"
Best Video from a Film
Aerosmith – "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" (from Armageddon)
Beck – "Deadweight" (from A Life Less Ordinary)
Celine Dion – "My Heart Will Go On (Love Theme from Titanic)" (from Titanic)
Goo Goo Dolls – "Iris" (from City of Angels)
Pras (featuring Ol' Dirty Bastard and Mýa) – "Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are) " (from Bulworth)
Puff Daddy (featuring Jimmy Page) – "Come with Me" (from Godzilla)
Breakthrough Video
The Prodigy – "Smack My Bitch Up"
Busta Rhymes – "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See"
Garbage – "Push It"
Sean Lennon – "Home"
Madonna – "Ray of Light"
Roni Size/Reprazent – "Brown Paper Bag"
Best Direction in a Video
Madonna – "Ray of Light" (Director: Jonas Åkerlund)
Garbage – "Push It" (Director: Andrea Giacobbe)
Wyclef Jean – "Gone Till November" (Director: Francis Lawrence)
The Prodigy – "Smack My Bitch Up" (Director: Jonas Åkerlund)
Radiohead – "Karma Police" (Director: Jonathan Glazer)
Best Choreography in a Video
Madonna – "Ray of Light" (Choreographers: Madonna and Jonas Åkerlund)
Busta Rhymes – "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See" (Choreographer: Fatima Robinson)
Wyclef Jean – "We Trying to Stay Alive" (Choreographers: Henry and Crazy Legs)
Will Smith – "Gettin' Jiggy wit It" (Choreographer: Stretch)
Best Special Effects in a Video
Madonna – "Frozen" (Special Effects: Steve Murgatroyd, Dan Williams, Steve Hiam, and Anthony Walsham)
Aerosmith – "Pink" (Special Effects: Kevin Yagher)
Aphex Twin – "Come to Daddy" (Special Effects: Chris Cunningham, Glassworks, Red, and Creature FX)
Foo Fighters – "Everlong" (Special Effects: Paul Sokol and Chris W.)
