Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award

The Video Vanguard Award, also known as the Lifetime Achievement Award, is given to musicians who have made a profound effect on the MTV culture, honoring an artist's body of work. The award was renamed in 1991 as the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award. The honor is also given to music video directors who have created some of the most acclaimed music videos in pop culture. The first Vanguard awards were presented in 1984 at the inaugural Video Music Awards, although it's not an annual award. Recent recipients of the accolade include Justin Timberlake, Beyoncé, Kanye West and Rihanna.