I often wonder if this is what a singer or band thinks when they win this award. After all, many have received the Best New Artist award only to go on to … obscurity. Oh sure, they may still put out records or tour, but somehow they never live up to the potential that is associated with the Best New Artist moniker.
I know you are thinking “Libby, give us some examples,” so give I shall. Here are some of the MTV Video Music Awards Best New Artist (BNA) winners that charted higher before their award than they did afterwards:
‘Til Tuesday
I loved ‘Til Tuesday. I am probably one of the few who can say I actually saw them in concert. “Voices Carry” was a great song. Aimee Mann is a great singer/songwriter. But the band didn’t last long. The band formed in 1982, won the BNA award in 1985 and by 1988, they were history. Aimee was nominated for Best Song at the 2000 Academy Awards.
Crowded House
Hitting the US charts with their song “Don’t Dream It’s Over,” Crowded House won the VMA BNA award in 1986. After that, they hit the Top Ten of the US charts only one more time with 1987’s “Something So Strong.” They remained prominent on the Australian charts until their breakup in 1996. The band reunited in 2007.
Michael Penn
I am ashamed – when I hear the name Michael Penn, I think, “Ah, Sean’s brother!” He is Sean Penn’s brother, but Michael is a good singer songwriter in his own right. He hit the charts with “No Myth” in 1989, prompting MTV to give him this award. He charted at #53 on the Hot 100 chart with “This and That in 1990. He still writes and performs and although critically acclaimed, he never hit the Hot 100 again. Perhaps it is just coincidence, but he is married to former ‘Til Tuesday lead singer Aimee Mann.
Jesus Jones
After hitting #5 on the US charts with their single “Right Here Right Now,” the band Jesus Jones was give the BNA award. The band still performs but they never landed on the US charts again.
Other artists who have won the BNA award are:
1984 – Eurythmics – broke up in 1990, but both Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart continue to have solo success
1986 – a-ha – resurrected in 1998 and still very popular in Europe
1988 – Guns N’Roses – very successful, but self destructed in 1993
1989 – Living Colour – never a big charter, but listed as #70 in VH1’s “100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock”
1992 – Nirvana – hugely successful, but ended with Kurt Cobain’s death in 1994
1993 – Stone Temple Pilots – sold over 17 million albums in the US, but broke up in 2003
1994 – Counting Crows – had albums chart in the Top Ten in 1996, 1999, and 2002 and received an Academy Award nomination for the song “Accidentally in Love” in 2004
1995 – Hootie and the Blowfish – still releasing albums and singles, but have not charted in the US on the Hot 100 since 1998’s “I Will Wait” went to #16
1996 – Alanis Morissette – Jagged Little Pill sold more than 14 million copies, but none of her subsequent albums have done as well
1997 – Fiona Apple – critically acclaimed, her albums chart, but has only had one single “Sleep to Dream” hit the charts on the Hot 100 (in 1997)
1999 – Eminem – has sold almost 70 million albums worldwide and won an Oscar for Best Song in 2002
2000 – Macy Gray – debut album went platinum, “I Try” single reached #5 on the Hot 100, but didn’t make another album of new material between 2003 and 2007 after disappointing sales of The Trouble with Being Myself
2001 – Alicia Keys – has also won nine Grammy Awards, eleven Billboard Music Awards, and three American Music Awards
2002 – Avril Lavigne – has sold 4+ million of her latest album that produced the #1 Hot 100 single “Girlfriend”
2003 – 50 Cent – 2005 album The Massacre was certified 5 times platinum with sales of over 5 million
2004 – Maroon 5 – won the 2006 Grammy for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
2005 – The Killers
2006 – Avenged Sevenfold
2007- Gym Class Heroes