The 2022 VMAs took place Sunday night. Many talented artists won honorary titles and their very own Moonman statue. However, only one walked away with the 2022 Video Vanguard Award. This year, Nicki Minaj won the gold-plated trophy. The MTV Video Music Awards’ Video Vanguard Award is widely regarded as the most prestigious honor that music video creatives and musicians can win from the organization. It’s also a pretty controversial award, having experienced several name changes since its introduction in 1984, and periods in which years went by without it being awarded to anyone. Over the years, artists from various genres and eras have been given the lifetime achievement award. Let’s take a stroll down memory lane and recognize the artists who MTV considered as having “outstanding contributions and profound impact on music video and popular culture.”

For today’s 9:30 Coffee Break, what songs from MTV Video Vanguard Award winners do you want to hear?

Respond with your song ideas in the comments below.

Have an idea for a Coffee Break topic? Submit your idea for a future theme and browse past Coffee Breaks in our archive.

Songs Played:
The Beatles – A Hard Day’s Night
Peter Gabriel – Sledgehammer
Missy Elliot – Work It
Nicki Minaj – Anaconda
Madonna – Ray of Light
Tom Petty – Don’t Come Around Here No More
Duran Duran – Hungry Like the Wolf (Bonus Track!)