Among notable events in the year 1990 were the birth of the Parental Advisory tag, the death of Stevie Ray Vaughn and also the inclusion of the “International Viewer's Choice” award (Okay, no biggie since MTV was adding and retiring awards every other year.)The MTV VMAs looked like it hadn’t changed much with Arsenio Hall back at the Universal Amphitheatre hosting the show for the third consecutive year. He threw on his pork pie hat and had a jolly good time and it looked like MTV was all for it. The theme of the night was very much about censorship in music. With music videos and lyrics becoming increasingly provocative and controversial, the entire country was fussing over where to draw the line when it came to curbing the creativity of musicians and their songs. So almost everyone who took to the stage gave their thoughts on what they felt about the whole issue at hand. When it came to giving out the statuettes, Sinéad O'Connor reaped four Moonmen for her Nothing Co
List of Nominees and Winners at the MTV Video Music Awards 1990
- Sinéad O'Connor - Nothing Compares 2 U
- Aerosmith - Janie's Got A Gun
- Don Henley - The End Of The Innocence
- Madonna – Vogue
- Don Henley
- Billy Idol - Cradle Of Love
- M.C. Hammer - U Can't Touch This
- Michael Penn - No Myth
- Sinéad O' Connor - Nothing Compares 2 U
- Paula Abdul - Opposites Attract
- Madonna - Vogue
- Alannah Myles - Black Velvet
- Michelle Shocked - On The Greener Side
- The B-52's - Love Shack
- Aerosmith - Janie's Got A Gun
- Midnight Oil - Blue Sky Mine
- Red Hot Chili Peppers - Higher Ground
- Tears For Fears - Sowing The Seeds Of Love
- M.C. Hammer - U Can't Touch This
- Digital Underground - The Humpty Dance
- Biz Markie - Just A Friend
- Young M.C. - Principal's Office
- M.C. Hammer - U Can't Touch This
- Paula Abdul - Opposites Attract
- Janet Jackson - Rhythm Nation
- Madonna – Vogue
- Aerosmith - Janie's Got A Gun
- Don Henley - The End Of The Innocence
- Madonna - Vogue
- Sinéad O'Conner - Nothing Compares 2 U
- Michael Penn - No Myth
- Bell Biv Devoe - Poison
- The Black Crowes - Jealous Again
- Jane Child - Don't Want To Fall In Love Again
- Lenny Kravitz - Let Love Rule
- Alannah Myles - Black Velvet
- Lisa Stansfield - All Around the World
- Tears For Fears
- Paula Abdul - Opposites Attract
- Sinéad O'Connor - Nothing Compares 2 U
- Red Hot Chili Peppers - Higher Ground
- Sinéad O' Connor - Nothing Compares 2 U
- Depeche Mode - Personal Jesus
- Red Hot Chili Peppers - Higher Ground
- Tears For Fears - Sowing The Seeds Of Love
- Aerosmith - Janie's Got A Gun
- Faith No More - Epic
- Motley Crue - Kickstart My Heart
- Slaughter - Up All Night
- Billy Idol
- Edie Brickell & The New Bohemians - A Hard Rain's A Gonna Fall
- Prince - Batdance
- ZZ Top – DoubleBack
Video Vanguard Award
- Madonna - Vogue
- Paula Abdul - Opposites Attract
- Aerosmith - Janie's Got A Gun
- Don Henley - The End Of The Innocence
- Janet Jackson - Rhythm Nation
- Paula Abdul - Opposites Attract
- M.C. Hammer - U Can't Touch This
- Madonna – Vogue
- Tears For Fears
- Paula Abdul - Opposites Attract
- Billy Idol - Cradle Of Love
- Billy Joel - We Didn't Start The Fire
- The B-52's - Love Shack
- Aerosmith - Janie's Got A Gun
- Billy Joel - We Didn't Start The Fire
- Madonna – Vogue
