The 1996 VMAs oversaw MTV’s attempt at making the VMAs the first awards in space. Dennis Miller was back hosting the MTV VMAs for the second time in a row at Radio City Music Hall in New York. MTV had arranged for live broadcast with the Russian MIR Space Station, the only issue at hand- neither Miller nor the cosmonauts understood a word each other was saying. It was a bad start to the evening; nevertheless MTV had a whole bag of tricks for the night.
The alternative rock band Smashing Pumpkins fronted by Billy Corgan walked away with five Moonmen, including the ones for Video of The Year and Breakthrough Video. Alanis Morissette’s Ironic bagged three awards including Best Female Video and Best New Artist. Coolio’s Gangsta’s Paradise won Best Rap Video and Bush’s Glycerine got them the Viewer’s choice award. As usual the performances blew the crowd away, a newly re-united KISS stormed through Rock N’ Roll All Night and The Cranberries wooed the crowd with Salvation.
List of Nominees and Winners at the MTV Video Music Awards1996
- The Smashing Pumpkins
- Bone Thugs-N-Harmony - Tha Crossroads
- Foo Fighters - Big Me
- Alanis Morissette – Ironic
- Beck - Where It's At
- Bryan Adams - The Only Thing That Looks Good On Me Is You
- Coolio - 1,2,3,4 (Sumpin' New)
- R. Kelly Ronald Isley - Down Low
- Seal - Don't Cry
- Alanis Morissette - Ironic
- Björk - It's Oh So Quiet
- Tracy Chapman - Give Me One Reason
- Jewel - Who Will Save Your Soul
- Foo Fighters - Big Me
- Bone Thugs-n-Harmony - Tha Crossroads
- The Fugees - Killing Me Softly
- Hootie & The Blowfish - Only Wanna Be With You
- Coolio & LV
- 2Pac & Dr. Dre - California Love
- Bone Thugs-n-Harmony - Tha Crossroads
- LL Cool J - Doin' It
- The Fugees - Killing Me Softly
- Toni Braxton - You're Makin' Me High
- Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men - One Sweet Day
- D'Angelo - Brown Sugar
- Coolio - 1,2,3,4 (Sumpin' New)
- Everything But The Girl - Missing
- La Bouche - Be My Lover
- George Michael - Fast Love
- Bush
- Bone Thugs-n-Harmony - Tha Crossroads
- Coolio & LV - Gangsta's Paradise
- Metallica - Until It Sleeps
- Alanis Morissette - Ironic
- The Smashing Pumpkins - Tonight, Tonight
- Metallica - Until It Sleeps
- Alice In Chains - Again
- Marilyn Manson - Sweet Dreams
- Rage Against The Machine - Bulls On Parade
- The Smashing Pumpkins
- Bush - Glycerine
- Everclear - Santa Monica
- Foo Fighters - Big Me
- Alanis Morissette - Ironic
- Tracy Bonham - Mother Mother
- Garbage - Stupid Girl
- Jewel - Who Will Save Your Soul
- Coolio & LV
- Brandy - Sittin' Up In My Room
- Bush - Machinehead
- Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen - Mission Impossible
- The Smashing Pumpkins
- Björk - It's Oh So Quiet
- Foo Fighters - Big Me
- Alanis Morissette – Ironic
- Björk - It's Oh So Quiet
- Janet Jackson - Runaway
- George Michael - Fast Love
- Quad City D.J.'s - C'mon N' Ride It (The Train)
- The Smashing Pumpkins
- Beatles - Free As A Bird
- Bone Thugs-n-Harmony - Tha Crossroads
- Green Day - Walking Contradiction
- The Smashing Pumpkins
- Björk - It's Oh So Quiet
- The Cranberries - Salvation
- Salvation – Tongue
- Alanis Morissette - Ironic
- Beck - Where It's At
- Red Hot Chili Peppers - Warped
- The Smashing Pumpkins - Tonight, Tonight
- The Smashing Pumpkins
- Brandy - Brokenhearted
- Eric Clapton - Change The World
- Coolio & LV - Gangsta's Paradise
- Madonna - You'll See
- The Smashing Pumpkins
- Björk - It's Oh So Quiet
- Garbage - Queer
- Radiohead – Just
