As the music industry gears up for its most prestigious night, the 2023 Grammy Awards, excitement fills the air! The Grammy Awards are set to take place on February 5, 2023, showcasing the incredible talent and creativity that the music world has to offer. This year, numerous artists have been nominated for the coveted title of Best Music Video, with many fans eagerly awaiting the outcomes of their favorites.
Since its inception in 1984, the Recording Academy has honored the best in music video production with the Best Music Video Grammy Award. Over the decades, this award has celebrated the artistry of some of the most prominent musicians, solidifying their contributions to the art form. The competition is fierce this year, with some of the biggest names in music vying for the prestigious accolade.
The award was originally known as the "Best Video, Short Form," and the first winner in this category was Duran Duran, who took home the honor at the 26th Annual Grammy Awards for their iconic videos "Girls On Film" and "Hungry Like The Wolf." The award has evolved over the years, reflecting the changing landscape of music and visual storytelling, and it continues to recognize groundbreaking work in the industry.
- The 2023 Grammy Awards are on Feb. 5, 2023.
- Numerous artists were nominated for Best Music Video.
- Taylor Swift‘s All Too Well: The Short Film won Best Music Video for 2023.
Video killed the radio star, and to the winner goes the spoils. Since 1984, the Recording Academy has celebrated the music video format with the Best Music Video Grammy Award. In the following decades, some of the biggest stars have taken home the gold for the videos that have become the bedrock for the art form. This year will be no different, as some of your favorite musical acts are up for the Grammy.
Initially, the award was called the “Best Video, Short Form.” The academy also debuted the Best Music Film Grammy in 1984, an accolade for longer visual projects and concert films. Duran Duran won the first Grammy for Best Music Video at the 26th Annual Grammy Awards. Their “Girls On Film/ Hungry Like The Wolf” claimed the prize, with their eponymous Duran Duran winning Best Music Film later that night.
In 1988, the Grammys changed the criteria for the award, switching it up to “Best Concept Music Video” and “Best Performance Music Video.” This hyper-specific, pedantic division didn’t last long. After Genesis (“Land of Confusion”) and “Weird Al” Yankovic (“Fat”) won the Concept Music Videos in 1988 and ’89 – with The Prince’s Trust All-Star Rock Concert and U2’s “Where The Streets Have No Name” winning Best Performance Music Video – the category reverted to its original criteria in 1990. It also changed its name to Best Short Form Music Video until 2012, when it was then just called Best Music Video.
David Bowie (“Jazzin’ For Blue Jean”), R.E.M (“Losing My Religion”), The Beatles (“Free As A Bird”), and Madonna (“Ray of Light”) have all won the award. Michael Jackson won the award twice (“Leave Me Alone,” “Scream”), as did his sister, Janet Jackson (“Got ’til It’s Gone,” “Scream”). U2 also won twice, taking the award for “Vertigo” in 2005. Beyoncé has a pair of Music Video Grammys (“Formation,” “Brown Skin Girl”). So does Kendrick Lamar (“Humble,” “Bad Blood”). Director Mark Romanek has the record for most wins – Johnny Cash’s “Hurt,” Janet’s “Got ’til It’s Gone,” and “Scream” – as a director.
2023’s Nominees
The 2023 field for Best Music Video features one of the more dynamic videos in recent memory, along with one that had every Swifties’ heart a’flutter.
Adele returned with “Easy On Me,” a video that has racked up 327 million views since its Oct. 2021 premiere. BTS dropped the video for “Yet To Come” in June 2021, and it’s amassed 176 million views. Doja Cat‘s sensual and sizzling “Woman” video arrived in Dec. 2021 and has put up 160 million views.
Ahead of Kendrick Lamar, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers album, he released “The Heart Part Five,” a stunning video that saw his face change to that of Kanye West, Jussie Smollett, Will Smith, Kobe Bryant, and Nipsey Hussle. The deepfake marvel has amassed 41 million views since arriving in May 2022. Two months before “The Heart Part Five,” Harry Styles shared the video for “As It Was,” the lead single off of Harry’s House. In less than a year, it has received 425 million views.
Taylor Swift continued her career as a director with All Too Well: The Short Film, the visual accompanying the ten-minute version of her song, “All Too Well.” Since releasing the video online in Nov. 2021, it has been viewed over 82 million times.