American Video Awards

The winners of The First Annual American Video Awards (1983) were selected by a small panel of about a dozen people: Casey Kasem, writers from Rolling Stone and The Hollywood Reporter magazines, a film editor, and a television director. In late 1983 Kasem and two producers from his television show, America's Top 10, formed the American Video Association and by the time of The Second Annual American Video Awards (1984) it had an estimated membership of 500. Award winners in 1984 were nominated and voted on by the association membership.{{Cite news|last=Popson|first=Tom|title=The winners, please: Pitching video's Oscars|date=April 15, 1984|work=Chicago Tribune|location=Chicago, Illinois, USA|page=37, Section 13|language=en|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/12799763/chicago_tribune/|access-date=August 1, 2017|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}}{{Cite news|last=Popson|first=Tom|title=The winners, please: Pitching video's Oscars|date=April 15, 1984|work=Chicago Tribune|location=Chicago, Illinois, USA|page=38, Section 13|language=en|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/12799784/chicago_tribune/|access-date=August 1, 2017|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}}

Awards for music videos proliferated in the 1980s, and by 1984, video awards were being given by Billboard magazine, the American Film Institute, the Grammys, and for the first time in 1984, MTV, when the music video cable television channel aired its inaugural MTV Video Music Awards.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/vma/1984|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630153026/http://www.mtv.com/vma/1984|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 30, 2016|title=VMA 1984 - MTV Video Music Awards - MTV|website=MTV|access-date=2017-08-16}} In April 1984, Tom Popson, writer for the Chicago Tribune, said, “. . . as yet no single award has emerged in the still-new medium as indisputably the most prestigious and widely recognized.” To Popson, Kasem expressed his hopes that the American Video Awards, which he dubbed the "Avas," would become that award for music videos, analogous to the Oscars for film, the Emmys for television and the Grammys for music; that the newly formed American Video Association would eventually become an "academy" of music video; and that the award show would be broadcast live on network television. Toward those ends, to give the American Video Awards and the newly formed American Video Association credibility, an advisory board was formed which included presidents of Capitol, Columbia, MCA, Polygram and RCA record companies, and chairmen of the boards of Warner Bros., A&M and Scotti Bros. record companies.

Kasem seemed to make progress on two of his three goals from the 1984 Chicago Tribune article. By the time of The Third Annual American Video Awards, in April 1985, the American Video Association had become the National Academy of Video Arts and Sciences (NAVAS), which was listed as the sponsor of the show,{{Cite news|title=Kragen to receive video group award|date=March 28, 1985 |work=The Los Angeles Times|location=Los Angeles, California, USA |page=3, Part VI |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/12811109/the_los_angeles_times/|access-date=August 2, 2017|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}}{{Cite news|title=Lauper dominates American Video Awards|date=April 4, 1985 |work=The Daily Spectrum|location=St. George, Utah, USA |agency=UPI |page=2 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/12787683/the_daily_spectrum/|access-date=August 1, 2017|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}} with Jennifer Libbee serving as executive director, and Alan Winnikoff serving as spokesperson.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/12811493/the_burlington_free_press/|title=Lauper videos nominated|date=March 28, 1985|work=The Burlington Free Press|access-date=August 2, 2017|agency=AP|location=Burlington, Vermont, USA|page=8D|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}} Some news articles at the time claimed that the academy was founded in 1980.{{Cite news|title=Video greats get more gold|date=April 4, 1985 |work=The Quad-City Times|location=Davenport, Iowa, USA |page=2 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/12811740/quadcity_times/|access-date=August 2, 2017|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}} Although it didn't air live, a taped version of The Fourth Annual American Video Awards did make it to network television in November 1985. It was edited down to a one-hour broadcast on ABC. But public recognition of the American Video Awards as the most prestigious in the field remained elusive, despite Kasem's hopes and efforts. In September 1985, after the second MTV Video Music Awards aired, Steven Dupler, writing for Billboard magazine, said, "MTV has definitely established its awards as the ceremony for the industry, the American Video Awards and others notwithstanding."{{cite magazine|last=Dupler|first=Steven|date=September 28, 1985|title=Video Music: Henley Wins Big at MTV Awards|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vCQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT40|magazine=Billboard|language=en|location=USA|publisher=Billboard Publications, Inc.|volume=97|issue=38|pages=40, 41|access-date=August 15, 2017|via=Google Books}}

Cash Box magazine reported that NAVAS membership was reorganized in the spring of 1985: "The new plan . . . allows for two distinct categories of membership: active (voting) and associate (non-voting). The active membership was further divided into craft and administrative divisions. Technical awards are voted only by active draft members."{{Cite magazine |last=Dobrin |first=Gregory |date=November 9, 1985 |title=NAVAS Announce '85 Nominees |work=Cash Box|publisher=George Albert|issue=22|volume=XLIX|page=9 |url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Cash-Box/80s/1985/CB-1985-11-09.pdf#page=9 |access-date=August 25, 2017 |via= americanradiohistory.com}} In November 1985, at the time of The Fourth Annual American Video Awards network television broadcast, the national director of NAVAS, Mick Kennedy, said voting members were required to have worked on at least two videos, or be an executive in a video-related field. He said the academy membership was "tightened" in order to assure skeptics that the video awards were based on merit rather than industry politics, and he tried to make the case that NAVAS had the same credibility in the video field as the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS), which sponsored the Grammys, had in the music field. Kennedy admitted that, at first, the American Video Awards was, {{" '}}. . . just an excuse for a television show.{{' "}} But, the award sponsors changed their attitude when, {{" '}}. . . we realized we were the only group that allowed all the different elements of the video industry to get together.{{' "}} He argued there was a professional difference between the American Video Awards and the MTV Video Music Awards: {{" '}}The MTV awards are designed to promote MTV. The American Video Awards are designed to promote the music-video industry. We're an industry award, MTV isn't.{{' "}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/12820733/the_los_angeles_times/|title=American Video Awards Polishes Its Act for TV|last=Pond|first=Steve|date=November 22, 1985|work=The Los Angeles Times|access-date=August 2, 2017|location=Los Angeles, California, USA|page=20, Part VI|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}}

The Fifth Annual American Video Awards was held in February 1987. Its distribution to television outlets reverted to syndication, and the show received some criticism in the press. It was dubbed the "Not-so-live video awards" in the Greenwood, South Carolina Index-Journal. The Philadelphia Daily News called it "hokey."{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/13166234/philadelphia_daily_news/|title=Tonight's Highlights: American Video Awards|date=April 15, 1987|work=Philadelphia Daily News|access-date=August 17, 2017|publisher=Philadelphia Newspapers, Inc.|publication-place=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.|page=49}}{{free access}} Cash Box magazine said the presenters were a "curious assortment of celebrities," because so many of them had little to do with the music industry.{{Cite magazine|last=Dobrio|first=Gregory|date=February 21, 1987|title=Audio/Video: AVA Presenters|work=Cash Box|publisher=George Albert|issue=34|volume=L |page=21|language=en-US|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Cash-Box/80s/1987/CB-1987-02-21.pdf#page=21 |access-date=August 18, 2017|via= americanradiohistory.com}} Later that year, in December 1987, nationally syndicated newspaper columnist Ethlie Ann Vare sounded the death knell for the American Video Awards, writing that they were, "probably on the way out".{{Cite news|last=Vare|first=Ethlie Ann|title=Video Beat: Billboard picks best videos|date=December 20, 1987|work=The Index-Journal|location=Greenwood, South Carolina, USA|page=5, TV Index|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/13118588/the_indexjournal/|access-date=August 15, 2017|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}} Indeed, The Fifth Annual American Video Awards was the last.

At The First Annual American Video Awards ceremony (1983), awards were given for six categories and an artist was selected for induction into the "Hall of Fame." For a video to be nominated, the song had to be in the top ten of the Billboard charts in 1982.{{Cite news|title=Stars Receive Video Awards|date=April 7, 1983 |newspaper=Santa Cruz Sentinel|agency=AP|location=Santa Cruz, California, USA|page=C-2|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/12798029/santa_cruz_sentinel/|access-date=August 1, 2017|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}} Nominees and winners were selected by a small panel of people: Casey Kasem, music reporters, a film editor, and a television director. The show and the nominees were announced in a full-page advertisement in the March 26, 1983 issue of Billboard magazine. The show was produced by Jennifer Libbee in association with Scotti Bros./Syd Vinnedge Television Production and Casey Kasem Productions.{{cite magazine|last=Darling|first=Cary|title=Music Monitor|date=February 26, 1983 |magazine=Billboard|volume=95|issue=8|publisher=Billboard Publications, Inc.|location=USA |language=en|page=25|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EyQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT24|access-date=July 31, 2017|via=Google Books}} Mick Fleetwood was the only winning performer present to accept his award.{{Cite news|title=Video awards|date=April 8, 1983 |newspaper=The Press Democrat|location=Santa Rosa, California, USA|page=21A |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/12796613/the_press_democrat/|access-date=August 1, 2017|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}} Despite the show being clearly titled as The First Annual American Video Awards in the Billboard announcement, at the later times of the show's appearances on television in syndication, several newspapers gave it other names, among them, "America's Top 10 Video Awards,"{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/13164828/the_cincinnati_enquirer/|title=Rock Explodes|date=April 17, 1983|work=The Cincinnati Enquirer TV Magazine|access-date=August 17, 2017|publisher=Gannett|location=Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.A.|page=2|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}} and the "Super Bullet Video Awards,"{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/13164985/detroit_free_press/|title=He hit it big with the hits|last=Zorn|first=Eric|date=April 17, 1983|work=Detroit Free Press|access-date=August 17, 2017|publisher=Detroit Free Press, Inc.|agency=Chicago Tribune|publication-place=Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A|page=7D|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}} suggesting some trouble with the show's identity at the outset.

Ceremony date: April 6, 1983

Ceremony location: Beverly Theatre in Beverly Hills, California

Host: Casey Kasem

Presenters: Grace Slick,{{Cite news|title=Rod Stewart's 'Young Turks' Top Rock Video|date=April 8, 1983 |work=Pharos-Tribune|agency=UPI|location=Logansport, Indiana, USA|page=15 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/12797567/logansport_pharostribune/|access-date=August 1, 2017|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}}{{Cite magazine|last=Glynn |first=Michael |date=April 23, 1983 |title=SoundViews: Awards, Awards |work=Cash Box |publisher=George Albert |issue=47 |volume=XLVI |page=13 |language=en-US |url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Cash-Box/80s/1983/Cash-Box-1983-04-23.pdf#page=13 |access-date=August 18, 2017 |via= americanradiohistory.com}} Mick Fleetwood, Pia Zadora, Rosanne Cash, Toni Basil, Patrick Simmons, Michael Nesmith, Rindy Ross, Larry Graham, The Gap Band, Mickey Thomas, John Schneider

{{cot|Nominees: First Annual American Video Awards (1983)}}

{{cob}}

• Hall of Fame: Paul McCartney.{{cite magazine|title=Video Track |magazine=Billboard |date=April 13, 1985|volume=97|issue=15|publisher=Billboard Publications, Inc.|location=USA |language=en|page=37|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8SMEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT23|access-date=August 15, 2017|via=Google Books}}
• Best Performance: Peter Wolf, "Centerfold," tied with Martha Davis, "Only the Lonely".
• Best Video of the Year: "Young Turks," Rod Stewart, Simon Fields (producer), or Lexi Godfrey (producer).{{refn|group=Note|name="Fields Godfrey"}}
• Best Soul Video: "Ebony and Ivory," Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, John Weaver (producer).
• Best Country Video: "Are the Good Times Really Over?" Merle Haggard, Terry Licona (producer).
• Best Director: Russel Mulcahy, "Young Turks" (Rod Stewart).{{Cite news|last=Albert|first=George|title=Cashbox Confidential: Author Dispels Beatle Magic in Book About Fab Four |date=May 1, 1983 |work=The Palm Beach Post|location=West Palm Beach, Florida, USA|page=G11 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/?spot=12797248|access-date=August 1, 2017|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}}
• Special Merit Video: "Gypsy," Mick Fleetwood, Mickey Shapiro (producer).

Winners in eleven categories plus the special recognition award, Hall of Fame, were reported for The Second Annual American Video Awards. The Best Performance category was now expanded to Best Performance, Male; Best Performance, Female; and Best Performance, Group. The Best Video of the Year category was eliminated, and the category, Best Pop Video, was added. Other categories added were on the technical side of video production: Best Editing, Best Lighting Design, Best Choreography, and Best Art Direction. The 1983 category, Special Merit Video was eliminated.

Videos produced and distributed to television outlets between December 1, 1982 and December 1, 1983, were eligible for nomination. Nominees and winners were selected by the 500 members of the new American Video Association. The Hall of Fame awardee was selected by the "distinguished" advisory board of the American Video Association,{{Cite magazine|date=April 7, 1984|title=Nesmith To Receive A.V.A. Award|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Cash-Box/80s/1984/CB-1984-04-07.pdf#page=13|language=en-US|publisher=George Albert|volume=XLVI|issue=44|page=13|access-date=August 18, 2017|work=Cash Box|via=americanradiohistory.com}} which included presidents of Capitol, Columbia, MCA, Polygram and RCA record companies, and chairmen of the boards of Warner Bros., A&M and Scotti Bros. record companies. Nominees were announced on March 5, 1984, at an event held at the Kathy Gallagher restaurant in Los Angeles, California.{{Cite news|url=http://www.gettyimages.fr/%C3%A9v%C3%A9nement/2nd-annual-american-video-awards-nominees-announcement-75330080#latoya-jackson-during-2nd-annual-american-video-awards-nominees-at-picture-id111254608|title=2nd Annual American Video Awards Nominees Announcement|work=Getty Images|access-date=August 25, 2017|language=fr}}

The ceremony was taped, edited to a two-hour program, and aired in syndication by television outlets at later dates.{{Cite news|title=Michael Jackson tops video awards|date=April 8, 1984 |work=The San Bernardino County Sun|location=San Bernardino, California, USA|page=D-6 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/13133125/the_san_bernardino_county_sun/ |access-date=August 16, 2017|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}} Michael Jackson, whose videos dominated the awards with 24 nominations,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/12799090/the_town_talk/|title=Jackson Nominated for 24 American Video Awards|date=March 7, 1984|work=Town Talk|access-date=August 1, 2017|agency=UPI|location=Alexandria-Pineville, Louisiana, USA|page=C-5|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}} and won in four categories, did not attend the ceremony. Writer Tom Popson surmised that television viewers would be less inclined to watch the program because the outcome was known ahead of the telecast.

Ceremony date: April 5, 1984{{Cite news|title=TV Highlights: Stars come out for the Met's 100th|date=May 16, 1984 |work=Chicago Tribune|location=Chicago, Illinois, USA|page=4, Section5|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/12786621/chicago_tribune/|access-date=August 1, 2017|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}}

Ceremony location: Wilshire Ebell Theatre, Los Angeles, California{{Cite web|url=https://time.com/3639724/weird-al-magic-trick/|title=Weird Al's New Magic Trick Is Simple and Amazing|last=Waxman|first=Olivia B.|date=December 18, 2014|website=Time|access-date=2017-08-16}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.gettyimages.com/event/2nd-annual-american-video-awards-75176282#cyndi-lauper-at-the-wilshire-ebell-theater-in-los-angeles-ca-picture-id75534568|title=2nd Annual American Video Awards|work=Getty Images|access-date=2017-08-16|language=en-US}}

Host: Casey Kasem{{Cite news|title=Specials Highlights|date=April 15, 1984 |work=The Morning Call|location=Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA|page=50|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/12786214/the_morning_call/|access-date=August 1, 2017|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}}

Presenters: Patti LaBelle, Martha Davis and the Motels, Toni Basil, Deborah Allen, Herbie Hancock, La Toya Jackson,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/13184344/santa_cruz_sentinel/|title=Video Awards|date=April 18, 1984|work=Santa Cruz Sentinel|access-date=August 17, 2017|publisher=Santa Cruz Sentinel Publishers Co.|location=Santa Cruz, California, U.S.A.|page=B-11|via=Newspapers.com}} Jan and Dean, Juice Newton, Moon Zappa Frank Stallone, Grace Slick, Ozzy Osbourne, Little Richard

Performers: "Weird Al" Yankovic

See.

• Hall of Fame: Michael Nesmith{{Cite news|title=Jackson's 'Beat It' wins video honors|date=April 7, 1984 |work=The Arizona Daily Star|agency=AP|location=Tucson, Arizona, USA|page=13D|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/12827815/arizona_daily_star/|access-date=August 3, 2017|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}}
• Best Performance, Male: Michael Jackson, "Beat It."{{Cite news|title=This year's AVA winners: No surprises|work=Chicago Tribune|location=Chicago, Illinois, USA|page=38, Section 13|language=en|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/12799784/chicago_tribune/|access-date=August 1, 2017|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}}
• Best Performance, Female: Cyndi Lauper, "Girls Just Want to Have Fun."
• Best Performance, Group: The Police, "Every Breath You Take."
• Best Pop Video: Michael Jackson, "Beat It."
• Best Soul Video: "Rockit," Herbie Hancock.
• Best Country Video: "Pancho and Lefty," Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson.
• Best Director: Bob Giraldi, "Beat It" (Michael Jackson).
• Best Editing: Roo Aiken, Kevin Godley, Lol Creme, "Rockit" (Herbie Hancock).
• Best Lighting Design: Daniel Pearl, "Every Breath You Take" (The Police).
• Best Choreography: Michael Peters, "Beat It" (Michael Jackson).
• Best Art Direction: Kevin Godley, Lol Creme, "Rockit" (Herbie Hancock).

Winners in fifteen categories plus two special recognition awards, Hall of Fame and Humanitarian Award, were reported for The Third Annual American Video Awards. The categories now included the new categories of Best Long Form Video, Best Home Video, Best New Video Artist, Best Costume Design, and Best Set Design. The category, Best Art Direction, was dropped. Candidates for award nominations included all videos produced and distributed to cable or network television stations between December 2, 1983 and December 1, 1984, and nominees were selected after two ballots taken of the 500 members of the new National Academy of Video Arts and Sciences (NAVAS). Nominations were announced at the Ma Maison restaurant in West Hollywood, California, on March 4, 1985.{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-11-10-re-3091-story.html|title=Ma Maison's West Hollywood Site Sold|last=Ryon|first=Ruth|date=November 10, 1985|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=August 25, 2017|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035}}

The ceremony was taped, edited to a two-hour program, and aired in syndication by television outlets at later dates.{{cite magazine|last=Zuckerman|first=Faye|title=NAVAS Announces Award Nominees: Lauper, Yankovic, Culture Club Top List |date=March 16, 1985 |magazine=Billboard|volume=97|issue=11|publisher=Billboard Publications, Inc.|location=USA |language=en|pages=32, 33|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GiUEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT31|access-date=August 15, 2017|via=Google Books}} Jet magazine noted that there were only two "Black" winners, Michael Jackson and Prince,{{Cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=orADAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA60|title=Michael Jackson, Prince Take Big Honors at Recent American Video Awards|magazine=Jet|date=April 29, 1985|publisher=Johnson Publishing Company|location=USA|pages=60, 61 |language=en|access-date=August 1, 2017|via=Google Books}} and apparently neither of them attended the ceremony. Jet reported that Jackson's sister, Rebbie Jackson, accepted awards on his behalf, and Carolyn McGuire of the Chicago Tribune reported that Prince did not "show up."{{Cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1985/04/16/american-video-awards/|title=American Video Awards|last=McGuire|first=Carolyn|date=April 16, 1985|work=Chicago Tribune|access-date=August 19, 2017|publisher=tribunedigital-chicagotribune|language=en}} Rod Stewart, however, was on hand to receive his Hall of Fame Award, which was presented to him by James Brown. Two Cyndi Lauper videos, "Time After Time" and "She Bop", won in six different categories, and Lauper did attend the ceremony and received her awards on stage.

Ceremony date: April 3, 1985

Ceremony location: Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, California

Hosts: Casey Kasem, Herbie Hancock, Lisa Hartman{{Cite news|title=Video Awards Ceremony Airs Saturday|date=April 27, 1985 |work=The Town Talk|location=Alexandria, Louisiana, USA |page=21 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/12812222/the_town_talk/|access-date=August 2, 2017|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}}

Presenters: James Brown, Philip Bailey, Deborah Allen, Stephen Bishop, Laura Branigan, Michael Damian, Ronnie Dio, Lita Ford, Lee Greenwood, James Ingram, Grace Jones, the kids from "Fame," B. B. King, Quiet Riot, REO Speedwagon, Sylvia, Pia Zadora, Vanity, "Weird Al" Yankovic

Performers: New Edition, John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band, Moe Bandy and Joe Stampley

See:

• Hall of Fame: Rod Stewart.
• Best Performance, Male: "Weird Al" Yankovic, "Eat It."
• Best Performance, Female: Cyndi Lauper, "Time After Time."
• Best Performance, Group: Huey Lewis and the News, "Heart of Rock and Roll."
• Best Pop Video: "Time After Time," Cyndi Lauper.
• Best Soul Video: Prince, "When Doves Cry."
• Best Country Video: "Where's the Dress?" Moe Bandy, Joe Stampley
• Best Director: Edd Griles, "Time After Time" (Cyndi Lauper).
• Best Editing: Zbigniew Rybczynski, "Diana D" (Chuck Mangione).
• Best Lighting Design: Peter Kaminsky and/or Michael Negrin,{{cite magazine|title=American Video Awards |date=April 13, 1985|work=Cash Box |page=34 |url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Cash-Box/80s/1985/CB-1985-04-13.pdf#page=34 |access-date=August 26, 2017 |via=americanradiohistory.com }}{{Cite news|title=Cyndi Lauper Sweeps American Video Awards|agency=Associated Press|date=April 5, 1985|work=Cincinnati Enquirer |publisher=Gannett |location=Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.A. |page=D-10 |language=en |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/13361094/the_cincinnati_enquirer/|access-date=August 26, 2017|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}} "Time After Time" (Cyndi Lauper).{{refn|group=Note|name="Kiminsky Negrin"|The United Press International (UPI) reported Peter Kiminsky as the winner. The Associated Press (AP) reported Michael Negrin as the winner. Billboard magazine had reported Peter Kaminsky as a nominee on a date previous to the April 1985 award ceremony. In a full page "thank you" to people who worked on the Cyndi Lauper videos, Edd Griles, director of the "Time After Time" music video, mentions both "Mike Negrin" with crew members, and "Peter Kaminsky" with cast members.{{cite magazine|title=Boys Just Want To Have Fun (full page ad)|date=December 15, 1984 |magazine=Billboard|volume=96|issue=50|publisher=Billboard Publications, Inc.|location=USA |language=en|page=39|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nSQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA39|access-date=September 8, 2017|via=Google Books}}}}
• Best Choreography: Pat Birch, "She Bop" (Cyndi Lauper).
• Best Long Form Video: Michael Jackson for "The Making of Thriller."{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=52NyBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA270|title=Encyclopedia of the Zombie: The Walking Dead in Popular Culture and Myth|date=June 19, 2014|editor1-last= Pulliam |editor1-first=June |editor2-last=Fonseca |editor2-first=Anthony J. |publisher=ABC-CLIO|location=USA|pages=270|language=en|access-date=August 1, 2017|via=Google Books}}
• Best Home Video: Michael Jackson for "The Making of Thriller."
• Best New Video Artist: Wham! (George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley), "Wake Me Up Before You Go Go"
• Best Costume Design: Laura Wills, Biff Chandler, "She Bop" (Cyndi Lauper).
• Best Set Design: Gray Lipley, "The Wild Boys" (Duran Duran).
• Humanitarian Award: Ken Kragan, "We Are the World"

The Fourth Annual American Video Awards (November 1985) was not only the first and only American Video Awards show to be broadcast on network television, it was also the first music video awards show ever to be shown on prime time network television. Although the past three ceremonies had all been held in the spring (The Third Annual American Video Awards was held just seven months prior, in April that same year), the network, ABC, wanted to air the fourth show in November. This shortened the eligibility period for nominated videos, which was from December 2, 1984 to September 30, 1985. ABC also chose the program's host, Tony Danza, who starred in one of its most successful sitcoms at the time, "Who's the Boss?" This was the only American Video Awards ceremony that was not hosted or co-hosted by Casey Kasem.

Awards were sponsored by the National Academy of Video Arts and Sciences (NAVAS), and nominees and winners were selected by the Academy. Nominations were announced on October 29, 1985, at Ma Maison restaurant in West Hollywood, California, at an event described as a "mock award ceremony," emceed by Casey Kasem. "Weird Al" Yankovic was the only nominee to participate.{{cite news |date=October 31, 1985 |title=Music Video Nominations |agency=UPI|work=Ukiah Daily Journal |location=Ukiah, California, U.S.A. |page=10 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/13333620/ukiah_daily_journal/ |access-date=August 25, 2017 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}}{{cite news |date=November 2, 1985 |title=Varied artists vie for video awards |agency=UPI|work=The Daily Reporter |location=Greenfield, Indiana, U.S.A. |page=2 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/13333858/the_daily_reporter/ |access-date=August 25, 2017 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}}

Winners in seventeen award categories were reported. The name of the award, Best Soul Video, was changed to Best Urban Contemporary Video for this nationally televised award show. The category, Best Long Form Video was dropped. Three new categories were added: Best Live Concert Video, Best Cinematography, and Best Special Effects. Best New Video artist seems to have been renamed simply as Best New Artist.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/13159386/the_san_bernardino_county_sun/|title=Video Award Nominees Announced|date=October 30, 1985|work=The San Bernardino County Sun|access-date=August 17, 2017|agency=Associated Press|location=San Bernardino, California, U.S.A.|page=B-9|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}} Cash Box magazine had reported that the Hall of Fame awardee would be announced at the ceremony, but no subsequent reports naming the awardee have been found thus far.

Casey Kasem along with Toni Scotti and Syd Vinnedge of Scotti Bros./Syd Vinnedge Productions, served as executive producers of the show, which was taped in advance and edited down to one hour for broadcast. Accordingly, only eight "artistic" award categories made it on the air, listed by Daniel Brogan of the Chicago Tribune as: "Best Pop Video, Best Urban Contemporary Video, Best Country Video, Best New Group, Best Male Performance, Best Female Performance, Best Duo or Group Performance and Best Home Video." Two videos by Bruce Springsteen won in three categories, but he did not attend the ceremony. His bandmate, saxophonist Clarence Clemens, accepted the awards in Springsteen's place.{{Cite news|url=http://www.upi.com/Archives/1985/11/21/Springsteen-sweeps-video-awards/2327501397200/|title=Springsteen sweeps video awards|last=Metzler|first=Stan W.|date=November 21, 1985|work=UPI|access-date=August 1, 2017|language=en}}

Ceremony date: Wednesday, November 20, 1985

Ceremony location: Wiltern Theater. Los Angeles, California.

Host: Tony Danza.

Presenters: Clarence Clemons, Grace Jones,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/13266775/the_los_angeles_times/|title=Tonight On TV|date=November 22, 1985|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=August 22, 2017|location=Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.|page=22(Part VI)|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}} Kenny Rogers, Apollonia Kotero, Andy Taylor of Duran Duran, Lorenzo Lamas, Herbie Hancock, The Weather Girls, Howie Mandel, Al Jarreau, The Judds, "Weird Al" Yankovic, Lisa Hartman, Shari Belafonte-Harper

Performers: Sheila E,{{Cite news|title=Springsteen, Murphy share video spotlight|date=November 21, 1985 |work=Santa Cruz Sentinel|publisher=Santa Cruz Sentinel Publishers Co.|location=Santa Cruz, California, U.S.A. |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/13267512/santa_cruz_sentinel/|page=C-14|access-date=August 22, 2017|via=Newspapers.com}} Martin Mull

Television broadcast date: Friday, November 22, 1985. Network: ABC

For list of nominees in nine "artistic categories," see:

• Hall of Fame: -----
• Best Performance, Male: Bruce Springsteen, "Glory Days."
• Best Performance, Female: Aimee Mann, "Voices Carry."
• Best Performance, Group: Wham!, "Everything She Wants."
• Best Pop Video: "Glory Days," Bruce Springsteen.
• Best Urban Contemporary Video: "Party All the Time," Eddie Murphy.{{Cite magazine|date=December 23, 1985|title=Eddie Murphy Tune Wins an American Video Award|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rLMDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA65|magazine=Jet|language=en|location=USA|publisher=Johnson Publishing Company|pages=65|access-date=August 1, 2017|via=Google Books}}
• Best Country Video: "Country Boy," Ricky Skaggs.
• Best Director: Zbigniew Rybczynski, "She Went Pop," (I Am Siam){{Cite news|title=Bruce Springsteen big video winner; 'Glory Days' wins top award|date=November 21, 1985 |work=The Republic |place=Columbus, Indiana, U.S.A. |agency=UPI |page=A12 |language=en|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/13400703/the_republic/|access-date=August 28, 2017 |via=Newspapers.com}}
• Best Editor: David Yardley, "Money for Nothing," (Dire Straits).
• Best Lighting Design: Alan Jones, "All You Zombies" (Hooters).
• Best Choreography: Kenny Ortega, "Material Girl" (Madonna).
• Best Home Video: "Wham!, The Video," Wham!.
• Best New Artist: Sade.
• Best Costume Design: Marlene Stewart, "Material Girl" (Madonna).
• Best Set Design: Zbigniew Rybczynski, "She Went Pop" (I Am Siam).
• Best Live Concert Video: "Money for Nothing," Dire Straits.
• Best Cinematography: Michael Ballhaus, "I'm On Fire" (Bruce Springsteen).
• Best Special Effects: Michael Patterson and Candace Reckinger, "Take On Me," (A-Ha).

The Fifth Annual American Video Awards (1987), produced by Scotti/Vinnedge Television in association with Casey Kasem Productions, was the last one. A power failure contributed to the live ceremony's four-hour length. The show was taped to be aired at a later time in syndication, and was edited down to a two-hour program.{{Cite news|last=Bream|first=Jon|title=AVAs blend music and TV|date=April 26, 1987 |work=The Minneapolis Star and Tribune|page=5, TV Week section|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/?spot=12827463|access-date=August 3, 2017|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}} The Philadelphia Daily News called the ceremony "hokey." Cash Box magazine criticized the show for including award presenters who had little to do with the music industry, calling them a "curious assortment of celebrities." The Greenwood, South Carolina Index-Journal dubbed it the "Not-so-live video awards".

The awards were sponsored by the National Academy of Video Arts and Sciences (NAVAS), and the nominees and winners were selected by the Academy. Winners in sixteen categories plus a Hall of Fame awardee were reported. Best Lighting Design and Best Set Design were replaced by Best Art Director, and the category, Best Live Concert Video, was replaced by Best Stage Performance.

Happily, Peter Gabriel, whose videos won in five categories, and who was inducted into the NAVAS Hall of Fame, did attend the ceremony and accepted his awards on stage.{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-02-28-ca-6433-story.html|title=Gabriel Wins 2 Top Video Awards|date=February 28, 2017|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=August 1, 2017|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035}} It was reported that backstage he was "mobbed by admirers", and he "retreated in order to avoid being crushed" by photographers.

Ceremony date: February 26, 1987{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-02-04-ca-443-story.html|title=Video Awards To Be Presented|date=February 4, 1987|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=August 1, 2017|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035}}{{Cite magazine|url=http://people.com/archive/videos-dandiest-dance-maker-is-ex-cheerleader-paula-abdul-vol-27-no-12/|title=Video’s Dandiest Dance-Maker Is Ex-Cheerleader Paula Abdul|last=Friedman|first=Jack|date=March 23, 1987|work=People|access-date=August 1, 2017|publisher=People.com|issue=12|volume=27|language=en-US}}

Ceremony location: Scottish Rite Auditorium in Los Angeles, California.

Emcee: Casey Kasem

Hosts: Shari Belafonte Harper, Graham Nash

Presenters: "Weird Al" Yankovic,{{Cite news|last=Redmond|first=Mike|title=Sound Check: Video junkies, it's award night time|date=April 27, 1987 |work=The Indianapolis News|page=36|location=Indianapolis, Indiana, USA|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/12794024/the_indianapolis_news/|access-date=August 1, 2017|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}} Little Richard, Dwight Yoakam, Lisa Lisa, Gregory Abbott, Diana Canova, Gallagher, Roseanne Barr, Delta Burke, Jackée Harry, David Hasselhoff, Jean Kasem, Tim Reid, Tracy Scoggins

Performers: Wang Chung,{{Cite news|title=Tonight on TV|date=April 27, 1987 |work=The Los Angeles Times |page=9(VI) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/12793621/the_los_angeles_times/|access-date=August 1, 2017|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}} The Bangles, Richard Belzer, Bobcat Goldthwait

See:

• Hall of Fame: Peter Gabriel{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/12794261/fort_lauderdale_news/|title='Sledgehammer' wins|date=February 28, 1987|work=Fort Lauderdale News|access-date=August 1, 2017|location=Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA|page=2A|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}}
• Best Performance, Male: Peter Gabriel, "Sledgehammer."{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/12757702/the_philadelphia_inquirer/|title=Newsmakers: Video Winners|last=Speers|first=W.|date=February 28, 1987|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|access-date=July 31, 2017|page=2C|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}}
• Best Performance, Female: Madonna, "Papa Don't Preach."{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/12757775/arizona_republic/|title=Short Takes: News Briefs|date=February 28, 1987|work=The Arizona Republic|access-date=July 31, 2017|page=G1|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}}
• Best Performance, Group: The Bangles, "Walk Like an Egyptian."
• Best Pop Video: "Sledgehammer" (Peter Gabriel), Adam Whitaker (producer){{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/12794480/the_daily_spectrum/|title=Peter Gabriel top winner|date=March 1, 1987|work=The Daily Spectrum|access-date=August 1, 2017|agency=UPI|location=Saint George, Utah, USA|page=10|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}}
• Best Urban Contemporary Video: "Kiss," Prince and the Revolution, Rebecca Blake (producer)
• Best Country Video: "Honky Tonk Man," Dwight Yoakam, Sherman Halsey (producer).
• Best Director: Stephen Johnson, "Sledgehammer" (Peter Gabriel).
• Best Editor: Peter Gabriel, Limelight Productions "Sledgehammer"
• Best Choreographer: Paula Abdul, "Velcro Fly" (ZZ Top).
• Best Home Video: "Last World Dream," Howard Jones.
• Best New Artist: Peter Cetera.
• Best Costume Design: Malissa Daniel, "Goin' Crazy!" (David Lee Roth).
• Best Cinematography: Bobby Byrne, "25 or 6 to 4" (Chicago).
• Best Special Effects: Peter Gabriel, Limelight Productions, "Sledgehammer".
• Best Art Director: Mike Hanan, "Open Your Heart" (Madonna).
• Best Stage Performance: David Lee Roth, "Yanky Rose."

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• [http://www.gettyimages.com/event/1st-annual-american-video-awards-75065607#mick-fleetwood-during-1st-annual-american-video-awards-at-beverly-in-picture-id105173675 Getty Images: 1st Annual American Video Awards]
• [http://www.gettyimages.com/event/2nd-annual-american-video-awards-75176282#cyndi-lauper-at-the-wilshire-ebell-theater-in-los-angeles-ca-picture-id75534568 Getty Images: 2nd Annual American Video Awards]
• [http://www.julienslive.com/view-auctions/catalog/id/192/lot/82613/ Julien's Live: Image of Michael Jackson's American Video Award, Best Home Video]
• [https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/458797/american-video-awards TCM: American Video Awards 1985]
• [http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/event/american-video-awards-november-20-1985-75146254#tony-danza-during-1985-american-video-awards-november-20-1985-at-in-picture-id105790085 Getty Images: 1985 American Video Awards – November 20, 1985]
• [http://www.gettyimages.com/event/5th-annual-american-video-awards-75191810#daphne-reid-and-tim-reid-during-5th-annual-american-video-awards-at-picture-id105918228 Getty Images: 5th Annual American Video Awards]

Category:1983 American television series debuts

Category:1987 American television series endings

Category:American annual television specials

Category:American music video awards