Because it sounds better the other way. :)

Maybe they wanted to emphasize “video” over “music”, since the awards are for the videos and not the music. Still, it is strange.

I was there when they started, and I don’t know. What I suspect is that by reversing it to Video Music Awards, they could trademark it.

I wouldn’t call it either. Mtv doesn’t even play music videos anymore. It should be called the Reality TV awards.

@augustian I think that makes sense

@marinelife It would be hard to trademark “Music Video Awards” as many people use that for various different events (like a company or a school could host a “Music Video Award” for employees/students or something like that). However, with the pull MTV has on the music industry, the trademark really shouldn’t be an issue.

@weeveeship Music Video is too generic to be trademarked. That is why I think they went with Video Music Awards.

Music awards came first, the prominent placement seems like a good idea when starting something new.