This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
MTV will be turning 36 this August 1 (Happy birthday, MTV). Later that same month (August 27, to be exact), the 33rd annual MTV Video Music Awards will be held at the Forum in Inglewood.
"The City of Inglewood welcomes the return of the MTV VMAs to the number 1 concert venue in California, the Forum,” James Butts, mayor of Inglewood, said, reports the Los Angeles Times.
For most of its three decade history, the VMAshave bounced back and forth between New York City and Los Angeles. The first two VMAs (1984 and 1985) were held at the Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan, but following a bi-coastal award show in 1986, the VMAs broadcast from Los Angeles from 1987 through 1993. The ceremony was last held at the Forum in 2014—the year Miley Cyrus won Video of the Year for “Wrecking Ball.”
According to E!, the 2015 broadcast (the last L.A.-based show) was simulcast on 11 Viacom-owned networks, and drew an audience of 9.8 million. The 2016 broadcast from Madison Square Garden in New York dropped to 6.5 million viewers.
“This year is sure to be another epic show with many incredible memories for MTV, the award winners, and especially the fans,” Shelli Azoff, managing partner for the Forum, said, notes the Times.“The entire Forum family is thrilled to welcome back the VMAs!"
The VMAs will broadcast from L.A. on MTV on August 27 at 8 p.m.
