Time Out
The VMAs are celebrating 40 years in New York this September
By Anna Rahmanan
April 25 2024
Mister D: We could start a write-in campaign to regain the original hosts, Bette Midler and Dan Ackroyd.
The MTV Video Music Awards, widely called the VMAs, first aired from Radio City Music Hall in 1984, making this year’s festivities the program’s 40th.
For the first time since 2018, the award show will retake place in New York, this time at the UBS Arena in Queens on September 10.
“We are excited to welcome back the MTV Video Music Awards to New York State,” Governor Kathy Hochul said in an official statement. “From its origins at Radio City Music Hall in 1984 to this September’s event at the UBS Arena, the VMAs continue to captivate millions, showcasing the very best in music video artistry. As we prepare to host this 40th anniversary event, let’s embrace the spirit of creativity and innovation that defines our state’s cultural landscape.”
A confluence of factors makes the 2024 iteration of the show super-exciting: not only is it the program’s 40th anniversary, but it’s also the first time that the staff will venture out to Long Island and the first time that UBS Arena gets to host an awards show.
For the past two years, the VMAs have been held at the Prudential Center in New Jersey, and before that, the show had taken over both Manhattan and Brooklyn arenas in addition to spaces across Los Angeles.
The host of the event and the list of nominees have yet to be announced, but if we may, we’d love to make a few suggestions that honor the event’s anniversary.
The inaugural broadcast, which took place in 1984, was led by Canadian actor and comedian Dan Aykroyd and the always-phenomenal Bette Midler, a New York resident. Why not call the two back for a second stab at hosting duties?
Performance-wise, we know that the roster of acts is intricately connected to the day’s popular songs. Still, we’d love to see Cyndi Lauper, whose “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” won Best Female Video of the Year back then, take the stage to deliver her iconic track in her instantly recognizable tone once more.
As for tickets, you’ll likely be able to snag some (at a price!) on TicketMaster, but the outlets have not yet released any pass details. Stay tuned for more news on that front.
