Watching the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) this year made me feel something I hadn’t expected: old. As a millennial, I’ve always felt somewhat in touch with pop culture, but this year’s VMAs felt like a glaring reminder that the music scene has shifted dramatically—and I’m not sure I’ve kept up.
It wasn’t just the performers, many of whom I’d barely heard of, but the overwhelming sense that the show I grew up loving had become something I could no longer fully relate to. Watching the VMAs now, I wonder, “What the heck happened?”
I remember the VMAs of the late ’90s and early 2000s, when artists like Britney Spears danced with a python, Diana Ross playfully jiggled Lil’ Kim’s iconic pasty-covered boob, Beyoncé’s ‘Ring the Alarm’ choreography, and Eminem caused controversy with his ‘Slim Shady’ performance—it was a TIME!. Back then, the VMAs felt like a cultural event where music videos mattered and performances went viral (even before “viral” was a thing). I watched eagerly to see my favorite pop stars and to be part of the collective conversation the next day at school.
But now, as I sat through this year’s show, I had difficulty distinguishing between different artists of today because they all sound the same. I know I sound dramatic, but it felt like a full-circle moment. I finally understood what it must have been like for older generations when they complained about the kind of music we were listening to. I’m left out, trying to make sense of the current music landscape.
This year marked the 40th anniversary of the VMAs—a milestone that should have brought some nostalgia but left me feeling more disconnected than ever. It wasn’t just the new faces, though. It was the format of the show itself that felt so far removed from the VMAs I grew up with. Back in the day, the VMAs were all about the music videos.
But in recent years, the VMAs have moved away from celebrating videos, instead handing out awards for things like “Song of the Year” and “Best Trending Video.” These are undeniably great categories but don’t carry the same weight as a groundbreaking music video. And honestly, it’s hard to care about an award when it’s fan-voted through social media—a change MTV introduced in 2006, handing over the power to the viewers.
As I’ve gotten older, I’m at a point where I wonder if these shows still matter at all. What is the point of a Moonman or a Grammy in a world where artists can go viral overnight on TikTok and rack up millions of streams without ever needing the validation of an award show?
Award shows, including the VMAs, have lost their spark. In the past, they provided a unique opportunity to see the biggest celebrities in one place, creating a sense of mystery and connection. These shows were raw, with bold performances, statements, and sometimes off-script moments, making them unpredictable and exciting. However, the internet has impacted the way we view these events.
Everything feels too planned and predictable these days. With a tap of a button on social media, we can now follow celebrities everywhere they go, eliminating the aura of mystery around them. Award presentations have well-orchestrated performances, and controversy-planning is nearly a given.
VMAs were a real spectacle—when performances stunned, when music videos meant something, and when winning felt like a real accomplishment. However, I was sitting there watching this year’s presentation. I’m beginning to think that the VMAs might just be a thing of a new generation. Maybe this is just part of growing older. And that’s cool. After all, I had mine, and the experience can never be duplicated.
