MTV’s annual music-video trophy was originally called the Moonman before being renamed the Moon Person.
The award statuette was inspired by MTV’s early station-identification imagery, which showed an astronaut planting the MTV flag on the Moon. The design became one of the most recognizable symbols in music television and was used from the first Video Music Awards in 1984.
In 2017, MTV changed the wording from Moonman to Moon Person. The redesign and renaming reflected the network’s effort to use a more gender-neutral identity for its signature prize, while retaining the astronaut concept.
The trophy is often simply called a VMA by viewers and journalists. It is separate from other MTV honors, including the Video Vanguard Award, which recognizes major contributions to music video and visual culture.