Which group won MTV’s first Video of the Year award in 1984?

The Cars won MTV’s first Video of the Year award in 1984.

The band won for its video “You Might Think” at the inaugural MTV Video Music Awards on September 14, 1984. The clip used early computer-generated and optical effects, including playful transformations and surreal visual gags, making it a memorable example of MTV’s emerging video culture.

The Cars’ victory was significant because it placed inventive visual production at the center of a major music award. The Video of the Year category became the VMAs’ most prominent competitive prize and has since recognized videos across rock, pop, hip-hop, R&B, and other genres.

Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” is often recalled when people think of early MTV video landmarks, but it did not win this first Video of the Year award. The Cars won the inaugural category over a field that included major contemporary artists.