The MTV Video Music Award for Video for Good is an award handed out at the yearly MTV Video Music Awards, first introduced at the 2011 ceremony. Originally named Best Video with a Message, the word "Social" was added to its name in 2013.
For the 2017 ceremony, the award was renamed Best Fight Against the System while still being known for awarding videos that address current social and political subjects. In 2018, the award's name became Video with a Message, and in 2019, it was changed to its current title.
The inaugural winner of the category was Lady Gaga. As of 2025, Billie Eilish is the biggest winner with three awards, followed by John Legend and Big Sean with two each. Eilish and Demi Lovato are also the most nominated artists, with four nominations each.
Recipients
2010s + Year Winner(s) Video Nominees Lady Gaga "Born This Way" Demi Lovato "Skyscraper" Macklemore and Ryan Lewis "Same Love" Beyoncé "Pretty Hurts" Big Sean "One Man Can Change the World" colspan="4" Big Sean — "Light" Alessia Cara — "Scars to Your Beautiful" The Hamilton Mixtape (K'naan, Snow Tha Product, Riz MC, & Residente) – "Immigrants (We Get the Job Done)" John Legend — "Surefire" Logic – "Black Spiderman" Taboo – "Stand Up / Stand N Rock #NoDAPL" Childish Gambino "This is America" Taylor Swift "You Need to Calm Down"
2020s + Year Winner(s) Video Nominees H.E.R. "I Can't Breathe" Billie Eilish "Your Power" Lizzo "About Damn Time" Dove Cameron "Breakfast" 2024 Billie Eilish "What Was I Made For? (From The Motion Picture Barbie)" 2025 Charli XCX (featuring Billie Eilish) "Guess"
Statistics Artists with multiple wins 3 wins Billie Eilish
2 wins Big Sean John Legend
Artists with multiple nominations 4 nominations Billie Eilish Demi Lovato
3 nominations John Legend Taylor Swift Alessia Cara
2 nominations Beyoncé Big Sean Drake Eminem H.E.R. Jelly Roll Kelly Clarkson Logic Rihanna
Notes
References