MTV Icon (stylized asmtv:ICON) is a series of annualtelevision specials produced byMTV between 2001 and 2004, each payinghomage to a musical artist or band selected as acultural icon, in a format similar to the network's annualVideo Music Awards andMovie Awards events. A live audience of musicians, celebrities, and fans would view abiographical film depicting the career of that year's chosen icon, interspersed by celebrity introductions and live performances of popular artists playingcover versions of the icon's songs. The iconic artist would then accept an award and perform a live set of their own at the close of the show. The series celebratedJanet Jackson in 2001,Aerosmith in 2002,Metallica in 2003, andThe Cure in 2004.
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Americanpop singerJanet Jackson was selected as MTV's inaugural Icon, in an event held inLos Angeles, California.[1] Performers at the ceremony included'N Sync,Pink,Usher,Outkast,Destiny's Child,Macy Gray,Mýa andBuckcherry.[1] Celebrity presenters includedBritney Spears,Jessica Simpson,Jennifer Lopez,Aaliyah,Christina Aguilera,Stevie Wonder,Michael Jackson, and record producersJimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.[1] Jackson herself concluded the event with a performance of herBillboard Hot 100 number-one single "All for You".[1] The event was the highest rated television show of the night among the female 12-24 demographic, ahead of all broadcast and cable programs.[2]MTV decided to develop the special as an annual franchise for other artists following the event's success.[2] The show was held atSony Pictures Studios inCulver City.
| Performer(s) | Song(s) |
|---|---|
| Outkast | "Ms. Jackson" |
| Destiny's Child | "Let's Wait Awhile" |
| Macy Gray | "Love Will Never Do (Without You)" |
| 'N Sync | "That's the Way Love Goes" |
| Pink,Usher, andMýa | Dance medley of "Miss You Much", "Alright", "The Pleasure Principle", "If" and "Rhythm Nation" |
| Buckcherry | "Nasty" |
| Janet Jackson | "All for You/You Ain't Right" |
In 2002hard rock bandAerosmith was chosen as MTV's Icon.[3] MTV Entertainment President Brian Graden remarked that "Aerosmith is one of those very few bands whose influence pre-dates and spans the entire history of MTV. They have become a fixture at the network, and we are thrilled to be able to honor them in this fashion for their continuing contributions to music and music video."[3] The event began with the previous year's iconJanet Jackson delivering atestimonial about the band, and featured performances byThe X-Ecutioners,Nelly,Ja Rule,DJ Clue,Sum 41,Pink,Shakira,Kid Rock,Train, andPapa Roach, concluding with a five-song set by Aerosmith themselves.[3] The show was held atSony Pictures Studios inCulver City.
| Performer(s) | Song(s) |
|---|---|
| The X-Ecutioners | medley of "Sweet Emotion", "Dude (Looks Like a Lady)", "Love in an Elevator", and "Walk This Way" |
| Nelly,Ja Rule,DJ Clue, andSum 41 | "Walk This Way" |
| Pink | "Janie's Got a Gun" |
| Shakira | "Dude (Looks Like a Lady)" |
| Kid Rock | medley of "Mama Kin" and "Last Child" |
| Train | "Dream On" |
| Papa Roach | "Sweet Emotion" |
| Aerosmith | "Movin' Out", "Toys in the Attic", "Cryin'", "Girls of Summer", and "Train Kept A-Rollin'" |
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Heavy metal bandMetallica was selected as MTV's Icon for 2003, with the event held inUniversal City, California.[4] It featured performances bySum 41,Staind,Avril Lavigne,Snoop Dogg,Korn, andLimp Bizkit, as well as celebrity appearances byRob Zombie,Lisa Marie Presley,Jim Breuer,Sean Penn, and others.[4] The special concluded with Metallica performing amedley of songs from their early albums, spanning 1983 to 1991, followed by their most recent single, "Frantic". It was their first television appearance with bassistRobert Trujillo, who had joined the band just a few months prior.[4] MTV set up a website to promote the special, featuring testimonials by celebrities and musicians includingKelly Osbourne,Godsmack'sSully Erna,Ja Rule, andLinkin Park's Dave "Phoenix" Farrell andChester Bennington.[5]
| Performer(s) | Song(s) |
|---|---|
| Sum 41 | medley of "For Whom the Bell Tolls", "Enter Sandman", and "Master of Puppets" |
| Staind | "Nothing Else Matters" |
| Avril Lavigne | "Fuel" |
| Snoop Dogg | "Sad but True" |
| Korn | "One" |
| Limp Bizkit | "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)" |
| Metallica | medley of "Hit the Lights", "Enter Sandman", "Blackened", "Creeping Death", and "Battery"; "Frantic" |
The 2004 MTV Icon special was held at theOld Billingsgate Market inLondon to a crowd of over 1,000 and namedpost-punk/gothic rock bandThe Cure as the icon of the year.[6]Marilyn Manson hosted the event, which featuredBlink-182,AFI,Razorlight, andDeftones performing cover versions of Cure songs.[6] Cure frontmanRobert Smith joined Blink-182 onstage to perform "All of This", a song he had sung on for theiruntitled 2003 album.[6] During set changes the audience were shown many of the band's music videos from throughout their career.[6] The Cure themselves closed the show by performing a number of songs including "Friday I'm in Love".[6] Their performances of "Taking Off", and "10:15 Saturday Night" were selected to be shown in the final broadcast, representing bookends of their career ("Taking Off" being their most recent single while "10:15 Saturday Night" was the first track ontheir 1979 debut album). Tim Weber ofBBC News remarked of the performance that "from the first riff it was obvious that they have managed to haul their music firmly into the 21st century. The Cure may still be the masters of mourning, but their performance had an edge and drive that would do anynu metal band proud. Even old favourites like 'Friday I'm in Love' were—almost—purged of the popcorn sound of theNew Wave 1980s."[6]MTV Icon: The Cure premiered October 31, 2004, onMTV2.[6]
| Performer(s) | Song(s) |
|---|---|
| Blink-182 | "A Letter to Elise", "All of This" (withRobert Smith) |
| AFI | "Just Like Heaven" |
| Razorlight | "Boys Don't Cry" |
| Deftones | "If Only Tonight We Could Sleep" |
| The Cure | "Friday I'm in Love", "Taking Off", and "10:15 Saturday Night" |