In 1996, Nick Cave was nominated by MTV in the Best Male Artist category for the VMAs. In response to this nomination, he sent the following letter to MTV.
To all those at MTV,
I would like to start by
thanking you all for the support you have given me over recent years and I am
both grateful and flattered by the
nominations that i have recevied for Best Male Artist. The
air play given to both the
Kylie Minogue and
P.J. Harvey duets from my latest album, "
Murder Ballads," has not gone unnoticed and has been greatly appreciated. So again
my sincere thanks.
Having said that, I feel that it's necessary for me to
request that my nomination for Best Male Artist be withdrawn and furthermore any
awards or nominations for such awards that may arise in later years be presented to those who feel more comfortable with the
competitive nature of these
awards ceremonies. I myself, do not. I have always been of the opinion that
my music is unique and individual and exists beyond the realms inhabited by those who would reduce things to mere measuring.
I am in competition with no one.
My relationship with my
muse is a
delicate one at the best of times and I feel that it is my duty to protect her from influences that may offend her
fragile nature. She comes to me with
the gift of song and in return I treat her with the
respect she deserves - in this case this means not subjecting her to the indignities of judgement and competition.
My muse is not a horse and I am in no horse race and if indeed she was, still I would not harness her to this
tumbrel - this bloody cart of severed heads and glittering prizes. My muse
may spook!
may bolt! may abandon me completely!
So once again, to the people at MTV, I appreciate the
zeal and energy that was put behind my last record, I truly do and say thank you and again I say thank you but no...
no thank you.
Your sincerely,
Nick Cave