High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The 2002 MTV Video Music Awards aired live on August 29, 2002, honoring the best music videos from June 9, 2001, to May 31, 2002. The show was hosted by Jimmy Fallon at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City. It is most remembered for Michael Jackson`s acceptance of a birthday statue, which he believed to be an "Artist of the Millennium Award". The lead acts were Eminem performing and winning 4 moonmans including `Video Of The Year`, Avril Lavigne performing, presenting and winning her first award ever for `Best New Artist`, the debut of Christina Aguilera`s new "dirrty" look, and the return of Axl Rose to the stage with his new version of Guns N` Roses, his first live performance in eight years.