MAD Video Music Awards

The MAD Video Music Awards is Greece's only annual music awards ceremony, organized by MAD TV since 2004. The awards celebrate achievements in Greek music videos and popular music across 20 categories, with winners voted entirely by viewers. The 22nd edition took place in 2025 at the Faliro Sports Pavilion Arena in Athens, with Anna Vissi, Marina Satti, and MELISSES among the top winners.

How the MAD Video Music Awards Work

The awards follow a fan-driven selection process:

1. Nominations: Nominees are selected based on music video airplay on MAD TV, digital streaming performance, radio airplay data, and social media engagement. The Greek music market is the primary focus, with categories spanning pop, laiko, urban, dance, and ballad genres.
2. Voting: Winners are determined entirely by public voting through the MAD TV website and social media channels. This makes the MAD VMAs the only major music awards in Greece where fans decide all outcomes. Voting typically opens in the weeks leading up to the ceremony.
3. Ceremony: The awards ceremony takes place annually in late June or early summer, broadcast on Greek television. The event has been held at the Faliro Sports Pavilion Arena in Athens since 2010 (with occasional venue changes). The 2025 edition was the 22nd ceremony.

The awards were first held in 2004 at the Theatro Vrahon (Melina Mercouri Open Air Theatre) in Athens. The 17th edition in 2020 was initially canceled due to COVID-19 but was eventually held without a live audience on December 7-8, 2020, and broadcast on January 2, 2021.

Real-World Example: The 22nd Edition (2025)

The 2025 MAD Video Music Awards, presented by DEI, took place at the Faliro Sports Pavilion Arena in Athens. Anna Vissi was the biggest winner of the night, taking home two awards: Video of the Year for "Se Periptosi Pou" and Viral Song of the Year for the same track.

Marina Satti also won two awards. She took Best Album for "P.O.P.," a record that blends Greek sounds, Mediterranean rhythms, and modern production. She also won Best Pop/Adult for "Ah Thalassa," a song with international production quality.

MELISSES won Pop Artist of the Year, confirming their influence in the Greek pop scene. Eleni Foureira won Best Performer for 2025, marking her 15th year appearing on the MAD VMA stage. She also won Viral Artist of the Year. Despina Vandi and Mente Fuerte won both Airplay Song and Best Duet for "Panselinios."

Klavdia won Best Ballad for "Asteromata." Apon won Digital Song of the Year for "Vorias." Konstantinos Argiros took Laiko Artist of the Year, and Katerini Lioliou won Best Laiko for "O Antras Ton Oneiron Mou."

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

The MAD Video Music Awards are entirely fan-voted, which means independent Greek artists with dedicated fanbases can compete directly with established major label acts. The 20 categories cover a wide range of genres, from pop and dance to laiko and urban, giving artists in niche Greek genres a realistic path to a nomination.

The Best New Artist category specifically targets emerging talent. Social media engagement directly feeds into both nominations and voting, so artists who build strong online communities have a clear advantage. Eleni Foureira's 15-year run on the MAD VMA stage shows that consistent fan engagement sustains awards relevance over a long career.

For independent artists in the Greek market, focus on music video production (since MAD TV is a video music channel), social media engagement, and streaming performance during the eligibility period. Use our Streaming Royalty Calculator to track your performance. Check the MAD VMA website for voting dates and eligibility requirements.

Award Categories Explained

The MAD Video Music Awards presents honors across approximately 20 categories covering Greek popular music.

• Video of the Year - the top honor, awarded for the best music video of the eligibility period
• Album of the Year - recognizes the best Greek album
• Viral Song of the Year - honors the song with the highest social media engagement and viral reach
• Best New Artist - targets emerging talent in the Greek music scene
• Best Pop Video - awarded for the best pop music video
• Best Pop/Adult - recognizes pop music with adult contemporary appeal
• Best Modern Laiko Video - honors modern laiko (Greek urban folk) music videos
• Best Laiko Artist - recognizes the top artist in the laiko genre
• Best Urban Video - awarded for the best urban/hip-hop music video
• Best Greek Dance Video - recognizes the best dance music video
• Best Ballad Video - honors the best ballad music video
• Best Duet - awarded for the best collaborative video
• Best Performer - recognizes the most compelling live performer
• Best Digital Song - honors the top digital release
• Airplay Song - awarded based on radio airplay data
• Social Media Hero - recognizes the artist with the strongest social media presence
• Honorary Award - a special award for lifetime contribution to Greek music

Notable Past Winners

The 2025 ceremony was the 22nd edition, held on June 29 at the Faliro Sports Pavilion Arena in Athens and broadcast on Mega Channel. Anna Vissi and Marina Satti each won two awards.

Video Highlights

Eligibility and Submission Info

Nominees are selected based on music video airplay on MAD TV, digital streaming performance, radio airplay data, and social media engagement across the Greek music market. There is no formal submission process for artists. The MAD TV editorial team compiles nominees based on performance data during the eligibility period.

Winners are determined entirely by public voting through the MAD TV website and social media channels. Voting typically opens in the weeks leading up to the ceremony. This makes the MAD VMAs the only major music awards in Greece where fans decide all outcomes.

There is no entry fee. Artists cannot directly submit their work for consideration. Instead, building strong streaming numbers, social media engagement, and music video airplay on MAD TV during the eligibility period increases the chances of nomination.

The ceremony takes place annually in late June at the Faliro Sports Pavilion Arena in Athens. Check the MAD VMA website for voting dates and eligibility requirements.

Related Resources

• Streaming Royalty Calculator - Track streaming performance that feeds into MAD VMA nominations
• Target Streams Calculator - Set streaming goals for awards eligibility
• 21 Ways Musicians Can Earn Income - Build revenue alongside awards strategy
• How to Get Your Music on Spotify Playlists - Playlist placement drives streaming data behind nominations
• When and How to Hire a Music Manager - A manager can help coordinate awards campaigns in the Greek market

Similar Awards

• MTV European Music Awards - European fan-voted music awards
• Eurovision Song Contest - Pan-European music competition where Greek artists compete
• Sanremo Music Festival - Italian music festival and awards ceremony
• NRJ Music Awards - French fan-voted music awards