The Hollywood Music Video Awards (HMVAs) returned for the second time at the W Hollywood Hotel on Saturday night. Hundreds of music industry creatives gathered for an evening to celebrate the people who work hard behind the scenes to produce high-profile visuals for some of today’s biggest artists.
In an interview with Annenberg Media, HMVA’s founder and president, Danny Pollack, spoke on the reason why he wanted to create this award show.
“The people behind the curtains don’t always get the most love and flowers as they should. The VMAs are about the artist, and this is about the creators,” Pollack said. “We wanted to have a night to celebrate the unsung heroes of the videos.”
That appreciation was present as directors, cinematographers, editors, stylists and production designers mingled on the red carpet and applauded inside the venue. Many spoke about the collaborative nature of their work and the importance of recognition within an industry often focused primarily on performers.
Fashion director and costume designer Orchid Satellite caught attention as she walked down the carpet in a curated vintage look inspired by the 1980s, paired with handmade earrings from the 1960s. Her outfit and overall style reflected her work in the industry.
“I’ve been lucky enough to work on [Lady Gaga’s] team for the last two years, and it’s been one of the most fulfilling parts of my career,” Satellite said in an interview with Annenberg Media. “Working with a talent that has such level-headedness and joy and trust, for the talent [Gaga] works with, has been incredible.”
Currently, Satellite is working on finding custom vintage pieces for Gaga’s tour and contributed to the highly successful “Beyoncé Bowl” performance.
“I made the patterns and the sample designs you see the talent wearing,” Satellite said.
Creatives were honored across major categories, including Best Directing, Best Cinematography and Music Video of the Year, which was awarded to the team behind Rosalía’s hit song “Berghain.”
Other winners were recognized in more specialized categories, such as Best Animation, awarded to the team behind George Harrison’s “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)” animated music video.
Animator Akash Jones, who helped bring Harrison to life through stop-motion animation, described the process as both technically demanding and emotionally meaningful.
“We didn’t take the task lightly,” he said. “Stop motion takes a long time, and it’s very rewarding.”
For many of the night’s winners, the awards served not only as recognition but as the motivation to continue experimenting and pushing creative boundaries within the music industry.
But also, that their hard work wasn’t going unnoticed.
Pollack hinted at the future growth of the ceremony, emphasizing plans to expand its industry impact beyond a single night of celebration.
“In years three to five, you’re going to see artists more involved, and more seminars,” Pollack said. “It’ll be a place for people to be recognized and get an accolade for what they do.”
As the night wrapped, the message of the Hollywood Music Awards was clear: music videos aren’t just about the artists, but also about the creatives who bring their visions to life.
The event created a space where creatives could connect, learn and receive recognition for the work they do that brings music to the big screen.
Watch our recap on the USC Arts, Culture and Entertainment instagram page!
Jenny Pietrzik and Emily Geigh Nichols conducted red carpet interviews for the story.