Nirvana MTV Unplugged Geffen Records Label Award

Nirvana MTV Unplugged In New York DGC Records (David Geffen Company) Label Award. Nirvana’s hugely successful “Unplugged” album was released November 1, 1994 and was quickly a smash success, with acoustic versions of the group’s hits and some great surprise covers. By 2020 the classic album was certified 8x Multi-Platinum by the RIAA. (Note: This is not a RIAA award).

Recorded at Sony Music Studios in New York City on Nov. 18, 1993 for the MTV Unplugged television series, this was the first Nirvana album released after Kurt Cobain’s untimely death. Unsurprisingly, it went to #1 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart. Composed of Nirvana hits including “Come As You Are”, “All Apologies”, and a selection of lesser known Nirvana tunes, it also featured an eclectic selection of cover tracks from David Bowie, Leadbelly, Meat Puppets and the Vaselines. The album won the Best Alternative Music Performance Grammy award in 1996. 

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Item Highlights:

• DGC Records label award for Nirvana “MTV Unplugged In New York” from 1995
• In VG condition
• Presented to record industry executive
• All original award including manufacturer label on backing paper
• Award measures approx. 17″ x 21″
• Great collectors item for any Nirvana fan
• FREE insured shipping to continental U.S.
• International shipping available

Detailed Item Description: This is a DGC Records label award that would have been manufactured in approx. 1995, making it 26 years old. It is presented to Jonathan Lev, a promotions and marketing executive who worked with rock, pop and alternative artists including Nirvana, Sevendust, Coldplay, Blur, Green Day, U2, Pearl Jam, The Red Hot Chili Peppers and many more.

The award is in VG condition with great photos from the MTV Unplugged performance. It has two small chips on the frame (one 1-3/4″ on the top backside) which have been touched up and essentially unnoticeable when the award is hung on the wall. The award has its’ original back with Fitzgerald Hartley manufacturer sticker, a company that made both RIAA and label awards during this time period. 

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Notes on the condition of all vintage awards: Please do not buy this item if you want a brand new piece of memorabilia. These are historical artifacts from the year they were produced. As a result they may show signs of wear. Frankly, if you see a 20 to 50-year-old award purported to be in 100% perfect condition, it might be too good to be true. After all, an antique should have “good’ wear. If not, you might want to question the piece.

As to where they came from, they could have been displayed in record label offices, recording studios, artist manager’s offices, radio stations, private collector’s homes and yes, of course, possibly the artist’s or songwriter’s home. Typically, we don’t know all the places they may have been over the years other than what we’ve stated in the description.

Finally, a word on photos: Our photos are zoomable so you can get a very good look. Do let us know if you want photos of any other details on our pieces and we’ll be happy to provide. 

*RIAA sales data source: RIAA.com