Music awards shows are an exciting way to honour the achievements of musicians worldwide. From prestigious ceremonies to fan-voted events, these award shows recognize the incredible talent in all genres of music. Here are ten of the most prominent music awards shows that have made waves on the world stage.
Grammy Awards
The Grammy is one of the most coveted prizes in the entertainment industry. It recognises musical excellence in categories like song, record and album of the year. It is the only music award that is voted upon by members of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, a professional association for those involved in the recording industry. This includes singers, composers, songwriters, producers, and technicians.
Founded in 1958, the Grammy is presented in a televised ceremony each February. Winners are honoured with a gold-plated statuette of a gramophone. This is the only major music award that is open to both performing and non-performing artists.
VMAs
The MTV Video Music Awards, or the VMAAs for short, is an annual award show that is hosted by MTV. It has become a platform for some of the biggest names in music to showcase their latest and greatest videos and performances. It is a competition that highlights the best in the music industry and is considered to be a precursor for success in the mainstream.
In 2013, Miley Cyrus took the VMAs by storm with her raunchy performance of “We Can’t Stop”. This caused quite a lot of controversy but it still remains to be a memorable performance for many people. Then again, we can’t forget Robin Thicke’s faux pas of dancing with a giant foam finger while singing “Blurred Lines” which also made waves.
Billboard Music Awards
The Billboard Music awards are a series of accolades that honour the best in American music. The winners are based on sales, streaming, radio airplay and touring and social engagement that is tracked by Billboard. The Billboard Music Awards has been running since 1990.
ECHO Awards
The ECHO Awards are an annual accolade by Deutsche Phono-Akademie (the German equivalent of the RIAA) that honours recording achievements in Germany and Austria. It is a recognition for artists, producers and engineers who have made significant contributions to the music industry. Winners receive a golden gramophone-like trophy, designed to resemble the program’s mascot, an actual train.
Ivor Novello Awards
The Ivor Novello Awards, or the Ivors for short, are awarded to British songwriters and composers who demonstrate exceptional creative talent. They are named after the Greek muse Euterpe, who was responsible for music and poetry.
The 2023 Billboard Music Awards will be a revamped version of the show that focuses on the changing ways fans consume music and the ways they engage with their favorite artists. We spoke with Maddy Mesevage, SVP, marketing for dick clark productions, and Alexi Mazareas, VP of programming and development for the BBMAs to get the inside scoop on how they plan to make this new incarnation of the show successful.