Awards shows are a huge part of music culture and are a fantastic way for artists to get the recognition they deserve. There are a whole host of awards ceremonies that happen throughout the year, from the huge Grammys to more local events such as The Brit Awards or The Mercury Prize. These shows can be a massive boost to any artist, especially if they win.
The major music awards are the American Music Awards (held each Fall), the Billboard Music Awards, and the Grammys. A fourth major award is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony which happens in the spring.
Often times, these award shows also include performances from some of the nominated musicians. This is true of the AMAs which usually features a big lineup every year, and it’s also true of the Grammys which has featured a wide array of artists over the years.
However, that doesn’t mean that music awards don’t have their own controversies. Some of the biggest controversies have involved the Grammys. One of the most notable is when The Weeknd missed out on a nomination for his album ‘After Hours’ in 2020 and subsequently boycotted all future Grammy awards shows. His decision was based on the idea that the Grammys are ‘corrupt’ and don’t reflect popular taste.
Other controversies have included the fact that the Grammys have historically been more focused on commercially successful artists rather than those who are genuinely talented. This has changed somewhat in recent years as the number of categories was reduced and genres such as rock and rap were more fully recognized.
In addition to these more mainstream awards, there are a number of less well known and niche music awards. One of these is the Mercury Prize which has become something of an equivalent to the Turner Prize in the art world and the Booker Prize in literature. It is a prestigious award which gives exposure to up and coming artists as well as rewarding genuine artistic achievement.
Another example is the Ivor Novello Awards which are given to songwriters and composers for their work. This is a prestigious and long standing award which has been in existence since 1922. Other less well known music awards include the Scottish Album of the Year, The Norwegian P3 Prize and Spellemannprisen (Norway). All of these awards are a great way to help keep the industry thriving and give upcoming artists something to aspire to. They also serve to celebrate the success of those at the very top of their respective fields. A very worthwhile thing to do!