World Music Awards
The
World Music Awards (founded in
1989) is an international awards show that annually honors
recording artists based on their popularity, and worldwide sales figures, which are provided by the various organisations including record companies and the
International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI).
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Prince Albert of Monaco |
The awards show is conducted under the patronage of H.S.H.
Prince Albert of Monaco,
Monte-Carlo. Until
2003 the show was conducted in
Monte Carlo. The
2004 show was held in
Las Vegas (
USA) on
September 15. The
2005 show was held at the
Kodak Theater in
Los Angeles,
California. The show is broadcast to
North and
South America,
Australia,
Japan and
South East Asia, all of mainland
China,
New Zealand, all of
Africa and the
Middle East, and all of
Europe, reaching an estimated worldwide audience of one billion viewers, in over 160 countries [
1]. John Martinotti is an executive producer and co-founder of the show.
All the proceeds from the show go to the Monaco Aide and Presence Foundation, which assist underdeveloped areas mainly in
Africa,
Asia,
Eastern Europe and
Brazil. So far, many projects have been successfully caried out; a hospital at
Port Bouet in
Côte d'Ivoire serving a population of over 170000 inhabitants, a home in Katukuranda,
Sri Lanka for handicapped girls, a hospital and school in
Niger, and a hospital in
Cambodia. Additionally, a home for abandoned children in Brazil, plus a village for the homeless in
Madagascar have been constructed, and the complete renovation of an existing hospital in Mokatam,
Egypt [
2].
The show was broadcast in the
United States by the
American Broadcasting Company (ABC) on
September 13 2005. It featured appearances by many American and Latino pop stars, such as
Destiny's Child,
Mariah Carey,
Kelly Clarkson,
Fantasia Barrino,
Shakira,
Ricky Martin,
Carlos Santana,
Rob Thomas,
Michelle Branch,
Stevie Wonder,
Kid Rock,
Eminem,
50 Cent,
Jay-Z, and
Snoop Dogg. It also featured a performance by Australian adult contemporary/pop music star
Delta Goodrem, who won the Best Selling Australian Artist Award for the second year in a row.
Patti Labelle,
Usher,
Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds,
Teairra MarÃ,
Rihanna and
Amerie paid tribute to
Destinys Child, who received an award for being the best-selling female group of all time, and
Patti LaBelle, Kid Rock, and Stevie Wonder also performed songs dedicated to honoring the victims of the most recent U.S. natural disaster,
Hurricane Katrina, which ravaged the city of
New Orleans,
Louisiana.
According to the official World Music Awards website: "The World's best-selling recording-artists in the various categories are determined after a thorough research conducted by the organization on record certifications and record company sales figures" [
3]. The national member associations of the
International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) is the organisation that provides the World music organisation with the names of their overall best-selling artists and groups.
*
See 2004 Award Winners*
See 2005 Award Winners*
National AwardsEach year, the WMS awards the best selling artist from each major country.
*
Legend AwardsLegend Awards are given to artists "in recognition of their global success and outstanding contribution to the music industry" [
4]Past winners include
Amr Diab,
Michael Jackson,
Mariah Carey,
Celine Dion,
Elton John,
Stevie Wonder,
Ray Charles,
Ace of Base,
Diana Ross,
Julio Iglesias,
Tina Turner,
Rod Stewart,
Lionel Richie, the
Bee Gees,
Tony Bennett,
Plácido Domingo,
Luciano Pavarotti,
Whitney Houston,
Prince,
Janet Jackson,
Carlos Santana and
Cher.
*
Chopard Diamond AwardThe
Chopard Diamond World Music Award is a new award, given to artists who have sold over 100 million albums over the course of their careers. Past winners are
Rod Stewart,
Mariah Carey,
Celine Dion, and
Bon Jovi.
*
Millennium Awards.Apart from the world's best-selling artists in the various categories and the national best-selling artists, special
millennium awards were presented in
2000, for the very first time to the world's best-selling recording-artist of all time . The awards were presented to
Michael Jackson and
Mariah Carey in the male and female categories respectively.
Most WMAs won
*
Mariah Carey has received sixteen World Music Awards, the most WMAs for any recording artist.
*
Michael Jackson has the most for a male artist, with fourteen awards.
Most WMAs won in a single year
*
Whitney Houston has the record for winning five Awards at the
1994 WMA show. Some of these include, World's Best Selling
R&B Artist, World's Best Selling Overall Recording Artist, and World's Best Selling Recording Artist of the
Era [
5].
*Two years later, Michael Jackson tied this record at the
1996 World Music Awards show. Some of his awards include "Best Selling Album Of All Time,
Thriller, Best Selling Male Artist of 1996, and Best Selling Artist Ever [
6].
#
World Music Awards; section entitled "The Awards"*
WorldMusicAwards.com â€" Official show's site.
