Music Awards -- An Overview

Music awards are presented to honor the work and outstanding achievements of professionals within the music industry. While there are music awards given by a number of different organizations, the Grammy Awards, the now defunct Billboard Music Awards and the American Music Awards have been considered to be the "Big Three" music awards ceremonies.

Grammy Awards

The Grammy Awards, often referred to as the Grammys and originally called the Gramophone Awards, were established in 1958; the Latin Grammy Awards launched in 2000 to recognize the height of achievement in Latin music recording. The awards are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States for outstanding achievements in the music industry. Some of the awards are presented in a televised ceremony each year, an event that also features performances by music artists.

Recordings may be submitted for review by entering them online and then sending a physical copy of the product to the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. More than 150 experts in the recording industry review the submissions to determine whether or not they are eligible or entered into the correct category. The experts are allowed to nominate up to five recordings for one general field (Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year and Best New Artist) and up to nine out of 30 other fields on their ballots. Votes are counted, and the five recordings that earn the most votes are the official nominees in each field; if there is a tie, more than five nominees are allowed. Recording Academy members then may vote in a general field and in no more than eight of the 30 fields, and following the vote count, winners are selected. The gramophone trophy is handmade and manufactured by Billings Artworks in Ridgway, Co. The trophies used for the broadcast ceremony are "stunt" Grammys.

Top Grammy Award Categories:
- Record of the Year
- Album of the Year
- Song of the Year
- Best New Artist

MTV Video Music Awards

The MTV Video Music Awards, often referred to as the VMAs, were established in 1984. The awards are presented annually to celebrate the top music videos of the year. The VMAs originally began as an alternative to the Grammy Awards, but have now become a respected pop culture awards show in their own right. The aired ceremony gathers the most popular bands and artists each year, but also brings iconic acts to the show.

According to MTV, nominees are chosen by a voting academy which consists of label reps, management reps, press, production companies and a few talent "tastemakers" plus a number of MTV.com account holders. In the past, members of the media chose winners; as of 2006, winners are determined by the general public through voting on MTV.com and via mobile. The statue given to winners is an astronaut on the moon, one of the earliest representations of MTV.

VMA Award Categories:
- Video of the Year
- Best Male Video
- Best Female Video
- Best New Artist
- Best Pop Video
- Best Rock Video
- Best Hip-Hop Video
- Breakthrough Video
- Best Direction in a Video
- Best Choreography in a Video
- Best Special Effects in a Video
- Best Art Direction in a Video
- Best Editing in a Video
- Best Cinematography in a Video
- Best Video (That Should Have Won a Moonman)
- MTV Video Vanguard Award
- Best Breakout New York City Artist Award

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, established in 1986, celebrates the history of some of the best-known and most influential musicians, bands, producers, and others that have in some major way influenced the music industry, particularly in the area of rock and roll. Artists become eligible for induction in the performers category 25 years after the release of their first record.

In order to be inducted, an artist must be nominated by a committee that selects anywhere from nine to a dozen candidates. Ballots are sent to 500 rock experts who then evaluate the candidates and vote on who should be inducted. The performers that receive the highest number of votes and more than 50 percent of the vote are inducted. The rest of the categories are voted on by special committees. Fans have no input concerning who is nominated or elected to the hall. Hall of Fame inductees are honored in a special exhibit inside the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's spire.

Award Categories:
- Performers
- Non-performers
- Early Influences
- Lifetime Achievement
- Sidemen

American Music Awards

The American Music Awards, often referred to as the AMAs, were created by Dick Clark in 1973 to compete with the Grammys. Although the American Music Awards are primarily for artists that originate from the United States, international artists have also won awards on the show, although this is in part of their large popularity in the United States. The awards are determined by a poll of music buyers, and as a result are representative of public opinion and popularity. Winners receive a pyramid-shaped crystal trophy.

Award Categories:
- Pop/Rock Male Artist
- Pop/Rock Female Artist
- Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group
- Country Male Artist
- Country Female Artist
- Country Band/Duo/Group
- Country Album
- Rap/Hip Hop Male Artist
- Rap/Hip Hop Band/Duo/Group
- Rap/Hip Hop Album
- Soul/R&B Male Artist
- Soul/R&B Female Artist
- Soul/R&B Band/Duo/Group
- Soul/R&B Album
- Soundtrack
- Alternative Artist
- Adult Contemporary Artist
- Latin Artist
- Contemporary Inspirational Artist
- Breakthrough Artist
- Honorary
- Merit
- Artist of the Year

Billboard Music Awards

The Billboard Music Awards, often called the BMAs and sponsored by Billboard magazine, were one of several United States music awards shows held annually. The awards ceremony went dormant in 2007. Honored winners were based on popularity; in this case, based on Billboard's year-end music charts, which are based on Nielsen data for sales, downloads and airplay. Additionally, the Billboard Latin Music Awards were established in 1990.

Award Categories
- Artist of the Year
- Male Artist of the Year
- Female Artist of the Year
- New Male Artist
- New Female Artist
- Duo/Group Artist of the Year
- New Group Artist
- Album of the Year
- Duo/Group Album of the Year
- Hot 100 Male Artist
- Hot 100 Female Artist
- Hot 100 Producer
- Hot 100 Songwriter
- Hot 100 Single of the Year
- R&B Artist
- R&B/Hip-Hop Group
- R&B Producer
- R&B Songwriter
- New R&B Artist
- New Male R&B Artist
- Rap Artist
- Country Artist
- Country Albums Artist
- Country Album
- Modern Rock Artist
- Modern Rock Track
- No. 1 Classical Crossover Artist
- No. 1 Classical Crossover Album
- Independent Album Artists
- Independent Album
- Bestselling Single
- Hot 100 Airplay Single of The Year
- Mainstream Top 40 Track
- Digital Track
- No. 1 Rhythmic Top 40 Title
- Soundtrack Single
- Century Award
- Concert Venue Award
- Touring Venue Award
- Billboard Century Award
- Artist of the Decade

World Music Awards

The World Music Awards, founded in 1989, honor recording artists. The show is broadcast to North and South America, all of Europe, the Middle East, Japan and Southeast Asia, all of China, some other parts of Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and all of Africa, reaching an estimated worldwide audience of around one billion viewers in over 160 countries. All the proceeds from the show go to the Monaco Aide and Presence Foundation, which assists underdeveloped areas, mainly in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Brazil. The nominations are based on worldwide sales figures provided by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI).

Award Categories:
- Legend Award
- Chopard Diamond Award
- Millennium Award
- World's Best Pop Female Artist
- World's Best Pop Male Artist
- World's Best Pop/Rock Female Artist
- World's Best Pop/Rock Male Artist
- World's Best Rock Act
- World's Best R&B Artist

Academy of Country Music Awards

The Academy of Country Music (ACM) was founded in 1964 in Los Angeles, Calif. as the Country and Western Music Academy. Whereas the Country Music Association founded in 1958 was based in Nashville, the Academy sought to promote country music in the western states.

The entire membership of the ACM receives a blank ballot on which they will write in one nomination for each award category. Any entry that receives 15 or more votes is then reviewed by a committee to ensure they meet all the criteria for that category, and the qualifying entries are released to the ACM members for voting. Members of the ACM then cast five votes for each category. The five nominees receiving the most votes move on to the last round for voting. Finally, members of the ACM cast one vote for each category. These are the final votes.

Award Categories:
- Artist of the Decade
- Entertainer of the Year
- Male Vocalist of the Year
- Female Vocalist of the Year
- Song of the Year
- Single of the Year
- Album of the Year
- Top Vocal Duo
- Top Vocal Group
- Top New Artist
- Top New Male Vocalist
- Top New Female Vocalist
- Top New Duo or Vocal Group
- Video of the Year
- Vocal Event of the Year
- Crystal Milestone Award

Country Music Association Awards

The Country Music Association Awards, also known as the CMA Awards or the CMAs, were first were presented at an untelevised ceremony in Nashville's Municipal Auditorium in 1967. The show features performances from top country music stars as well as up-and-coming new artists.

CMA award winners are chosen in voting by industry professional members of the Country Music Association, peers in the music industry. Each CMA member may nominate one act in each category on the first ballot. The top 20 qualified vote recipients that receive at least 10 votes in each category will become an official nominee, and will then be submitted to the entire CMA membership on the second ballot. On the second ballot, CMA members must vote for up to five nominees in each category. The results are tabulated, and the five receiving the most votes in each category are listed as finalists on the third ballot. On the final ballot, members vote for one in each category to determine the winners.

Award Categories:
- Entertainer of the Year
- Song of the Year
- Single of the Year
- Album of the Year
- Male Vocalist of the Year
- Female Vocalist of the Year
- Vocal Duo of the Year
- Vocal Group of the Year
- Musician of the Year
- New Artist of the Year
- Musical Event of the Year
- Music Video of the Year

CMT Music Awards

The CMT Music Awards are fan-voted awards for country music videos and television performances. The show was first established in 2002 as the CMT Flameworthy Video Music Awards, and the name of the show was changed to the CMT Music Awards in 2005. The awards ceremony is held every year in Nashville, Tenn. and broadcast live on CMT. Voting for nominees takes place on CMT's website, CMT.com.

Award Categories:
- Video of the Year
- Duo Video of the Year
- Male Video of the Year
- Wide Open Country Video of the Year
- Collaborative Video of the Year
- Female Video of the Year
- Performance of the Year
- Video Director of the Year
- USA Weekend Breakthrough Video of the Year
- Group Video of the Year

The BET Awards

The BET Awards were established in 2001 by the Black Entertainment Television network to celebrate African Americans and other minorities in music, acting, sports, and other fields of entertainment. The awards are presented annually and broadcast live on BET. BET commissioned Artist/Sculptor and hip hop culture icon Carlos "Mare 139" Rodriguez to design the award sculpture.

Award Categories:
- Lifetime Achievement Award
- Humanitarian Award
- Award for Viewer's Choice
- Best Female R&B Artist
- Best Male R&B Artist
- Best Group
- Best Female Hip-Hop Artist
- Best Male Hip-Hop Artist
- Best New Artist
- Best Gospel Artist
- Video of the Year

The BET Hip Hop Awards

The BET Hip Hop Awards, established in 2006, are an annual awards show, hosted by BET, for hip hop performers, producers and music video directors.

Award Categories:
- I Am Hip Hop Award
- People's Champ Award
- Best Hip Hop Collaboration
- MVP of the Year
- Lyricist of the Year
- Rookie of the Year
- CD of the Year
- DJ of the Year
- Best Live Performer
- Best Hip Hop Video
- Hustler of the Year
- Producer of the Year
- Director of the Year
- Track of the Year
- Made-You-Look
- Best Hip Hop Blog

Dove Awards

The Gospel Music Association (GMA) Dove Awards were created in 1969 by the Gospel Music Association to honor the outstanding achievements in Christian music. The awards, representing a wide variety of musical styles -- including metal, pop, rock, rap & hip hop, country, gospel, and praise and worship -- are presented annually in Nashville, Tenn. From 2004-2006, they were officially called the GMA Music Awards, but have since returned to the better known title of Dove Awards. Voters are all GMA members, and usually work in the industry.

Top Award Categories:
- Song of the Year
- Songwriter of the Year
- Male Vocalist of the Year
- Female Vocalist of the Year
- Group of the Year
- Artist of the Year
- New Artist of the Year
- Producer of the Year