The music industry is one of the biggest segments of entertainment in the world today. The best confession that musicians around the world can comfortably make today is that music pays. From selling records to receiving royalties from affiliates and performing in concerts, there is no shortage of channels through which revenue streams.
Prize money is another channel through which musicians make money. The big trophies bring with them untold prestige, but artists equally love the monetary gains that come with them. This is the reason why the largest music awards are always a big deal each year.
Grammy Awards
This is one of the most iconic awards in the US. It is a fete organized by The Recording Academy since 1959 as a way to recognize the best acts from various genres and categories. Besides winning, the event itself is a big deal- a red-carpet affair where dress, performances, and interactions are very significant. The name ‘Grammy’ comes from the design of the gong that winners receive – a gramophone-shaped trophy.
MTV Awards
This is an award run by the MTV channel to honor musicians who have had the best videos over the past year, and boy is it popular! Originally designed to replace the Grammy in 1984, the award also known as the VMA is now a stand-alone award.
Musicians covet it because of the acclaim it gets from the huge population of young music lovers, which is a symbol of a growing fan base.
Brit Awards
In the UK, the Brit award is the cream of music success. It is a gala created by the British Phonographic Industry to award the best in the industry. Robbie Williams is quite familiar with the Brits, having won it 13 times alone and five times as a member of the group Take That. They literally took that!
American Music Awards
The AMAs set the tempo for musical awards in the US every year. The 45-year-old (debut 1974) award happens in the fall and is often a good indicator of which artists are going to have a good year.
Billboard Awards
The Billboards happen in May every year, technically bringing an end to the music awards season in the US. Since it began in 1990, this award has often been a sign of how an artist is performing in the market of selling songs. Billboard is also a chart company.
World Music Awards
This is the one award that brings together artists from all around the world. America loves to come and dominate the gala, but the UK has often offered some stiff competition. In its 30 years of existence, the award has always looked at the number of sales to pick winners, although there are categories where the public is allowed to vote.