Awards
Page: 61
The Recording Academy has issued an emailed call to action for its voting members on Monday (Aug. 5) to submit smartphone videos in which they answer such questions including, “Why do you take the time to vote in the Grammy Awards each year?” The academy will then combine excerpts from the submitted clips to create […]
This year’s Academy of Country Music Honors will air on Dr. Phil’s new Merit Street Media in the first step of a new broader partnership between the two entities.
Airing Sept. 24 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, the annual ACM Honors will recognize previously announced honorees including ACM Lifting Lives Award recipient Luke Bryan, ACM Poet’s Award recipient Alan Jackson, ACM Triple Crown recipient Lainey Wilson and ACM Icon Award recipient Trisha Yearwood, as well as executives Walt Aldridge, Tony Brown and Shannon Sanders.
Hosted by multiple ACM Award winner Carly Pearce and reigning ACM song of the year winner Jordan Davis, the ceremony will take place Aug. 21 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium and feature performances from Eric Church, Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Tyler Hubbard, Jamey Johnson, Ashley McBryde and Keith Urban, among others. Hubbard will also present the ACM studio recording and industry awards.
Trending on Billboard
“We’re excited to partner with Merit Street Media to bring one of my favorite nights of the year, ACM Honors, to households across North America through this growing network,” said Damon Whiteside, CEO of the Academy of Country Music, in a statement. “With so many great performances honoring some of country music’s biggest stars, we can’t wait for fans to tune in to this event on Merit Street, and in the months ahead, we plan to bring even more content focused on Country Music to the Merit Street viewers.”
Though Whiteside declined to provide specifics, according to a press release, the two entities will explore programming opportunities around country music performances, behind-the-scenes and lifestyle moments, documentaries and more.
“For our first step into music programming, we can’t imagine a better marriage than Merit Street with ACM,” said Merit’s EVP/COO, Joel Cheatwood. “To kick this off with such an amazing celebration as ACM Honors is exactly what we aspired to deliver to viewers, and we look forward to creating additional original country music content for fans everywhere.”
Merit Street Media, which launched in April, dubs itself as a “destination for news and entertainment that respects your intelligence,” and is a partnership with Trinity Broadcasting Network. According to Merit Street Media, its programming reach extends to more than 80 million television homes through cable, satellite, streaming and free over-the-air platforms, including DirecTV, Dish, U-Verse and Samsung TV Plus, as well as Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, and Roku. Also among its programming are Professional Bull Riders events, which air live.
The previous two years, the ACM Honors — which are in their 17th year — aired on Fox.
Limited tickets for ACM Honors are available through AXS, including VIP packages which include a ticket in the VIP artist section of the Ryman, a ticket to the VIP pre-party reception, a commemorative Hatch Show Print poster, parking and drink tickets.
Ludwig Göransson, who won an Oscar in March for best original score for Oppenheimer, and Billie Eilish & Finneas, who won an Oscar for best original song for “What Was I Made For?” from Barbie, could add to their considerable award collections at the 24th World Soundtrack Awards (WSA), which will be held on Wednesday Oct. 16 in Ghent, Belgium.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
The awards are organized by Film Fest Gent, Belgium’s biggest international film festival.
Trending on Billboard
Two other 2024 Oscar nominees for best original score, Jerskin Fendrix (Poor Things) and Laura Karpman (American Fiction), are nominated for film composer of the year. Fendrix’s entry here also includes Kinds of Kindness, director Yorgos Lanthimos’ follow-up to Poor Things. Karpman’s entry here also includes her score for the 2023 film The Marvels and her Emmy-nominated score for Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed.
Veteran composer Elliot Goldenthal is set to receive the WSA lifetime achievement award for his contribution to film and television music. Goldenthal won an Oscar for best original score in 2003 for Frida and was nominated for a Primetime Emmy the following year – outstanding music composition for a miniseries, movie or a special (dramatic underscore) for Dance in America: Lar Lubovitch’s Othello (Great Performances).
A second wave of nominations will be announced on Sept. 13. In the following weeks, the WSAcademy will cast their vote for this year’s winners.
Here’s a complete list of nominees in the top music categories.
Film composer of the year
Jerskin Fendrix |Kinds of Kindness; Poor Things
Ludwig Göransson |Oppenheimer
Laura Karpman |American Fiction; The Marvels; Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed
Anthony Willis |Saltburn
Hans Zimmer |Dune: Part Two; The Creator
Television composer of the year
Nick Chuba, Atticus Ross, Leopold Ross | Shōgun
Natalie Holt | Loki
James Newton Howard | All the Light We Cannot See
Martin Phipps | The Crown
Carlos Rafael Rivera | Griselda; Lessons in Chemistry; Monsieur Spade
Jeff Russo | Fargo; Ripley
Best original song
“Dance the Night” from Barbie | written by Mark Ronson, Andrew Wyatt, Caroline Ailin, Dua Lipa | performed by: Dua Lipa
“I’m Just Ken” from Barbie | written by Andrew Wyatt, Mark Ronson | performed by: Ryan Gosling
“It Never Went Away” from American Symphony | written by Dan Wilson, Jon Batiste | performed by: Jon Batiste
“Road to Freedom” from Rustin | written and performed by Lenny Kravitz
“Wahzhazhe (A Song for My People)” from Killers of the Flower Moon | written by Scott George | performed by Osage Tribal Singers
“What Was I Made For?” from Barbie | written by Finneas O’Connell, Billie Eilish | performed by Billie Eilish
“You’ve Never Had Chocolate Like This” from Wonka | written by Neil Hannon, Paul King, Simon Farnaby | performed by Timothée Chalamet, The Cast of Wonka
Now that we know Taylor Swift is the leading nominee at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards, the next question is: What might she surprise-announce at the Sept. 10 ceremony? It was two years ago when Swift surprised the 2022 VMAs audience by announcing that a brand-new studio album called Midnights would arrive in October. […]
Taylor Swift leads the nominations for the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards, with 10 nods. Her “Fortnight” collaborator Post Malone is second, with nine nods – eight in tandem with Swift plus one for his hit “I Had Some Help,” featuring Morgan Wallen. They are followed by Ariana Grande, Eminem and Sabrina Carpenter (six nods each); Megan Thee Stallion and SZA (five each), and LISA, Olivia Rodrigo and Teddy Swims (four each).
“Fortnite” is nominated for video of the year, where it faces Grande’s “we can’t be friends (wait for your love),” Billie Eilish’s “Lunch,” Doja Cat’s “Paint the Town Red,” Eminem’s “Houdini” and SZA’s “Snooze.” This is Eminem’s record-extending ninth nod in the category (counting one he received with D12). It’s Swift’s seventh nod in the category; the fourth for Grande and Doja Cat; the third for Eilish and SZA, and, surprisingly, the first for Post Malone.
Trending on Billboard
Swift has won a record four times for video of the year, for “Bad Blood” (2015), “You Need to Calm Down” (2019), “All Too Well: The Short Film” (2022) and “Anti-Hero” (2023). She is seeking to extend her record for most wins and to become the first person to win three years running.
Other artists with multiple nominations are Anitta, Benson Boone, Bleachers, GloRilla, Dua Lipa and Tyla, with three each; and Bad Bunny, Eilish, Chappell Roan, Charli XCX, Coldplay, Drake, Jelly Roll, Jessie Murph, Jung Kook, Latto, Rauw Alejandro, Sexyy Red, Tate McRae, Usher and Victoria Monét, with two each.
Those nomination tallies are surprisingly low for Chappell Roan and Charli XCX. Both artists blew up near the end of the eligibility period (June 22, 2023 to June 20, 2024). That also explains why Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” is missing in the video of the year and best hip-hop categories. The video was released on July 4. Nominations in social-only categories, including song of the summer, will be revealed in the next couple of weeks, which could give late-breaking artists another chance at some VMAs love.
Boone, Chappell Roan, Gracie Abrams, Shaboozey, Teddy Swims and Tyla are nominated for best new artist. Four of these artists are likely to also be in the running for best new artist when the Grammy nominees are announced on Nov. 8. Abrams and Tyla cannot be. Abrams was nominated in that category at the Grammys on Feb. 4. Tyla won in another category (best African music performance). The VMAs did not nominate Carpenter or Sexyy Red in this category.
If Swift wins four VMAs, she’ll tie Beyoncé as the top winner in the show’s history (unless Bey adds to her Moonperson collection with a song of the year win for “Texas Hold ’Em.” If Eminem wins one award, he will break out of tie with Peter Gabriel as the man with the most VMAs in history (13).
Swift directed the “Fortnight” video, which is nominated for best direction. Swift has won in that category in three of the last four years (for videos she personally directed) – for “The Man,” “All Too Well: The Short Film” and “Anti-Hero.” Swift’s friend and producer Jack Antonoff will have divided loyalties in this category: His band Bleachers is nominated for “Tiny Moves” – which was co-directed by his wife, Margaret Qualley, and Alex Lockett. (Qualley was also nominated for best choreography for that video.)
Art director Nicholas des Jardins has two of the six nominees for best art direction – Rodrigo’s “bad idea right?” and Carpenter’s “Please Please Please.”
In a VMAs quirk, the best pop award is awarded to an artist for overall work during the year, not for a specific video. All of the other genre awards – best hip-hop, best R&B, best alternative, best rock, best Latin, best Afrobeats and best K-pop – are for a specific video. Go figure.
Beginning today, fans can vote for their favorites across 15 gender-neutral categories by visiting vote.mtv.com through Friday, Aug. 30. Voting for best new artist will remain active into the show on Tuesday, Sept. 10. Nominations in social categories will be announced at a later date.
The 2024 VMAs return to New York live on the East Coast from UBS Arena on Tuesday, Sept. 10 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. The show will be held just four days shy of the 40th anniversary of the inaugural VMAs at Radio City Music Hall, where Madonna stole the show.
Bruce Gillmer and Den of Thieves co-founder Jesse Ignjatovic are executive producers for the 2024 VMAs. Barb Bialkowski is co-executive producer. Alicia Portugal and Jackie Barba serve as executives in charge of production. Wendy Plaut is executive in charge of celebrity talent. Lisa Lauricella is music talent executive.
Here’s the complete list of 2024 VMAs nominees:
Video of the year
Ariana Grande – “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)” – Republic Records
Billie Eilish – “Lunch” – Darkroom / Interscope Records
Doja Cat – “Paint the Town Red” – Kemosabe Records / RCA Records
Eminem – “Houdini” – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records
SZA – “Snooze” – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records
Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records
Artist of the year
Ariana Grande – Republic Records
Bad Bunny – Rimas Entertainment
Eminem – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records
Sabrina Carpenter – Island
SZA – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records
Taylor Swift – Republic Records
Song of the year
Beyoncé – “Texas Hold ‘Em” – Parkwood Entertainment / Columbia Records
Jack Harlow – “Lovin on Me” – Generation Now / Atlantic Records
Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” – pgLang, under exclusive license to Interscope Records
Sabrina Carpenter – “Espresso” – Island
Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records
Teddy Swims – “Lose Control” – Warner Records
Best new artist
Benson Boone – Night Street Records, Inc. / Warner Records
Chappell Roan – Island
Gracie Abrams – Interscope Records
Shaboozey – American Dogwood / EMPIRE
Teddy Swims – Warner Records
Tyla – Epic Records
Best collaboration
Drake feat. Sexyy Red & SZA – “Rich Baby Daddy “ – OVO / Republic Records
GloRilla, Megan Thee Stallion – “Wanna Be” – CMG / Interscope Records
Jessie Murph feat. Jelly Roll – “Wild Ones” – Columbia Records
Jung Kook feat. Latto – “Seven” – BIGHIT MUSIC / Geffen Records
Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen – “I Had Some Help” – Mercury / Republic / Big Loud
Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records
Best pop
Camila Cabello – Geffen / Interscope Records
Dua Lipa – Warner Records
Olivia Rodrigo – Geffen Records
Sabrina Carpenter – Island
Tate McCrae – RCA Records
Taylor Swift – Republic Records
Best hip-hop
Drake feat. Sexyy Red & SZA – “Rich Baby Daddy “ – OVO / Republic Records
Eminem – “Houdini” – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records
GloRilla – “Yeah Glo!” – CMG / Interscope Records
Gunna – “fukumean” – Young Stoner Life Records / 300 Entertainment
Megan Thee Stallion – “BOA” – Hot Girl Productions
Travis Scott feat. Playboi Carti – “FE!N” – Cactus Jack / Epic Records
Best R&B
Alicia Keys – “Lifeline” – AK Records, under exclusive license to gamma.
Muni Long – “Made for Me” – Def Jam
SZA – “Snooze” – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records
Tyla – “Water” – FAX Records / Epic Records
Usher, Summer Walker, 21 Savage – “Good Good” – mega / gamma.
Victoria Monét – “On My Mama” – Lovett Music / RCA Records
Best alternative
Benson Boone – “Beautiful Things” – Night Street Records, Inc. / Warner Records
Bleachers – “Tiny Moves” – Dirty Hit
Hozier – “Too Sweet” – Columbia Records
Imagine Dragons – “Eyes Closed” – KIDinaKorner / Interscope Records
Linkin Park – “Friendly Fire” – This Compilation / Warner Records
Teddy Swims – “Lose Control (Live)” – Warner Records
Best rock
Bon Jovi – “Legendary” – Island
Coldplay – “feelslikeimfallinginlove” – Atlantic Records
Green Day – “Dilemma” – Reprise Records / Warner Records
Kings of Leon – “Mustang” – Capitol Records
Lenny Kravitz – “Human” – ℗© 2024 Roxie Records Inc. under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management GmbH
U2 – “Atomic City” – Interscope Records
Best Latin
Anitta – “Mil Veces” – Floresta Records / Republic Records / Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Bad Bunny – “Monaco” – Rimas Entertainment
Karol G – “Mi Ex Tenía Razón” – Bichota / Interscope Records
Myke Towers – “LaLa” – Warner Music Latina
Peso Pluma & Anitta – “Bellakeo” – Double P Records
Rauw Alejandro – “Touching the Sky” – Sony Music Latin / Duars Entertainment
Shakira & Cardi B – “Puntería” – Sony Music US Latin
Best Afrobeats
Ayra Starr ft. Giveon – “Last Heartbreak Song” – Mavin / Republic
Burna Boy – “City Boys” – Spaceship / Bad Habit / Atlantic Records
Chris Brown ft. Davido & Lojay – “Sensational” – Chris Brown Entertainment / RCA Records
Tems – “Love Me JeJe” – Since ’93 / RCA Records
Tyla – “Water” – FAX Records / Epic Records
Usher, Pheelz – “Ruin” – mega / gamma.
Best K-pop
Jung Kook ft. Latto – “Seven” – BIGHIT MUSIC / Geffen Records
LISA – “Rockstar” – Lloud Co. / RCA Records
NCT Dream – “Smoothie” – SM Entertainment / Virgin Music Group
NewJeans – “Super Shy” – ADOR / Geffen Records
Stray Kids – “LALALALA” – JYP Entertainment / Imperial / Republic Records
TOMORROW X TOGETHER – “Deja vu” – BIGHIT MUSIC / IMPERIAL / Republic Records
Video for good
Alexander Stewart – “if only you knew” – FAE grp
Billie Eilish – “What Was I Made For (From Barbie)” – Darkroom / Interscope Records
Coldplay – “feelslikeimfallinginlove” – Atlantic Records
Joyner Lucas & Jelly Roll – “Best for Me” – Twenty Nine Music Group
RAYE – “Genesis.” – Human Re Sources
Tyler Childers – “In Your Love” – Hickman Holler Records / RCA Records
MTV push performance of the year
August 2023: Kaliii – “Area Codes” – Atlantic Records
September 2023: GloRilla – “Lick or Sum” – CMG / Interscope Records
October 2023: Benson Boone – “In The Stars” – Night Street Records, Inc. / Warner Records
November 2023: Coco Jones – “ICU” – Def Jam
December 2023: Victoria Monét – “On My Mama” – Lovett Music / RCA Records
January 2024: Jessie Murph – “Wild Ones” – Columbia Records
February 2024: Teddy Swims – “Lose Control” – Warner Records
March 2024: Chappell Roan – “Red Wine Supernova” – Island
April 2024: Flyana Boss – “yeaaa” – vnclm_/ Atlantic Records
May 2024: Laufey – “Goddess” – Laufey / AWAL
June 2024: LE SSERAFIM – “EASY” – SOURCE MUSIC / Geffen Records
July 2024: The Warning – “Automatic Sun” – Lava / Republic Records
Best direction
Ariana Grande – “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)” – Republic Records; directed by Christian Breslauer
Bleachers – “Tiny Moves” – Dirty Hit; directed by Alex Lockett & Margaret Qualley
Eminem – “Houdini” – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records; directed by Rich Lee
Megan Thee Stallion – “BOA” – Hot Girl Productions; directed by Daniel Iglesias Jr.
Sabrina Carpenter – “Please Please Please” – Island; directed by Barbia Zeinali
Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records; directed by Taylor Swift
Best cinematography
Ariana Grande – “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)” – Republic Records; cinematography by Anatol Trofimov
Charli XCX – “Von dutch” – Atlantic Records; cinematography by Jeff Bierman
Dua Lipa – “Illusion” – Warner Records; cinematography by Nikita Nuzmenko
Olivia Rodrigo – “obsessed” – Geffen Records; cinematography by Marz Miller
Rauw Alejandro – “Touching the Sky” – Sony Music Latin / Duars Entertainment; cinematography by Camilo Monsalve
Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records; cinematography by Rodrigo Prieto
Best editing
Anitta – “Mil Veces” – Floresta Records / Republic Records / Universal Music Latin Entertainment; editing by Nick Yumul
Ariana Grande – “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)” – Republic Records; editing by Luis Caraza Peimbert
Eminem – “Houdini” – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records; editing by David Checel
LISA – “Rockstar” – Lloud Co. / RCA Records; editing by Nik Kohler
Sabrina Carpenter – “Espresso” – Island; editing by Jai Shukla
Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records; editing by Chancler Haynes
Best choreography
Bleachers – Tiny Moves – Dirty Hit; choreography by Margaret Qualley
Dua Lipa – “Houdini” – Warner Records; choreography by Charm La’Donna
LISA – “Rockstar” – Lloud Co. / RCA Records; choreography by Sean Bankhead
Rauw Alejandro – “Touching the Sky” – Sony Music Latin / Duars Entertainment – Choreography by Felix ‘Fefe’ Burgos
Tate McCrae – “Greedy” – RCA Records; choreography by Sean Bankhead
Troye Sivan – “Rush” – Capitol Records; choreography by Sergio Reis, Mauro Van De Kerkof
Best visual effects
Ariana Grande – “the boy is mine” – Republic Records; visual effects by Digital Axis
Eminem – “Houdini” – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records; visual effects by Synapse Virtual Production, Louise Lee, Rich Lee, Metaphysic, Flawless Post
Justin Timberlake – “Selfish” – RCA Records; visual effects by Candice Dragonas
Megan Thee Stallion – “BOA” – Hot Girl Productions; visual effects by Mathematic
Olivia Rodrigo – “get him back!” – Geffen Records; visual effects by Cooper Vacheron, Preston Mohr, Karen Arakelian, Justin Johnson
Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records; visual effects by Parliament
Best art direction
Charli XCX – “360” – Atlantic Records; art direction by Grace Surnow
LISA – “Rockstar” – Lloyd Co. / RCA Records; art direction byPongsan Thawatwichian
Megan Thee Stallion – “BOA” – Hot Girl Productions; art direction by Brittany Porter
Olivia Rodrigo – “bad idea right?” – Geffen Records; art direction by Nichaolas des Jardins
Sabrina Carpenter – “Please Please Please” – Island; art direction by Nicholas des Jardins
Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records; art direction by Ethan Tobman
Venezuelan conductor and violinist Gustavo Dudamel received the 14th Glenn Gould Prize during a ceremony at Carnegie Hall on Aug. 2. Dudamel is music and artistic director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela and is set to become music and artistic director of the New York Philharmonic in 2026.
Previous recipients of the Glenn Gould Prize, called Laureates, include Yo-Yo Ma, Jessye Norman, Leonard Cohen, Lord Yehudi Menuhin, Alanis Obomsawin, Philip Glass, Robert Lepage, and Oscar Peterson.
Dudamel, 43, is the first Laureate who had previously been awarded the Glenn Gould Protégé Prize, having been selected by his mentor and Glenn Gould Prize Laureate Dr. José Antonio Abreu in 2009.
Trending on Billboard
Selected by the Laureate themselves, the Glenn Gould Protégé Prize is awarded to an outstanding young artist demonstrating exceptional promise with a cash award of CDN$25,000. This year, Dudamel selected two young conductors, both also from Venezuela, to share the Protégé Prize – Andrés David Ascanio Abreu and Enluis Montes Olivar.
The Canadian Consul General to New York, the Hon. Tom Clark, and Glenn Gould Foundation executive director Brian Levine, presented the awards onstage at Carnegie Hall during a concert in which Dudamel conducted the Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra.
“It is a huge honor to receive this prize,” Dudamel said in accepting his honor. “Years ago, I was a Protégé Prize winner, given to me by my Maestro Abreu. It makes me very proud, especially to be here with all these amazing young people from my country, Venezuela.”
Nominees for The Glenn Gould Prize are submitted through an open, public nomination process and can come from a broad range of artistic fields. An international jury comprised of artists and professionals from diverse disciplines convenes in Toronto, Canada (where Gould was born and where he died) to review the nominees and select the Laureate. The Glenn Gould Prize Laureate is awarded a cash prize of CDN$100,000.
The Glenn Gould Foundation, established in 1983, is a registered Canadian charitable organization dedicated to celebrating excellence in the arts and promoting cultural enrichment globally.
Gould, a Canadian classical pianist, won four Grammys and three Juno Awards. He is best known for Bach: The Goldberg Variations, which he recorded in both 1955 and 1981. The earlier recording was voted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1983. That same year, his digital re-recording won both a Grammy and a Juno for best classical album. Sadly, all of these awards were posthumous: Gould had died in 1982 at age 50. He received a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy in 2013.
American Music Awards 50th Anniversary Special, a two-hour retrospective special, will air on Sunday, Oct. 6, in the time slot that the 2024 AMAs was going to fill. That show has been bumped to May 2025. It will be the first yearly AMAs show since the one that aired on Nov. 20, 2022 with Wayne Brady hosting.
CBS and Dick Clark Productions announced on April 26 that the 2024 AMAs would run in the Oct. 6 timeslot. It was to have been the show’s debut on CBS after nearly 50 years on ABC. Instead, the AMAs franchise will debut on CBS with an anniversary special which promises to be more ambitious than a standard “clip show.”
American Music Awards 50th Anniversary Special will feature new performances, artist interviews, special guests, and exclusive never-before-seen footage from DCP’s extensive archives.
Trending on Billboard
The program will feature themed highlights from AMAs’ expansive show archives, each culminating with an original performance or artist interview. Segments will look back on the evolution of specific artists and genres at the AMAs, as well as award and performance milestones. The performances, created just for American Music Awards 50th Anniversary Special, will include collaborations, debuts from today’s top stars and appearances from AMAs legends. Performers will be announced in the coming weeks.
The special will air concurrently on both coasts, from 8:00-10:00 p.m. ET/5:00-7:00 p.m. PT on CBS and streaming on Paramount+ American Music Awards 50th Anniversary Special is produced by Dick Clark Productions.
ABC aired a 20th anniversary American Music Awards special in 1993. Kenny Rogers hosted the two-hour program.
Nominees on the AMAs are based on key fan interactions as reflected on the Billboard charts – including streaming, album sales, song sales and radio airplay.
The AMAs were created in 1973 as a fan-based alternative to the Grammys. The first two Grammy live telecasts in March 1971 and March 1972 aired on ABC. When the Grammys shifted to CBS for the March 1973 telecast, ABC looked for a show to fill that void and went with Dick Clark’s fan-based show.
In December 1973, Clark was working on the first AMAs, which would launch on Feb. 19, 1974. The veteran producer knew a little publicity couldn’t hurt, so he found time for an interview with Billboard’s Bob Kirsch which ran on page one of the Dec. 15, 1973 issue under the headline “ABC-TV Slates Favorite Acts’ Awards Feb. 19.”
At the end of the piece, Clark attempted to take the long view of his fledgling show and said “If this is done properly, we may have a show that will last 20 years and will finally get the general public involved in popular music awards.”
Clark underestimated the longevity of his own creation. Next year’s AMAs will be the 51st. (There were two shows in 2003 and none at all in 2023 or 2024.)
That first show in 1974 ran just 90 minutes. It has been allotted three hours for many years, though the length of the 2025 show has not been announced. The show in the first five years had a tight focus on three broad genres – pop/rock, soul/R&B and country. It now recognizes far more genres, including hip-hop, Latin, inspirational, gospel, Afrobeats and K-pop.
But, for the most part, the vision that Clark outlined to Kirsch in 1973 still guides the show.
“This is probably the first time a major effort has been made to sample the U.S. public music taste through popular vote. … To date, we have received extremely favorable response from those in the music industry we have talked to about the show. They seem delighted at the opportunity to be honored by the music-buying public.”
Helen Reddy, Smokey Robinson and Roger Miller co-hosted that first show – each representing one of the three main genres. Reddy, who was red-hot at the time, was also the inaugural winner of favorite pop/rock female artist.
Clark, a master showman, was a legend in both music and television. He received a trustees award from the Recording Academy in 1990 and was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1992. He died in 2012 at age 82.
DCP is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a Penske Media Corporation (PMC) subsidiary and joint venture between PMC and Eldrige. PMC is the parent company of Billboard.
Benj Pasek and Justin Paul are nominated for a Primetime Emmy for outstanding music and lyrics for a song they co-wrote for Only Murders in the Building. If they win on Sept. 8, the second night of the Creative Arts Emmys, they will become the 20th and 21st individuals to EGOT – to win at least one Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony in competition.
Moreover, Pasek and Paul would be the second pair to achieve the EGOT as a team. Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice won each of the four awards as a team – a Tony for best original score for Evita, a Grammy for best cast show album for Evita, an Oscar for best original song for “You Must Love Me” from Evita and an Emmy for outstanding variety special (live) for Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert.
Trending on Billboard
In addition, Pasek, who will be 39 years and three months old on Emmy night, would become the second-youngest EGOT winner ever, trailing only Robert Lopez, who 39 and one week old when he achieved the feat in March 2014. Paul, who will be 39 years, eight months and five days old that night, would become the third-youngest EGOT ever. John Legend, who was 39 years, eight months and 12 days old when he achieved the feat in September 2018, would fall from his current runner-up status to fourth place.
Pasek would be the fourth individual who is publicly LGBTQ to achieve the EGOT, following actor Sir John Gielgud (1991), producer Scott Rudin (2012) and Sir Elton John (2024).
Pasek and Paul won their first EGOT-qualifying award, an Oscar for best original song, in February 2017 for co-writing “City of Stars” from La La Land with composer Justin Hurwitz. They won a Tony for best original score that June for Dear Evan Hansen and won a second Tony in June 2022 for being among the platoon of producers of A Strange Loop, which was voted best musical. They won their first Grammy, best musical theater album, in January 2018 for Dear Evan Hansen and their second, best compilation soundtrack for visual media, in February 2019 for The Greatest Showman.
They are nominated for a Primetime Emmy for co-writing the song “Which of the Pickwick Triplets Did It?” for Only Murders in the Building with another songwriting team, Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. Series star Steve Martin, who is nominated for a Primetime Emmy for outstanding lead actor in a comedy series, performed the tongue-twisting song.
[embedded content]
But Pasek and Paul haven’t won the award yet. The competition is strong. Eli Brueggemann, who won in this category six years ago for co-writing “Come Back Barack” for Saturday Night Live, is nominated again this year for another SNL song, “Maya Rudolph Mother’s Day Monologue,” which he co-wrote with Rudolph, Mike DiCenzo, Jake Nordwind and Auguste White.
Other nominees in the category are Sara Bareilles for writing “The Medium Time” from Girls5eva; John Hawkes, for writing “No Use” from True Detective: Night Country; and Walter Afanasieff, Kara Talve, Hans Zimmer and Charlie Midnight for cowriting “Love Will Survive” from The Tattooist of Auschwitz. Barbra Streisand recorded the latter song. She also recorded “Ordinary Miracles” from Barbra Streisand: The Concert, a Marvin Hamlisch/Alan & Marilyn Bergman song which won in the category 29 years ago.
This is the second Primetime Emmy nod for Pasek and Paul. They were nominated in the same category six years ago for writing a song from A Christmas Story Live!
Sir Elton John was the most recent person to complete the EGOT. He did so when he won a Primetime Emmy for Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium at the ceremony in January (which was delayed for four months by union strikes).
If Pasek and Paul achieve the feat, this would be the fourth time that two or more people became EGOTs in the same calendar year. Helen Hayes and Rita Moreno both became EGOTs in 1977. Mel Brooks and Mike Nichols both scored in 2001. Webber, Rice and Legend all completed their EGOT journeys in 2018.
Here’s a look at this year’s Primetime Emmy nominations in all seven music categories.
The 2024 Tencent Music Entertainment Awards (TMEA) were staged at the Galaxy Arena in Macau, China, from July 19 to 21.
Themed “High Five. Music Drive” and organized by Tencent Music Entertainment Group, the TMEA showcased a three-day music extravaganza, featuring a stellar lineup of international top artists and more than 100 performances, alongside a two-day indoor music festival and music ceremony.
The titles of Best Male Singer of the Year and Best Female Singer of the Year were awarded to Zhou Shen and Zhang Liangying, respectively, while Xue Zhiqian received recognition for Best Concert of the Year.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Zhou Shen
Courtesy of TME
Wang Yuan was honored as the Most Influential Male Singer in the Chinese Mainland, while Yuan Yawei (TIA RAY) was awarded the title of Most Influential Female Singer in the Chinese Mainland. Additionally, the Most Influential Male and Female Singers from Hong Kong and Taiwan were awarded to Eason Chan and G.E.M., while the honors for Most Influential Singer-Songwriter and Most Influential Mandarin Group went to Jay Chou and Mayday, respectively.
The evening also featured the announcement of the Best of the Year awards: the titles of Best Male and Female Singers in the Chinese Mainland were awarded to Xue Zhiqian and Shan Yichun, while the Best Male and Female Singers from Hong Kong and Taiwan were given to Wilber Pan and Angela Zhang.
Trending on Billboard
Shan Yichun
Courtesy of TME
International artists were also in the spotlight, with Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift awarded Best International Male Artist and Most Influential International Artist of the Year, respectively.
The TMEA Music Ceremony brought together a lineup of iconic Chinese-language singers. Wang Yuan, Wilber Pan, Zhang Liangying, Tia Ray and Zhou Shen all performed, showcasing their hit songs and diverse musical styles.
Tia Ray
Courtesy of TME
In addition to established artists, the TMEA also highlighted many emerging stars in the Chinese music scene.
As a world-class choreographer, RIKIMARU served as the dance director for the 2024 TMEA and debuted his new song “Can’t Get Enough.” A representative of Chinese electronic music, who was the only Mandarin artist to perform on prestigious international electronic music festival stages such as Tomorrowland, Ultra, ADE and EDC, CORSAK delivered an electrifying DJ SHOW at the gala.
Established in 2019, the Tencent Music Entertainment Awards is an annual music awards ceremony that has captivated millions of music enthusiasts.
TMEA
Courtesy of TME
Prince was posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame on Saturday (July 27) at a 40th anniversary screening of his film Purple Rain at Minneapolis’ Target Center. This is the second time this year that the SHOF has posthumously inducted a legendary songwriter. It honored the late Cindy Walker at an event in April.
Upon accepting the award from Gilbert Davison, a longtime professional colleague of Prince’s, Prince’s sister, Sharon L. Nelson, said, “You will always remember his songs. This is the award he wanted more than any other in life — to be known as a great songwriter.”
Why didn’t the SHOF didn’t get around to honoring Prince in his lifetime? He was selected for induction in 2013, but SHOF policy is that a songwriter has to personally attend the annual induction and awards gala to be officially inducted, and Prince’s schedule didn’t permit him to attend for a few years.
Trending on Billboard
SHOF president and CEO Linda Moran stated that the organization had been working with him to coordinate his schedule. “He reached out at the end of 2015 and said how important the award was to him and that the June 2016 ceremony could work,” Moran said in a statement. “We planned that it would be unannounced and a surprise; but unfortunately, Prince passed two months beforehand in April. It has been a long road, but we are thrilled that one of the world’s most prolific and phenomenal songwriters is finally a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame.”
[embedded content]
A songwriter, producer, musician and pioneer of the Minneapolis Sound (which also included 2017 SHOF inductees Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis), Prince crossed genres with ease. Credited by his full name, Prince Rogers Nelson, he wrote every song in his catalog. He placed 19 songs in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, including five that went to No. 1: “When Doves Cry”; “Let’s Go Crazy” and “Kiss” (both credited to Prince and the Revolution); “Batdance”; and “Cream” (credited to Prince and the New Power Generation).
Prince also wrote hits for other artists including Sheena Easton, Kenny Rogers, Madonna, Stevie Nicks, Patti LaBelle, Celine Dion, Kate Bush and the Bangles. Several of his songs that he had recorded were also covered by other artists including Chaka Khan, Tom Jones, Sinéad O’Connor, Alicia Keys, the Pointer Sisters and Cyndi Lauper.
Prince won both an Oscar and a Grammy for his Purple Rain score. He also won a Grammy for best R&B song for writing “I Feel for You,” a 1984 smash for Khan. He was nominated for song of the year for writing “Nothing Compares 2 U,” a 1990 smash for O’Connor.
[embedded content]
Walker, whose most famous song is the cross-genre classic “You Don’t Know Me,” was inducted into the SHOF in a special event on April 19 at historic Columbia Studio A in Nashville. The ceremony took place during a SHOF Master Session with Liz Rose, a 2023 SHOF inductee. The event was co-hosted by SHOF board member Fletcher Foster, who chairs the SHOF Nashville Committee.
The annual SHOF gala in June does not normally include posthumous inductions, though this year’s inductees included Steely Dan, whose Walter Becker died in 2017. The SHOF prefers the June event to have a celebratory mood, but it intends to continue hosting posthumous inductions at unique venues and special events such as this one.
“The ceremony at Columbia Studio A was warm, intimate and respectful,” Foster said in a statement at the time of Walker’s induction. “SHOF president and CEO Linda Moran says this now sets the stage for future posthumous inductions.”