World Music Awards
The World Music Awards was an international award show founded in 1989 under the patronage of Albert II, Prince of Monaco, and co-founder/executive producer John Martinotti. Most years, the event was held in Monte Carlo. Awards were presented to the world's best-selling artists in several categories and to the best-selling artists from each major territory. Past winners have included Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Shakira, Gloria Gaynor, Ricky Martin, Jennifer Lopez, and Beyoncé.
The original trophy was a plaque depicting a mermaid, in a presentation case. Between 1990 and 1994, it was a golden treble clef with a globe in the middle. From 1995 on, it was a gold-plated Atlassian figure holding up the Earth above his head.
The event was last held in 2014, though its website remains live. The Global Recording Artist of the Year award, established in 2014 by IFPI, nowadays covers parts of what were the main categories of the World Music Awards.
Hosts and venues
Winners
1989
- Female Artist of the Year: Belinda Carlisle
- Male Artist of the Year: Steve Winwood
- Group of the Year: Gipsy Kings
- Song of the Year: Milli Vanilli – "Girl You Know It's True"
- Music Video of the Year: Enya – "Orinoco Flow"
- World's Best-Selling French Artist: David Hallyday
- World's Best-Selling Irish Artist: Enya
- World's Best-Selling Italian Artist: Fausto Leali & Anna Oxa
- Legend Award : Barry White
- Legend Award : Ringo Starr
- Legend Award : Julio Iglesias
1990
- World's Best-Selling African Artist: Johnny Clegg
- World's Best-Selling Australian Artist: Kate Ceberano
- World's Best-Selling Austrian Artist: Rainhard Fendrich
- World's Best-Selling Belgian Artist: Soulsister
- World's Best-Selling Canadian Artist: Jeff Healey Band
- World's Best-Selling Danish Artist: Sanne Salomonsen
- World's Best-Selling Dutch Artist: Gerard Joling
- World's Best-Selling Finnish Artist: Kirka
- World's Best-Selling French Artist: Gipsy Kings
- World's Best-Selling German Artist: Sandra
- World's Best-Selling Greek Artist: Demis Roussos
- World's Best-Selling Irish Artist: Chris de Burgh
- World's Best-Selling Israeli Artist: Ofra Haza
- World's Best-Selling Italian Artist: Pooh
- World's Best-Selling Asian Artist: Southern All Stars
- World's Best-Selling Latin Artist: Luis Miguel
- World's Best-Selling Norwegian Artist: Dance with a Stranger
- World's Best-Selling Portuguese Artist: Amália Rodrigues
- World's Best-Selling Russian Artist: Vladimir Presnyakov Jr.
- World's Best-Selling Spanish Artist: Mecano
- World's Best-Selling Swedish Artist: Jerry Williams
- World's Best-Selling Swiss Artist: Yello
- World's Best-Selling UK Artist: Tanita Tikaram
- Legend Award : Bob Geldof
- Legend Award : Chris de Burgh
- Legend Award : David Bowie
1991
- Best-Selling Recording Artist: Phil Collins
- International Newcomers: Londonbeat
- Best-Selling African Recording Artist: Johnny Clegg
- Best-Selling Australian Recording Artist: Kylie Minogue
- Best-Selling Austrian Group: Erste Allgemeine Verunsicherung
- Best-Selling Belgian Group: Technotronic
- Best-Selling British Female Recording Artist: Lisa Stansfield
- Best-Selling Canadian Group: Jeff Healey Band
- Best-Selling Finnish Recording Artist: Kirka
- Best-Selling French Female Recording Artist: Patricia Kaas
- Best-Selling German Recording Artist: Matthias Reim
- Best-Selling Greek Recording Artist: Nana Mouskouri
- Best-Selling Irish Recording Artist: Sinéad O'Connor
- Best-Selling Italian Recording Artist: Gianna Nannini
- Best-Selling Soviet Recording Artist: Valery Leontiev
- Best-Selling Spanish Group: El Último de la Fila
- Best-Selling Swedish Recording Artist: Tomas Ledin
- Legend Award: : Cliff Richard
- Legend Award: :Elton John
- Legend Award : Status Quo
1992
- International New Artist: Cathy Dennis
- International New Group: C+C Music Factory
- Best-Selling African Artist: Rozalla
- Best-Selling American Artist: Garth Brooks
- Best-Selling Australian Group: INXS
- Best-Selling Austrian Artist: Jazz Gitti & Her Disco Killers
- Best-Selling Belgian Group: Vaya Con Dios
- Best-Selling British Group: Simply Red
- Best-Selling Canadian Female Artist: Céline Dion
- Best-Selling Danish Group: Cut 'N' Move
- Best-Selling Finnish Artist: Arja Koriseva
- Best-Selling French Artist: Patrick Bruel
- Best-Selling German Group: Scorpions
- Best-Selling Greek Artist: Nana Mouskouri
- Best-Selling Irish Artist: Enya
- Best-Selling Italian Artist: Marco Masini
- Best-Selling Japanese Artists: Chage and Aska
- Best-Selling Latin American Artist: Luis Miguel
- Best-Selling New Zealand Artist: Margaret Urlich
- Best-Selling Norwegian Artists: A-ha
- Best-Selling Russian Artist: Oleg Gazmanov
- Best-Selling Spanish Artist: Sergio Dalma
- Best-Selling Swedish Artist: Eva Dahlgren
- Best-Selling Swiss Artist: Andreas Vollenweider
- Legend Award : INXS
- Legend Award : Olivia Newton-John
1993
- World's Best-Selling Pop and Overall Artist: Michael Jackson
- World's Best-Selling Classical Artist: Luciano Pavarotti
- World's Best-Selling Country Artist: Garth Brooks
- World's Best-Selling Hard Rock Artist: Guns N' Roses
- World's Best-Selling Rock Artist: Eric Clapton
- International New Artist: Billy Ray Cyrus
- International New Group of the Year: Boyz II Men
- World's Best-Selling African Artist: Dr. Alban
- World's Best-Selling American Artist: Michael Jackson
- World's Best-Selling Australian Artists: INXS
- World's Best-Selling Belgian Artists: Vaya Con Dios
- World's Best-Selling British Artist: Eric Clapton
- World's Best-Selling Canadian Artist: Bryan Adams
- World's Best-Selling Danish Recording Artist: Hanne Boel
- World's Best-Selling Dutch Artists: 2 Unlimited
- World's Best-Selling French Artist: Mylène Farmer
- World's Best-Selling German Artist: Westernhagen
- World's Best-Selling Greek Artist: Yanni
- World's Best-Selling Irish Artist: U2
- World's Best-Selling Italian Artist: Zucchero Fornaciari
- World's Best-Selling Latin American Artist: Jon Secada
- World's Best-Selling Japanese Artists: Chage and Aska
- World's Best-Selling Norwegian Artists: A-ha
- World's Best-Selling Russian Artist: Laima Vaikule
- World's Best-Selling Spanish Artist: Julio Iglesias
- World's Best-Selling Swedish Artist: ABBA
- World's Best-Selling Swiss Artist: Stephan Eicher
- Legend Award : Luciano Pavarotti
- Legend Award : Michael Jackson
- Legend Award : Rod Stewart
- Legend Award : Tina Turner
1994
- World's Best-Selling Overall Recording Artist: Whitney Houston
- World's Best-Selling Country Artist: Garth Brooks
- World's Best-Selling Hard Rock Artist: Meat Loaf
- World's Best-Selling Jazz Artist: Kenny G
- World's Best-Selling Latin Recording Artist: Gloria Estefan
- World's Best-Selling Pop Artist: Whitney Houston
- World's Best-Selling Pop Newcomers: Ace of Base
- World's Best-Selling R&B Artist: Whitney Houston
- World's Best-Selling R&B Newcomer: Toni Braxton
- World's Best-Selling Rock Artist: Eric Clapton
- World's Best-Selling Rock Newcomers: Spin Doctors
- World's Best-Selling African Recording Artist: Dr. Alban
- World's Best-Selling American Recording Artist: Whitney Houston
- World's Best-Selling Asian Recording Artists: Chage and Aska
- World's Best-Selling Australian Recording Artists: Crowded House
- World's Best-Selling Benelux Recording Artists: 2 Unlimited
- World's Best-Selling British Recording Artist: Eric Clapton
- World's Best-Selling Canadian Recording Artist: Bryan Adams
- World's Best-Selling French Recording Artist: Jordy
- World's Best-Selling German Recording Artists: Scorpions
- World's Best-Selling Greek Recording Artist: Yanni
- World's Best-Selling Irish Recording Artists: U2
- World's Best-Selling Italian Recording Artist: Eros Ramazzotti
- World's Best-Selling Russian Recording Artist: Alexander Malinin
- World's Best-Selling Scandinavian Recording Artists: Ace of Base
- World's Best-Selling Spanish Recording Artist: Miguel Bosé
- World's Best-Selling Swiss Recording Artist: Stephan Eicher
- Legend Award : Plácido Domingo
- Legend Award : Prince
- Legend Award : Ray Charles
- Legend Award : Whitney Houston
1995
- World's Best-Selling Female Artist: Céline Dion
- World's Best-Selling Pop Artist: Mariah Carey
- World's Best-Selling Pop Group: Ace of Base
- World's Best-Selling Pop Newcomer: Sheryl Crow
- World's Best-Selling R&B Artist: Boyz II Men
- World's Best-Selling Country Artist: Garth Brooks
- World's Best-Selling Jazz Artist: Tony Bennett
- World's Best-Selling Latin Artist: Luis Miguel
- World's Best-Selling Rock Artist: Bon Jovi
- World's Best-Selling African Artist: Youssou N'Dour
- World's Best-Selling Australian Artist: INXS
- World's Best-Selling Benelux Artist: 2 Unlimited
- World's Best-Selling Canadian Artist: Bryan Adams
- World's Best-Selling French-Canadian Artist: Céline Dion
- World's Best-Selling French Artist: Patricia Kaas
- World's Best-Selling German Artist: Westernhagen
- World's Best-Selling Greek Artist: Yanni
- World's Best-Selling Irish Artist: The Cranberries
- World's Best-Selling Italian Artist: Laura Pausini
- World's Best-Selling Japanese Artist: TRF
- World's Best-Selling Russian Artist: Dmitry Malikov
- World's Best-Selling Scandinavian Artist: Ace of Base
- World's Best-Selling Spanish Artist: Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos
- World's Best-Selling Swiss Artist: DJ BoBo
- World's Best-Selling UK Artist: Pink Floyd
- World's Best-Selling US Artist: Mariah Carey
- Legend Award: Stevie Wonder
- Legend Award: Tony Bennett