An international awards ceremony honouring the world’s best-selling recording artists of the year.
The 1996 edition of the global music awards was presented by an unlikely pairing: singer Natalie Cole and martial arts film star Jean-Claude Van Damme. The ceremony, typically staged in Monaco, featured performances from some of the most commercially successful acts of the period. Among those appearing were Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Seal, Swedish pop group Ace of Base, American rock band Hootie and The Blowfish, and Canadian singer Celine Dion. The awards presented were based on worldwide record sales for the previous year.
The World Music Awards distinguished itself from other industry ceremonies by being a purely commercial barometer. Unlike events decided by critics or industry votes, its prizes were determined by sales figures certified by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. This gave the programme a unique, if uncritical, authority as a measure of global popularity. The 1996 lineup is a precise snapshot of mid-90s mainstream taste, heavy on adult contemporary and pop-rock. The production was a glossy, pan-European affair, designed for international syndication and standing in stark contrast to the more parochial focus of domestic awards shows.
Broadcast: ITV, 1 Episode, 27 May 1996
Executive Producers: John Martinotti, Melissa Corken, Gary Pudney
Hosts: Natalie Cole, Jean-Claude Van Damme
Performers included: Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Seal, Ace of Base, Hootie and The Blowfish, Celine Dion
