Music awards are the industry’s way of celebrating the biggest hits of a given year. These ceremonies typically honor artists, albums and songs based on their commercial success, as well as a number of other criteria. The biggest music awards include the Grammys, the Billboard Music Awards and the MTV Video Music Awards. These awards are best known for their glitz and glamour and have been the scene of some of the most iconic music moments ever.
The most prestigious of the music awards is the Grammys, which are voted on by members of the Recording Academy, an organization that represents musicians. The major categories are Record of the Year (awarded to the performers and production team for a single song), Album of the Year, Song of the Year and Best New Artist. The Grammys also have a Legend Award that is given to a performer who has established an extraordinary career over the course of many years.
Often, the most entertaining part of an awards show is the performances and appearances by some of the biggest names in music. These are the moments that will live on forever in the history of music, as immortalized in a variety of memes and other cultural touchstones.
Some of the most memorable music performance moments include Rihanna at the 2003 VMAs dressed in a white dress and green fur as she belted out “Bad Girl.” Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera also took the stage as brides to sing Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” at the same show.
Other unforgettable music performance moments include the time that Tina Turner brought the ’90s back with a righteous performance of “Party in the U.S.A.” Despite the fact that she caused a minor uproar with her slightly exposed bra and some implied crotch-grabbing, her performance was still one of the most memorable of all time.
Another infamous moment in music award history was when Method Man performed at the 1995 Source Awards wearing a blur of batting gloves and Wu Wear. Although his performance was a bit underwhelming, there’s no denying the fact that Method Man had more rampaging energy in his solo hit than all nine members of Wu Tang Clan brought to their performance at the same awards ceremony the year before.
The MTV Video Music Awards are a yearly awards show that celebrates the most popular music videos of a given year. The show is broadcast on MTV and is hosted by some of the biggest names in pop culture. Some of the most memorable MTV VMA moments include Britney Spears performing with a giant bunny at the 2006 awards, Christina Aguilera’s twerking while dressed as a wedding cake in the same ceremony and Rihanna bringing a life-sized hamster wheel on stage for her 2015 performance of “Bitch Better Have My Money.”
The Department of Music annually recognizes exemplary student compositions, performances and academic papers in the field of music. The winners are presented with an engraved bronze medal and $500. To qualify, students must have enrolled in a performance or composition class with a MUSIC subject code during the academic year.