The Q Awards were the UK's annual music awards run by the music magazine Q. Since the awards began in 1990, they became one of Britain's biggest and best publicised music awards. Locations for the awards ceremony included Abbey Road Studios and near the end of its life, the Ballroom of The Park Lane Hotel, London.
One of the more notable events of the awards was the ceremony of 2004, at which Elton John accused Madonna of cheating fans by miming on stage, after she had been nominated for a Best Live Act award. The 2001 event, was somewhat notoriously notable for Phill Jupitus stretching out the time it took to announce the "Best Producer" award, with him, exclaiming "Best Producer?.... 'Would you like a cowbell in that?'", before being told off camera to get on with announcing the winner.
The Q Awards included many awards recognising a lifetime of achievement, rather than achievements over the year in question. In its last few years, the 'lifetime' awards have usually outnumbered the 'current' awards.
The awards came to an end when the magazine itself ceased publishing in 2020, blaming the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2020 awards ceremony would have been held at the Roundhouse and seen a performance by Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott. When it was announced that the magazine was closing, Heaton was revealed to have donated a substantial amount of money to the magazine's former staff members. As thanks, and for his contributions to music as a songwriter, Heaton was presented with a final Q Award.
Results 2019
The winners of 2019 Q Awards are: Innovation In Sound: Dizzie Rascal Classic Album: Tricky – Maxinquaye Maverick Award: Edwyn Collins Play Award: Anna Calvi Outstanding Contribution To Music: Kano Classic Songwriter: Kevin Rowland Inspiration Award: Madness Icon Award: Christine And The Queens Hero Award: Kim Gordon Song Of The Decade: Lana Del Rey – "Video Games" Best Vocal Performance: Little Simz Award Winner NomineeBest Act in the World TodayThe 1975Best Breakthrough ActPale WavesBest Live PerformanceMichael Kiwanuka – End of the Road FestivalBest Solo ActStormzyBest TrackLewis Capaldi — "Someone You Loved"Best Festival/EventAll Points EastBest AlbumFoals — Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost – Part 1
2018
The winners of 2018 Q Awards are: Innovation In Sound: The Streets Classic Album: The Kinks - The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society Maverick Award: Lawrence Play Award: Simon Neil Outstanding Contribution To Music: Noel Gallagher Legend Award: Nile Rodgers Inspiration Award: Trojan Records Icon Award: Ian McCulloch Lifetime Achievement Award: Brett Anderson Award Winner NomineeBest Act in the World TodayPaul WellerBest Breakthrough ActGoat Girl & IdlesBest Live ActTaylor SwiftBest Solo ArtistNoel GallagherBest TrackUnderworld and Iggy Pop — "Bells & Circles"Best AlbumLet's Eat Grandma — I'm All Ears
2017 The winners of 2017 Q Awards are: Icon Award: Liam Gallagher Innovation in Sound: Wiley Gibson Les Paul Award: Kelley Deal Inspiration Award: Manic Street Preachers Maverick Award: Viv Albertine Award Winner NomineeBest Act in the World TodayEd SheeranBest Breakthrough ActRag'n'Bone ManBest Live ActLiam GallagherBest Solo ArtistStormzyBest TrackKasabian — "You're in Love with a Psycho"Best VideoSleaford Mods — "Bunch of Kunst"Best AlbumGorillaz — Humanz
2016 The winners of 2016 Q Awards are: Hero Award: Meat Loaf Classic Album: The Charlatans — Tellin' Stories Classic Songwriter: Ray Davies Innovation in Sound: M.I.A. Gibson Les Paul Award: The Edge Outstanding Contribution to Music: Blondie Hall of Fame: Madness Award Winner NomineeBest Act in the World TodayMuseBest Live ActU2Best Breakthrough ActJack GarrattBest Solo ArtistJames BayBest TrackBastille — "Good Grief"Best VideoPJ Harvey — "The Community of Hope"Best AlbumThe 1975 — I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It
2015 The winners of 2015 Q Awards are: Hero Award: Mark Ronson Classic Song: Queen — "Bohemian Rhapsody" Classic Album: Soul II Soul — Club Classics Vol. One Innovation in Sound: Gary Numan Gibson Les Paul Award: Tony Iommi Outstanding Contribution To Music: New Order Icon Award: Duran Duran Award Winner NomineeBest Act in the World TodayFoalsBest Live ActRoyal BloodBest New ActJames BayBest Solo ArtistEd SheeranBest TrackThe Libertines — "Gunga Din"Best VideoFlorence and the Machine — "Ship to Wreck"Best AlbumNoel Gallagher's High Flying Birds — Chasing Yesterday
2014 The winners of 2014 Q Awards are: Classic Album: Pink Floyd — The Dark Side of the Moon Maverick Award: St. Vincent Classic Songwriter: Andy Partridge Gibson Les Paul Award: Johnny Marr Innovation In Sound: Jean Michel Jarre Inspiration Award: Simple Minds Hero Award: The Charlatans Icon Award: Wilko Johnson Idol Award: Culture Club Outstanding Contribution To Music: Richard Russell Award Winner NomineeBest Act in the World TodayKasabianBest Live ActKasabianBest New ActSam SmithBest Solo ArtistEd SheeranBest TrackPaolo Nutini — "Iron Sky"Best VideoJamie xx — "Sleep Sound"Best AlbumElbow — The Take Off and Landing of Everything
2013 The winners of 2013 Q Awards are: Classic Album: Happy Mondays — Bummed Classic Songwriter: Chrissie Hynde Spirit of Independence: Belle and Sebastian Poet Laureate: John Cooper Clarke Icon Award: Suede Idol Award: Robbie Williams Outstanding Contribution To Music: Pet Shop Boys Best Event: Glastonbury Festival David Bowie at the Victoria and Albert Museum The Killers at the Wembley Stadium & The Garage, LondonBattle Born World Tour Kraftwerk at the Tate Modern Latitude Festival The Rolling Stones at the Hyde Park, London50 & Counting Award Winner NomineeBest Act in the World TodayVampire WeekendBest Live ActFoalsBest New ActJake BuggBest Solo ArtistEllie GouldingBest TrackArctic Monkeys — "Do I Wanna Know?"Best VideoManic Street Preachers — "Show Me the Wonder"Best AlbumBiffy Clyro — Opposites
2012 The winners of 2012 Q Awards are: Classic Song: Dionne Warwick — "Walk On By" Classic Album: Manic Street Preachers — Generation Terrorists Spirit of Independence: The Cribs Innovation in Sound: Underworld Inspiration Award: Pulp Icon Award: Dexys Midnight Runners Hero Award: Johnny Marr Idol Award: Brandon Flowers Award Winner NomineeBest Act in the World TodayMuseBest Live ActBlurBest New ActDjango DjangoBest Solo ArtistEmeli SandéBest TrackPlan B — "Ill Manors"Best VideoKeane — "Disconnected"Best AlbumBobby Womack — The Bravest Man in the Universe
2011 The winners of 2011 Q Awards are: Next Big Thing: Lana Del Rey Classic Song: Snow Patrol — "Chasing Cars" Outstanding Contribution to Music: Siouxsie Sioux Icon Award: Noel Gallagher Innovation in Sound: Kaiser Chiefs Inspiration Award: Fat Boy Slim Hall of Fame: Queen Classic Songwriter: Gary Barlow Greatest Act of the Last 25 Years: U2 Arcade Fire Arctic Monkeys Beastie Boys Björk Coldplay The Cure Damon Albarn Eminem Green Day Jack White Jay-Z Madonna Manic Street Preachers Metallica Muse Nirvana Oasis Paul Weller The Prodigy Radiohead Red Hot Chili Peppers R.E.M. The Strokes The Stone Roses Award Winner NomineeBest Act in the World TodayColdplayBest Live ActBiffy ClyroBest New ActWU LYFBest Breakthrough ArtistEd SheeranBest Male ArtistTinie TempahBest Female ArtistAdeleBest TrackAdele — "Rolling in the Deep"Best VideoJessie J — "Do It like a Dude"Best AlbumBon Iver — Bon Iver, Bon Iver
2010 The winners of 2010 Q Awards are: Hall of Fame: Take That Classic Songwriter: Neil Finn Next Big Thing: Clare Maguire Idol Award: Madness Hero Award: The Chemical Brothers Inspiration Award: Suede Innovation in Sound: Mark Ronson Classic Album: Wings — Band on the Run Icon: Bryan Ferry Award Winner NomineeBest Act in the World TodayKasabianBest Live ActGreen DayBest New ActMumford & SonsBest Breakthrough ArtistPlan BBest Male ArtistPaolo NutiniBest Female ArtistFlorence and the MachineBest TrackFlorence and the Machine — "You've Got The Love"Best VideoChase & Status — "End Credits"Best AlbumThe National — High Violet
2009 The winners of 2009 Q Awards are: Icon Award: Marianne Faithfull Idol Award: Spandau Ballet Inspiration Award: The Specials Innovation in Sound: Sonic Youth Classic Album: U2 — The Unforgettable Fire Classic Song: Frankie Goes to Hollywood — "Relax" Legend Award: Edwyn Collins Classic Songwriter: Yusuf Islam Outstanding Contribution to Music: Robert Plant Award Winner NomineeBest Act in the World TodayMuseBest Live ActArctic MonkeysBest New ActWhite LiesBest Breakthrough ArtistMr HudsonBest TrackLily Allen — "The Fear"Best VideoLady Gaga — "Just Dance"Best AlbumKasabian — West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum
2008 The winners of 2008 Q Awards are: Classic Song: Meat Loaf — "Bat Out of Hell" Classic Songwriter: John Mellencamp Innovation in Sound: Massive Attack Outstanding Contribution to Music: David Gilmour Legend Award: Glen Campbell Inspiration Award: Cocteau Twins Idol Award: Grace Jones Icon Award: Adam Ant Award Winner NomineeBest Act in the World TodayColdplayBest Live ActKaiser ChiefsBest New ActThe Last Shadow PuppetsBest Breakthrough ArtistDuffyBest TrackKeane — "Spiralling"Best VideoVampire Weekend — "A-Punk"Best AlbumColdplay — "Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends"
2007 The winners of 2007 Q Awards are: Classic Song: Stereophonics — "Local Boy in the Photograph" Classic Album: The Verve — Urban Hymns Classic Songwriter: Billy Bragg Innovation in Sound: Sigur Rós Lifetime Achievement Award: Johnny Marr Merit Award: Ryan Adams Hero Award: Anthony H Wilson Legend Award: Ian Brown Inspiration Award: Damon Albarn Idol Award: Kylie Minogue Icon Award: Paul McCartney Award Winner NomineeBest Act in the World TodayArctic MonkeysBest Live ActMuseBest New ActThe EnemyBest Breakthrough ArtistKate NashBest TrackManic Street Preachers — "Your Love Alone Is Not Enough"Best VideoKaiser Chiefs — "Ruby"Best AlbumAmy Winehouse — Back to Black
2006 The winners of 2006 Q Awards are: Inspiration Award: a-ha Outstanding Contribution to Music: Smokey Robinson Groundbreaker Award: Primal Scream Icon Award: Jeff Lynne Idol Award: Take That Outstanding Performance Award: Faithless Classic Songwriter: Noel Gallagher Lifetime Achievement Award: Peter Gabriel Merit Award: Manic Street Preachers Innovation in Sound: The Edge Classic Song: Culture Club — "Karma Chameleon" Legend Award: The Who Award of Award: U2 People's Choice Award: Arctic Monkeys Charity of the Year: War on Want Award Winner NomineeBest Act in the World TodayOasisBest Live ActMuseBest New ActCorinne Bailey RaeBest TrackGnarls Barkley — "Crazy"Best VideoThe Killers — "When You Were Young"Best AlbumArctic Monkeys — Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
2005 The winners of 2005 Q Awards are: Inspiration Award: Björk Outstanding Contribution to Music: Paul Weller Icon Award: Jimmy Page Classic Songwriter: Nick Cave Lifetime Achievement Award: Bee Gees Innovation in Sound: The Prodigy Classic Song: Ray Davies — "Waterloo Sunset" Legend Award: Joy Division People's Choice Award: Oasis Best Producer: Gorillaz/Danger Mouse — Demon Days Birthday Honour: Michael Eavis Special Award: John Lennon Award Winner NomineeBest Act in the World TodayColdplayBest Live ActU2Best New ActJames BluntBest TrackKT Tunstall — "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree"Best VideoGorillaz — "Feel Good Inc."Best AlbumOasis — Don't Believe the Truth
2004 The winners of 2004 Q Awards are: Merit Award: Shane MacGowan Innovation in Sound: The Human League Inspiration Award: The Pet Shop Boys Classic Songwriter: Elton John Icon Award: U2 Lifetime Achievement Award: Roxy Music Best Producer: Mick Jones (The Libertines — The Libertines) Jerry Finn (Morrissey — You Are the Quarry) The Neptunes (Kelis — Tasty) Rich Costey, John Cornfield, Muse and Paul Reeve (Muse — Absolution)