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.
As of 2026, the official website and social media accounts remain active, focusing on producing digital content.
Hosts and venues Year Date Host Location Venue198910 MayBertín OsborneMonte Carlo, MonacoSalle des Étoiles,Monte-Carlo Sporting19909 MayDon Johnson199115 MayDavid Hasselhoff199214 MayOlivia Newton-John & Cliff Richard199312 MayMichael Douglas19944 MayPatrick Swayze, Prince Albert & Princess Caroline19953 MayClaudia Schiffer & Luke Perry19968 MayJean-Claude Van Damme & Natalie Cole199717 AprilPrincess Stéphanie, Jon Bon Jovi & Halle Berry19986 MayGloria Estefan, Jason Priestley & Daisy Fuentes19995 MayDamon Wayans & Pamela Anderson200010 MayElle Macpherson & Mark McGrath20012 MaySisqó & Carmen Electra20026 MarchShaggy, Jennifer Love Hewitt & Mark McGrath200312 OctoberVivica A. Fox, Rupert Everett & Anna Kournikova200415 SeptemberMarc Anthony, Hilary Duff & Céline DionLas Vegas, USAThomas & Mack Center200531 AugustJames Denton & Carmen ElectraLos Angeles, USAKodak Theatre200615 NovemberLindsay LohanLondon, UKEarls Court Exhibition Centre20074 NovemberJulian McMahonMonte Carlo, MonacoSalle des Étoiles,Monte-Carlo Sporting20089 NovemberMichelle Williams & Jesse Metcalfe201018 MayHayden Panettiere & Michelle Rodriguez201427 MayJason Derulo & Pamela Anderson
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 (Outstanding Contribution to the Music Industry): Barry White Legend Award (Outstanding Contribution to the Pop Industry): Ringo Starr Legend Award (Lifelong Contribution to the Music Industry): Julio Iglesias
1990 Source: 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 (Outstanding Contribution to the Music Industry): Bob Geldof Legend Award (Outstanding Contribution to the Music Industry): Chris de Burgh Legend Award (Outstanding Lifelong Contribution to the Music Industry): 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: (Outstanding Contribution to the Pop Industry): Cliff Richard Legend Award: (Lifelong Contribution to the Music Industry):Elton John Legend Award (Outstanding Contribution to the Rock Industry): Status Quo
1992 Sources: 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 (Outstanding Contribution to the Rock Industry): INXS Legend Award (Outstanding Contribution to the Music Industry): Olivia Newton-John
1993 Sources: 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 (Lifelong Contribution to Classical Music): Luciano Pavarotti Legend Award (World's Best-Selling Artist of the Era): Michael Jackson Legend Award (Lifelong Contribution to the Rock Industry): Rod Stewart Legend Award (Lifelong Contribution to the Music Industry): Tina Turner
1994 Sources: 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 (Lifelong Contribution to Classical Music): Plácido Domingo Legend Award (Outstanding Contribution to the Pop Industry): Prince Legend Award (Lifelong Contribution to the Music Industry): Ray Charles Legend Award (World's Best-Selling Female Recording Artist of the Era): Whitney Houston
1995 Sources: 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
1996 Sources: World's Overall Best-Selling Male Recording Artist: Michael Jackson World's Overall Best-Selling Female Recording Artist: Mariah Carey World's Overall Best-Selling Group: Hootie & the Blowfish World's Best-Selling Male Country Artist: Garth Brooks World's Best-Selling Female Country Artist: Shania Twain World's Best-Selling Latin Artist: Selena World's Best-Selling Latin Group: Mamonas Assassinas