Q Awards

The Q Awards were the UK's annual music awards run by the music magazine Q. Since they began in 1990, the Q Awards 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 Park Lane Ballroom.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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, London Battle Born World Tour
 * Kraftwerk at the Tate Modern
 * Latitude Festival
 * The Rolling Stones at the Hyde Park, London 50 & Counting

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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)
 * Scissor Sisters (Scissor Sisters — Scissor Sisters)
 * Bobby Ross Avila, Bryan-Michael Cox, Destro Music, Dre & Vidal, James "Big Jim" Wright, Jermaine Dupri, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Just Blaze, Lil Jon, L.A. Reid, Rich Harrison, Robin Thicke, Usher (Usher — Confessions)

2003
The winners of 2003 Q Awards are:
 * Inspiration Award: The Cure
 * Icon Award: Jane's Addiction
 * Classic Songwriter: Dexys Midnight Runners
 * Lifetime Achievement Award: Duran Duran
 * Special Award: Scott Walker
 * Innovation in Sound: Muse
 * David Gray
 * Goldfrapp
 * Richard X
 * Super Furry Animals
 * Best Producer: Nigel Godrich (Radiohead — Hail to the Thief)
 * Blur / Ben Hillier (Blur — Think Tank)
 * Dr. Dre (50 Cent — Get Rich or Die Tryin')
 * Ethan Johns (Kings of Leon — Youth & Young Manhood)
 * Pharrell Williams (The Neptunes — Clones)

2002
The winners of 2002 Q Awards are:
 * Classic Songwriter: Jimmy Cliff
 * Special Award: Depeche Mode
 * Merit Award: Elvis Costello
 * Inspiration Award: Echo & the Bunnymen
 * Best Producer:Moby (Moby — 18)
 * Rick Rubin (Red Hot Chili Peppers — By the Way)
 * Tony Visconti (David Bowie — Heathen)
 * Ken Nelson and Mark Pythian (Coldplay — A Rush of Blood to the Head)
 * Weezer and Tom Lord-Alge (Weezer — Maladroit)

2001
The winners of 2001 Q Awards are:
 * Classic Songwriter: Kate Bush
 * Special Award: Brian Eno
 * Merit Award: Elvis Costello
 * Inspiration Award: John Lydon
 * People's Choice Award: U2
 * Best Producer: Nigel Godrich (Radiohead — Amnesiac)
 * Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois (U2 — All That You Can't Leave Behind)
 * Chris Shaw (Super Furry Animals — Rings Around the World)
 * Dan the Automator (Gorillaz — Gorillaz)
 * John Leckie (Muse — Origin of Symmetry)
 * Pat McCarthy (R.E.M. — Reveal)

2000
The winners of 2000 Q Awards are:
 * Merit Award: Jerry Dammers
 * Songwriter Award: Guy Chambers and Robbie Williams
 * Inspiration Award: Joe Strummer
 * Best Producer: Artful Dodger (Artful Dodger — It's All About the Stragglers)
 * Dave Eringa and George Brakoulias (Toploader — Onka's Big Moka)
 * Dr. Dre (Eminem — The Marshall Mathers LP)
 * Guy Chambers and Steve Power (Robbie Williams — Sing When You're Winning)
 * Ross Robinson (Slipknot — Slipknot)

1999
The winners of 1999 Q Awards are:
 * Classic Songwriter: Ian Dury and Chaz Jankel
 * Best Producer: William Orbit
 * Inspiration Award: New Order
 * Special Merit Award: Keith Richards

1998
The winners of 1998 Q Awards are:
 * Songwriter Award: Paul Weller
 * Inspiration Award: Blondie
 * Lifetime Achievement Award: R.E.M.
 * Best Producer: Fatboy Slim (Fatboy Slim — You've Come a Long Way, Baby)
 * Billy Corgan (The Smashing Pumpkins — "Adore")
 * Mike Hedges (Manic Street Preachers — "This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours")
 * Neil Finn (Neil Finn — "Try Whistling This")
 * William Orbit (Madonna — "Ray of Light")

1997
The winners of 1997 Q Awards are:
 * Best Producer: Nellee Hooper
 * Best Reissue/Compilation: Various Artists — The Songs of Jimmie Rodgers
 * Songwriter Award: Paul McCartney
 * Inspiration Award: Patti Smith
 * Lifetime Achievement Award: The Who
 * Special Award: Phil Spector

1996
The winners of 1996 Q Awards are:
 * Best Producer: John Leckie
 * Best Reissue/Compilation: The Beatles — The Beatles Anthology
 * Inspiration Award: U2
 * Lifetime Achievement Award: Rod Stewart
 * Merit Award: Elvis Costello

1995
The winners of 1995 Q Awards are:
 * Best Producer: Tricky
 * Best Reissue/Compilation: Various Artists — The Help Album
 * Inspiration Award: David Bowie / Brian Eno
 * Merit Award: Eric Clapton
 * Songwriter Award: Van Morrison

1994
The winners of 1994 Q Awards are:
 * Best Producer: Stephen Street
 * Best Reissue/Compilation: Various Artists — The Tougher than Tough
 * Inspiration Award: The Kinks
 * Merit Award: U2
 * Songwriter Award: Morrissey

1993
The winners of 1993 Q Awards are:
 * Best Producer: Flood Brian Eno The Edge/Zooropa
 * Best Reissue/Compilation: The Beach Boys — Good Vibrations: Thirty Years of The Beach Boys
 * Inspiration Award: Donald Fagen
 * Merit Award: Elton John
 * Songwriter Award: Neil Finn

1992
The winners of 1992 Q Awards are:
 * Best Producer: Daniel Lanois Peter Gabriel The Orb
 * Best Reissue/Compilation: Bob Marley — Songs of Freedom
 * Inspiration Award: B.B. King
 * Merit Award: Led Zeppelin
 * Songwriter Award: Neil Finn

1991
The winners of 1991 Q Awards are:
 * Best Producer: Trevor Horn (Seal — Seal)
 * Merit Award: Lou Reed
 * Songwriter Award: Richard Thompson

1990
The winners of 1990 Q Awards are:
 * Best Producer: Paul Oakenfold / Steve Osborne (Happy Mondays — Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches)
 * Best Reissue/Compilation: The Beach Boys — Pet Sounds
 * Merit Award: Paul McCartney
 * Songwriter Award: Prince

Criticism
At the 2006 Q Awards, Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner criticised the choice of Take That for the "Idol" award. Commenting on the winners of the night, he said:

A lot of people make jokes about having awards for no reason just for the sake of having awards, and pretending they were good when they weren't. I'm not old enough to know a lot of them, but even I know Take That were bollocks.