World Music Awards



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. The event was based in Monte Carlo. Awards were presented to the world's best-selling artists in a number of categories and to the best-selling artists from each major territory. The most awarded artist in the history of the World Music Awards is Mariah Carey, with nineteen wins.

Nine awards were voted for online by the public. The awards are gold-plated, each depicting an artist holding the world. The event was last held in 2014.

Charity
Each edition of the World Music Awards builds a hospital, school, or orphanage through the Monaco Aide et Presence Foundation and/or the Combonian Missionary Association, which both assist underdeveloped areas in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and South America. There are 23 operational centres still saving lives and providing shelter and education for those in need:

Hospitals
 * Phulbani, India
 * Rominh, Cambodia
 * Port Bouet, Abidjan, Ivory Coast – serves a population of over 170,000 inhabitants
 * Butare, Rwanda
 * El Daein, Darfur
 * Rwarangabo, Burundi (health centre)
 * Teberent (health centre)
 * Kiota, Niger
 * Akamasoa Madagascar
 * Mokatam, Egypt – complete renovation and extension of existing hospital
 * Maroa, Venezuela (health centre)

Schools
 * Coimbatore, India
 * Zebizekou, Ivory Coast
 * Songon, Ivory Coast
 * Kankelena Mali
 * Fetabanoye, Niger
 * Akamasoa Madagascar

Homes
 * Coimbatore, India – two homes for abandoned children
 * Katukuranda, Sri Lanka – home for handicapped girls
 * Yaounde, Cameroon
 * Akamasoa Madagascar – twelve homes
 * Nova Iguaçu, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – home for abandoned children
 * St. Louis, Haiti

World Music Awards has also paid for five wells to provide clean water in Africa.

Legend Award
The Legend Award honors top recording artists who have made outstanding contributions to the music industry. Notable winners of the award include:


 * Amr Diab
 * Aydin Kazemizad
 * Barry White
 * Bee Gees
 * Beyoncé
 * Carlos Santana
 * Celine Dion
 * Chaka Khan
 * Cher
 * Chris Deburgh
 * Cliff Richard
 * David Bowie
 * Deep Purple
 * Destiny's Child
 * Diana Ross
 * Elton John
 * Flo Rida
 * George Benson
 * Gloria Gaynor
 * INXS
 * Janet Jackson
 * Jennifer Lopez
 * Julio Iglesias
 * Lionel Richie
 * Luciano Pavarotti
 * Mariah Carey
 * Michael Jackson
 * Patti LaBelle
 * Placido Domingo
 * Prince
 * Ray Charles
 * Ricky Martin
 * Rod Stewart
 * Sakis Rouvas
 * Status Quo
 * Stevie Wonder
 * The Scorpions
 * Tina Turner
 * Tony Bennett
 * Whitney Houston

Diamond Award
The Diamond Award honors top-selling artists who have been certified as selling over 100,000,000 albums throughout their career. It has been awarded to six recipients to date:
 * 2002: Rod Stewart
 * 2003: Mariah Carey
 * 2004: Celine Dion
 * 2005: Bon Jovi
 * 2006: Michael Jackson
 * 2008: The Beatles

Millennium Award
Two special awards were presented in 2000 to honor the best-selling recording artists at that time. The awards were presented to Michael Jackson and Mariah Carey in the male and female artist award categories, respectively.