The World Music Awards (founded in 1989) is an international awards show that annually honours recording artists based on their worldwide sales figures, which are provided by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI).
The show is broadcast to North and South America, all of Europe, the Middle East, Japan and South East Asia, all of China, some other parts of Asia, Australia, New Zealand and all of Africa, reaching an estimated worldwide audience of around one billion viewers in over 160 countries.
The 20th annual World Music Awards took place on 9 November, 2008 in Monte Carlo.
The 2008 awards aired in South Africa on SABC3 on Wednesday 31 December 2008, at 20h31. The special was two hours long.
World Music Awards 2008
The 20th annual World Music Awards was held on 9 November, 2008 in Monaco. Awards were given based on worldwide sales figures for that year. The ceremony was hosted by actor Jesse Metcalfe.
The nominees were as follows, with winners in red:
World's Best Selling Record Act
Coldplay
World's Best Selling Pop Female Artist
Madonna
Leona Lewis
Rihanna
Mariah Carey
World's Best Selling Pop Male Artist
Kid Rock
Enrique Iglesias
James Blunt
Michael Jackson
World's Best Selling Pop/Rock Female Artist
Duffy
Pink
Amy Winehouse
Katy Perry
World's Best Selling Pop/Rock Male Artist
Kid Rock
Lenny Kravitz
James Blunt
Jack Johnson
World's Best Selling Rock Act
Coldplay
Metallica
Kings of Leon
REM
World's Best Selling R&B Female
Alicia Keys
Leona Lewis
Rihanna
Mariah Carey
World's Best Selling R&B Male
Chris Brown
Ne-Yo
Usher
Robin Thicke
World's Best Selling New R&B Act
Estelle
World's Best Selling New Act
Duffy
Leona Lewis
Estelle
Katy Perry
World's Best Selling Hip Hop/Rap Artist
Kanye West
Lil' Wayne
T.I.
T-Pain
World's Best DJ
Laurent Wolf
Tiësto
Martin Solveig
Frankie Knuckles
World's Best Selling Latin Performer
Enrique Iglesias
Gloria Estefan
Shakira
Luis Miguel
Diamond Award
Ringo Starr
Outstanding Contribution To The Arts
Beyonce Knowles
Special Achievement Award
Mariah Carey
Outstanding Contribution To The Music Industry
L.A. Reid
Regional Awards
World's Best Selling African Artist: Akon
World's Best Selling American Artist: Madonna
World's Best Selling Australian Artitst: Delta Goodrem
World's Best Selling Belgian Artitst: Kate Ryan
World's Best Selling British Artist: Coldplay
World's Best Selling Canadian Artist: Celine Dion
World's Best Selling Chinese Artist: Jay Chou
World's Best Selling French Artist: Christophe Mae
World's Best Selling German Artist: Die Ärzte
World's Best Selling Irish Group: The Script
World's Best Selling Italian Artist: Jovanotti
World's Best Selling Japanese Artist: Exile
World's Best Selling Middle Eastern Artist: Nancy Ajram
World's Best Selling Norwegian Artist: Madcon
World's Best Selling Spanish Artist: Enrique Iglesias
World's Best Selling Swedish Artist: Basshunter