The Italian Music Awards were an accolade established in 2001 by the Federation of the Italian Music Industry to recognize the achievements in the Italian music business both by domestic and international artists.
The awards were given by an academy composed of 400 people, including music publishers, journalists, deejays, music producers, managers, retailers and consumers.
The first Italian Music Awards ceremony was held on 5 February 2001, to honor musical accomplishments for the period between 1 December 1999 and 30 November 2000, while the fourth and last awards ceremony was held on 15 December 2003. The fifth edition of the awards was initially scheduled to be held in the end of 2004, but after being postponed in February 2004 and then in the Spring of 2004, it was canceled due to the lack of a broadcast agreement with the Italian TV networks.
The gap left by the Italian Music Awards was later filled by the Wind Music Awards, established in 2007.
Winners and nominations
First edition
In the first edition of the Italian Music Awards, the biggest winner was the pop group Lùnapop, who received 4 awards, followed by Carmen Consoli with two awards.
Best Italian Male Artist
Adriano Celentano
Biagio Antonacci
Franco Battiato
Alex Britti
Luciano Ligabue
Eros Ramazzotti
Best Italian Female Artist
Carmen Consoli
Elisa
Irene Grandi
Mina
Laura Pausini
Italian Italian Revelation of the Year
Lùnapop
Carlotta
Eiffel 65
Subsonica
Tricarico
Best Italian Dance Artist
Eiffel 65
Alexia
Gigi D'Agostino
Prezioso
Spiller
Best Italian Group
Lùnapop
Avion Travel
Bluvertigo
Paola e Chiara
Subsonica
Best Italian Tour
Luciano Ligabue
Claudio Baglioni
Carmen Consoli
Jovanotti
Lùnapop
Best Italian Single
"Qualcosa di grande" — Lùnapop
"Parole di burro" — Carmen Consoli
"Un giorno migliore" — Lùnapop
"Vamos a bailar (Esta vida nueva)" — Paola e Chiara
"Io sono Francesco" di Tricarico
Best Italian Videoclip
"Parole di burro" — Carmen Consoli
"Una su 1.000.000" — Alex Britti
"File Not Found" — Jovanotti
"Qualcosa di grande" — Lùnapop
"Fuoco nel fuoco" — Eros Ramazzotti
Best Italian Album
...Squérez? — Lùnapop
Canzoni a manovella — Vinicio Capossela
Esco di rado e parlo ancora meno — Adriano Celentano
Stato di necessità — Carmen Consoli
Stilelibero — Eros Ramazzotti
Microchip emozionale — Subsonica
Best International Female Artist
Anastacia
Macy Gray
Jennifer Lopez
Madonna
Sade
Best International Group
U2
The Beatles
Blink 182
Coldplay
Morcheeba
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Best International Male Artist
Carlos Santana
Craig David
Eminem
Lenny Kravitz
Moby
Second edition
During the second edition of the Italian Music Awards, the number of categories was strongly increased. The biggest winners were Vasco Rossi and Elisa, receiving three awards each.