Q Awards facts for kids

The Q Awards were a big annual music awards show in the United Kingdom. They were created by Q music magazine. Starting in 1990, the Q Awards quickly became one of Britain's most famous music awards. The awards ceremonies were held in cool places like Abbey Road Studios in London.

The Q Awards gave out many different prizes. Some awards were for the best music of that year, like "Best Album" or "Best Song." Other awards were for artists who had achieved a lot over their whole career, like "Lifetime Achievement" or "Icon Award." Towards the end, there were often more "lifetime" awards than "current" awards.

The Q Awards stopped happening when the Q magazine closed down in 2020. This happened partly because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The last awards ceremony was planned for the Roundhouse and was going to feature a performance by Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott. When the magazine announced it was closing, Paul Heaton actually gave a lot of money to the magazine's former staff. To thank him for his kindness and his amazing music, he was given a special final Q Award.

Award Winners Over the Years

The Q Awards celebrated many talented musicians and bands each year. Here are some of the winners from the last few years and the very first year:

2019 Winners

Here are the winners from the 2019 Q Awards:

• 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 Winners

Here are the winners from the 2018 Q Awards:

• 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 Winners

Here are the winners from the 2017 Q Awards:

• Icon Award: Liam Gallagher
• Innovation in Sound: Wiley
• Gibson Les Paul Award: Kelley Deal
• Inspiration Award: Manic Street Preachers
• Maverick Award: Viv Albertine

2016 Winners

Here are the winners from the 2016 Q Awards:

• 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 Winners

Here are the winners from the 2015 Q Awards:

• 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 Winners

Here are the winners from the 2014 Q Awards:

• 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

1990 Winners

Here are the winners from the very first Q Awards in 1990:

• 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