The Biggest Stars in the Hip-Hop Universe Converge for ``The Source Hip-Hop Music Awards'' Airing Friday, August 20 on UPN

Business Wire, June 3, 1999

LOS ANGELES--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--June 3, 1999--

Recognizing the top-selling musical format in America as well as the dominant sound of youth culture, UPN and Source Entertainment, the multi-media division of hip-hop culture's leading magazine The Source, will present "The Source Hip-Hop Music Awards," the first awards show dedicated exclusively to the genre.

Featuring performances and presentations by the biggest hip-hop artists alongside the most coveted stars of film, television and sports, the show will take place at the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles on August 18, subsequently airing as a UPN special on August 20 (8-10 p.m. ET/PT).

"Hip-hop has become the music of America's youth and The Source is the magazine of choice for that new generation of diverse, upscale consumers," said UPN president of entertainment Tom Nunan. "We're pleased to be in business with one of the most powerful men in the hip-hop industry, David Mays, and look forward to a lasting, fruitful relationship."

David Mays, publisher of The Source, commented: "Hip-hop dominates the charts and has eclipsed rock `n' roll, yet the mainstream music industry award shows have consistently failed to properly recognize the hip-hop genre and the culture it represents.

"The time is now to celebrate and honor the music and stars of hip-hop, and it's only fitting that The Source and UPN should establish what will undoubtedly become one of the most important annual awards of the next decade."

Nominations for "The Source Hip-Hop Music Awards," as determined by the editors of The Source magazine and composed of the leading hip-hop contributors from the previous year, will be announced in June. The winners will be determined by consumers and a panel of the most influential radio DJs in the country. Voting will take place via ballots mailed to subscribers of The Source.

Among the categories are Artist of the Year (Group and Solo), New Artist of the Year (Group and Solo), Lyricist of the Year, Live Performer of the Year, Producer of the Year, R&B Artist of the Year, Music Video of the Year, Single of the Year, Album of the Year, as well as a Pioneer Award and Lifetime Achievement Award.

In 1998, two decades after the first hip-hop hit ("Rapper's Delight" by the Sugar Hill Gang), the genre outsold any other music format, with a massive 81 million CDs, tapes and albums. With its 31% increase in sales year-to-year, rap music purchases continue to increase at a rate far greater than country and rock music as well as the music industry overall.

The Source was started a decade ago as a simple one-page newsletter. It is now the number one selling music magazine on America's newsstands.

David Mays, Tony Eaton and Michael Elliot are the executive producers. "The Source Hip-Hop Music Awards" is a production of Tall Pony Productions and Source Entertainment.