The Record of the Year is an award show voted for by the UK public. The award has been given in conjunction with a television programme of the same name. The Record of the Year started in 1998. It has become one of the highest rated music TV shows in the UK, boosting sales of CD's in the crucial fortnight before Christmas every year. It remains as the only music award in the UK to be chosen by the public.

Winners

Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... Boyzone were an Irish boy band (pop group) of the 1990s. ... Year 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar). ... Westlife is an Irish pop music group, formed in 1998. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Westlife is an Irish pop music group, formed in 1998. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... S Club 7 (later re-named S Club after the departure of Paul Cattermole from the band) were an English pop group created by former Spice Girls manager Simon Fuller, who rose to fame via their own BBC television programme. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... Gareth Paul Gates (born July 12, 1984, Bradford, England) is an English pop singer who shot to fame in 2002 when he came second in the first series of the ITV talent show Pop Idol. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 2003 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Westlife is an Irish pop music group, formed in 1998. ... shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Joanne song, see Busted (song). ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Westlife is an Irish pop music group, formed in 1998. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Take That are an English pop boy band formed by Nigel Martin Smith in Manchester in 1990. ...

Year by year

1998

The ten finalists were:

For footballers with the same name, see Robbie Williams (footballer). ... Cheryl Sarkisian LaPierre (better known as Cher) (born on May 20, 1946)[1] is an American actress, singer, songwriter, author and entertainer. ... B*Witched were an Irish girl group who enjoyed success in both the European and, to a lesser degree, the North American music scene throughout the late 1990s. ... The Tamperer featuring Maya was an Italian-American dance music group consisting of Italian music producers Mario Fargetta and Alex Farolfi, and American singer Maya Days. ... 5ive (or later known as Five) were a British boy band that some claim were quite a bit edgier and naughtier than the normal pop group. ... LeAnn Rimes (born Margaret LeAnn Rimes August 28, 1982 in Jackson, Mississippi) is an American country music singer. ... Céline Marie Claudette Dion Angélil, OC, OQ, (born March 30, 1968) is a Canadian pop singer and occasional songwriter. ... All Saints are an English Pop girl band that released their debut self-titled album in 1997. ... Boyzone were an Irish boy band (pop group) of the 1990s. ... Steps are a highly successful British pop group who achieved a series of charted singles between 1997 and 2001. ...

1999

The ten finalists were:

Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is a Grammy Award-winning[1] American pop singer, dancer, actress, author and songwriter. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... S Club 7 (later re-named S Club after the departure of Paul Cattermole from the band) were an English pop group created by former Spice Girls manager Simon Fuller, who rose to fame via their own BBC television programme. ... Westlife is an Irish pop music group, formed in 1998. ... “J. Lo” redirects here. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... David Lubega (aka Lou Bega) (born April 13, 1975 in Munich) is a Latin pop musician famous for his song Mambo No. ... Martine McCutcheon (born Martine Kimberley Sherri Ponting[1] on May 14, 1976) is an English singer, television personality and Laurence Olivier Award winning actress. ... That Dont Impress Me Much is a song by Canadian singer Shania Twain. ... Shania Twain, OC (born Eilleen Regina Edwards, August 28, 1965, Windsor, Ontario) is a Canadian singer and songwriter in the country and pop music genres. ... Ronan Patrick John Keating (born March 3, 1977 in Dublin, Republic of Ireland) is an Irish pop singer. ...

2000

The ten finalists were:

Craig Ashley David (born May 5, 1981 in Holyrood, Southampton) is an English R&B singer. ... Samantha Tamania Anne Cecilia Mumba (born January 18, 1983) is a Grammy Award-nominated Irish singer, actress and occasional model. ... Spiller is an Italian DJ (noted for being the tallest DJ in the world at one stage). ... Sophie Michelle Ellis-Bextor (born 10 April 1979) is a multi-platinum selling English pop singer and songwriter. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Ronan Patrick John Keating (born March 3, 1977 in Dublin, Republic of Ireland) is an Irish pop singer. ... Westlife is an Irish pop music group, formed in 1998. ... All Saints are an English Pop girl band that released their debut self-titled album in 1997. ... S Club 7 (later re-named S Club after the departure of Paul Cattermole from the band) were an English pop group created by former Spice Girls manager Simon Fuller, who rose to fame via their own BBC television programme. ... Gabrielle on her 2004 album Play To Win Louise Gabrielle Bobb (born April 16, 1970, London) is a British singer who records under the name Gabrielle. ... For footballers with the same name, see Robbie Williams (footballer). ...

2001

The ten finalists were:

Blue is the name of two bands: Blue, the 1970s rock group from Glasgow, Scotland. ... Kylie Ann Minogue (born 28 May 1968) is an Australian dance-pop singer-songwriter and occasional actress. ... S Club 7 (later re-named S Club after the departure of Paul Cattermole from the band) were an English pop group created by former Spice Girls manager Simon Fuller, who rose to fame via their own BBC television programme. ... DJ Pied Piper and the Masters of Ceremonies is a garage music group who had a #1 UK single with Do You Really Like It? in 2001. ... Shaggy (born October 22, 1968, in Kingston, Jamaica as Orville Richard Burrell) is a Jamaican reggae disk jockey who takes his nickname from Scooby-Doos companion, a nickname given to him by his friends, during his teenage years in which his hair bore a similarity to the Scooby Doo... Nelust Wyclef Jean (IPA pronunciation: ) (born October 17, 1972) is a Grammy Award-winning and Golden Globe-nominated Haitian-born American rapper, producer, and member of the hip hop trio The Fugees. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Destinys Child was a three-time Grammy Award-winning American R&B girl group. ... Wheatus is an American pop rock group from Long Island, New York. ... Atomic Kitten are an English girl group from Liverpool composed of Liz Lil McClarnon, Natasha Tash Hamilton, and Jenny Frost - who replaced original member Kerry Katona in January 2001. ...

2002

The ten finalists were:

Elvis Aron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), often known simply as Elvis and also called The King of Rock n Roll or simply The King, was an American singer, musician and actor. ... Junkie XL (also JXL) is a musician, born Tom Holkenborg in Lichtenvoorde, The Netherlands in 1967. ... Darius Danesh (born August 19, 1980) in Scotland. ... William Robert Young (born January 20, 1979) is an English singer and actor. ... Enrique Miguel Iglesias Preysler (born May 8, 1975, in Madrid, Spain) is a Grammy Award and Latin Grammy Award-winning Spanish-born, Miami-based singer and is of Asian and European ancestry. ... If Tomorrow Never Comes is a song by American country music artist Garth Brooks. ... Ronan Patrick John Keating (born March 3, 1977 in Dublin, Republic of Ireland) is an Irish pop singer. ... Liberty X (originally called Liberty) was a pop group formed from five contestants from the 2001 UK TV show Popstars. ... Holly Rachel Vukadinović (born 11 May 1983), who is better known by her stage name of Holly Valance, is a New Zealand-born actress and ARIA nominated singer. ... Atomic Kitten are an English girl group from Liverpool composed of Liz Lil McClarnon, Natasha Tash Hamilton, and Jenny Frost - who replaced original member Kerry Katona in January 2001. ... Gareth Paul Gates (born July 12, 1984, Bradford, England) is an English pop singer who shot to fame in 2002 when he came second in the first series of the ITV talent show Pop Idol. ... Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll (born February 2, 1977), known simply as Shakira (IPA pronunciation: [2]), is a Colombian singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, record producer, dancer and occasional actress who has been a major figure in the pop music scene of Latin America since the mid-1990s. ...

2003

The ten finalists were:

Fatman Scoop born Isaac Freeman III is a New York City hip hop hype man and radio personality famed for his on-stage rough, loud voice. ... Evanescence is a Grammy Award-winning American alternative rock band founded in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1998 by singer Amy Lee and former guitarist Ben Moody. ... Beyoncé in 2004 with her five Grammys. ... Daniel John Bedingfield (born December 3, 1979) is a New Zealand born singer songwriter currently based in the UK. He is the brother of pop singer Natasha Bedingfield. ... Room 5 is an electronic music group based in the UK. They are known for the UK #1 single Make Luv, which sampled Oliver Cheathams song Get Down Saturday Night, released in 2003. ... Oliver Cheatham is an American singer, born 1948 in Detroit, Michigan, USA. He now resides in Surrey in the UK. He had a few hits in the 1980s, but he returned to the charts in 2003, when he was featured in Room 5s UK #1 single Make Luv, which... Westlife is an Irish pop music group, formed in 1998. ... Rachel Lauren Stevens (born April 9, 1978) is an English singer and actress and an occasional model who lives in Hampstead, London. ... The Black Eyed Peas are an American hip-hop group from Los Angeles, California, who have enjoyed worldwide pop success. ... Dido (born Florian Cloud de Bounevialle Armstrong,[1] December 25, 1971) is an English BRIT Award-winning and Grammy Award-nominated singer and songwriter who performs under a nickname her mother gave her in childhood. ... For the Joanne song, see Busted (song). ...

2004

After an initial selection of thirty songs, ten were selected for the final show, broadcast by ITV on Saturday December 4, 2004. Independent Television (generally known as ITV but also as ITV Network or Channel 3) is a public service network of British commercial television broadcasters, set up under the Independent Television Authority (ITA) to provide competition to the BBC. ITV is the oldest commercial television network in the UK. Since 1990... December 4th redirects here. ... shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The ten finalists were:

The Closest Thing To Crazy is the debut single of Georgian born songstress Katie Melua. ... Ketevan Katie Melua (Georgian: , surname pronounced IPA: //; born 16 September 1984) is a British-Georgian singer and musician. ... McFly are an English pop rock band who were successfully launched into the music scene in early 2004 with their number one single, 5 Colours in Her Hair. The band was founded by Tom Fletcher (born July 17, 1985) and also consists of Danny Jones (born March 12, 1986), Dougie... The Scissor Sisters American alternative band who formed in 2001. ... Anastacia (born Anastacia Lyn Newkirk , now Anastacia Newton on September 17, 1968[1]) is an American pop singer and songwriter. ... William Robert Young (born January 20, 1979) is an English singer and actor. ... Girls Aloud are a Smash Hits Poll Winners, TMF award-winning and BRIT Award-nominated British girl group created on ITV1 talent show Popstars: The Rivals in 2002. ... Brian Nicholas McFadden (born 12 April 1980 in Artane, Dublin, Ireland) is an Irish singer and songwriter. ... Natasha Bedingfield (born November 26, 1981) is an English singer-songwriter. ... Maroon 5 is a Grammy-winning soul-influenced rock band from Los Angeles, California comprising five members: Adam Levine (lead vocals, guitar), James Valentine (guitar, backing vocals), Jesse Carmichael (keyboards, backing vocals), Mickey Madden (bass guitar) and Matt Flynn (drums). ...

2005

The final was on Saturday December 10, 2005 December 10 is the 344th day (345th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, 21 days before the next year. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The ten finalists were:

To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... McFly are an English pop rock band who were successfully launched into the music scene in early 2004 with their number one single, 5 Colours in Her Hair. The band was founded by Tom Fletcher (born July 17, 1985) and also consists of Danny Jones (born March 12, 1986), Dougie... Bad Day is a pop song written by Canadian singer Daniel Powter. ... This article contains a trivia section. ... Feel Good Inc. ... Gorillaz is a virtual band created in 1998 by Damon Albarn of Britpop band Blur, and Jamie Hewlett, co-creator of the comic book Tank Girl. ... If Theres Any Justice was the first single taken from British R&B singer Lemars second album Time To Grow. ... Lemar (born Lemar Obika, 4 April 1978 in Tottenham, London) is a British R&B singer who has had a run of chart success in the UK since appearing on Fame Academy on BBC Television. ... Audio sample My Humps is the third single from The Black Eyed Peas fourth album, Monkey Business. ... The Black Eyed Peas are an American hip-hop group from Los Angeles, California, who have enjoyed worldwide pop success. ... Nine Million Bicycles is a song written and produced by Mike Batt for Georgian-born singer Katie Meluas second album, Piece by Piece. ... Ketevan Katie Melua (Georgian: , surname pronounced IPA: //; born 16 September 1984) is a British-Georgian singer and musician. ... In particular for the 1970s pop song with the same title see Since You Been Gone. ... Kelly Brianne Clarkson (born April 24, 1982) is an American pop singer from Texas. ... What You Waiting For? is a dance-pop song written by Gwen Stefani and Linda Perry for Stefanis debut solo album Love. ... Gwen Renée Stefani (born October 3, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, fashion designer and occasional actress. ... Youre Beautiful is an adult contemporary song co-written by British singer James Blunt, Sasha Skarbek and Amanda Ghost[1] for Blunts debut album Back to Bedlam (2004). ... James Blunt (born James Hillier Blount, February 22, 1974) is an English singer-songwriter whose debut album, Back to Bedlam, and single releases — especially the number one hit Youre Beautiful — brought him to fame in 2005. ... You Raise Me Up is a popular song in the inspirational mold. ... Westlife is an Irish pop music group, formed in 1998. ...

2006

The Record of the Year 2006 took place online, instead of ITV. It is hoped that it will be back on ITV in 2007.

The ten finalists were:

Votes compiled on... The Record of the Year Crazy is the first single from Gnarls Barkley, a musical collaboration between Danger Mouse and Cee-Lo, and is taken from their 2006 debut album St. ... Gnarls Barkley is a Grammy-award winning musical collaboration between DJ, multi-instrumentalist and producer Danger Mouse (Brian Burton) from Baltimore, and rapper/vocalist Cee-Lo Green (Thomas Callaway), from Atlanta. ... Infernal is a Danish dance act, who made their national debut in 1997 with the release of the Sorti De Lenfer single. ... Infernal is a Danish dance band, who made their national debut in 1997 with the release of the Sorti de Lenfer single. ... Hips Dont Lie is a Grammy Award-nominated Latin pop fused with Reggaeton song performed by Colombian singer Shakira and Haitian rapper Wyclef Jean. ... Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll (born February 2, 1977), known simply as Shakira (IPA pronunciation: [2]), is a Colombian singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, record producer, dancer and occasional actress who has been a major figure in the pop music scene of Latin America since the mid-1990s. ... Nelust Wyclef Jean (IPA pronunciation: ) (born October 17, 1972) is a Grammy Award-winning and Golden Globe-nominated Haitian-born American rapper, producer, and member of the hip hop trio The Fugees. ... International cover The cover of the UK single. ... The Scissor Sisters American alternative band who formed in 2001. ... Original cover art Cover art for October 2005 release I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker (with Flowers in My Hair) is the debut single performed by Sandi Thom. ... Alexandria Sandi Thom [1] (born August 11, 1981) is a Scottish singer-songwriter from Macduff in Aberdeenshire. ... Maneater is a pop song written by Nelly Furtado, Timothy Timbaland Mosley, Jim Beanz and Nate Danja Hills for Furtados third album Loose (2006). ... Nelly Kim Furtado (born December 2, 1978) is a Canadian singer, songwriter, record producer, and instrumentalist of Portuguese descent. ... No Tomorrow is the first single by Californian rock band Orson taken from their 2006 album Bright Idea. ... Orson is a BRIT Award-winning American rock band from Hollywood, California who formed in 2000. ... Patience is a song released by the British boy band Take That. ... Take That are an English pop boy band formed by Nigel Martin Smith in Manchester in 1990. ... Smile is Lily Allens first mainstream single release, and was penned by Lily Allen, Iyola Babalola and Darren Lewis (the duo who produced the track as Future Cut). ... Lily Rose Beatrice Allen (born May 2, 1985) is an English singer-songwriter known for songs such as Smile and LDN. She is the daughter of actor/musician Keith Allen and film producer Alison Owen. ... SOS (also known as S.O.S. (Rescue Me)) is a dance-pop song written by Evan Kidd Bogart, Christina Milian, and Jonathan Rotem for Rihannas second studio album A Girl Like Me (2006). ... Rihanna (born Robyn Rihanna Fenty on February 20, 1988) is a Bajan singer with musical influences from R&B, pop, reggae, rock, dancehall and funk. ...

Criticisms and Praise

Many have criticised the 'Record of the Year' Award, as they feel the nominations are unfairly dominated by pop acts and thus the winner is usually not the "true" record of the year. One suggested reason for this is that it is done to attract young girls, who the organisers are sure will watch the televised final and vote for the records. Others have argued that it is an attempt to boost the sales of pop artists' albums, which traditionally have limited success relative to their singles, in the crucial pre-Christmas period. Of the examples cited as evidence for this, the most famous include the exclusion of rap artist Eminem's "My Name Is..." in 1999 as he was unavailable to perform live on the Record of the Year final and the omission from nominations of rock act The Darkness' "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" in 2003, despite being one of the highest selling singles of the year. Marshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, 1972), better known as Eminem or Slim Shady, is a Grammy and Academy Award-winning American rapper, record producer and actor from the Detroit, Michigan area. ... My Name Is. ... The Darkness were an English hard rock band. ...

In spite of this, many winners of the award, as well as the organisers, argue its significance and integrity on the basis that it represents the views of the public, rather than critics. Indeed Westlife have often said that their first win for the single "Flying Without Wings" was the most exciting moment in their career. Unsurprisingly, critics eventually began to dub that it was just an award to prove Westlife were still around, hence why Heat Magazine dubbed it "Westlife Record Of The Year" in 2004. However, a counter-argument is that this, and similar awards based on phone polls, are not a true representation of public opinion, a possibly better indication being sales, making Radio 1's countdown of the 20 best selling singles of the last calendar year a more accurate indication of the record of the year. Heat Magazine is a weekly celebrity gossip magazine based in the UK edited by Mark Frith. ...

Sponsorship

Below is a list of companies that have sponsored the award since it began

1998-2001: Britannia Music
2002-2005: T-Mobile Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... T-Mobile logo T-Mobile is a multinational mobile phone operator. ...

Theme Music

From 1998 to 2004, the theme music was the club track Disco Cop by Blue Adonis.

In 2005 ITV used a specially recorded track.

External links

• The Record of the Year
• BBC News: "Busted scoop Record of the Year"
• : the Tip Sheet co produces each year with Granada TV