The original “Armenian Music Awards” set a high standard

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by Paul Chaderjian 
(special to the “Armenian Reporter”)

GLENDALE, Calif.--Commercials about the “Armenian Music Video Awards” in Hollywood created some confusion in the Armenian community over the past few months. After all, the 8th annual Armenian Music Awards had just taken place in Hollywood in May. Legal measures, which the producers of neither the original music awards nor the new music-video awards would discuss, resulted in a change in the name of the music-video awards to the M Club Annual Music Video Awards.

“We had the 8th one back in May at the Hollywood Palladium,” says Peter Bahlawanian, who created the Armenian Music Awards in 1997. “I could say the Armenian Music Awards single-handedly redefined the music industry, within the community and out. We've had major superstars like Stewart Copland , John Densmore, and Serj Tankian and major world labels like Real World, Sony, BMG participate in the show.”

Bahlawanian says he created the show to acknowledge the achievements of Armenian artists and to showcase their work to mainstream America. The show, which has drawn international media attention and is broadcast globally on satellite television, hands out awards in 20 to 30 categories and features a number of live performances.

“The idea came to me in Montreal after meeting with Arthur Meschjian about a box-CD set we wanted to release,” says Bahlawanian. “It had dawned on me that the wedding singers were more popular than the poets.”

Bahlawanian's formula for an awards show so was simple. Any Armenian artist can participate by entering an album released the previous year. Even non-Armenians are allowed to enter if their work is considered Armenian or Armenian-themed. Judging the entries is a changing group of musicians, composers, artists, critics, and recording-industry executives.

“The coolest thing for me was to hand our first Lifetime Achievement Award to Aznavour,” says Bahlawanian. “I never thought, living back in Montreal, that would happen. Or meeting Jim Morrison's brother, sister, and parents. The awards have been quite the experience.”

The Armenian Music Awards have been broadcast live for the past three years. A Who's Who from the world of Armenian music have performed over the years, and awards have ranged from best retro to best traditional, from best fusion to best compilation.

“But concerning the award show at the Kodak,” says Bahlawanian, “my feelings have always been that if it helps promote our artists, culture, and our industry, I'm always ready to help. Concerning copyright, we did have an issue that was addressed with legal counsel. We hope that it will not repeat itself.”

The 8th annual Armenian Music Awards were the last that Bahlawanian says he would produce. However the shows will continue. “I decided to pass the torch, so there would be new ideas and new blood,” he says.

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