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"1993 World Music Awards"
Date confirmed in “Variety” (archived) (“Taped during May 12 [1993] ceremonies at the Monte Carlo Sporting Club”)
Michael Jackson, transcript, Receiving “Best Selling U.S. Artist of the Year” Award
Thanks to all my fans and friends in America for your continued support of my music. Thanks to Mickey Schulhof, Tommy Mottola, Dave Glew, and my entire Sony family, you made it happen. Thanks to Sandy Gallin and Jim Morey. I love you all Thank you very much.
Receiving the “World’s Best Selling Artist” Award
Thank you, Michael Douglas, thank you Sir John Morgan, and Princess Stephanie. Thank you so much. Boyz II Men, I think you're brilliant. Thanks to my fans around the world for making my album, Dangerous the biggest selling album of '92. You continue to make my dreams a reality. Thanks to my Sony International family which made it happen. I love you madly. Thank you.
Receiving the “World’s Best Selling Artist of the Era” Award
Thank you, your Serene Highness. I am honored to accept this World Music Award. It means a lot to me, for I sincerely believe that through music... could you hold this for me? Would you mind? Sorry, it's kind of heavy.
I believe that through music we can help heal the world. It's through such charities as the Princess Grace Foundation of Monaco that this will be accomplished. Again, thanks to my fans around the world, I love you, and you wonderful people of Monaco for these honours. Merci, merci!
“Variety” (June 3, 1993) (archived)
Set in the glamorous locale of Monaco, the 1993 World Music Awards appeared to be more of an excuse to lure the well-to-do to the famous playground than a bona fide awards show. Although the international flavor provided glimpses at music that is popular outside the United States, program’s blandness could explain why the five-year-old ceremony has never before been broadcast on American TV.
Taped during May 12 ceremonies at the Monte Carlo Sporting Club, the awards honor best-selling artists as determined by the Intl. Federation of the Phonographic Industry in all countries except Germany, Italy and Spain, where winners are selected by a trio of music magazines.
Many of the artist intros consisted of lofty hyperbole, with adjectives like “phenomenal,””astronomical” and “incredible” tossed about like mobile homes in a tornado. Several acceptance speeches featured common-man themes and calls for world unity, topics that seemed out of place among the jeweled and moneyed set that frequents the tony town’s casinos and expensive hotels.
Michael Jackson’s pair of awards, for best-selling world and American recording artist of the year, were met with the expected standing ovation. The IFPI also created an award for Jackson, labeling him the world’s best-selling artist of the era.
Carpenters at Jackson’s Neverland Ranch must be on golden time building cabinets to house all these never-before-presented awards that he seems to be acquiring lately.
Other awards included a nod to country music gatekeeper Garth Brooks, who was awarded the best-selling country artist trophy, and Billy Ray Cyrus, named best international new artist. Both gave taped acceptance speeches.
The opening performance by Tina Tuner, one of the handful of acts who actually performed live, was the program’s high point. Turner also was presented with an award for her lifelong contribution to the music industry, not to be confused with Rod Stewart being awarded for his lifelong contribution to the rock industry.
Stewart reprised his “Have I Told You Lately That I Love You,” which, thanks to his “Unplugged” show and single, must be burned into the world’s psyche by now.
Host Michael Douglas, himself a music mogul of sorts with his Third Stone Records label, did an admirable job as ringmaster of this hodgepodge of musical interests.
Clearly edited for pacing, show was still too lengthy even at roughly half of its original running time.
It was one of the most exclusive gatherings in pop history—but it almost ended in disaster for Michael Jackson.
Jackson was on a high after scooping three gongs in the World Music Awards in Monte Carlo.
Then a crazed fan wrestled him to the ground as stars such as Tina Turner, Rod Stewart, and film idol Patrick Swayze looked on in horror.
Fortunately, the loony was quickly manhandled away.
NOTE: The following is a rebuttal to Jacque Peretti’s “What Really Happened” documentary. In it, there are claims by Bob Jones and Diane Dimond of Michael being inappropriate with Jordy Chandler, which are completely debunked by 2005 testimony by mother June Chandler and Bob Jones himself.
https://vindicatemj.wordpress.com/2010/09/16/perettis-film-about-michael-jackson-what-really-happened-the-monaco-1993-ceremony/ (Archived)
