US trade magazine Billboard has said it is developing a new music awards show with live music conglom AEG Live which will launch next year. The event is the result of a recent strategic alliance forged by Billboard's parent Nielsen with AEG.
The new show will replace the annual Billboard Music Awards, which was produced in association with and screened by the Fox Network, and which awarded artists based on the trade magazine's end of year retail and radio play charts. That event is not being staged this year - with the end of year charts simply being published in the Billboard magazine without any accompanying event. Exactly how similar the new event will be to the old Billboard Music Awards is not yet clear.
Commenting on the alliance with AEG, Billboard's Group Editorial Director Tamara Conniff told reporters: "We have been working closely with AEG Live to identify new opportunities to expand and deepen the Billboard brand and our broadcast awards shows. Leveraging our considerable combined strengths, we are excited to work with AEG to launch a new Billboard Music Awards show in 2008 that takes full advantage of the benefits of our partnership".