Apple, RealNetworks, XM Satellite Radio, NCSoft and Nintendo were among the big winners at the inaugural Billboard Digital Entertainment Awards, presented last night (Nov. 5) at UCLA.
Apple/Pixar CEO Steve Jobs was named visionary of the year, and Apple picked up the honor for brand of the year. Hugh Panero, president/CEO of XM, was named innovator of the year.
In the music categories, RealNetworks’ Rhapsody won best downloadable or subscription service, and the company’s Harmony service won digital music innovation of the year. XM won best radio service, and Napster won best digital community.
Also, Island Def Jam’s LL Nation won honors for best use of technology by a label, Prince’s NPG Music Club won best use of technology by a artist, Virgin Records and Maven Networks won best use of technology for a marketing campaign for their work with Ben Harper, and the Rolling Stones’ “Four Flicks” (TGA Entertainment) won DVD of the year.
Among the winners in the games categories was NCSoft, which took two prizes for “City of Heroes”: PC or console game of the year and multiplayer game of the year. Nintendo won handheld game of the year for “Mario & Luigi: Super Star Saga” and best character for Link from “Legend of Zelda.”
Winners in the film/TV/video categories included TiVo for TV technology of the year and Walt Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” for best use of technology in a feature film.
Winners were selected by an appointed panel of jurors from the music and new-media sectors.
The awards were the culmination of the Billboard Digital Entertainment Conference.
For a full list of winners, click here.
