ROCK ON: Does the music world really...

ROCK ON: Does the music world really need another TV awards show? Just one more that focuses exclusively on rock, says booking agency heavyweight Peter Grosslight. Though there are awards shows devoted solely to R&B; and country music, there hasn’t been one strictly for rock since 1976-1977, when pop mogul Don Kirshner attempted such a production.

That’s why Grosslight--a partner at Triad Artists--is teaming with TV director Anthony Eden to mount a rock awards show, tentatively set to air in the spring. Grosslight plans to have a panel of about 50 industry insiders, critics and DJs make the nominations and then have a few thousand industryites vote in the finals. He acknowledges that managers, agents, concert promoters and record company executives may have vested interests, but contends that enough people will participate that those interests will be canceled out.

Grosslight said that awards will be presented for the year’s best solo artist, group, songwriter, record producer, video, live performance and tour production. The voters will also assemble an all-star band of the year, which will play on the show.