Until somebody launches the 'Best Internet site for Disabled People With A Twisted Sense of Humor' Award we will have to be content with watching other people collect little plastic trophies. Still, we aren't complaining as each award ceremony means a bloody good night out and who can grumble at that? The Digital Music Award is a fairly new date that us journalists have added to our busy schedule and with just being 5 years young the ceremony is continuing to grow. Sheperds Bush Empire was the chosen venue this year and saw a stream of celebrities passing through it's doors. It seemed to be a a get-together for Reality TV stars with Big Brother's Emma and Vanessa, The Cheeky Girls, Sarah from Girls Aloud and Leemar playing live. Radio One's Scott Mills presented gongs to various webmasters on the stage downstairs which had been cleared from a 'serving area' for the meal earlier.

Thanks to the Internet (the porn machine which is sometimes handy for other stuff) music is becoming more widely available with legal and illegal downloading sites all across the network. iPods are replacing Walkman's and court cases are becoming more focused on 11 year old girls who download music and opposed to your boring mass murderer case. There's even a new magazine out purely aimed at downloading music, BURN was launched late September and was one of the sponsors/marketing ploys behind the DMA's. Unfortunately we didn't know about this as we could had picked up a free copy as opposed to chucking £3 to our local newsagent.

We had access to the VIP balcony which overlooked the tables downstairs where boffins were wined and dined sharing their PC tips with each other and talking about j.pegs and other boring stuff. Upstairs in the bar conversations were a little more interesting with the performers sharing cigarettes and diary dates relating to when their paths will next cross. The newly refurbished bar at the Empire was pretty crowded as it doubled as a press room and 'new boy' James Blunt, who was one of the acts playing live was the main center of attention. Other live acts included new act Wire Dasies and Estelle, who thankfully played 'Free' and not our first dire hit about the 1980's!

After the awards the guests made their way downstairs once the tables had been pushed to one side and carried on drinking until the early hours. Although most stayed in the VIP bar - well the booze was only a few footstep away. (Can we just point out that we aren't proper alcoholics here at ABLE2UK even though every bloody showbiz report focuses around alcohol!). Other guests at the awards were those from the event's sponsors which included BT Broadband, Mean Fiddler and Metro magazine. Oh, and the BPI who are heavily against illegal downloading on the net at the moment.

After the night we made our way back to our houses, into our bedrooms and surfed the net for a few hours. Talking of which, is there anyone out there who can fix a PC because we don't really want to take it to PC World because....ok that's enough of that report thanks!-Editor.

WHO WON WHAT?

With the exception of Gary Glitter there's other music related music boffins out there who use the Internet - for proper use!! And these winners proved it...

Best Web-based Music Game
Muse Space Fighter game

Best Music Video sponsored by Launch UK
The Streets – Blinded By The Lights

Best Radio Station Online
Virgin Radio

Best Download Music Service
iTunes

Best Artist Download sponsored by BT Rich Media
Coldplay – 2000 Miles

The People’s Choice Award for best music website – unofficial site
Madonnalicious

The People’s Choice Award for best music website – official site
Official Westlife site

Best Use of Mobile supported by the Mobile Entertainment Forum
Orange Fireplayer

Best Use of Broadband
Video-C Broadband Chart

Best Digital Promotional Campaign sponsored by IPT
Kasabian

Best Innovation
LAUNCHcast and Yahoo! Messenger integration

Best Pop Artist sponsored by hmv.co.uk
Girls Aloud

Best Rock Indie Artist sponsored by NME.com
Paul Weller

Best Dance Artist
Faithless

Best Urban Artist sponsored by the Mean Fiddler Group
Lemar

The Artist of the Year award sponsored by Metro
Will Young

Westlife luckily

didn't turn up

at the awards

which was a

pretty good job as

they were

booed for winning

the best

website award.

Dan from

BMG had to put

on a brave

face whilst

accepting the

trophy on the

Irish bands

behalf.

Kasabian

unfortunately

couldn't make it

as they were

playing a gig at

theAstoria.

Rock legends U2

have just

released a special

iPod which

contains their new

album and a

bunch of classic

hits.

FACT 2: We

want one!