Features
Not Everybody Hearts The Show
The inaugural iHeartRadio Music Awards in Los Angeles May 1 had lots of star power, soft ratings and even a lawsuit.
Photo: Chris Pizzello / Invision / AP
Rihanna accepts the award for artist of the year at t the iHeartRadio Music Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles May 1.
The show, hosted by Ryan Seacrest, included everyone from Pharrell Williams to Arcade Fire, although the Thursday night show had plenty of small-screen competition.
It also was hit with a a trademark infringement lawsuit from Radio Dogs, which claims the show is too close to their Radio Music Awards. The Radio Dogs product ran from 1999 through 2005 on various networks, including NBC, which hosted the iHeartRadio Music Awards.
Radio Dogs sued Clear Channel and Premiere Radio Networks claiming the new show is too similar to their brand. Seacrest, who produced the recent event, is a former host of the Radio Music Awards.
Radio Dogs also claims the iHeartRadio logo looks similar to the one used for its awards show. A trial date has been set for April 6, 2015.
The lawsuit contains the following language: “On September 6, 2013, Radio Dogs canceled its registration in the Radio Music Awards mark, the ‘814 Registration.’ However, Radio Dogs is in the process of reinstating the ‘814 Registration.”
In other words, the plaintiff is in the process of developing its claim of infringement, which could be a hindrance.