Radiohead crowned online kings

Radiohead promoted their latest album online

British rock band Radiohead have won a top website award at a new event which honours the best in the music business.

Radiohead were judged to have set up the best alternative artist website at the inaugural UK Online Music Awards.

The awards are the first of their kind in the UK, and seek to reward the "creativity, innovation and technical wizardry of music companies, individuals and artists on the web".

We started these awards because we recognise there's a whole new music industry developing

Steve Redmond

Radiohead's honour follows the group's decision to ditch traditional marketing methods for their recent album Kid A in favour of internet promotion.

Radio station BBC Radio 1 also picked up an award, for best company website, at the event in London.

Other successes at the ceremony, organised by industry magazine Music Week, included controversial rapper Eminem who took the title for best international artist website.

Toploader beat off competition from Kylie Minogue, Precious, up-and-coming group Girl Thing and fellow guitar band Dum Dums to win best pop artist web site.

Eminem's lyrics and image have sparked controversy

Supergrass were honoured as best rock artists, coming above acts including Pete Townshend, Julian Cope, Travis and Crashland.

Townshend keeps a diary on his site, and caused a stir with fans recently when he posted a stinging reply to a critical review of a Who show in New York on the NME's website.

In response to criticism of a "sentimental" version of The Kids Are Alright, he blasted: "If the NME critic has any balls at all, and any sperm, he will come to know how it feels to love one's kids and be prepared to bore all-comers with the fact."

Music Week's editorial director Steve Redmond said: "We started these awards because we recognise there's a whole new music industry developing, one that isn't based on the single or the album, vinyl and CD, but on bits, bytes and the internet."

"We see this as the first truly 21st century music awards."