On April 24, 2014, Alternative Press announced they were organizing an award show to be held on July 21, 2014, at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland.
[1] The first show was aired live on AXS TV and Idobi Radio nationwide[1][2] and featured live performances by Fall Out Boy, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, the Misfits, A Day to Remember, All Time Low, Falling in Reverse with Tyler Carter and Coolio, Asking Alexandria, Sleeping with Sirens, Twenty One Pilots and Brendon Urie of Panic!
It featured hosts Alex Gaskarth and Jack Barakat of All Time Low and performances by Rob Zombie, Motionless in White, New Found Glory with Hayley Williams of Paramore, Panic!
[5] Due to the Republican National Convention, the 2016 APMAs were moved to Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
The show included performances by Judas Priest vocalist Rob Halford collaborating with Babymetal,[6] Third Eye Blind with Mayday Parade and the Maine, Black Veil Brides frontman Andy Biersack with Mikey Way, John Feldmann and Quinn Allman, Machine Gun Kelly, Of Mice & Men, Papa Roach, Good Charlotte and headliners A Day to Remember.