Grammy Categories and Nominations

Grammy Categories and Nominations
By Andy McCarthy

The Grammy Awards began with only 28 categories, but today, the Grammys honor winners in 110 awards categories, including some honoring rock n' roll genres which they introduced in 1962. Only the awards carrying the greatest popular appeal - such as Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist - are distributed during the live broadcast, among live musical performances that round out the live telecast. Other Grammy awards categories honor genre-specific performance and production, as well as video and artistic contributions.

Additional Grammys are awarded in recognition of significant activities and contributions of recording industry professionals, with such honors as:

� The Lifetime Achievement Award, added in 1962, is awarded to musical performers who have stood out as outstanding and significant artists in their creative contributions to the music industry. Among recipients are Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Elvis Presley, The Rolling Stones, Billie Holiday, B.B. King, Jimi Hendrix, Aretha Franklin, Johnny Cash, Simon and Garfunkel, Led Zepplin, and Michael Jackson.

� The Trustee's Award, added in 1967, is awarded to non-performers (as of 1983) who have made outstanding and significant contributions to the music industry during their careers. Among recipients since the award has been limited to non-performers are: George & Ira Gershwin, Walt Disney, Quincy Jones, Dick Clark, Sam Phillips, Norman Granz, Clive Davis, Phil Ramone, and Don Cornelius.

� The Technical Grammy Award is awarded to individuals or entities who have made outstanding technical contributions to the recording music industry.

� The Grammy Legend Award/Grammy Living Legend Award, added in 1990, is awarded to artists who have continually demonstrated significant impact and outstanding contributions and influence within the recording industry. Among recipients are Liza Minelli, Smokey Robinson, Elton John, the Bee Gees, Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, and Quincy Jones.

� The Grammy Hall of Fame Award, added in 1973, honors recordings that have been around for at least twenty-five years and have stood the test of time by demonstrating significance in terms of either quality or history. Among recipients are: Fats Waller's Ain't Misbehavin', The Dixie Hummingbirds' Amazing Grace, the Andrews Sisters' Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, Van Morrison's Brown Eyed Girl, Nat King Cole's The Christmas Song, Peggy Lee's Fever, Ray Charles' Georgia on My Mind, and The Rolling Stones' (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction.

To be nominated to go home with the famous gramophone trophy on Grammy night, artists and their record companies must officially enter online and submit physical copies of their recordings to the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, which has 150 music industry experts conduct reviewing sessions to determine eligibility for various categories. The list they come up with is submitted to all members of the NARAS, who vote to determine nominations for the Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist, and a maximum of nine other fields on their ballots. The five options (or more, in the case of a tie) in each category that receive the most votes become that year's official Grammy nominees.

Next, the final ballots are distributed to NARAS members, who now vote for Record, Album, and Song of the Year, Best New Artist, and a maximum of eight more categories - preferably sticking to those genres and categories that fall within the realm of their professional expertise. Voters are to uphold the integrity of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences by refraining from accepting any gifts and by basing their votes on quality above all else, ignoring factors like sales, music charts, and personal, regional, or company loyalties. After votes have been placed, the ballots go to Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, an accounting firm, which tallies the votes and keeps the winners secret until their announcement at the Grammy Awards ceremony.

Trophies and crystal awards similar to the Grammy trophy are available for direct sale online.

The author of this article is 10 year veteran in the crystal awards and recognition gifts industry.

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