What is Grammy Award or Grammy nomination?« Back to Questions List

Grammy award is an annual recognition for outstanding achievement in English language music industry. It is awarded by the Recording Academy, which is a U.S organization of music professionals that include musicians, producers and recording engineers. Grammy award, popularly known as Grammy was initially called Gramophone award. Grammy for music industry is similar to Emmy awards for television, Academy awards for films and Tony awards for stage performance. 

The first Grammy award ceremony was held on May 4, 1959. This was the result of a decision by music industry people to honor leaders in music industry by launching recognition similar to Emmy awards and Oscar awards. The name was chosen from the music instrument gramophone. Each  gold plated trophy depicts a gilded gramophone. Trophies are hand made by Billings Artworks in Ridgway, Colorado. The original Grammy trophy underwent a design modification in 1990.

The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) co-ordinate the award function. Media companies registered with NARAS and individual members can submit performances through online for Grammy awards. Then a review process by expert team happens to assess whether the submissions are made in the relevant categories. List of eligible submissions are circulated to voting members. The five works in each category that earn maximum votes become Grammy nominations.  

After identification of Grammy nominations, final voting ballots are sent to voting members of NARAS. Members are expected to vote for award only in their fields of expertise and in an unbiased manner. The major independent accounting firm, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu then secretly tabulates the votes.   Winners are announced at the Grammy Awards ceremony. Winners receive the coveted Grammy Award. Other nominated entries win medals for their nomination. Dummy trophies are used for the function and name engraved trophies are handed over to winners later as announcement of winners happen on stage. 

Sir George Solti with 31 Grammy awards leads the list of male artists and Alison Krauss with 27 Grammy awards tops the list of female musicians.

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