Grammy Awards facts for kids
The Grammy Awards, often called the Grammys, are very important awards in the music industry. They are given out by the Recording Academy in the United States. Many people think they are the most respected music awards in the world.
The awards were first called the Gramophone Awards. This is because the trophy looks like a shiny, gold gramophone. The Grammys are one of the four big annual American entertainment awards. The others are the Academy Awards (for movies), the Emmy Awards (for TV shows), and the Tony Awards (for theater). The first Grammy Awards ceremony was held on May 4, 1959. It celebrated music from 1958. The 66th Annual Grammy Awards took place on February 4, 2024. It had 94 different award categories.
Contents
History of the Grammys
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The Grammy Awards started in the 1950s. Music leaders were working on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. They realized many important music people would not get a star there. So, they decided to create their own awards. These awards would be like the Oscars for movies.
They held a contest to name the awards. About 300 people suggested the name 'Grammy'. This name came from the word "gramophone." Grammys were first given out for achievements in 1958.
The first Grammy ceremony was held on May 4, 1959. It took place in two cities at once: Beverly Hills, California, and New York City. There were 28 Grammys given out that night. The second Grammy Awards in 1959 was the first to be shown on TV. But it wasn't live until 1971.
Latin Grammy Awards
A special Grammy Awards for Latin music started in 1989. This was because Latin music was becoming very popular. It was too big to fit into the regular Grammy show. So, the Latin Recording Academy was created in 1997. The first Latin Grammy Awards were held in 2000. These awards celebrate music recorded in Spanish or Portuguese. This music can be from anywhere in the world.
Grammys During COVID-19 (2021–2022)
The COVID-19 pandemic affected the Grammy Awards. The 63rd Annual Grammy Awards were moved from January 2021 to March 2021. The 64th Annual Grammy Awards were also postponed. They moved from January 2022 to April 2022. This was due to health concerns. The ceremony also moved from Los Angeles to Las Vegas.
The Gramophone Trophy
The Grammy trophies are gold-plated. They look like a gilded gramophone. Each trophy is made by hand in Ridgway, Colorado. In 1990, the design was updated. The new trophies were bigger and stronger. They are made from a special zinc alloy called Grammium.
The trophies with the winners' names are not ready on the show night. So, "stunt" trophies are used for the TV broadcast. By 2009, over 7,500 Grammy trophies had been given out.
Grammy Ceremonies
The Grammy Awards ceremonies have been held in many different places. Before 1971, they happened in multiple cities on the same day. These cities included New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Nashville.
In 1971, the ceremony was held in one place for the first time. This was the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles. Since 2000, the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles has been the main home for the awards. The Grammy Museum at L.A. Live was built nearby. It helps keep the history of the Grammys alive.
The Grammys have only been held outside Los Angeles three times since 2000. New York City hosted in 2003 and 2018. Las Vegas hosted in 2022.
Award Categories
The Grammys have many different categories. Some are for specific music types like pop or rock. Others are for things like artwork or music videos. There are also special awards for people who have made big contributions to music over time.
There are four very important awards. These are called the "General Field" awards. They are not limited to any specific music style:
- Album of the Year: This award goes to the best full album. It honors the artist, featured singers, songwriters, and production team.
- Record of the Year: This award is for the best single song. It honors the performer and the production team.
- Song of the Year: This award goes to the songwriter(s) of a single song.
- Best New Artist: This award is for a new artist who shows great promise. They must have released their first major recording during the past year.
Only three artists have won all four of these awards. Christopher Cross won all four at once in 1981. Billie Eilish also won all four at once in 2020. She was 18, making her the youngest to do so. Adele won Best New Artist in 2009. She won her other three awards in 2012 and 2017.
In 2024, two more awards were added to the "General Field":
- Producer of the Year, Non-Classical: This award goes to a producer for their work during the year.
- Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical: This award goes to a songwriter for their work during the year.
Because there are so many categories, only about 10 to 12 awards are shown live on TV. These usually include the four general field categories. Most other Grammy trophies are given out in a "Premiere Ceremony" before the main TV show.
Changes to Categories in 2012
In 2011, the Recording Academy made big changes to the Grammy categories. The number of categories was cut from 109 to 78. One major change was removing separate awards for male and female singers. They also combined awards for duos and groups in many music styles.
For example, in rock, hard rock and metal album categories were combined. In R&B, the modern R&B album category was merged into one Best R&B Album award. In rap, awards for solo artists and groups were combined into a new Best Rap Performance category.
Many "roots" music categories were also combined. Music like Hawaiian, Native American, and Zydeco/Cajun music were put into a new Best Regional Roots Music Album category. This was because not many entries were submitted for these separate awards.
In classical music, the main Best Classical Album award was removed. This was because winners usually won other classical awards for the same album. Classical recordings can now win the main Album of the Year award. Some category names were also changed to be clearer. For example, "gospel" categories were renamed "Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music."
Category Adjustments Since 2012
Since 2012, small changes have been made to the categories. The number of categories has grown from 78 in 2012 to 94 in 2024. In 2020, some urban, rap, and Latin music categories were renamed. In 2022, new categories were added for Americana and alternative music. Awards for video game scores and spoken word poetry albums were also added.
For the 66th Annual Grammy Awards in 2024, three new categories were added. This brought the total to 94, the highest number since 2010. Also, the Producer of the Year and Songwriter of the Year awards moved into the main "General Field."
How Nominees are Chosen
Members of the Recording Academy can suggest recordings for awards. These suggestions are made online. Experts review the entries to make sure they are in the right category.
Then, lists of eligible entries are sent to voting members. Members can vote for nominees in the four general fields. They can also vote in up to nine other fields. The five recordings with the most votes in each category become the nominees. Sometimes, there can be more than five nominees if there's a tie.
Members don't get copies of the nominated recordings. Instead, they get access to a private online listening service.
Final Voting Process
After the nominees are chosen, final voting ballots are sent to members. Members vote in the general field and can cast ten votes in other categories. They are encouraged to vote in areas they know best. An accounting firm secretly counts the votes.
The recording with the most votes in a category wins. It is possible for a tie to happen. If there's a tie, all tied nominees are winners. Winners receive a Grammy Award. Those who are nominated but don't win get a medal.
Members must vote based on quality only. They should not consider sales, friendships, or company loyalty. They are not allowed to accept gifts. This helps keep the awards fair and honest. The music released between October 1, 2022, and September 15, 2023, was eligible for the 2024 Grammy Awards.
Special Honors
Grammy Legend Award
A special Grammy Award is sometimes given to honor people. This award recognizes their "ongoing contributions and influence in the recording field." It is known as the Grammy Legend Award. As of 2018, fourteen solo musicians and one band have received this award.
Salute to Industry Icons Award
The Grammy Salute to Industry Icons Award honors people who have made new and important contributions to the music industry. Some of the people who have received this award include:
- Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss
- Irving Azoff
- Martin Bandier
- Richard Branson
- Clive Davis
- Prince
- Ahmet Ertegun
- David Geffen
- Berry Gordy
- Lucian Grainge
- Jay-Z
- Debra L. Lee
- Doug Morris
- Mo Ostin
- L.A. Reid
- Sean Diddy Combs
- Julie Greenwald and Craig Kallman
- Rob Stringer
- Jon Platt
Leading Winners
Beyoncé holds the record for the most Grammy wins. She has won 32 Grammy Awards. The band U2 has won 22 Grammy Awards. They hold the record for most awards won by a group.
TV Broadcasts and Viewership
Before 1971, the Grammys were shown on TV as special filmed shows. The first Grammy TV broadcast was on November 29, 1959, on NBC. Until 1971, awards were given out in both New York and Los Angeles. Winners accepted their awards at one of these two places.
In 1971, the show was broadcast live for the first time on ABC. In 1973, CBS bought the rights to broadcast the show. The Grammys have been on CBS ever since. In 2011, CBS and the Recording Academy made a new deal. This deal keeps the awards show on CBS for another 10 years.
Since 2016, the Grammys have been shown live in all U.S. territories. They are also broadcast live in over 150 countries around the world.
The Grammys usually happen on the second Sunday of February. But sometimes they move to avoid other big events. These include Valentine's Day, the Winter Olympic Games, or the Super Bowl.
Images for kids
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The Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles has been a main venue for the Grammy Awards since 2000.
