The Grammy Awards are one of the biggest nights in music, and every year the awards show brings together some of the biggest artists in the world. But what do we really know about the Grammys? 

In this blog post, we will cover some of the basics of the Grammy Awards such as its history, eligibility, and more. We'll also discuss some of the interesting facts and stories behind the awards that you might not know about.

Buckle up and get ready to learn all about one of music's most iconic award ceremonies!

History of the Grammys

The Grammys, renowned music awards held annually since 1958, have a long and interesting history. It all began with the Hollywood Walk of Fame project in the 1950s. As recording executives discussed who should earn a star on Hollywood Boulevard, they decided to start their own awards similar to the Oscars and Emmys. Then, after a mail-in contest, the name 'Grammy' was chosen as an ode to Emile Berliner's invention, the gramophone.

The first Grammy Awards ceremony was held in two locations on May 4th, 1959: the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, and the Park Sheraton Hotel in New York City. An outstanding 28 awards were given that night, but over time, the number of awards grew and fluctuated over the years.

It wasn't until 1971 that the ceremony was televised for all to see. Today, the Grammys have become one of the most prestigious award shows in entertainment. Every year we tune in to see our favorite artists take home awards for their amazing contributions to music. It's truly amazing to look back at where it all started and how far it has come!

Eligibility

Do you know when the Grammy Awards eligibility period runs? Well, it begins October 1st and continues until September 30th of the following year. That means that if a record is released in the fourth quarter of a given year, it won't be eligible for awards recognition until the following year. All in all, even if a record is released during the popular Christmas and holiday season, it won't be eligible for that year's awards.

Take Adele's album 25 as an example. It was released in November 2015 but wasn't nominated for the 2015 awards due to its late release. It did however win a number of Grammys in 2017 including Album of the Year. Similarly, Taylor Swift's 1989 was released in October 2014 and yet still won Album of the Year in 2016.

It's clear from these examples that the Grammy Awards don't always recognize the newest music; instead, they often recognize work more than a year after its release. So if your favorite artist isn't nominated this year, there's still hope for next year!

Awards Categories

The Grammy Awards are one of the most prestigious awards in the music industry, and with 82 (more or less) categories to choose from, there’s something for everyone. In the “General Field” category, there are four awards presented based on genre-free criteria.

This includes Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist. The other awards recognize performance and production in specific genres and for other contributions such as artwork and video.

Special awards are also given for longer-term contributions to the music industry. While all 82 categories are recognized, only about ten or twelve are presented during the televised ceremony due to time constraints. The rest are given out during a pre-telecast “Premiere Ceremony” earlier in the day.

Nominations and Voting Process

You might be wondering what is the process for nominating and ultimately deciding who will take home these coveted awards.

Well, The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) has a comprehensive voting system in place to ensure fairness. First, qualified organizations and individuals can submit entries online. Then, over 150 recording industry experts review these entries to make sure they are in the correct category. 

Once approved, eligible entries are sent to voting members who can nominate in up to nine fields and vote in general fields such as Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist. After tallying all votes, the five recordings that receive the most votes become nominees. 

In order to help members cast an informed vote, NARAS provides access to a private online listening service where they can listen to all nominated recordings. It’s important that members vote solely based on quality and not sales or personal preferences. Finally, ballots are tabulated by an independent accounting firm and winners are announced at the annual ceremony.

Awards Ceremony

Although the Grammys was first televised in 1971, the first-ever award was on May 4th, 1959, in Beverly Hills and New York City.

Today, the Crypto.com Arena (formerly known as Staples Center) has mostly been the permanent venue for the awards since 2000. Across the street is the Grammy Museum which preserves the history of the awards and honors each year's top winners with bronze disks similar to those found on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

This year, the Grammys will be held on February 5th, still in Crypto.com Arena. 

Interesting Grammys Facts

• Christopher Cross and Billie Eilish are the only two artists who have won all four awards in one year — Cross in 1981 and Eilish in 2020 at just 18 years of age!
• Due to the annual awards ceremony at Crypto.com Arena, teams such as the LA Kings, Lakers, Clippers, and Sparks need to play extended-length road games.
• Sir Georg Solti holds the record for most Grammy wins with 31 awards, while Beyoncé is the biggest female winner with 28. U2 also holds a special place in Grammy history, as they have won 22 awards — more than any other group. 
• Billings Artworks in Ridgway, Colorado handcrafts and assembles these gold-plated works of art every year, using Grammium, a zinc alloy they trademarked. 
• The process of creating the trophies for the ceremony is an impressive feat. Each name is engraved onto each trophy by hand after the award announcement in order to ensure that the stunt trophies used for the broadcast are re-used every year.

Conclusion

Grammys, as one of the four major American entertainment awards, is one of the most significant awards in the music industry. It's no wonder why so many musicians strive to take home the golden gramophone each year — it's an embodiment of hard work, dedication, and success! Yes, the chances of winning a Grammy may be slim, but isn't it inspiring to see just how many people have been able to make their dreams come true?