In 1958, an organization known as National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences introduced the world to The Grammy Awards, an award aimed at recognizing outstanding contributions to the music industry. The Academy itself was formed a year before the inception of the awards. The awards have been broadcast live since 1971. The most recent Grammy awards were held at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California on January 31, 2010. A total of 109 awards were given out at the Grammys in 2010, although only ten of the awards were given out during the official ceremony, the rest were given out at an un-televised ceremony before the official show.

The Grammy Awards focuses on more than 100 different categories, and has separate awards to focus on talents in different genres of music. The Grammy’s have often received a lot of flak for trying to cover a wide range of genres in the music industry; nevertheless, the award ceremony still happens to be the most popular music awards show since its introduction and continues to interest millions of viewers every year. The categories that are currently awarded at the Grammy’s are as follows:

Grammys Award Categories 

Special awards

  • Trustees Award
  • Technical Grammy Award
  • Grammy Legend Award
  • Grammy Hall of Fame Award
  • MusiCares Person of the Year
  • Lifetime Achievement Award 

General Field

  • Record of the Year
  • Album of the Year
  • Song of the Year
  • Best New Artist

Alternative

  • Best Alternative Music Album

American Roots Field

  • Best Americana Album
  • Best Bluegrass Album
  • Best Traditional Blues Album
  • Best Contemporary Blues Album
  • Best Traditional Folk Album
  • Best Contemporary Folk Album
  • Best Hawaiian Music Album
  • Best Native American Music Album
  • Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album

Children's

  • Best Musical Album for Children
  • Best Spoken Word Album for Children

Classical

  • Best Orchestral Performance
  • Best Classical Vocal Performance
  • Best Opera Recording
  • Best Choral Performance
  • Best Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance (with orchestra)
  • Best Instrumental Soloist Performance (without orchestra)
  • Best Small Ensemble Performance (with or without conductor)
  • Best Chamber Music Performance
  • Best Classical Contemporary Composition
  • Best Classical Album
  • Best Classical Crossover Album

Comedy

  • Best Comedy Album

Composing/Arranging

  • Best Instrumental Composition
  • Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media (now in the "Film/T.V./Media" field)
  • Best Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media (likewise now in the "Film/T.V./Media" field)
  • Best Arrangement
  • Best Instrumental Arrangement
  • Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)
  • Best Vocal Arrangement for Two or More Voices

Country

  • Best Female Country Vocal Performance
  • Best Male Country Vocal Performance
  • Best Country Performance, Duo or Group - Vocal or Instrumental
  • Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
  • Best Country Collaboration with Vocals
  • Best Country Instrumental Performance
  • Best Country & Western Recording
  • Best Country & Western Single
  • Best Country Song
  • Best Country Album
  • Best New Country & Western Artist

Dance

  • Best Dance Recording (previously in Pop)
  • Best Electronic/Dance Album

Film/TV/Media

  • Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media
  • Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media (Previously in the "Composing and Arranging" field)
  • Best Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media (Previously in the "Composing and Arranging" field)

Gospel

  • Best Gospel Performance
  • Best Gospel Song
  • Best Gospel Performance, Traditional
  • Best Gospel Performance, Contemporary
  • Best Gospel Vocal Performance, Female
  • Best Gospel Vocal Performance, Male
  • Best Gospel Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group, Choir or Chorus
  • Best Soul Gospel Performance
  • Best Soul Gospel Performance, Traditional
  • Best Soul Gospel Performance, Contemporary
  • Best Soul Gospel Performance, Female
  • Best Soul Gospel Performance, Male
  • Best Soul Gospel Performance, Male or Female
  • Best Soul Gospel Performance by a Duo or Group, Choir or Chorus
  • Best Inspirational Performance
  • Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album
  • Best Rock Gospel Album
  • Best Traditional Gospel Album
  • Best Contemporary Gospel Album
  • Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album
  • Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album
  • Best Gospel Choir or Chorus Album

Historical

  • Best Historical Album

Jazz

  • Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Female
  • Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Male
  • Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Duo or Group
  • Best Jazz Instrumental Solo
  • Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group
  • Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
  • Best Jazz Fusion Performance
  • Best Original Jazz Composition
  • Best Jazz Vocal Album
  • Best Contemporary Jazz Album
  • Best Latin Jazz Album

Latin

  • Best Latin Recording
  • Best Latin Pop Album
  • Best Tropical Latin Album
  • Salsa/Merengue Album
  • Best Mexican/Mexican-American Album
  • Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album
  • Best Tejano Album
  • Best Norteño Album
  • Regional Mexican Album
  • Best Banda Album
  • Best Latin Urban Album

Musical Show

  • Best Musical Show Album
  • Best Sound Track Album or Recording of Original Cast From a Motion Picture or Television

Music Video

  • Best Short Form Music Video
  • Best Long Form Music Video

Packaging/Notes; Best Album Cover

  • Best Recording Package
  • Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package
  • Best Album Notes

Pop

  • Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
  • Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
  • Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals
  • Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals
  • Best Pop Instrumental Performance
  • Best Pop Vocal Album
  • Best Pop Instrumental Album

Production/Engineering

  • Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical
  • Best Engineered Album, Classical
  • Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical
  • Producer of the Year, Non-Classical
  • Producer of the Year, Classical

R&B

  • Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
  • Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
  • Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals
  • Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance
  • Best R&B Song
  • Best R&B Album
  • Best Contemporary R&B Album

Rap

  • Best Rap Solo Performance
  • Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group
  • Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
  • Best Rap Song
  • Best Rap Album

Reggae

  • Best Reggae Album

Rock

  • Best Rock Vocal Performance, Solo
  • Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
  • Best Rock Instrumental Performance
  • Best Hard Rock Performance
  • Best Metal Performance
  • Best Rock Song
  • Best Rock Album

Surround Sound

  • Best Surround Sound Album

Spoken

  • Best Spoken Word Album
  • Best Spoken Comedy Album

Traditional Pop

  • Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

Urban/Alternative

  • Best Urban/Alternative Performance

World

  • Best Traditional World Music Album
  • Best Contemporary World Music Album

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