Since 1959, National Academy of Recording Arts and Science present awards to the artists for outstanding achievements in the music industry. The Grammy Awards are considered to be the most prestigious music awards. These awards are presented in about ninety categories. May 4th 1959 witnessed the birth of Grammys. The inaugural ceremony was held in the Grand Ballroom of the Beverly Hills Hotel. No wonder Grammys have made their occasions memorable! Till date all the Grammy awards ceremonies have been held in various ‘famed’ locations of the United States. From 1959-1970 the Grammy Award show was telecasted in a series of tapped annual specials by NBC. The series telecasted were titled as “The Best on Record”. It was in 1971 that the live show was first aired on American television. Later in 1973, CBS bought the broadcasting rights to the Grammys and ever since the awards have been aired live. Did you know that awards are given in about ninety categories? The category ranges from ‘Best Album of the Year’ to ‘Best Classical Contemporary Composition’ and the like.
Non Televised Era
The epoch from 1959 to 1970 is considered as non televised era. The Grammy Award ceremony was not aired live on television. But it was telecasted in a series of episodes by NBC. From 1959 to 1970, Grammys commonly held the award ceremonies in Los Angeles & New York.
Televised Era
In 1973, CBS bought telecasting rights to live Grammy Awards on television. So from 1973, a common person could catch a glimpse of the show. A total of sixteen telecasts took place from 1978 to 1999 at the Shrine Auditorium. Until the new Staples Center was completed, the primary venue for the Grammy Awards was Los Angeles. Staples Center is the current venue for the Grammy Awards show.