The Grammy Awards are awarded in a series of categories, each of which isolate a specific contribution to music. The standard awards list nominees in each category from which a winner is selected. Grammy categories have been added and removed over time. The following is a list of the currently awarded categories:

Contents 1 Special awards 2 General Field 3 Genre-specific awards 3.1 Alternative 3.2 American Roots Field 3.3 Children's 3.4 Classical 3.5 Comedy 3.6 Composing/Arranging 3.7 Country 3.8 Dance 3.9 Disco 3.10 Film/TV/Media 3.11 Folk 3.12 Gospel 3.13 Historical 3.14 Jazz 3.15 Latin 3.16 Musical Show 3.17 Music Video 3.18 Packaging/Notes; Best Album Cover 3.19 Polka 3.20 Pop 3.21 Production/Engineering 3.22 R&B 3.23 Rap 3.24 Reggae 3.25 Rock 3.26 Surround Sound 3.27 Spoken 3.28 Traditional Pop 3.29 Urban/Alternative 3.30 World

[edit] Special awards

There are special awards which are awarded without nominations, typically for achievements of longer than the past year, which the standard awards apply to:

• Lifetime Achievement Award is a Special Merit Award presented to performers (and some non-performers through 1972) who, during their lifetimes, have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording.
• Trustees Award is a Special Merit Award presented to individuals who, during their careers in music, have made significant contributions, other than performance (and some performers through 1983), to the field of recording.
• Technical Grammy Award is a Special Merit Award presented to individuals and/or companies who have made contributions of outstanding technical significance to the recording field.
• Grammy Legend Award is a Special Merit Award is presented to individuals or groups for ongoing contributions and influence in the recording field; it was inaugurated in 1990.
• Grammy Hall of Fame Award was established in 1973 to honor recordings of lasting qualitative or historical significance that are at least 25 years old. Winners are selected annually by a special member committee of eminent and knowledgeable professionals from all branches of the recording arts.
• The MusiCares Person of the Year Award was established in 1991 to recognize a musician who has made an outstanding contribution to music and in addition has been active in works of Philanthropy. This award is presented by the MusiCares foundation annually.

[edit] General Field

The General Field are four standard awards for musical works which do not restrict nominees by genre or some other criteria:

• Record of the Year is awarded to the performer and the production team of a single song.
• Album of the Year is awarded to the performer and the production team of a full album.
• Song of the Year is awarded to the writer(s)/composer(s) of a single song.
• Best New Artist is awarded to an artist without reference to a song or album.

[edit] Genre-specific awards

[edit] Alternative

Currently Awarded

• Best Alternative Music Album

[edit] American Roots Field

Currently Awarded

• 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

[edit] Children's

Currently Awarded

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

Previously Awarded

• Best Album for Children

[edit] Classical

Currently Awarded

• 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

Previously Awarded

• Best Classical Performance, Operatic or Choral
• Best Classical Performance - Instrumental Soloist or Soloists
• Best New Classical Artist

[edit] Comedy

Currently Awarded

• Best Comedy Album

Previously Awarded

• Best Spoken Comedy Album

[edit] 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

[edit] 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

[edit] Dance

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

[edit] Disco

• Best Disco Recording (1980 only)

[edit] 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)

[edit] Folk

Previously Awarded

• Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording

[edit] 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

[edit] Historical

• Best Historical Album

[edit] 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

[edit] Latin

• Best Latin Recording
• Best Latin Pop Album
• Best Traditional 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

[edit] Musical Show

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

[edit] Music Video

Currently Awarded

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

Previously Awarded

• Best Concept Music Video
• Best Performance Music Video
• Video of the Year

[edit] Packaging/Notes; Best Album Cover

Currently Awarded

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

Previously Awarded

• Best Album Notes - Classical

[edit] Polka

Previously Awarded

• Best Polka Album

[edit] Pop

Currently Awarded

• 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

Previously Awarded

• Best Vocal Performance, Female
• Best Vocal Performance, Male
• Best Performance by a Vocal Group
• Best Performance by a Chorus
• Best Instrumental Performance
• Best Contemporary (R&R) Solo Vocal Performance - Male or Female
• Best Contemporary Performance by a Chorus
• Best Performance by an Orchestra - for Dancing
• Best Performance by an Orchestra or Instrumentalist with Orchestra - Primarily Not Jazz or for Dancing
• Best Pop Instrumental Performance with Vocal Coloring
• Best Contemporary Song

[edit] Production/Engineering

Currently Awarded

• 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

Previously Awarded

• Best Engineered Recording - Special or Novel Effects
• Remixer of the Year, Non-Classical

[edit] R&B

Currently Awarded

• 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

Previously Awarded

• Best R&B Solo Vocal Performance, Male or Female
• Best R&B Instrumental Performance
• Best Rhythm & Blues Recording

[edit] Rap

Currently Awarded

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

Previously Awarded

• Best Female Rap Solo Performance
• Best Male Rap Solo Performance

[edit] Reggae

Currently Awarded

• Best Reggae Album

[edit] Rock

Currently Awarded

• 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

Previously Awarded

• Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance Vocal or Instrumental
• Best Female Rock Vocal Performance
• Best Male Rock Vocal Performance

[edit] Surround Sound

Currently Awarded

• Best Surround Sound Album

[edit] Spoken

Currently Awarded

• Best Spoken Word Album
• Best Spoken Comedy Album

[edit] Traditional Pop

Currently Awarded

• Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

[edit] Urban/Alternative

Currently Awarded

• Best Urban/Alternative Performance

[edit] World

Currently Awarded

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

Previously Awarded

• Best World Music Album