The process begins with members and record companies submitting entries, which are then screened for eligibility and category placement. The Academy's voting members, all involved in the creative and technical processes of recording, then participate in (1) the nominating process that determines the five finalists in each category; and (2) the final voting process which determines the GRAMMY winners.
View the GRAMMY Awards Journey, an interactive, engaging online resource about the complete GRAMMY Awards process, from Online Entry and Eligibility Screening to Peer Voting and Nominations.
Submission
Recording Academy members and record companies enter recordings and music videos released during the eligibility year which they consider worthy of recognition in the GRAMMY Awards process.
Screening
Reviewing sessions by more than 350 experts in various Fields are held to ensure that entered recordings meet specific qualifications and have been placed in appropriate Fields such as Jazz, Traditional Pop, Contemporary Instrumental & Musical Theater and Latin, Global, Reggae & New Age, Ambient, Or Chant, among others. The purpose of screenings is not to make artistic or technical judgments about the recordings, but rather to make sure that each entry is eligible and placed in its proper category.
Nominating
First round ballots are sent to voting members in good dues standing. To help ensure the quality of the voting, members are directed to vote only in their areas of expertise; they may vote in up to ten categories across up to three genre Fields plus the six categories of the General Field (Record Of The Year, Album Of The Year, Song Of The Year, Best New Artist, Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical and Songwriter Of The Year, Non-Classical) Ballots are tabulated by the independent accounting firm of Deloitte.
Special Nominating Committees
In Craft categories, final nominations are determined by committees comprised of voting members from all of The Academy's Chapter cities who are actively working the craft they are judging.
Final Voting
After nominations have been determined and announced, Academy voting members vote in up to ten categories across up to three Fields in the genre Fields plus the four categories of the General Field to determine the winners. To ensure the quality of voting, members are directed to vote only in those Fields in which they are peers of the nominees.
Results
Ballots are tabulated by the independent accounting firm Deloitte & Touche LLP. After vote tabulation, GRAMMY winners are announced at the GRAMMY Awards Premiere and telecast ceremonies. The recording with the most votes in a category wins. Ties are possible in which case the two [or more] nominees who tie are considered winners. Winners receive a GRAMMY Award; All nominees receive a Nominee Medallion and Certificate.
GRAMMY Award Statuette
GRAMMY Award winners sign and agree to specific terms and conditions precedent to receiving a GRAMMY Award Statuette.