List of Grammy Award categories

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:

pecial 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.

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.

Genre-specific awards

Alternative

*Best Alternative Music Album

Blues

*Best Traditional Blues Album
*Best Contemporary Blues Album

Children's

*Best Album for Children
*Best Musical Album for Children
*Best Spoken Word Album for Children

Classical

*Best Orchestral Performance
*Best Classical Vocal Performance
*Best Classical Performance, Operatic or Choral
*Best Opera Recording
*Best Choral Performance
*Best Classical Performance - Instrumental Soloist or Soloists
*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
*Best New Classical Artist

Comedy

*Best Comedy Album
*Best Spoken Comedy Album

Composing/Arrangement

*Best Instrumental Composition
*Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media (now in the "Film/TV/Media" field)
*Best Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media (now in the "film/TV/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 Bluegrass Album
*Best New Country & Western Artist

Dance

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

Disco

*Best Disco Recording (1980 only)

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)

Folk

*Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording
*Best Traditional Folk Album
*Best Contemporary Folk Album
*Best Native American Music Album
*Best Hawaiian Music Album
*Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album

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 Soul 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 Traditional Tropical Latin lbum
*Best Mexican/Mexican-American Album
*Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album
*Best Tejano Album
*Salsa/Merengue 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
*Best Concept Music Video
*Best Performance Music Video
*Video of the Year

Packaging/Notes; Best Album Cover

*Best Recording Package
*Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package
*Best Album Notes
*Best Album Notes - Classical

Polka

*Best Polka Album

Pop

*Best Vocal Performance, Female
*Best Vocal Performance, Male
*Best Performance by a Vocal Group
*Best Performance by a Chorus
*Best Instrumental Performance
*Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
*Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
*Best Contemporary (R&R) Solo Vocal Performance - Male or Female
*Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
*Best Contemporary Performance by a Chorus
*Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals
*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
*Best Pop Instrumental Performance with Vocal Coloring
*Best Contemporary Song
*Best Pop Vocal Album
*Best Pop Instrumental Album
*Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

Production/Engineering

*Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical
*Best Engineered Album, Classical
*Best Engineered Recording - Special or Novel Effects
*Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical
*Producer of the Year, Non-Classical
*Producer of the Year, Classical
*Remixer of the Year, Non-Classical

R&B

*Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
*Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
*Best R&B Solo Vocal Performance, Male or Female
*Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals
*Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance
*Best R&B Instrumental Performance
*Best Urban/Alternative Performance
*Best Rhythm & Blues Recording
*Best R&B Song
*Best R&B Album
*Best Contemporary R&B Album

Rap

*Best Rap Solo Performance
*Best Female Rap Solo Performance
*Best Male 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 Female Rock Vocal Performance
*Best Male Rock Vocal Performance
*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 Hard Rock/Metal Performance Vocal or Instrumental
*Best Rock Song
*Best Rock Album

urround Sound

*Best Surround Sound Album

poken

*Best Spoken Word Album
*Best Spoken Comedy Album

World

*Best World Music Album
*Best Traditional World Music Album
*Best Contemporary World Music Album