What Makes the GRAMMYs So Great?
Posted: 06/10/24
Samara Joy, winner of the 2023 Best New Artist and Best Vocal Jazz Album GRAMMYs, performing at Shannon Hall in May 2023. Photo Credit: Andy Manis
By Charlie Pingel
The GRAMMY Awards, held annually by The Recording Academy, are widely considered the most prestigious honor in the music industry and one of the greatest accomplishments in entertainment. Since their inception in 1959, the GRAMMYs have celebrated excellence across 94 categories recognizing various genres and styles. The upcoming Wisconsin Union Theater 2024-2025 Season showcases a variety of talented artists earning accolades, with 23 GRAMMY wins and 77 nominations among the performers.
Keep reading to explore next season’s notable winners and the rigorous selection process that makes the GRAMMYs so esteemed.
2024-2025 Artists with Significant GRAMMY Wins and Nominations:
Esperanza Spalding - five wins, 11 nominations
Eighth Blackbird - four wins, four nominations
Meshell Ndegeocello - two wins, 12 nominations
Gil Shaham - one win, 12 nominations
Roomful of Teeth - two wins, five nominations
Branford Marsalis (and Quartet) - four wins, 24 nominations
Understanding the GRAMMY Selection Process
Submission
The journey to a GRAMMY begins with the submission process. Recording Academy members and registered media companies submit recordings for consideration. These submissions are reviewed to ensure they meet the eligibility requirements, which typically include a specified release date range.
Screening
Following submission, the recordings are screened to verify that they are placed in appropriate categories. This step involves more than 350 industry experts across various genres and fields to ensure fairness and accuracy.
Nominating
The first round of voting determines the nominees. Recording Academy voting members cast their votes, including artists, producers, sound engineers, and other music professionals. The votes are tallied to produce a list of the top five entries in each category, which then become the official nominees.
Final Voting
In the final voting round, Recording Academy members again cast their votes from the previously determined five nominees to determine the winners. Members are encouraged to vote only in their areas of expertise, though they can vote in up to 15 categories, alongside the six General Field categories (Record Of The Year, Album Of The Year, Song Of The Year, Best New Artist, Non-Classical Producer Of The Year, and Non-Classical Songwriter Of The Year).
The GRAMMY Awards' integrity is upheld by its rigorous voting process, peer-based recognition, and strict eligibility criteria. This ensures winners are selected based on merit and artistic excellence, making the GRAMMY a symbol of high achievement in the recording industry.
Experience What's Next Now with the 2024-2025 season featuring a mix of notable GRAMMY winners and breakout talents.