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.
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 150 experts in various fields are held to ensure
that entered recordings meet specific qualifications and have been placed in appropriate
fields such as Rock, R&B, Jazz, Country, Gospel, New Age, Rap, Classical and Latin,
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
fields of expertise; they may nominate in the four general categories (Record Of
The Year, Album Of The Year, Song Of The Year and Best New Artist) and in no more
than nine (9) out of the 29 fields. Ballots are tabulated by the independent accounting
firm of Deloitte.
Special Nominating Committees
In craft and other specialized categories, final nominations are determined by national
nomination review committees comprised of voting members from all of The Academy's
Chapter cities.
Final Voting
Final-round ballots are sent to voting members in good dues standing. The finalists
determined by the special nominating committees are also included in this ballot.
In this final round, Recording Academy members may vote in the four general categories
and in no more than eight (8) of the 29 fields. Ballots again are tabulated by the
independent accounting firm of Deloitte.
Results
Results of members' voting are not known until the GRAMMY Awards presentation ceremony
when names of the winners are delivered by Deloitte in sealed envelopes. GRAMMY
Award winners are revealed during the GRAMMY Awards telecast.