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.

VOTE SEASON PROTOCOL

---

Recording Academy Voters play a crucial role in ensuring that the GRAMMY Awards, the only peer-voted award in music, is a true reflection of the music community at-large. The Recording Academy respects its Voting membership body and trusts that each Member will uphold the GRAMMY standard of excellence by voting with integrity and discipline.

Voting Members are entrusted to:

1. only select and vote in the Fields & Categories in which they work day-to-day, and
2. make their choices based solely on the artistic and technical merits of eligible product.

During the GRAMMY Vote Season, the Recording Academy is:

• Encouraging and expecting that its Voting Members are voting with integrity and following all Voting and Solicitation Guidelines.
• Continuing to celebrate music and music makers to the general public through its public-facing platforms as part of its overall mission to reflect the importance of music in society.
• Ensuring that all member-facing programming, events, and communications, including membership emails, will not specifically promote or spotlight any product submitted for GRAMMY Award consideration to the Academy’s Voting Member body.
• Continuing its work with Academy Members on Advocacy and Service in support of the music community at-large.

 

VOTING AND SOLICITATION GUIDELINES

---

PRESERVING THE INTEGRITY OF THE GRAMMY AWARDS PROCESS

It is the goal of the Recording Academy to ensure the GRAMMY Awards process is led in a fair and ethical manner and that voting members make their choices based solely on the artistic and technical merits of the eligible recordings. In an effort to maintain a high degree of integrity and transparency, it is crucial that the following guidelines be understood and followed by all Voting Members.

If any activity is determined to work in opposition to the Recording Academy’s guidelines, the Academy may take any corrective actions, including disqualification of entries.

Furthermore, any member who has authorized, executed, or otherwise enabled a voting solicitation activity that is deemed to have undermined the letter or spirit of these regulations may be subject to suspension or termination of Recording Academy membership.

For more information about the Awards rules, eligibility, and submission procedures, click here.

VOTER CODE OF CONDUCT

• Voters shall not allow their choices to be suggested, directed or influenced by anything other than their own analysis of merit, including, but not limited to: personal friendships, company loyalties, regional preferences or sales volume/popularity.
• Voters shall not accept money or anything of value in exchange for votes, access to other members (member lists and contact information are confidential), submission of materials for GRAMMY consideration, or any other privilege of Recording Academy membership.
• Voters shall not enter into any agreements or understandings on how to vote. This includes without limitation:
  • "Voting Blocs," or groups of voters who agree to vote together. Such groups may include but are not limited to: voters affiliated with a particular record label or management company, or voters linked through social media
  • "Vote Trading," or offering to vote in any manner in exchange for another’s vote

BLOC VOTING

The Academy reserves the right to establish guidelines for its independent accountants to take confidential corrective action on behalf of the Academy as they may deem appropriate.

FINAL VOTING TO SELECT GRAMMY WINNERS

After the announcement of nominations, the final ballot is made available to all current Voting Members to select GRAMMY winners. All ballots, including those from special committees, are tabulated confidentially by an independent accounting firm.

Results of the final voting are not known until the day of the GRAMMY Awards, when Deloitte delivers sealed envelopes with names of the winners.

RESCINDMENT OF GRAMMY

The GRAMMY process does not produce a ranked result with a winner and ordered runners-up. In any situation where a GRAMMY Award is withdrawn following the presentation, no award is given in that Category for that year.

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION (FYC) POLICIES

While FYC-type events, screenings, advertisements, and formal communications are not prohibited outside of the Recording Academy, the numbers specific to an official Awards Category, Field and/or balloting, entry lists and finals lists are proprietary information belonging to the Recording Academy; such information may not be used, disclosed, published, or otherwise distributed in connection with any event, advertisement, or for any other purpose.