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The Famous Grammy Awards- What Goes Into It!

Grammys

By Osei AgyemangPublished 5 years ago 12 min read
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"Per the rules and regulations, this year's Record of the year goes to: Frank Sinatra and Peggy Lee." These were the award-winning words from the presenter. The audience was full of excitement and the plaques for the winners were extraordinary. This was the first Grammy Award in May 1959, hosted by Morton Lyon Sahl, a Canadian-born social comedian, actor and satirist. At that time, he was considered the first modern comedian since Will Rogers. Other categories of this program, including album, artists, best song and the best vocal performances of the year, which are actually my personal favorites, have been stylishly rewarded with dignified legends. The latter are some of the most prestigious awards that any artist can win with the Gramophone Award, called the Grammy. One of the most valuable awards is the Record of the Year. It is one of the four most prestigious award categories along with the Best New Artists, Best Songs, and Best Albums of the Year. They are handed out annually by the Academy since 1959.

That same year, star guests gathered for a dinner with a venue full of other great music icons at Beverly Hilton. The National Academy of Art and Science handed out 28 Grammys. The number of Grammy categories has increased once to more than 100, now there are 83. Actually, I have been a fan of music since I was little. Every music fan can testify to the fact that, the Grammy Awards, which are given every year (in February) has built that foxiness. There is a clear indication that the most satisfying awards ceremony the world can boast of is the Grammys. It is to recognize the achievement of the music industry worldwide. So you can imagine what it's like to win a Grammy on this great stage.

Every year, several similar awards take place throughout the world. However, Grammys are high because of their professionalism, transparency and trust in the event. Some world artists from various continents gather here to celebrate and respect talents. Winners are honored by their outstanding contribution to this industry. Since the first day, Africans, Asians, and Europeans have also participated in the draw. The winners from this continent also benefit differently. Yousour N'dour, Soweto Gospel Choir, Rocky Dawuni, Angelique Kidjoe, and many other African winners advanced rapidly after winning a Grammy. This gave them a certain reputation as musicians. The award has carved a big niche for the music industry. Behind the scenes, Grammy winners keep praising the quality of the plaque presented them.

Embroidered designer jackets made specifically for the black tie awards. The Grammys is the best, as far as awards are concerned if not among the top three music awards. It is a pleasant experience to sit behind your TV and watch it from afar. The performances of leading artists and the increasingly popular award presentations are truly unbelievable. So, what makes this ceremony reliable and that extraordinary? I am sure many organizers ask themselves how they can learn from this event.

Music fanatics looked forward to the first Grammy Awards, which took place on May 4, 1959. The award was dedicated to the performances of the players in 1958. It is therefore obvious that if you were even the favourite artiste of the public in 1957, you wouldn't be recognized per the rules and regulations of the awards as a whole. It has to do with year under review which is 1958. The scheme's credibility is recognised by it's excellent seat arrangements and organisation in general. The Grammy awards have been on top of it's game since day one.

Given the reputation of this program, it is imperative to reward the winners not only with trophies or medals, but also with decent and deserving statuettes. For this reason, John Billings comes in here. Puzzled who John is? Known as the "Grammy Man," Mr. Billings is a cellulite craftsman who has designed, produced, and provided plaques to the Academy Awards for almost four decades. He holds every Grammy even at the age of 70. With his studio on Ridgeway, Colorado, he makes these high-quality, durable Grammy sculpture for all 83 recipients, including 48 Latin American categories. Each badge is more than special to him. As a music lover himself, he only expects the best. He puts more emphasis on sculptures for this special ceremony. Sometimes Grammy winners are honored with 350 trophies—and this is by kind courtesy of John Billings. And yes, they are all created equal.

Because the allocation scheme is transparent, 99 percent of industry persons trust the system. When John Billings and his team make a plaque, they don't even know whose Grammy that is going to be, but they still spend more to get the best from it. Before the award ceremony in Los Angeles, Billings and four members of his team are given an explanation of what would happen. They review the process and estimate the number of grams that had to be thrown to cover the candidates who will receive the award. Prizes are made of custom metal alloys known as grammiums, and are available in three forms: one for the base, one for the phonograph cabinet and one for the hand holding the bell. After the pieces have been cast, they undergo a series of grinding and polishing processes, while the gramophone and tonearm casings are covered with 24K gold. Billing's relationship with the award started when he was only 12 years old. Then he was invited to his friend's house and saw his friend's father, Bob Graves, make the first plaque in his garage. As little and anxious as he was, he became an intern for Mr. Graves in 1976; and took over in 1983 after the death of his mentor. So you see why he's been tagged as the Grammy Man. He's got it!

Audiences, who hold fast to the award auditorium, are always safer and secured. Many people are checked regularly to avoid unexpected situations. The audience starts a pleasant atmosphere with a colorful red carpet. Selected Red Carpet Hosts always offer long debates to audiences with a mix of VIP services that are entertaining and hilarious. Now, behind the scenes, I will explain how the whole scheme works.

The Recording Academy Voting Members

According to the Academy, the voting members behind the Grammy awards include music industry professionals who represent a diverse set of backgrounds. Members professions can include anything from vocalists to songwriters, engineers to producers, and everything in between. To be qualified for membership, however, voting members must have creative or technical credits on at least six commercially released tracks on a physical music release or 12 on a digital album. Voting members must also be good standing with their dues, (which are only $100/year!).

12,000 of the Academy's total 21,000 members are eligible to cast ballots. So per these terms and conditions, if an artiste doesn't meet the requirements, he or she may still apply to become a voting member with an endorsement from at least two current Recording Academy voting members. The Grammy voting process is comprised of several stages consisting of submission, screening, nominating, special nominating committees, final voting, and results. The Academy's voting members, whose contact information is not disclosed, are all involved in the creative and technical recording fields. They participate in the nominations that determine the five finalists in each category and the final voting which names the Grammy winners. Let's delve into how each stage of the process also unfolds.

Submission

Members of the Admissions Academy and record companies send audio and video recordings to the Admissions Academy for review. Applications must be placed on markets in the United States through record labels or independent distributors recognized during the year's marketing authorization via the internet, postal orders or retail sales. The Academy receives more than 20,000 articles per year.

Screening

A star panel of 150 experts in various fields receive each Grammy submission to make sure that it is eligible, meets the qualifications and that it's been placed in the proper nomination category (e.g. jazz, gospel, rap).

Nomination

Members will receive a ballot for the first round at this stage by making five choices in each category. They only choose in their area of expertise, which can cover fields in genres of up to 20 categories (currently there are 30) and four other additional categories (including coveted Record of year, Album, song, and the best new artist of the year respectively).

Final Voting

The members, who choose then, receive ballots in the final round. This bulletin also includes finalists appointed by the Special Nomination Committee, which includes crafts and other special categories. During the last round, members of the Academy for Recording can re-select in up to 20 categories in the genre area, as well as in four general Field categories and a limited number of sub-categories. Deloitte, an independent audit company, tabulates the votes.

Results

Final results are unknown until the Grammy Awards are presented, when Deloitte presents the names of the winners in a sealed envelope. Well, that's good, but did you know that only 30 percent of the awards are given during the live TV show? The remaining 70 percent are handed out in the afternoon before the live performance.

However, it is 60 years since the introduction of the Grammy. Over the years, they have always had perfect performances from various musical genres. Unbelievably, the integrated ecosystem of digital assets, which connects and integrates all stakeholders from the music continuum has been included and it is incredible. Surprisingly, the Grammy Awards changed for 2019 because the four main categories "Best Year's Record", "Best. Year's Album", "Best Year's Song" and "Best New Artists" increased from five to eight. The Recording Academy believes that this change will better reflect the diversity of players and recordings. This decision must be very beneficial for artists from home and abroad. It was nice to see Dolly Parton, the MusiCares Person in 2019, being part of a musical tribute song made for her. Katty Perry joined the party with Dolly herself.

For the first time at the Grammys, beloved Arcade Fire took home this year's album, which was the first indie act to pull that off. Sterling and crafty performances from songwriters starring include Luther Vandross, Cher, Prince, Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, LeAnne Rimes, Bee Gees, Celine Dion, Anita Baker, Barry White, Eric Clapton, Chris Brown, Billy Ocean, SWV, Elton John, Janet Jackson, Ricky Martin, Shaggy, Whitney Houston, Taylor Swift, Maroon 5, Cardi B, Drake, Jennifer Lopez, P. Diddy, Beyonce, Jay-Z, Alicia's Key, Camila Cabello, Brandi Karlile Miley Cyrus, Dan + Shay, H.E.R, Post Malone with Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Sean Mendez, Janelle Monáe and Kacey Musgraves and many of these artists have so far been on the lips of the community because of some of their best Leo performances. Among these music stars are also those who have graced the event as hosts.

I can't stop here without giving reports about Lifetime Achievement and Technical awards. These awards are rewarded by the executives of the Academy to performers who have made extraordinary creative contributions from the arts in the field of recordings throughout their lives. This award is distinct from the Grammy Hall of Fame Award, which honors specific recordings rather than individuals, and the Grammy Trustees Award, which honors non-performers. However, the 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. This award is presented by the MusiCares foundation every year.

Annual event makers, including AEG Ehrlich Ventures, Ken Ehrlich, Ben Winston, Louis Horvitz, Chantel Sausedo and David Wilde, always try hard to bring the award ceremony to the top. People may forget that the backroom staff themselves are tireless people who make sure we see the best on our screens. The Grammy Awards program does not sell tickets to the public, but gives special invitation. Everyone you see here is either an interested party, industrialist or honorable guest with a special purpose. Cheers from fans were all for the Jacksons, as I throw you back at the Grammy Night in 1974. King of pop Michael Jackson and his siblings, Marlon Jackson, Tito Jackson, Jackie Jackson, Randy Jackson, and Jackson 5 participated in the award ceremony. The audience went crazy for them. Besides the Jacksons, Roberta Flack with his album Killing Me Softly With His Song, was the first artist to win back-to-back record of the year honors, rare achievements, even decades later from U2. This is one of the few memories that triggered the event.

Most Grammys Won

Rank Artist Awards

  1. Georg Solti 31
  2. Quincy Jones 28
  3. Alison Krauss 27
  4. Pierre Boulez 26

Grammy went through the process before getting this far. This scheme took advantage of the digital era to make the brand experience broadcast television prices as the world's largest music brand once a year. Just when all hope was almost gone, the Grammy Executive Committee was at the forefront of the music industry and re-arranged it once a year outside the award organizers. The music festival engages the audience in meaningful dialogue throughout the year. The awards from day one leave us with extraordinary images. This program has undoubtedly made a name for itself in the last 60 years. Thanks to Neil Portnow, President and CEO of The Recording Academy. Unfortunately, after all these successful records, the Organizers and the parent firm to the Grammy Award has announced that Portnow, who has been head of the organization since 2002, will resign when his current contract expires in July 2019. Maybe this is a good opportunity for the new president to prove his expertise in administration.

Nothing is easy, but stakeholders are very happy that the award has been very interesting and unique from the rest. Of course, there may be minor hitches too, but a carefully crafted strategy to connect with every participant in the music industry has made the Grammy more relevant as the years grow.

About the Author 🇬🇭

Osei Agyemang is a passionate and creative content writer / editor who is an expert in writing interesting and innovative contents. Osei is also an addicted travel enthusiast who likes to visit and tell the stories of interesting places around the world. He is an award winning National Artist who studied Psychology, Journalism and Global English Language at University of Strathclyde and the University of Glasgow respectively.

Email: [email protected]

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Osei Agyemang

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A passionate writer who creates exciting and innovative contents. Osei Agyemang is also a tourism fan who loves to travel around the world. He has studied Psychology and Journalism.



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