Great music requires the talents of many hands – the artist or musician, the songwriters and all the other people who make it happen, like producers and engineers. That’s why there are so many awards for musicians and producers that celebrate their work. And with more and more independent artists making their own records, there are more than a few special categories for them as well. There are also a few industry-wide events, like the Grammys, that recognize some of the biggest names in music.
Grammy Music Awards
The most prestigious music awards are the Grammys. These are awarded by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. They were first broadcast live in 1971. The name comes from the fact that winners receive a gold replica of a gramophone, an early device for playing recordings.
There are four major Grammy categories: Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Record of the Year and Best New Artist. The latter award is given to a performer who has made their debut during the eligibility year and whose release establishes their public identity as an artist. In the past, other categories were created to honor specific genres of music, such as Best Rap Album and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, but those have now been consolidated into the general category of Best Contemporary Album.
Drake, a notorious snubber of the Grammys, has been nominated for several Grammys this year, including Album of the Year for Views, which beat Lemonade by Beyonce and Purpose by Justin Bieber. He is expected to attend this year’s show, which will be hosted by American Idol’s Katy Perry. Selena Gomez, who is also nominated for an award, will not be attending due to her health concerns.
Billboard Music Awards
The BBMAs are another important music award ceremony. They are one of the only premium awards that give recognition to musicians based on pure data rather than opaque committees. This year, they partnered with Spotify on a first-of-its-kind initiative called Fans First, which brought their top performers to intimate concerts in global locations. The collaboration allowed the BBMAs to identify and invite fans who had voraciously consumed their favorite artists’ music and propelled them to the top of the charts.
Unlike the other big music awards, the BBMAs are voted on by the public via online balloting. Those votes can determine which artist wins the coveted Artist of the Year award, which has been long dominated by Taylor Swift. Other winners of this prestigious award include Adele and Beyonce. Billie Eilish is the youngest winner of this award at age 18. Other BBMAs include Top Country Artist, Top Male Artist and Top Pop Songs.