57th Annual Grammy Awards
The 57th Annual Grammy Awards were held on February 8, 2015, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The show was broadcast live by CBS at 5:00 p.m. PST. Rapper LL Cool J hosted the show for the fourth consecutive time.
The Grammy nominations were open for recordings released between October 1, 2013, and September 30, 2014. Breaking from tradition of a prime-time concert approach, the Grammy nominees were announced during an all-day event on December 5, 2014, starting with initial announcements on the CBS This Morning telecast, followed by updates made through The Grammys' official Twitter account.
Sam Smith won four awards, including Best New Artist, Record of the Year, Song of the Year for "Stay with Me" and Best Pop Vocal Album for In the Lonely Hour. Beck's album Morning Phase was named Album of the Year. This prompted Kanye West, who later said he thought Beyoncé should have won, to jokingly leap onstage to interrupt Beck in a re-enactment of his 2009 MTV VMA scandal, but West left the stage without saying anything. Both Pharrell Williams and Beyoncé took three honors; with her wins, Beyoncé became the second-most-honored female musician in Grammy history following Alison Krauss. Lifetime Achievement awards were given to the Bee Gees, George Harrison, Pierre Boulez, Buddy Guy, and Flaco Jiménez.
In all, 83 Grammy Awards were presented, one more than in 2014.
The show aired simultaneously on Fox8 in Australia, Sky TV in New Zealand, and on Channel O in South Africa.
Pre-telecast ceremony
Not all Grammys were presented during the live telecast. As in previous years, most awards were handed out during the so-called pre-telecast ceremony, held at the Nokia Theater next to the Staples Center, which takes place during the afternoon before the main show. From 2015 on, this ceremony has been known as the Premiere Ceremony. Approximately 70 Grammys were presented at this ceremony, consisting of the "minor" categories.Performers
During the ceremony, United States President Barack Obama delivered a pre-recorded message in which he spoke about domestic violence against women. His message was followed by a plea from domestic violence advocate Brooke Axtell and singer Katy Perry performing her ballad "By the Grace of God" as a dedication to the victims of the crime.
Presenters
- Taylor Swift – presented Best New Artist, introducing Sam Smith and Mary J. Blige
- Anna Kendrick – introduced Ariana Grande
- Jessie J and Tom Jones – presented Best Pop Solo Performance
- Dierks Bentley – introduced Miranda Lambert
- Pentatonix and Barry Gibb – presented Best Pop Vocal Album
- Miley Cyrus and Nicki Minaj – introduced Madonna
- Josh Duhamel, Julian Edelman, and Malcolm Butler – presented Best Rock Album
- Smokey Robinson and Nile Rodgers – presented Best R&B Performance
- James Corden – introduced Ed Sheeran and John Mayer
- Ryan Seacrest – introduced Adam Levine and Gwen Stefani
- Meghan Trainor and Nick Jonas – presented Best Country Album
- The Weeknd – introduced Pharrell Williams and Lang Lang
- Katharine McPhee – introduced Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett
- Keith Urban – introduced Eric Church
- Gina Rodriguez – introduced Juanes
- Prince – presented Album of the Year
- Shia LaBeouf – introduced Sia
- Enrique Iglesias – presented Song of the Year
- Dave Grohl – introduced Beck and Chris Martin
- Jamie Foxx and Stevie Wonder - presented Record of the Year
- Gwyneth Paltrow – introduced Beyoncé
Winners and nominees
The eligibility period for the 57th Annual Grammy Awards was October 1, 2013, to September 30, 2014. The nominees were announced on December 5, 2014. The Album of the Year nominees were announced during A Very Grammy Christmas, which was broadcast on the same day.General
Record of the Year"Stay with Me" – Sam Smith- * Steve Fitzmaurice, Rodney Jerkins and Jimmy Napes, producers; Steve Fitzmaurice, Jimmy Napes and Steve Price, engineers/mixers; Tom Coyne, mastering engineer
- "Fancy" – Iggy Azalea featuring Charli XCX
- * The Arcade and The Invisible Men, producers; Anthony Kilhofler and Eric Weaver, engineers/mixers; Miles Showell, mastering engineer
- "Chandelier" – Sia
- * Greg Kurstin and Jesse Shatkin, producers; Greg Kurstin, Manny Marroquin and Jesse Shatkin, engineers/mixers; Emily Lazar, mastering engineer
- "Shake It Off" – Taylor Swift
- * Max Martin and Shellback, producers; Serban Ghenea, John Hanes, Sam Holland and Michael Ilbert, engineers/mixers; Tom Coyne, mastering engineer
- "All About That Bass" – Meghan Trainor
- * Kevin Kadish, producer; Kevin Kadish, engineer/mixer; Dave Kutch, mastering engineer
- Morning Phase – Beck
- * Beck Hansen, producer; Tom Elmhirst, David Greenbaum, Florian Lagatta, Cole Marsden Greif-Neill, Robbie Nelson, Darrell Thorp, Cassidy Turbin and Joe Visciano, engineers/mixers; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineerIn the Lonely Hour – Sam Smith
- * Steve Fitzmaurice, Komi, Howard Lawrence, Zane Lowe, Mojam, Jimmy Napes, Naughty Boy, Fraser T Smith, Two Inch Punch and Eg White, producers; Michael Angelo, Graham Archer, Steve Fitzmaurice, Simon Hale, Darren Heelis, James Murray, Jimmy Napes, Mustafa Omer, Dan Parry, Steve Price and Eg White, engineers/mixers; Tom Coyne and Stuart Hawkes, mastering engineersBeyoncé – Beyoncé
- * Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Drake, Jay Z and Frank Ocean, featured artists; Ammo, Boots, Noel "Detail" Fisher, Jerome Harmon, Hit-Boy, Beyoncé Knowles, Terius "The Dream" Nash, Caroline Polachek, Rey Reel, Noah "40" Shebib, Ryan Tedder, Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Key Wane and Pharrell Williams, producers; Boots, Noel Cadastre, Noel "Gadget" Campbell, Rob Cohen, Andrew Coleman, Chris Godbey, Justin Hergett, James Krausse, Mike Larson, Jonathan Lee, Tony Maserati, Ann Mincieli, Caroline Polachek, Andrew Scheps, Bart Schoudel, Noah "40" Shebib, Ryan Tedder, Stuart White and Jordan "DJ Swivel" Young, engineers/mixers; Tom Coyne, James Krausse and Aya Merrill, mastering engineersx – Ed Sheeran
- * Jeff Bhasker, Benny Blanco, Jake Gosling, Johnny McDaid, Rick Rubin and Pharrell Williams, producers; Andrew Coleman, Jake Gosling, Matty Green, William Hicks, Tyler Sam Johnson, Jason Lader, Johnny McDaid, Chris Scafani, Mark Stent and Geoff Swan, engineers/mixers; Stuart Hawkes, mastering engineerG I R L – Pharrell Williams
- * Alicia Keys and Justin Timberlake, featured artists; Pharrell Williams, producer; Leslie Brathwaite, Adrian Breakspear, Andrew Coleman, Jimmy Douglas, Hart Gunther, Mick Guzauski, Florian Lagatta, Mike Larson, Stephanie McNally, Alan Meyerson, Ann Mincieli and Kenta Yonesaka, engineers/mixers; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer
- * James Napier, William Phillips and Sam Smith, songwriters
- "All About That Bass"
- * Kevin Kadish and Meghan Trainor, songwriters
- "Chandelier"
- * Sia Furler and Jesse Shatkin, songwriters
- "Shake It Off"
- * Max Martin, Shellback and Taylor Swift, songwriters
- "Take Me to Church"
- * Andrew Hozier-Byrne, songwriter
Pop
Best Pop Solo Performance"Happy (Live)" – Pharrell Williams- "All of Me (Live)" – John Legend
- "Stay With Me " – Sam Smith
- "Chandelier" – Sia
- "Shake It Off" – Taylor Swift
- "Fancy" – Iggy Azalea featuring Charli XCX
- "A Sky Full of Stars" – Coldplay
- "Bang Bang" – Jessie J, Ariana Grande, and Nicki Minaj
- "Dark Horse" – Katy Perry featuring Juicy J
Best Traditional Pop Vocal AlbumCheek to Cheek – Tony Bennett and Lady GagaNostalgia – Annie LennoxNight Songs – Barry ManilowSending You a Little Christmas – Johnny MathisPartners – Barbra Streisand
Dance/Electronic
Best Dance Recording"Rather Be" – Clean Bandit featuring Jess Glynne- * Grace Chatto and Jack Patterson, producers; Wez Clarke and Jack Patterson, mixers
- "Never Say Never" – Basement Jaxx featuring ETML
- * Basement Jaxx, producers; Basement Jaxx, mixers
- "F For You" – Disclosure featuring Mary J. Blige
- * Disclosure, producer; Disclosure, mixer
- "I Got U" – Duke Dumont featuring Jax Jones
- * Duke Dumont and Jax Jones, producers; Tommy Forrest, mixer
- "Faded" – Zhu
- * Zhu, producer; Zhu, mixer
Contemporary Instrumental
Best Contemporary Instrumental AlbumBass & Mandolin – Chris Thile and Edgar MeyerWild Heart – Mindi AbairSlam Dunk – Gerald AlbrightNathan East – Nathan EastJazz Funk Soul – Jeff Lorber, Chuck Loeb and Everette HarpRock
Best Rock Performance"Lazaretto" – Jack White- "Gimme Something Good" – Ryan Adams
- "Do I Wanna Know?" – Arctic Monkeys
- "Blue Moon" – Beck
- "Fever" – The Black Keys
- "Neon Knights" – Anthrax
- "High Road" – Mastodon
- "Heartbreaker" – Motörhead
- "The Negative One" – Slipknot
- * Hayley Williams and Taylor York, songwriters
- "Blue Moon"
- * Beck Hansen, songwriter
- "Fever"
- * Dan Auerbach, Patrick Carney and Brian Burton, songwriters
- "Gimme Something Good"
- * Ryan Adams, songwriter
- "Lazaretto"
- * Jack White, songwriter
Alternative
Best Alternative Music AlbumSt. Vincent – St. VincentThis Is All Yours – alt-JReflektor – Arcade FireMelophobia – Cage the ElephantLazaretto – Jack WhiteR&B
Best R&B Performance "Drunk in Love" – Beyoncé featuring Jay Z- "New Flame" – Chris Brown featuring Usher and Rick Ross
- "It's Your World" – Jennifer Hudson featuring R. Kelly
- "Like This" – Ledisi
- "Good Kisser" – Usher
- "As" – Marsha Ambrosius and Anthony Hamilton
- "I.R.S" – Angie Fisher
- "Nobody" – Kem
- "Hold Up Wait a Minute " – Antonique Smith
- * Shawn Carter, Rasool Diaz, Noel Fisher, Jerome Harmon, Beyoncé Knowles, Timothy Mosely, Andre Eric Proctor and Brian Soko, songwriters
- "Good Kisser"
- * Ronald "Flip" Colson, Warren "Oak" Felder, Usher Raymond IV, Jameel Roberts, Terry "Tru" Sneed and Andrew "Pop" Wansel, songwriters
- "New Flame"
- * Eric Bellinger, Chris Brown, James Chambers, Malissa Hunter, Justin Booth Johnson, Mark Pitts, Usher Raymond IV, William Roberts, Maurice "Verse" Simmonds and Keith Thomas, songwriters
- "Options "
- * Dominic Gordon, Brandon Hesson and Jamaica "Kahn-Cept" Smith, songwriters
- "The Worst"
- * Jhené Aiko Chilombo, Mac Robinson and Brian Warfield, songwriter
Best R&B AlbumLove, Marriage & Divorce – Toni Braxton and BabyfaceIslander – BernhoftLift Your Spirit – Aloe BlaccBlack Radio 2 – Robert Glasper ExperimentGive The People What They Want – Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings
Rap
Best Rap Performance"i" – Kendrick Lamar- "3005" – Childish Gambino
- "0 to 100 / The Catch Up" – Drake
- "Rap God" – Eminem
- "All I Need Is You" – Lecrae
- "Blak Majik" – Common featuring Jhené Aiko
- "Tuesday" – ILoveMakonnen featuring Drake
- "Studio" – Schoolboy Q featuring BJ the Chicago Kid
- "Bound 2" – Kanye West featuring Charlie Wilson
- * Kendrick Duckworth and Columbus Smith III, songwriters
- "Anaconda"
- * Ernest Clark, Jamal Jones, Onika Maraj, Marcos Palacios and Jonathan Solone-Myvett, Anthony Ray songwriters
- "Bound 2"
- * Mike Dean, Malik Jones, Che Pope, Elon Rutberg, Sakiya Sandifer, John Stephens, Kanye West, Charlie Wilson and Cydel Young, songwriters
- "We Dem Boyz"
- * Noel Fisher and Cameron Thomaz, songwriters
- "0 to 100 / The Catch Up"
- * A. Feeney, Aubrey Graham, Anderson Hernandez, P. Jefferies, Matthew Samuels and Noah Shebib, songwriters
Country
Best Country Solo Performance"Something in the Water" – Carrie Underwood- "Give Me Back My Hometown" – Eric Church
- "Invisible" – Hunter Hayes
- "Automatic" – Miranda Lambert
- "Cop Car" – Keith Urban
- "Somethin' Bad" – Miranda Lambert with Carrie Underwood
- "Day Drinking" – Little Big Town
- "Meanwhile Back at Mama's – Tim McGraw featuring Faith Hill
- "Raise 'Em Up" – Keith Urban featuring Eric Church
- * Glen Campbell and Julian Raymond, songwriters
- "American Kids"
- * Rodney Clawson, Luke Laird and Shane McAnally, songwriters
- "Automatic"
- * Nicolle Galyon, Natalie Hemby and Miranda Lambert, songwriters
- "Give Me Back My Hometown"
- * Eric Church and Luke Laird, songwriters
- "Meanwhile Back at Mama's"
- * Tom Douglas, Jaren Johnston and Jeffrey Steele, songwriters
New Age
Best New Age AlbumWinds of Samsara – Ricky Kej and Wouter KellermanBhakti – Paul AvgerinosRitual – Peter Kater and R. Carlos NakaiSymphony Live in Istanbul – KitaroIn Love and Longing – Silvia Nakkach and David DarlingJazz
Best Improvised Jazz Solo"Fingerprints" – Chick Corea, soloist- "The Eye of the Hurricane" – Kenny Barron, soloist
- "You and the Night and the Music" – Fred Hersch, soloist
- "Recorda Me" – Joe Lovano, soloist
- "Sleeping Giant" – Brad Mehldau, soloist
Best Jazz Instrumental AlbumTrilogy – Chick Corea TrioLandmarks – Brian Blade and the Fellowship BandFloating – Fred Hersch TrioEnjoy the View – Bobby Hutcherson, David Sanborn, Joey DeFrancesco featuring Billy HartAll Rise: A Joyful Elegy for Fats Waller – Jason Moran
Best Large Jazz Ensemble AlbumLife in the Bubble – Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat BandThe L.A. Treasures Project – Clayton-Hamilton Jazz OrchestraQuiet Pride: The Elizabeth Catlett Project – Rufus ReidLive: I Hear the Sound – Archie Shepp Attica Blues OrchestraOverTime: Music of Bob Brookmeyer – Vanguard Jazz Orchestra
Best Latin Jazz AlbumThe Offense of the Drum – Arturo O'Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz OrchestraThe Latin Side of Joe Henderson – Conrad Herwig featuring Joe LovanoThe Pedrito Martinez Group – Pedrito Martinez GroupSecond Half – Emilio Solla y la Inestable de BrooklynNew Throned King – Yosvany Terry
Gospel/Contemporary Christian
Best Gospel Performance/Song"No Greater Love" – Smokie Norful- * Aaron W. Lindsey, Smokie Norful, songwriters
- "Help" – Erica Campbell featuring Lecrae
- * Erica Campbell, Warryn Campbell, Hasben Jones, Harold Lilly, Lecrae Moore, Aaron Sledge, songwriters
- "Sunday A.M. " – Karen Clark Sheard
- * Rudy Currence, Donald Lawrence, songwriters
- "I Believe" – Mali Music
- * Kortney J. Pollard, songwriter
- "Love on the Radio" – The Walls Group
- "In the Raw" – Tehrah
- * Kirk Franklin, songwriter
- * Torrance Esmond, Ran Jackson, Ricky Jackson, Kenneth Chris Mackey, Lecrae Moore, Joseph Prielozny, Joel Smallbone, Luke Smallbone, songwriters
- "Write Your Story" – Francesca Battistelli
- * Francesca Battistelli, David Arthur Garcia, Ben Glover, songwriters
- "Come as You Are" – Crowder
- * David Crowder, Ben Glover and Matt Maher, songwriters
- "Shake" – MercyMe
- * Nathan Cochran, David Arthur Garcia, Ben Glover, Barry Graul, Bart Millard, Soli Olds, Mike Scheuchzer, Robby Shaffer, songwriters
- "Multiplied" – Needtobreathe
- * Bear Rinehart, Bo Rinehart, songwriters
Best Contemporary Christian Music AlbumRun Wild. Live Free. Love Strong. – For King & CountryIf We're Honest – Francesca BattistelliHurricane – Natalie GrantWelcome to the New – MercyMeRoyal Tailor – Royal Tailor
Best Roots Gospel AlbumShine for All the People – Mike FarrisForever Changed – T. Graham BrownHymns – Gaither Vocal BandA Cappella – The MartinsHis Way of Loving Me – Tim Menzies
Latin
Best Latin Pop AlbumTangos – Rubén BladesElypse – CamilaRaíz – Lila Downs, Niña Pastori and SoledadLoco de Amor – JuanesGracias Por Estar Aquí – Marco Antonio SolísBest Latin Rock Urban or Alternative AlbumMulti Viral – Calle 13Behind The Machine – ChocQuibTownBailar en la Cueva – Jorge DrexlerAgua Maldita – MolotovVengo – Ana Tijoux
Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano)Mano A Mano – Tangos A La Manera De Vicente Fernández – Vicente FernándezLastima Que Sean Ajenas – Pepe AguilarVoz Y Guitarra – Ixya Herrera15 Aniversario – Mariachi Divas de Cindy SheaAlegría Del Mariachi – Mariachi Los Arrieros Del Valle
Best Tropical Latin AlbumMás + Corazón Profundo – Carlos Vives50 Aniversario – El Gran Combo de Puerto RicoFirst Class To Havana – Aymée NuviolaLive – Palo!El Asunto – Totó La Momposina
Americana Music
Best American Roots Performance"A Feather's Not a Bird" – Rosanne Cash- "Statesboro Blues" – Gregg Allman and Taj Mahal
- "And When I Die" – Billy Childs featuring Alison Krauss and Jerry Douglas
- "The Old Me Better" – Keb' Mo' featuring the California Feet Warmers
- "Destination" – Nickel Creek
- "Just So Much" – Jesse Winchester, songwriter
- "The New York Trains" – Woody Guthrie and Del McCoury, songwriters
- "Pretty Little One" – Edie Brickell and Steve Martin, songwriters
- "Terms of My Surrender" – John Hiatt, songwriter
Best Bluegrass AlbumThe Earls of Leicester – The Earls of LeicesterNoam Pikelny Plays Kenny Baker Plays Bill Monroe – Noam PikelnyCold Spell – Frank Solivan and Dirty KitchenInto My Own – Bryan SuttonOnly Me – Rhonda Vincent
Best Blues AlbumStep Back – Johnny WinterCommon Ground: Dave Alvin & Phil Alvin Play and Sing the Songs of Big Bill Broonzy – Dave Alvin and Phil AlvinPromise of a Brand New Day – Ruthie FosterJuke Joint Chapel – Charlie MusselwhiteDecisions – Bobby Rush with Blinddog Smokin'
Best Folk AlbumRemedy – Old Crow Medicine ShowThree Bells – Mike Auldridge, Jerry Douglas, Rob IckesFollow the Music – Alice GerrardThe Nocturne Diaries – Eliza GilkysonA Reasonable Amount of Trouble – Jesse Winchester
Best Regional Music AlbumThe Legacy – Jo-El SonnierLight the Stars – Bonsoir, CatinHanu 'A'ala – Kamaka KukonaLove's Lies – Magnolia SistersCeremony – Joe Tohonnie Jr.
Reggae
Best Reggae AlbumFly Rasta – Ziggy Marley Back on the Controls – Lee "Scratch" PerryFull Frequency – Sean PaulOut of Many, One Music – ShaggyReggae Power – Sly and Robbie and Spicy ChocolateAmid the Noise and the Haste – SOJAWorld Music
Best World Music AlbumEve – Angélique KidjoToumani & Sidiki – Toumani Diabaté and Sidiki DiabatéOur World in Song – Wu Man, Luis Conte and Daniel HoMagic – Sérgio MendesTraces of You – Anoushka ShankarChildren's
Best Children's AlbumI Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up For Education And Changed The World – Neela VaswaniAppetite For Construction – The Pop UpsJust Say Hi! – Brady Rymer and the Little Band That CouldThe Perfect Quirk – Secret Agent 23 SkidooThrough The Woods – The Okee Dokee BrothersSpoken Word
Best Spoken Word Album Diary of a Mad Diva – Joan RiversActors Anonymous – James FrancoA Call to Action – Jimmy CarterCarsick: John Waters Hitchhikes Across America – John WatersA Fighting Chance – Elizabeth WarrenWe Will Survive: True Stories of Encouragement, Inspiration, and the Power of Song – Gloria GaynorComedy
Best Comedy AlbumMandatory Fun – "Weird Al" YankovicObsessed – Jim GaffiganOh My God – Louis C.K.Tragedy Plus Comedy Equals Time – Patton OswaltWe Are Miracles – Sarah SilvermanMusical Show
Best Musical Theater AlbumBeautiful: The Carole King Musical – Jessie Mueller, principal soloist; Jason Howland, Steve Sidwell and Billy Jay Stein, producers Aladdin – James Monroe Iglehart, Adam Jacobs and Courtney Reed, principal soloists; Frank Filipetti, Michael Kosarin, Alan Menken and Chris Montan, producers A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder – Jefferson Mays and Bryce Pinkham, principal soloists; Kurt Deutsch and Joel Moss, producers; Robert L. Freedman, lyricist; Steven Lutvak, composer and lyricist Hedwig and the Angry Inch – Lena Hall and Neil Patrick Harris, principal soloists; Justin Craig, Tim O'Heir and Stephen Trask, producers West Side Story – Cheyenne Jackson and Alexandra Silber, principal soloists; Jack Vad, producerMusic for Visual Media
Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual MediaFrozen – various artistsAmerican Hustle – various artistsGet on Up: The James Brown Story – James BrownGuardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix Vol. 1 – various artistsThe Wolf of Wall Street – various artistsBest Score Soundtrack for Visual MediaThe Grand Budapest Hotel: Original Soundtrack – Alexandre Desplat, composerFrozen – Christophe Beck, composerGone Girl: Soundtrack from the Motion Picture – Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, composersGravity: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack – Steven Price, composerSaving Mr. Banks – Thomas Newman, composer
Best Song Written for Visual Media"Let It Go" – Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, songwriters
- "Everything Is Awesome" – Joshua Bartholomew, Lisa Harriton, Shawn Patterson, Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone, songwriters
- "I See Fire" – Ed Sheeran, songwriter
- "I'm Not Gonna Miss You" – Glen Campbell and Julian Raymond, songwriters
- "The Moon Song" – Spike Jonze and Karen O, songwriters
Composing/Arranging
Best Instrumental Composition"The Book Thief"- * John Williams, composer
- "Last Train To Sanity"
- * Stanley Clarke, composer
- "Life in the Bubble"
- * Gordon Goodwin, composer
- "Recognition"
- * Rufus Reid, composer
- "Tarnation"
- * Edgar Meyer and Chris Thile, composers
- * Ben Bram, Mitch Grassi, Scott Hoying, Avi Kaplan, Kirstie Maldonado and Kevin Olusola, arrangers
- "Beautiful Dreamer"
- * Pete McGuinness, arranger
- "Get Smart"
- * Gordon Goodwin, arranger
- "Guantanamera"
- * Alfredo Rodríguez, arranger
- "Moon River"
- * Chris Walden, arranger
- * Billy Childs, arranger
- "All My Tomorrows"
- * Jeremy Fox, arranger
- "Goodnight America"
- * Vince Mendoza, arranger
- "Party Rockers"
- * Gordon Goodwin, arranger
- "What Are You Doing The Rest of Your Life?"
- * Pete McGuinness, arranger
Crafts
Best Recording PackageLightning Bolt- * Jeff Ament, Don Pendleton, Joe Spix and Jerome Turner, art directors
- Formosa Medicine Show
- * David Chen and Andrew Wong, art directors Indie Cindy
- * Vaughan Oliver, art director LP1
- * FKA Twigs and Phil Lee, art directors Whispers
- * Sarah Larnach, art director
- * Susan Archie, Dean Blackwood and Jack White, art directors Cities of Darkscorch
- * Leland Meiners and Ken Shipley, art directors A Letter Home
- * Gary Burden and Jenice Heo, art directors Sparks
- * Andy Carne, art director Spring 1990 (The Other One)
- * Jessica Dessner, Lisa Glines, Doran Tyson and Steve Vance, art directors
- * Ashley Kahn, album notes writer Happy: The 1920 Rainbo Orchestra Sides
- * David Sager, album notes writer I'm Just Like You: Sly's Stone Flower 1969–70
- * Alec Palao, album notes writer The Other Side Of Bakersfield: 1950s & 60s Boppers and Rockers from 'Nashville West
- * Scott B. Bomar, album notes writer Purple Snow: Forecasting the Minneapolis Sound
- * Jon Kirby, album notes writer The Rise & Fall Of Paramount Records, Volume One
- * Scott Blackwood, album notes writer
Historical
Best Historical AlbumThe Garden Spot Programs, 1950- * Colin Escott and Cheryl Pawelski, compilation producers; Michael Graves, mastering engineer Black Europe: The Sounds And Images Of Black People In Europe Pre-1927
- * Jeffrey Green, Ranier E. Lotz and Howard Rye, compilation producers; Christian Zwarg, mastering engineer Happy: The 1920 Rainbo Orchestra Sides
- * Meagan Hennessey and Richard Martin, compilation producers; Richard Martin, mastering engineer Longing for the Past: The 78 RPM Era In Southeast Asia
- * Steven Lance Ledbetter and David Murray, compilation producers; Michael Graves, mastering engineer There's A Dream I've Been Saving: Lee Hazlewood Industries 1966 – 1971
- * Hunter Lea, Patrick McCarthy and Matt Sullivan, compilation producers; John Baldwin, mastering engineer
Production
Best Engineered Album, Non-ClassicalMorning Phase- * Tom Elmhirst, David Greenbaum, Florian Lagatta, Cole Marsden, Greif Neill, Robbie Nelson, Darrell Thorp, Cassidy Turbin and Joe Visciano, engineers; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer Bass & Mandolin
- * Richard King and Dave Sinko, engineers; Robert C. Ludwig, mastering engineer Bluesamericana
- * Ross Hogarth and Casey Wasner, engineers; Richard Dodd, mastering engineer The Way I'm Livin'
- * Chuck Ainlay, engineer; Gavin Lurssen, mastering engineer What's Left Is Forever
- * Tchad Blake, Oyvind Jakobsen, Jo Ranheim, Itai Shapiro and David Way, engineers; Bernie Grundman, mastering engineer
- * "Bang Bang"
- * "Break Free"
- * "Dark Horse"
- * "Problem"
- * "Shake It Off"
- * "Unconditionally"
- Paul Epworth
- * "Pendulum"
- * "Queenie Eye"
- * "Road"
- * "Save Us"
- John Hill
- * "All You Never Say"
- * "Burning Gold"
- * "Can't Remember to Forget You"
- * "Goldmine"
- * "Guts Over Fear"
- * Strange Desire
- * Voices
- * "Water Fountain"
- Jay Joyce
- * About Last Night
- * It Goes Like This
- * Melophobia
- * Montibello Memories
- * Mountains of Sorrow, Rivers of Song
- * The Outsiders
- Greg Kurstin
- * "Beating Heart"
- * "Chandelier"
- * "Double Rainbow"
- * "Gunshot"
- * "Money Power Glory"
- * 1000 Forms of Fear
- * Sheezus
- * Wrapped in Red
- * Tijs Michiel Verwest, remixer
- "Falling Out"
- * Aaron Albano, remixer
- "Pompeii"
- * Nathaniel Rathbun, remixer
- "The Rising"
- * Eddie Amador, remixer
- "Smile"
- * Ryan Raddon, remixer
- "Waves"
- * Robin Schulz, remixer
Production, Surround Sound
Best Surround Sound AlbumBeyoncé- * Elliot Scheiner, surround mix engineer; Bob Ludwig, surround mastering engineer; Beyoncé Knowles, surround producer Beppe: Remote Galaxy
- * Morten Lindberg, surround mix engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround mastering engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround producer Chamberland: The Berlin Remixes
- * David Miles Huber, surround mix engineer; David Miles Huber, surround mastering engineer; David Miles Huber, surround producer The Division Bell
- * Damon Iddins and Andy Jackson, surround mix engineers; Damon Iddins and Andy Jackson, surround mastering engineers Epics Of Love
- * Hans-Jörg Maucksch, surround mix engineer; Hans-Jörg Maucksch, surround mastering engineer; Günter Pauler, surround producer Mahler: Symphony No. 2 'Resurrection
- * Michael Bishop, surround mix engineer; Michael Bishop, surround mastering engineer; Elaine Martone, surround producer
Production, Classical
Best Engineered Album, ClassicalVaughan Williams: Dona Nobis Pacem; Symphony No. 4; The Lark Ascending- * Michael Bishop, engineer; Michael Bishop, mastering engineer Adams, John: City Noir
- * Richard King, engineer; Wolfgang Schiefermair, mastering engineer Adams, John Luther: Become Ocean
- * Dmitriy Lipay and Nathaniel Reichman, engineers; Nathaniel Reichman, mastering engineer Dutilleux: Symphony No. 1; Tout Un Monde Lointain; The Shadows Of Time
- * Dmitriy Lipay, engineer; Dmitriy Lipay, mastering engineer Riccardo Muti Conducts Mason Bates and Anna Clyne
- * David Frost and Christopher Willis, engineers; Tim Martyn, mastering engineer
- * Beethoven: Cello and Piano Complete
- * Brahms By Heart
- * Composing America
- * Divergence
- * The Good Song
- * Mozart and Brahms: Clarinet Quintets
- * Snapshot
- * Two X Four
- * Wagner Without Words
- Morten Lindberg
- * Beppe: Remote Galaxy
- * Dyrud: Out Of Darkness
- * Ja, Vi Elsker
- * Symphonies Of Wind Instruments
- Dmitriy Lipay
- * Adams, John Luther: Become Ocean
- * Dutilleux: Symphony No. 1; Tout Un Monde Lointain; The Shadows of Time
- * Fauré: Masques Et Bergamasques; Pelléas Et Mélisande; Dolly
- * Hindemith: Nobilissima Visione; Five Pieces For String Orchestra
- * Ives: Symphony No. 2; Carter: Instances; Gershwin: An American In Paris
- * Ravel: Orchestral Works; Saint-Saëns: Organ Symphony
- Elaine Martone
- * Hallowed Ground
- * Mahler: Symphony No. 2 'Resurrection
- * Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 6 and 7; Tapiola
- * Vaughan Williams: Dona Nobis Pacem; Symphony No. 4; The Lark Ascending
- David Starobin
- * All The Things You Are
- * Complete Crumb Edition, Vol. 16
- * Game of Attrition – Arlene Sierra, Vol. 2
- * Haydn, Beethoven and Schubert
- * Mozart: Piano Concertos, No. 12, K. 414 and No. 23, K. 488
- * Music Of Peter Lieberson, Vol. 3
- * Rochberg, Chihara and Rorem
- * ''Tchaikovsky: The Tempest, Op. 18 and Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 23''
Classical
Best Orchestral PerformanceAdams, John: City Noir- * David Robertson, Dutilleux: Symphony No. 1; Tout un monde lointain...; The Shadows of Time
- * Ludovic Morlot, conductor Dvořák: Symphony No. 8; Janacek: Symphonic Suite From Jenůfa
- * Manfred Honeck, conductor Schumann: Symphonien 1–4
- * Simon Rattle, conductor Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 6 and 7; Tapiola
- * Robert Spano, conductor
- * Paul O'Dette and Stephen Stubbs, conductors; Aaron Sheehan; Renate Wolter-Seevers, producer Milhaud: L'Orestie d'Eschyle
- * Kenneth Kiesler, conductor; Dan Kempson, Jennifer Lane, Tamara Mumford and Brenda Rae; Tim Handley, producer Rameau: Hippolyte et Aricie
- * William Christie, conductor; Sarah Connolly, Stéphane Degout, Christiane Karg, Ed Lyon and Katherine Watson; Sébastien Chonion, producer Schönberg: Moses und Aron
- * Sylvain Cambreling, conductor; Andreas Conrad and Franz Grundheber; Reinhard Oechsler, producer Strauss: Elektra
- * Christian Thielemann, conductor; Evelyn Herlitzius, Waltraud Meier, René Pape and Anne Schwanewilms; Magdalena Herbst, producer
Performers who are not eligible for an award are mentioned in parenthesesThe Sacred Spirit of Russia
- * Craig Hella Johnson, conductor Bach: Matthäus-Passion
- * René Jacobs, conductor Dyrud: Out of Darkness
- * Vivianne Sydnes, conductor Holst: First Choral Symphony; The Mystic Trumpeter
- * Andrew Davis; Stephen Jackson, chorus master Mozart: Requiem Mass in D minor
- * John Butt, conductor
- * Hilary Hahn and Cory SmytheDreams and Prayers
- * David Krakauer and A Far CryMartinů: Cello Sonatas Nos. 1–3
- * Steven Isserlis and Olli MustonenPartch: Castor and Pollux
- * PartchSing Thee Nowell
- * New York Polyphony
- * Jason VieauxAll The Things You Are
- * Leon FleisherThe Carnegie Recital
- * Daniil TrifonovDutilleux: Tout un monde lointain...
- * Xavier Phillips; Ludovic Morlot, conductor Toccatas
- * Jory Vinikour
- * Anne Sofie Von Otter; Bengt Forsberg, accompanist Porpora: Arias
- * Philippe Jaroussky; Andrea Marcon, conductor Schubert: Die Schöne Müllerin
- * Florian Boesch; Malcolm Martineau, accompanistStella Di Napoli
- * Joyce DiDonato; Riccardo Minasi, conductor Virtuoso Rossini Arias
- * Lawrence Brownlee; Constantine Orbelian, conductor
- * Partch; John Schneider, producerBritten To America
- * Jeffrey Skidmore, conductor; Colin Matthews, producerMieczysław Weinberg
- * Giedrė Dirvanauskaitė, Daniil Grishin, Gidon Kremer and Daniil Trifonov; Manfred Eicher, producerMike Marshall and The Turtle Island Quartet
- * Mike Marshall (musician) and Turtle Island Quartet; Mike Marshall, producerThe Solent – Fifty Years of Music By Ralph Vaughan Williams
- * Paul Daniel, conductor; Andrew Walton, producer
- * John Luther Adams, composer Clyne, Anna: Prince of Clouds
- * Anna Clyne, composer Crumb, George: Voices From The Heartland
- * George Crumb, composer Paulus, Stephen: Concerto for Two Trumpets and Band
- * Stephen Paulus, composer Sierra, Roberto: Sinfonía No. 4
- * Roberto Sierra, composer
Music Video/Film
Best Music Video"Happy" – Pharrell Williams- * We Are From LA, video director; Kathleen Heffernan, Solal Micenmacher, Jett Steiger and Cedric Troadec, video producers
- "We Exist" – Arcade Fire
- * David Wilson, video director; Sue Yeon Ahn and Jason Baum, video producers
- "Turn Down for What" – DJ Snake and Lil Jon
- * Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, video directors; Judy Craig, Jonathan Wang, Candice Ouaknine and Bryan Younce, video producers
- "Chandelier" – Sia
- * Sia Furler and Daniel Askill, video directors; Jennifer Heath and Jack Hogan, video producers
- "The Golden Age" – Woodkid featuring Max Richter
- * Yoann Lemoine, video director; Kathleen Heffernan, Roman Pichon Herrera, Christine Miller and Annabel Rosier, video producers
- * Morgan Neville, video director; Gil Friesen and Caitrin Rogers, video producersOn The Run Tour: Beyoncé and Jay-Z (TV Program)
- * Jonas Åkerlund, video director; Ed Burke, Svana Gisla and Dan Parise, video producersGhost Stories – Coldplay
- * Paul Dugdale, video director; Jim Parsons, video producer
- "Metallica Through the Never" – Metallica
- * Nimród Antal, video director; Adam Ellison and Charlotte Huggins, video producersThe Truth About Love Tour: Live from Melbourne – Pink
- * Larn Poland, video director; Roger Davies, video producer
Special Merit Awards
MusiCares Person of the Year
Lifetime Achievement Award
- Bee Gees
- Pierre Boulez
- Buddy Guy
- George Harrison
- Maria Cordero
- Flaco Jiménez
- The Louvin Brothers
- Wayne Shorter
Trustees Award
Technical Grammy Award
Music Educator Award
- Jared Cassedy
Grammy Hall of Fame inductions
In Memoriam
- Joe Cocker
- Andraé Crouch
- Pete Seeger
- Jack Bruce
- Johnny Winter
- Bobby Keys
- Ian McLagan
- Tommy Ramone
- Jimmy Ruffin
- Wayne Henderson
- Joe Sample
- Bobby Womack
- Don Covay
- Jesse Winchester
- Robin Williams
- Little Jimmy Dickens
- Jimmy C. Newman
- George Hamilton IV
- Bob Montgomery
- Horace Silver
- Charlie Haden
- Buddy DeFranco
- Paul Horn
- Big Bank Hank
- Frankie Knuckles
- Steven "Asap Yams" Rodriguez
- Casey Kasem
- Gerry Goffin
- Bob Crewe
- Paul Revere
- Bob Casale
- Kim Fowley
- Paco de Lucía
- Gustavo Cerati
- Cheo Feliciano
- Lorin Maazel
- Stephen Paulus
- Ann Ruckert
- Mike Nichols
- Ruby Dee
- Ted Bergmann
- Cosimo Matassa
- Gary Haber
- David Anderle
- Peter Grosslight
- Peter Shukat
- Rod McKuen
- Dallas Taylor
- Tim Hauser
- Maya Angelou
Multiple nominations and awards
The following received multiple nominations:Six:
Five:
Four:
- Iggy Azalea
- Beck
- Eric Church
- Tom Coyne
- Drake
- Gordon Goodwin
- Jay-Z
- Miranda Lambert
- Sia
- Usher
- Jack White
- Ryan Adams
- Jhené Aiko
- The Black Keys
- Chris Brown
- Rosanne Cash
- Billy Childs
- Coldplay
- Tehrah
- Andrew Coleman
- Detail
- Eminem
- Ben Glover
- Florian Lagatta
- Lecrae
- Dmitriy Lipay
- Max Martin
- Rick Ross
- Ed Sheeran
- Taylor Swift
- Arcade Fire
- Francesca Battistelli
- Michael Bishop
- Glen Campbell
- Charli XCX
- Brandy Clark
- Common
- Chick Corea
- Jerry Douglas
- Tom Elmhirst
- Steve Fitzmaurice
- For King & Country
- Childish Gambino
- Ariana Grande
- Michael Graves
- David Greenbaum
- Cole M. Greif-Neill
- Stuart Hawkes
- Fred Hersch
- John Hiatt
- J-Roc
- Keb' Mo'
- Kevin Kadish
- Wiz Khalifa
- Richard King
- Greg Kurstin
- Luke Laird
- Kendrick Lamar
- Mike Larson
- Howard Lawrence
- John Legend
- Morten Lindberg
- Kristen Anderson-Lopez
- Robert Lopez
- Joe Lovano
- Mali Music
- Elaine Martone
- Pete McGuinness
- MercyMe
- Edgar Meyer
- Ann Mincieli
- Nicki Minaj
- Ludovic Morlot
- Jimmy Napes
- Robbie Nelson
- Nickel Creek
- Smokie Norful
- Partch
- Katy Perry
- Tom Petty
- Steve Price
- Julian Raymond
- Rufus Reid
- Robert Glasper Experiment
- Schoolboy Q
- Jesse Shatkin
- Noah "40" Shebib
- Shellback
- Chris Thile
- Darrell Thorp
- Timbaland
- Justin Timberlake
- Meghan Trainor
- Daniil Trifonov
- Cassidy Turbin
- Carrie Underwood
- Keith Urban
- Joe Visciano
- Kanye West
- Charlie Wilson
- Jesse Winchester
Four:
Three:
Two:
- Beck
- Chick Corea
- Tom Elmhirst
- Eminem
- For King & Country
- David Greenbaum
- Cole M. Greif-Neill
- Jay-Z
- Florian Lagatta
- Kendrick Lamar
- Kristen Anderson-Lopez
- Robert Lopez
- Jimmy Napes
- Robbie Nelson
- Darrell Thorp
- Cassidy Turbin
- Joe Visciano
- Jack White
Changes
As usual, had a number of small changes in the voting and awarding process:- New categories
Another new category is the Best Roots Gospel Album in the Gospel genre field, for gospel albums in the aforementioned musical styles, including traditional southern Gospel music.
- Changes in the Gospel categories
- Samples allowed
- A few minor name changes.