The show was broadcast live by CBS at 5:00 p.m. PST (UTC−8). 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 leap onstage to interrupt Beck, 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.
Nominees and winners
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 Special, which was broadcast on the same day.
General
Record of the Year
"Stay with Me" (Darkchild Version) – 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
Album of the Year
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 engineer
In 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 engineers
Beyoncé – 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 engineers
x – 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 engineer
G 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
Song of the Year
"Stay with Me" (Darkchild Version)1
James Napier, William Phillips and Sam Smith, songwriters (Sam Smith)
"All About That Bass"
Kevin Kadish and Meghan Trainor, songwriters (Meghan Trainor)
"Chandelier"
Sia Furler and Jesse Shatkin, songwriters (Sia)
"Shake It Off"
Max Martin, Shellback and Taylor Swift, songwriters (Taylor Swift)
"Take Me to Church"
Andrew Hozier-Byrne, songwriter (Hozier)
Best New Artist
Sam Smith
Iggy Azalea
Bastille
Brandy Clark
HAIM
Pop
Best Pop Solo Performance
"Happy (Live)" – Pharrell Williams
"All of Me (Live)" – John Legend
"Stay With Me (Darkchild Version)" – Sam Smith
"Chandelier" – Sia
"Shake It Off" – Taylor Swift
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
"Say Something" – A Great Big World and Christina Aguilera
"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 Pop Vocal Album
In the Lonely Hour – Sam Smith
Ghost Stories – Coldplay
Bangerz – Miley Cyrus
My Everything – Ariana Grande
Prism – Katy Perry
x – Ed Sheeran
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
Cheek to Cheek – Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga
Nostalgia – Annie Lennox
Night Songs – Barry Manilow
Sending You a Little Christmas – Johnny Mathis
Partners – 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
Best Dance/Electronic Album
Syro – Aphex Twin
while(1<2) – deadmau5
Nabuma Rubberband – Little Dragon
Do It Again – Röyksopp and Robyn
Damage Control – Mat Zo
Contemporary Instrumental
Best Contemporary Instrumental Album
Bass & Mandolin – Chris Thile and Edgar Meyer
Wild Heart – Mindi Abair
Slam Dunk – Gerald Albright
Nathan East – Nathan East
Jazz Funk Soul – Jeff Lorber, Chuck Loeb and Everette Harp
Rock
Best Rock Performance
"Lazaretto" – Jack White
"Gimme Something Good" – Ryan Adams
"Do I Wanna Know?" – Arctic Monkeys
"Blue Moon" – Beck
"Fever" – The Black Keys
Best Metal Performance
"The Last in Line" – Tenacious D
"Neon Knights" – Anthrax
"High Road" – Mastodon
"Heartbreaker" – Motörhead
"The Negative One" – Slipknot
Best Rock Song
"Ain't It Fun"
Hayley Williams and Taylor York, songwriters (Paramore)
"Blue Moon"
Beck Hansen, songwriter (Beck)
"Fever"
Dan Auerbach, Patrick Carney and Brian Burton, songwriters (The Black Keys)
"Gimme Something Good"
Ryan Adams, songwriter (Ryan Adams)
"Lazaretto"
Jack White, songwriter (Jack White)
Best Rock Album
Morning Phase – Beck
Ryan Adams – Ryan Adams
Turn Blue – The Black Keys
Hypnotic Eye – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Songs of Innocence – U2
Alternative
Best Alternative Music Album
St. Vincent – St. Vincent
This Is All Yours – alt-J
Reflektor – Arcade Fire
Melophobia – Cage the Elephant
Lazaretto – Jack White
R&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
Best Traditional R&B Performance
"Jesus Children" – Robert Glasper Experiment featuring Lalah Hathaway and Malcolm Jamal Warner
"As" – Marsha Ambrosius and Anthony Hamilton
"I.R.S" – Angie Fisher
"Nobody" – Kem
"Hold Up Wait a Minute (Woo Woo)" – Antonique Smith
Best R&B Song
"Drunk in Love"
Shawn Carter, Rasool Diaz, Noel Fisher, Jerome Harmon, Beyoncé Knowles, Timothy Mosely, Andre Eric Proctor and Brian Soko, songwriters (Beyoncé featuring Jay Z)
"Good Kisser"
Ronald "Flip" Colson, Warren "Oak" Felder, Usher Raymond IV, Jameel Roberts, Terry "Tru" Sneed and Andrew "Pop" Wansel, songwriters (Usher)
"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 (Chris Brown featuring Usher and Rick Ross)
Jhené Aiko Chilombo, Mac Robinson and Brian Warfield, songwriter (Jhené Aiko)
Best Urban Contemporary Album
G I R L – Pharrell Williams
Sail Out – Jhené Aiko
Beyoncé – Beyoncé
X – Chris Brown
Mali is... – Mali Music
Best R&B Album
Love, Marriage & Divorce – Toni Braxton and Babyface
Islander – Bernhoft
Lift Your Spirit – Aloe Blacc
Black Radio 2 – Robert Glasper Experiment
Give 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
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
"The Monster" – Eminem featuring Rihanna
"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
Best Rap Song
"i"
Kendrick Duckworth and Columbus Smith III, songwriters (Kendrick Lamar)
"Anaconda"
Ernest Clark, Jamal Jones, Onika Maraj, Marcos Palacios and Jonathan Solone-Myvett, songwriters (Nicki Minaj)
"Bound 2"
Mike Dean, Malik Jones, Che Pope, Elon Rutberg, Sakiya Sandifer, John Stephens, Kanye West, Charlie Wilson and Cydel Young, songwriters (Kanye West featuring Charlie Wilson)
"We Dem Boyz"
Noel Fisher and Cameron Thomaz, songwriters (Wiz Khalifa)
"0 to 100 / The Catch Up"
A. Feeney, Aubrey Graham, Anderson Hernandez, P. Jefferies, Matthew Samuels and Noah Shebib, songwriters (Drake)
Best Rap Album
The Marshall Mathers LP 2 – Eminem
The New Classic – Iggy Azalea
Because the Internet – Childish Gambino
Nobody's Smiling – Common
Oxymoron – ScHoolboy Q
Blacc Hollywood – Wiz Khalifa
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
Best Country Duo/Group Performance
"Gentle on My Mind" – The Band Perry
"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
Best Country Song
"I'm Not Gonna Miss You"
Glen Campbell and Julian Raymond, songwriters (Glen Campbell)
"American Kids"
Rodney Clawson, Luke Laird and Shane McAnally, songwriters (Kenny Chesney)
"Automatic"
Nicolle Galyon, Natalie Hemby and Miranda Lambert, songwriters (Miranda Lambert)
"Give Me Back My Hometown"
Eric Church and Luke Laird, songwriters (Eric Church)
"Meanwhile Back at Mama's"
Tom Douglas, Jaren Johnston and Jeffrey Steele, songwriters (Tim McGraw featuring Faith Hill)
Best Country Album
Platinum – Miranda Lambert
Riser – Dierks Bentley
The Outsiders – Eric Church
12 Stories – Brandy Clark
The Way I'm Livin' – Lee Ann Womack
New Age
Best New Age Album
Winds of Samsara – Ricky Kej and Wouter Kellerman
Bhakti – Paul Avgerinos
Ritual – Peter Kater and R. Carlos Nakai
Symphony Live in Istanbul – Kitaro
In Love and Longing – Silvia Nakkach and David Darling
Jazz
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 Vocal Album
Beautiful Life – Dianne Reeves
Map to the Treasure: Reimagining Laura Nyro – Billy Childs and various artists
I Wanna Be Evil – René Marie
Live in NYC – Gretchen Parlato
Paris Sessions – Tierney Sutton
Best Jazz Instrumental Album
Trilogy – Chick Corea Trio
Landmarks – Brian Blade and the Fellowship Band
Floating – Fred Hersch Trio
Enjoy The View – Bobby Hutcherson, David Sanborn, Joey DeFrancesco featuring Billy Hart
All Rise: A Joyful Elegy For Fats Waller – Jason Moran
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
Life in the Bubble – Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band
The L.A. Treasures Project – Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra
Quiet Pride: The Elizabeth Catlett Project – Rufus Reid
Live: I Hear the Sound – Archie Shepp Attica Blues Orchestra
OverTime: Music of Bob Brookmeyer – Vanguard Jazz Orchestra
Best Latin Jazz Album
The Offense of the Drum – Arturo O'Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra
The Latin Side of Joe Henderson – Conrad Herwig featuring Joe Lovano
The Pedrito Martinez Group – Pedrito Martinez Group
Second Half – Emilio Solla y la Inestable de Brooklyn
Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song
"Messengers" – Lecrae featuring For King & Country
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 Gospel Album
Help – Erica Campbell
Amazing (Live) – Ricky Dillard and New G
Withholding Nothing (Live) – William McDowell
Forever Yours – Smokie Norful
Vintage Worship – Anita Wilson
Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
Run Wild. Live Free. Love Strong. – For King & Country
If We're Honest – Francesca Battistelli
Hurricane – Natalie Grant
Welcome to the New – MercyMe
Royal Tailor – Royal Tailor
Best Roots Gospel Album
Shine for All the People – Mike Farris
Forever Changed – T. Graham Brown
Hymns – Gaither Vocal Band
A Cappella – The Martins
His Way of Loving Me – Tim Menzies
Latin
Best Latin Pop Album
Tangos – Rubén Blades
Elypse – Camila
Raíz – Lila Downs, Niña Pastori and Soledad
Loco de Amor – Juanes
Gracias Por Estar Aquí – Marco Antonio Solís
Best Latin Rock Urban or Alternative Album
Multi Viral – Calle 13
Behind The Machine (Detrás De La Máquina) – ChocQuibTown
Bailar En La Cueva – Jorge Drexler
Agua Maldita – Molotov
Vengo – Ana Tijoux
Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano)
Mano A Mano – Tangos A La Manera De Vicente Fernández – Vicente Fernández
Lastima Que Sean Ajenas – Pepe Aguilar
Voz Y Guitarra – Ixya Herrera
15 Aniversario – Mariachi Divas de Cindy Shea
Alegría Del Mariachi – Mariachi Los Arrieros Del Valle
Best Tropical Latin Album
Más + Corazón Profundo – Carlos Vives
50 Aniversario – El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico
First Class To Havana – Aymee Nuviola
Live – 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
Best American Roots Song
"A Feather's Not a Bird" – Rosanne Cash and John Leventhal, songwriters (Rosanne Cash)
"Just So Much" – Jesse Winchester, songwriter (Jesse Winchester)
"The New York Trains" – Woody Guthrie and Del McCoury, songwriters (Del McCoury Band)
"Pretty Little One" – Edie Brickell and Steve Martin, songwriters (Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers featuring Edie Brickell)
"Terms of My Surrender" – John Hiatt, songwriter (John Hiatt)
Best Americana Album
The River & the Thread – Rosanne Cash
Terms of My Surrender – John Hiatt
BluesAmericana – Keb' Mo'
A Dotted Line – Nickel Creek
Metamodern Sounds in Country Music – Sturgill Simpson
Best Bluegrass Album
The Earls of Leicester – The Earls of Leicester
Noam Pikelny Plays Kenny Baker Plays Bill Monroe – Noam Pikelny
Cold Spell – Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen
Into My Own – Bryan Sutton
Only Me – Rhonda Vincent
Best Blues Album
Step Back – Johnny Winter
Common Ground: Dave Alvin & Phil Alvin Play and Sing the Songs of Big Bill Broonzy – Dave Alvin and Phil Alvin
Promise of a Brand New Day – Ruthie Foster
Juke Joint Chapel – Charlie Musselwhite
Decisions – Bobby Rush with Blinddog Smokin'
Best Folk Album
Remedy – Old Crow Medicine Show
Three Bells – Mike Auldridge, Jerry Douglas, Rob Ickes
Follow the Music – Alice Gerrard
The Nocturne Diaries – Eliza Gilkyson
A Reasonable Amount of Trouble – Jesse Winchester
Best Regional Music Album
The Legacy – Jo-El Sonnier
Light the Stars – Bonsoir, Catin
Hanu 'A'ala – Kamaka Kukona
Love's Lies – Magnolia Sisters
Ceremony – Joe Tohonnie Jr.
Reggae
Best Reggae Album
Fly Rasta – Ziggy Marley
Back on the Controls – Lee "Scratch" Perry
Full Frequency – Sean Paul
Out of Many, One Music – Shaggy
Reggae Power – Sly and Robbie and Spicy Chocolate
Amid the Noise and the Haste – SOJA
World Music
Best World Music Album
Eve – Angélique Kidjo
Toumani & Sidiki – Toumani Diabaté and Sidiki Diabaté
Our World in Song – Wu Man, Luis Conte and Daniel Ho
Magic – Sérgio Mendes
Traces of You – Anoushka Shankar
Children's
Best Children's Album
I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up For Education And Changed The World (Malala Yousafzai) – Neela Vaswani
Appetite For Construction – The Pop Ups
Just Say Hi! – Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could
The Perfect Quirk – Secret Agent 23 Skidoo
Through The Woods – The Okee Dokee Brothers
Spoken Word
Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books and Story Telling)
Diary of a Mad Diva – Joan Rivers
Actors Anonymous – James Franco
A Call to Action – Jimmy Carter
Carsick: John Waters Hitchhikes Across America – John Waters
A Fighting Chance – Elizabeth Warren
We Will Survive: True Stories of Encouragement, Inspiration, and the Power of Song – Gloria Gaynor
Comedy
Best Comedy Album
Mandatory Fun – "Weird Al" Yankovic
Obsessed – Jim Gaffigan
Oh My God – Louis C.K.
Tragedy Plus Comedy Equals Time – Patton Oswalt
We Are Miracles – Sarah Silverman
Musical Show
Best Musical Theater Album
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical – Jessie Mueller, principal soloist; Jason Howland, Steve Sidwell and Billy Jay Stein, producers (Carole King, composer and lyricist) (original Broadway cast)
Aladdin – James Monroe Iglehart, Adam Jacobs and Courtney Reed, principal soloists; Frank Filipetti, Michael Kosarin, Alan Menken and Chris Montan, producers (Alan Menken, composer; Howard Ashman, Chad Beguelin and Tim Rice, lyricists) (original Broadway cast)
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 (original Broadway cast)
Hedwig and the Angry Inch – Lena Hall and Neil Patrick Harris, principal soloists; Justin Craig, Tim O'Heir and Stephen Trask, producers (Stephen Trask, composer and lyricist) (original Broadway cast)
West Side Story – Cheyenne Jackson and Alexandra Silber, principal soloists; Jack Vad, producer (Leonard Bernstein, composer; Stephen Sondheim, lyricist) (Cheyenne Jackson and Alexandra Silber with the San Francisco Symphony)
Music for Visual Media
Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media
Frozen – various artists
American Hustle – various artists
Get on Up: The James Brown Story – James Brown
Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix Vol. 1 – various artists
The Wolf of Wall Street – various artists
Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media
The Grand Budapest Hotel: Original Soundtrack – Alexandre Desplat, composer
Frozen – Christophe Beck, composer
Gone Girl: Soundtrack from the Motion Picture – Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, composers
Gravity: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack – Steven Price, composer
Saving Mr. Banks – Thomas Newman, composer
Best Song Written for Visual Media
"Let It Go" (from Frozen) – Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, songwriters (Idina Menzel)
"Everything Is Awesome" (from The Lego Movie) – Joshua Bartholomew, Lisa Harriton, Shawn Patterson, Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone, songwriters (Tegan and Sara featuring the Lonely Island)
"I See Fire" (from The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug) – Ed Sheeran, songwriter (Ed Sheeran)
"I'm Not Gonna Miss You" (from Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me) – Glen Campbell and Julian Raymond, songwriters (Glen Campbell)
"The Moon Song" (from Her) – Spike Jonze and Karen O, songwriters (Scarlett Johansson and Joaquin Phoenix)
Composing/Arranging
Best Instrumental Composition
"The Book Thief"
John Williams, composer (John Williams)
"Last Train To Sanity"
Stanley Clarke, composer (The Stanley Clarke Band)
"Life in the Bubble"
Gordon Goodwin, composer (Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band)
"Recognition"
Rufus Reid, composer (Rufus Reid)
"Tarnation"
Edgar Meyer and Chris Thile, composers (Chris Thile and Edgar Meyer)
Best Arrangement, Instrumental or a Cappella
"Daft Punk"
Ben Bram, Mitch Grassi, Scott Hoying, Avi Kaplan, Kirstie Maldonado and Kevin Olusola, arrangers (Pentatonix)
"Beautiful Dreamer"
Pete McGuinness, arranger (The Pete McGuinness Jazz Orchestra)
"Get Smart"
Gordon Goodwin, arranger (Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band)
"Guantanamera"
Alfredo Rodríguez, arranger (Alfredo Rodríguez)
"Moon River"
Chris Walden, arranger (Amy Dickson)
Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)
"New York Tendaberry"
Billy Childs, arranger (Billy Childs Featuring Renée Fleming and Yo-Yo Ma)
"All My Tomorrows"
Jeremy Fox, arranger (Jeremy Fox Featuring Kate McGarry)
"Goodnight America"
Vince Mendoza, arranger (Mary Chapin Carpenter)
"Party Rockers"
Gordon Goodwin, arranger (Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band)
"What Are You Doing The Rest of Your Life?"
Pete McGuinness, arranger (The Pete McGuinness Jazz Orchestra)
Crafts
Best Recording Package
Lightning Bolt
Jeff Ament, Don Pendleton, Joe Spix and Jerome Turner, art directors (Pearl Jam)
Formosa Medicine Show
David Chen and Andrew Wong, art directors (The Muddy Basin Ramblers)
Indie Cindy
Vaughan Oliver, art director (Pixies)
LP1
FKA Twigs and Phil Lee, art directors (FKA twigs)
Whispers
Sarah Larnach, art director (Passenger)
Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package
The Rise and Fall of Paramount Records, Volume One (1917–27)
Susan Archie, Dean Blackwood and Jack White, art directors (various artists)
Cities of Darkscorch
Leland Meiners and Ken Shipley, art directors (various artists)
A Letter Home (vinyl box set)
Gary Burden and Jenice Heo, art directors (Neil Young)
Sparks (deluxe album box set)
Andy Carne, art director (Imogen Heap)
Spring 1990 (The Other One)
Jessica Dessner, Lisa Glines, Doran Tyson and Steve Vance, art directors (Grateful Dead)
Best Album Notes
Offering: Live At Temple University
Ashley Kahn, album notes writer (John Coltrane)
Happy: The 1920 Rainbo Orchestra Sides
David Sager, album notes writer (Isham Jones Rainbo Orchestra)
I'm Just Like You: Sly's Stone Flower 1969–70
Alec Palao, album notes writer (Various Artists)
The Other Side Of Bakersfield: 1950s & 60s Boppers and Rockers from 'Nashville West
Scott B. Bomar, album notes writer (Various Artists)
Purple Snow: Forecasting The Minneapolis Sound
Jon Kirby, album notes writer (Various Artists)
The Rise & Fall Of Paramount Records, Volume One (1917–27)
Scott Blackwood, album notes writer (Various Artists)
Best Historical Album
The Garden Spot Programs, 1950
Colin Escott and Cheryl Pawelski, compilation producers; Michael Graves, mastering engineer (Hank Williams)
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 (Various Artists)
Happy: The 1920 Rainbo Orchestra Sides
Meagan Hennessey and Richard Martin, compilation producers; Richard Martin, mastering engineer (Isham Jones Rainbo Orchestra)
Longing for the Past: The 78 RPM Era In Southeast Asia
Steven Lance Ledbetter and David Murray, compilation producers; Michael Graves, mastering engineer (Various Artists)
There's A Dream I've Been Saving: Lee Hazlewood Industries 1966 – 1971 (Deluxe Edition)
Hunter Lea, Patrick McCarthy and Matt Sullivan, compilation producers; John Baldwin, mastering engineer (Various Artists)
Production
Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical
Morning 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 (Beck)
Bass & Mandolin
Richard King and Dave Sinko, engineers; Robert C. Ludwig, mastering engineer (Chris Thile and Edgar Meyer)
Bluesamericana
Ross Hogarth and Casey Wasner, engineers; Richard Dodd, mastering engineer (Keb' Mo')
The Way I'm Livin
Chuck Ainlay, engineer; Gavin Lurssen, mastering engineer (Lee Ann Womack)
What's Left Is Forever
Tchad Blake, Oyvind Jakobsen, Jo Ranheim, Itai Shapiro and David Way, engineers; Bernie Grundman, mastering engineer (Thomas Dybdahl)
Producer of the Year, Non-Classical
Max Martin
"Bang Bang" (Jessie J, Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj)
"Break Free" (Ariana Grande Featuring Zedd)
"Dark Horse" (Katy Perry Featuring Juicy J)
"Problem" (Ariana Grande Featuring Iggy Azalea)
"Shake It Off" (Taylor Swift)
"Unconditionally" (Katy Perry)
Paul Epworth
"Pendulum" (FKA Twigs)
"Queenie Eye" (Paul McCartney)
"Road" (Paul McCartney)
"Save Us" (Paul McCartney)
John Hill
"All You Never Say" (Birdy)
"Burning Gold" (Christina Perri)
"Can't Remember to Forget You" (Shakira Featuring Rihanna)
"Goldmine" (Kimbra)
"Guts Over Fear" (Eminem Featuring Sia)
Strange Desire (Bleachers)
Voices (Phantogram)
"Water Fountain" (Tune-Yards)
Jay Joyce
About Last Night (Sleeper Agent)
It Goes Like This (Thomas Rhett)
Melophobia (Cage the Elephant)
Montibello Memories (Matrimony)
Mountains of Sorrow, Rivers of Song (Amos Lee)
The Outsiders (Eric Church)
Greg Kurstin
"Beating Heart" (Ellie Goulding)
"Chandelier" (Sia)
"Double Rainbow" (Katy Perry)
"Gunshot" (Lykke Li)
"Money Power Glory" (Lana Del Rey)
1000 Forms of Fear (Sia)
Sheezus (Lily Allen)
Wrapped in Red (Kelly Clarkson)
Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical
"All of Me" (Tiësto's Birthday Treatment Remix)
Tijs Michiel Verwest, remixer (John Legend)
"Falling Out" (Ming Remix)
MING, remixer (Crossfingers Featuring Danny Losito)
Robert Spano, conductor (Atlanta Symphony Orchestra)
Best Opera Recording
Charpentier: La descente d'Orphée aux enfers
Paul O'Dette and Stephen Stubbs, conductors; Aaron Sheehan; Renate Wolter-Seevers, producer (Boston Early Music Festival Chamber Ensemble; Boston Early Music Festival Vocal Ensemble)
Milhaud: L'Orestie D'Eschyle
Kenneth Kiesler, conductor; Dan Kempson, Jennifer Lane, Tamara Mumford and Brenda Rae; Tim Handley, producer (University of Michigan Percussion Ensemble and University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra; University of Michigan Chamber Choir, University of Michigan Orpheus Singers, University of Michigan University Choir and UMS Choral Union)
Rameau: Hippolyte et Aricie
William Christie, conductor; Sarah Connolly, Stéphane Degout, Christiane Karg, Ed Lyon and Katherine Watson; Sébastien Chonion, producer (Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment; The Glyndebourne Chorus)
Schönberg: Moses und Aron
Sylvain Cambreling, conductor; Andreas Conrad and Franz Grundheber; Reinhard Oechsler, producer (SWR Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden und Freiburg; EuropaChorAkademie)
Strauss: Elektra
Christian Thielemann, conductor; Evelyn Herlitzius, Waltraud Meier, René Pape and Anne Schwanewilms; Magdalena Herbst, producer (Staatskapelle Dresden; Sächsischer Staatsopernchor Dresden)
Best Choral Performance
Performers who are not eligible for an award (such as orchestras, soloists or choirs) are mentioned in parentheses
The Sacred Spirit of Russia
Craig Hella Johnson, conductor (Conspirare)
Bach: Matthäus-Passion
René Jacobs, conductor (Werner Güra and Johannes Weisser; Akademie Für Alte Musik Berlin; Rias Kammerchor and Staats-Und Domchor Berlin)
Dyrud: Out of Darkness
Vivianne Sydnes, conductor (Erlend Aagaard Nilsen and Geir Morten Øien; Sarah Head and Lars Sitter; Nidaros Cathedral Choir)
Holst: First Choral Symphony; The Mystic Trumpeter
Andrew Davis; Stephen Jackson, chorus master (Susan Gritton; BBC Symphony Orchestra; BBC Symphony Chorus)
Mozart: Requiem Mass in D minor
John Butt, conductor (Matthew Brook, Rowan Hellier, Thomas Hobbs and Joanne Lunn; Dunedin Consort)
Anne Sofie Von Otter; Bengt Forsberg, accompanist (Carl Bagge, Margareta Bengston, Mats Bergström, Per Ekdahl, Bengan Janson, Olle Linder and Antoine Tamestit)
Porpora: Arias
Philippe Jaroussky; Andrea Marcon, conductor (Cecilia Bartoli; Venice Baroque Orchestra)
Schubert: Die Schöne Müllerin
Florian Boesch; Malcolm Martineau, accompanist
Stella Di Napoli
Joyce DiDonato; Riccardo Minasi, conductor (Chœur De L'Opéra National De Lyon; Orchestre De L'Opéra National De Lyon)
Virtuoso Rossini Arias
Lawrence Brownlee; Constantine Orbelian, conductor (Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra)
Best Classical Compendium
Partch: Plectra and Percussion Dances
Partch; John Schneider, producer
Britten To America
Jeffrey Skidmore, conductor; Colin Matthews, producer
Mike Marshall (musician) and Turtle Island Quartet; Mike Marshall, producer
The Solent – Fifty Years of Music By Ralph Vaughan Williams
Paul Daniel, conductor; Andrew Walton, producer
Best Contemporary Classical Composition
Adams, John Luther: Become Ocean
John Luther Adams, composer (Ludovic Morlot and Seattle Symphony)
Clyne, Anna: Prince of Clouds
Anna Clyne, composer (Jaime Laredo, Jennifer Koh, Vinay Parameswaran and Curtis 20/21 Ensemble)
Crumb, George: Voices From The Heartland
George Crumb, composer (Ann Crumb, Patrick Mason, James Freeman and Orchestra 2001)
Paulus, Stephen: Concerto for Two Trumpets and Band
Stephen Paulus, composer (Eric Berlin, Richard Kelley, James Patrick Miller and UMASS Wind Ensemble)
Sierra, Roberto: Sinfonía No. 4
Roberto Sierra, composer (Giancarlo Guerrero and Nashville Symphony)
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, Candance 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
Best Music Film
20 Feet from Stardom – Darlene Love, Merry Clayton, Lisa Fischer and Judith Hill
Morgan Neville, video director; Gil Friesen and Caitrin Rogers, video producers
Beyoncé and Jay Z: On the Run Tour – Beyoncé and Jay Z
Jonas Åkerlund, video director; Ed Burke, Svana Gisla and Dan Parise, video producers
Ghost 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 producers
The Truth About Love Tour: Live from Melbourne – Pink
Larn Poland, video director; Roger Davies, video producer
Multiple nominations and awards
The following received multiple nominations:
Three:
Two:
The following received multiple awards:
Changes
As usual, had a number of small changes in the voting and awarding process:
New categories
The Best American Roots Performance is a new category in the American Roots genre field. It was presented to the creators of the best performance in this genre field, which includes traditional Northern American (or regional roots) musical styles such as cajun, zydeco, polka and others. 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
The Gospel genre field was redefined to make a clearer distinction between the traditional gospel music and the style known as Contemporary Christian Music (CCM). As mentioned above, the Best Roots Gospel Album category is new. The categories in the Gospel field will now be known as Best Gospel Performance/Song, Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song, Best Gospel Album, Best Contemporary Christian Music Album and Best Roots Gospel Album.
Samples allowed
For the first time, the use of samples and/or interpolations of other works in a new track was permitted in the various songwriters categories. Until now, samples were only allowed in the Best Rap Song category, but these are now also eligible in the Song of the Year, Best Rock Song, Best R&B Song, Best Country Song, Best Gospel Performance/Song, Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song, Best American Roots Song and Best Song Written For Visual Media categories.
A few minor name changes.
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 and Maya Angelou.
