Grammy Award for Best Music Film
The Grammy Award for Best Music Film is an accolade presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally named the Gramophone Awards,[1] to performers, directors, and producers of quality videos or musical programs.
Grammy Award for Best Music Film | |
---|---|
Awarded for | Quality long form music videos |
Country | United States |
Presented by | National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences |
First awarded | 1984 |
Currently held by | Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story (2023) |
Website | grammy.com |
Criteria
Honors in several categories are presented at the ceremony annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to "honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry, without regard to album sales or chart position".[2] In order to qualify for this category, concert/performance films or music documentaries must be released theatrically or for sale to the public for the first time or first appearing on television or online during the current eligibility year. Dramatic feature films and biopics are not eligible.[3]
Prior to 2024, films were only considered eligible for this category if they featured a minimum of 51% performance-based material. As of the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, this requirement has been removed entirely.[4]
Background
The category was preceded by the Grammy Award for Video of the Year, which was presented in 1982 and 1983, awarding long form videos (or video albums as they were known back then) in the budding music video market. Along with the similar honor Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video, this award was first presented in 1984. From 1984 to 1985, the accolade was known as Best Video Album, but in 1986, it was renamed to Best Music Video, Long Form. From 1998 to 2012, it was named Best Long Form Music Video,[5][6][7] before changing to Best Music Film since 2013.
In 1988 and 1989, the award criteria were changed and the video accolades were presented under the categories Best Concept Music Video and Best Performance Music Video. The awards were returned to the original format in 1990. Except in 1988 and 1989, the Grammy Award for Best Long Form Music Video recipients included the artists, directors, and producers associated with the winning videos. The Best Music Film category is one of two categories in the Best Music Video/Film Field. The other one is Best Music Video, which recognizes stand-alone videos of one song or performance. In 2024, the Field was abolished and both categories were moved to a Children's, Comedy, Audio Book Narration & Storytelling, Visual Media & Music Video/Film Field.
Multiple wins and nominations
Singers Madonna and Sting hold the record for the most wins as a performer in this category, with two each, while there have been three films about The Beatles among the winners. However, in two instances, The Beatles were not recognized as individual winners. To date, three directors won the award twice: David Mallet, Jonas Akerlund and Bob Smeaton. Beyoncé holds the record for the most nominations with five. The British pop rock group Eurythmics and Coldplay hold the record for the most nominations as a performer without a win, with three each. Although Beyoncé also held four losing nominations, she won with her fourth nomination with Homecoming in 2020.
Recipients
In 1984 and 1985, only the artists were presented with an award. In 1986 the award went to the artist(s) and the video director(s). From 1987 onwards, the award has been presented to the artist(s), video director(s) and video producer(s). (Nominations list performing artists only).
Year[I] | Work(s) | Performing artist(s) | Director(s) and Producer(s)[II] | Nominees | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1984 | Duran Duran | Duran Duran | — | [8] | |
1985 | Making Michael Jackson's Thriller | Michael Jackson | — |
|
[9] |
1986 | Huey Lewis & The News: The Heart of Rock 'n Roll | Huey Lewis and the News |
|
|
[10] |
1987 | Bring On the Night | Sting |
|
|
[11] |
1988 | —[III] | — | — | — | [12] |
1989 | —[III] | — | — | — | [13] |
1990 | Rhythm Nation 1814 | Janet Jackson |
|
|
[14] |
1991 | Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em: The Movie | MC Hammer |
|
|
[15] |
1992 | Madonna: Live! – Blond Ambition World Tour 90 | Madonna |
|
|
[16] |
1993 | Diva | Annie Lennox |
|
|
[17] |
1994 | Ten Summoner's Tales | Sting |
|
|
[18] |
1995 | Zoo TV: Live from Sydney | U2 |
|
|
[18] |
1996 | Secret World Live | Peter Gabriel |
|
|
[19] |
1997 | The Beatles Anthology | The Beatles |
|
|
[20] |
1998 | Jagged Little Pill, Live | Alanis Morissette |
|
|
[21] |
1999 | American Masters: Lou Reed: Rock & Roll Heart | Lou Reed |
|
|
[22] |
2000 | Band of Gypsys: Live at Fillmore East | Jimi HendrixIV |
|
|
[23] |
2001 | Gimme Some Truth: The Making of John Lennon's Imagine Album | John LennonIV |
|
|
[24] |
2002 | Recording The Producers: A Musical Romp with Mel Brooks | Mel Brooks |
|
|
[25] |
2003 | Westway to the World | The Clash |
|
|
[26] |
2004 | Legend | Sam CookeIV |
|
|
[27] |
2005 | Concert for George | Various artistsIV |
|
|
[28] |
2006 | No Direction Home | Bob DylanIV |
|
|
[29] |
2007 | Wings for Wheels: The Making of Born to Run | Bruce Springsteen |
|
|
[18] |
2008 | The Confessions Tour | Madonna |
|
|
[18] |
2009 | Runnin' Down a Dream | Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers |
|
|
[18] |
2010 | The Beatles Love – All Together Now | The Beatles and Cirque du SoleilIV |
|
|
[18] |
2011 | When You're Strange: A Film About The Doors | The DoorsIV |
|
|
[30] |
2012 | Back and Forth | Foo Fighters |
|
|
|
2013 | Big Easy Express | Mumford & Sons, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, and Old Crow Medicine Show |
|
|
|
2014 | Live Kisses | Paul McCartney |
|
|
|
2015 | 20 Feet from Stardom≈ | Darlene Love, Merry Clayton, Lisa Fischer & Judith Hill |
|
|
|
2016 | Amy≈ | Amy WinehouseIV |
|
|
|
2017 | The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years | The BeatlesIV |
|
|
|
2018 | The Defiant Ones | Various artistsIV |
|
|
[31] |
2019 | Quincy | Quincy Jones |
|
|
[32] |
2020 | Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé | Beyoncé |
|
|
[33] |
2021 | The Sound of My Voice | Linda Ronstadt |
|
|
[34] |
2022 | Summer of Soul≈ | Various ArtistsIV |
|
|
[35] |
2023 | Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story | Various ArtistsIV |
|
|
[36] |
^[I] Each year is linked to the article about the Grammy Awards held that year.
^[II] Director(s) are only indicated if they were presented a Grammy Award.
^[III] Award was not presented. Music video categories presented that year included Best Concept Music Video and Best Performance Music Video.
^[IV] Award not presented to the performing artist (only to video director(s) and video producer(s))
^[V] Director unknown; award presented to video producers only
Notes
- ≈ indicates an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature winner
- ± indicates an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature nominee
References
- "Grammy Awards at a Glance". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 13, 2011.
- "Overview". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on October 27, 2009. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- Grammy.com
- Paul Grein (June 16, 2023). "Here Are the 10 Biggest Changes to the Grammy Awards Process for 2024". Billboard. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
- "55th Annual GRAMMY Awards (2012)". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
- "56th Annual GRAMMY Awards (2013)". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
- Press release, 4 June 2013
- "Complete List of the Nominees for 26th Annual Grammy Music Awards". Schenectady Gazette. Schenectady, New York. January 9, 1984. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- "27th Annual Grammy Awards Final Nominations". Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 4. January 26, 1985. p. 78. Retrieved May 13, 2011.
- Hunt, Dennis (January 10, 1986). "'We Are The World' Scores In Grammy Nominations". Los Angeles Times. p. 6. Retrieved May 13, 2011. Note: This source lists the directors associated with the nominated videos, but the "Nominees" column of the table contains the performing artists associated with the nominated videos.
- Hunt, Dennis (January 9, 1987). "Grammy Nominations: Highs And Lows". Los Angeles Times. p. 5. Retrieved May 13, 2011.
- "List of Grammy Award winners". Times-News. March 3, 1988. Retrieved May 13, 2011. Note: This source verifies the existence of the categories Best Concept Music Video and Best Performance Music Video in 1988.
- "McFerrin and Chapman Top Grammys". The New York Times. February 24, 1989. p. 2. Retrieved May 13, 2011. Note: This source verifies the existence of the categories Best Concept Music Video and Best Performance Music Video in 1989.
- "Here's a list of Grammy nominees". St. Petersburg Times. January 13, 1990.
- Bargreen, Melinda (January 11, 1991). "Symphony Nominated For 4 Grammys". The Seattle Times. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- "The Grammy Nominations". Los Angeles Times. January 9, 1992. p. 5. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- Macdonald, Patrick (January 8, 1993). "Grammys Show Influence Of Seattle Music". The Seattle Times. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- "Past Winners Search". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- "List of Grammy nominees". Time Warner Inc. CNN. January 4, 1996. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- Kot, Greg (January 8, 1997). "Pumpkins A Smash With 7 Grammy Nominations". Chicago Tribune. p. 12. Archived from the original on July 7, 2012. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- "Complete List of Academy Voter Picks". Los Angeles Times. January 8, 1998. p. 15. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- Kot, Greg (January 6, 1999). "10 Nominations Put Lauryn Hill Atop Grammy Heap". Chicago Tribune. p. 10. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- "Santana Tops List With 10 Grammy Nominations". The Seattle Times. January 5, 2000. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- "43rd Grammy Awards". CNN. February 21, 2001. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- "Complete List Of Grammy Nominees". CBS News. January 4, 2002. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- "Complete list of Grammy nominees; ceremony set for Feb. 23". San Francisco Chronicle. January 8, 2003. p. 7. Archived from the original on March 22, 2012. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- "Nominee list for the 46th Annual Grammy Awards". LiveDaily. December 4, 2003. Archived from the original on January 2, 2010. Retrieved May 13, 2011.
- "Nominee list for the 47th Annual Grammy Awards". LiveDaily. December 7, 2004. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- "The Complete List of Grammy Nominations". The New York Times. December 8, 2005. p. 8. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- "53rd Annual Grammy Awards nominees list". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 13, 2011.
- "Grammy.com, 28 November 2017". Archived from the original on 28 November 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
- "Grammy.com, 7 December 2018". Archived from the original on 7 December 2018. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
- 62nd Grammy Awards nominations list
- 2021 Nominations List
- "Grammy Nominations List 2022". Grammy.com. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
- "Air Date For 2023 GRAMMYs Announced: Taking Place On Feb. 5 In Los Angeles; GRAMMY Nominations To Be Announced Nov. 15, 2022". www.grammy.com. Retrieved 2022-11-15.
- "Past Winners Search". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Retrieved May 14, 2011.