56th Annual Grammy Awards


The 56th Annual Grammy Awards presentation was held on January 26, 2014, at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The show was broadcast on CBS at 8 p.m. ET/PT and was hosted for the third time by LL Cool J. The show was moved to January to avoid competing with the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, as was the case in 2010.
The eligibility period for the 56th Annual Grammy Awards was October 1, 2012, to September 30, 2013. The nominations were announced on December 6, 2013 during a live televised concert on CBS, The Grammy Nominations Concert Live – Countdown to Music's Biggest Night. Jay-Z received the most nominations with nine. Justin Timberlake, Kendrick Lamar, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis and Pharrell Williams each received seven nominations. Daft Punk and Pharrell Williams were nominated twice for both Album of the Year and Record of the Year. Sound engineer Bob Ludwig received the most nominations by a non-performing artist, with five.
Daft Punk won five awards, including Album of the Year for Random Access Memories and Record of the Year, with Pharrell Williams, for "Get Lucky", Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, and an additional win for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical completing a clean sweep for the project that night. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis won four trophies, including Best New Artist, and led an industry show of support for gay marriage with a performance of their song "Same Love" to accompany a mass wedding of gay and heterosexual couples, which was presided over by Queen Latifah. Lorde's "Royals" received awards for Best Pop Solo Performance and Song of the Year. Carole King was honored as MusiCares Person of the Year on January 24, two days prior to the awards ceremony.
On June 4, 2013, the Recording Academy approved a number of changes recommended by its Awards & Nominations Committee, including adding a new category for Best American Roots Song to the American Music field. This songwriters' award will encompass all the subgenres in this field such as Americana, bluegrass, blues, folk, and regional roots music. The Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance category was renamed Best Metal Performance and became a stand-alone category. Hard rock performances will now be screened in the Best Rock Performance category. The Music Video field will become the Best Music Video/Film field. Its two categories will be renamed: Best Short Form Music Video will now be known as Best Music Video and Best Long Form Music Video will change into Best Music Film. These changes bring the total number of categories at the 2014 Grammy Awards to 82, up from 81 at the 2013 Grammy Awards.

Presenters

Winners and nominees

The winners and nominees per category were:

General

;Record of the Year
;Album of the Year
;Song of the Year
;Best New Artist

Pop

;Best Pop Solo Performance
;Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
;Best Pop Instrumental Album
;Best Pop Vocal Album

Dance/Electronica

;Best Dance Recording
;Best Dance/Electronica Album

Traditional Pop

;Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

Rock

;Best Rock Performance
;Best Metal Performance
;Best Rock Song
;Best Rock Album

Alternative

;Best Alternative Music Album

R&B

;Best R&B Performance"Something" – Snarky Puppy & Lalah Hathaway
;Best Traditional R&B Performance"Please Come Home"– Gary Clark Jr.
;Best R&B Song"Pusher Love Girl"
;Best Urban Contemporary Album
;Best R&B Album

Rap

;Best Rap Performance"Thrift Shop" – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz
;Best Rap/Sung Collaboration"Holy Grail" – Jay-Z & Justin Timberlake
;Best Rap Song"Thrift Shop"
;Best Rap AlbumThe Heist – Macklemore & Ryan LewisNothing Was the Same – Drakegood kid, m.A.A.d city – Kendrick LamarMagna Carta... Holy Grail – Jay-ZYeezus – Kanye West

Country

;Best Country Solo Performance"Wagon Wheel" – Darius Rucker
;Best Country Duo/Group Performance"From This Valley" – The Civil Wars
;Best Country Song"Merry Go 'Round"
;Best Country Album

New Age

;Best New Age AlbumLove's River – Laura SullivanLux – Brian EnoIllumination – Peter KaterFinal Call – KitaroAwakening The Fire – R. Carlos Nakai & Will Clipman

Jazz

;Best Improvised Jazz Solo"Orbits" – Wayne Shorter, soloist
;Best Jazz Vocal AlbumLiquid Spirit – Gregory PorterThe World According to Andy Bey – Andy BeyAttachments – Lorraine FeatherWomanChild – Cécile McLorin SalvantAfter Blue – Tierney Sutton
;Best Jazz Instrumental AlbumMoney Jungle: Provocative in Blue – Terri Lyne CarringtonGuided Tour – The New Gary Burton QuartetLife Forum – Gerald ClaytonPushing the World Away – Kenny GarrettOut Here – Christian McBride Trio
;Best Large Jazz Ensemble AlbumNight in Calisia – Randy Brecker, Włodek Pawlik Trio & Kalisz PhilharmonicBrooklyn Babylon – Darcy James Argue's Secret SocietyWild Beauty – Brussels Jazz Orchestra featuring Joe LovanoMarch Sublime – Alan FerberIntrada – Dave Slonaker Big Band
;Best Latin Jazz AlbumSong for Maura – Paquito D'Rivera and Trio CorrenteLa Noche Más Larga – BuikaYo – Roberto FonsecaEgg_n – Omar SosaLatin Jazz-Jazz Latin – Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet

Gospel/Contemporary Christian

;Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance"Break Every Chain" – Tasha Cobbs
;Best Gospel Song"If He Did It Before... Same God"
;Best Contemporary Christian Music Song"Overcomer"
;Best Gospel AlbumGreater Than – Tye TribbettGrace – Tasha CobbsBest For Last: 20 Year Celebration Vol. 1 – Donald LawrenceBest Days Yet – Bishop Paul S. MortonGod Chaser – William Murphy
;Best Contemporary Christian Music AlbumOvercomer – MandisaWe Won't Be Shaken – Building 429All the People Said Amen – Matt MaherYour Grace Finds Me – Matt RedmanBurning Lights – Chris Tomlin

Latin

;Best Latin Pop AlbumVida – Draco RosaFaith, Hope y Amor – Frankie JViajero Frecuente – Ricardo MontanerSyntek – Aleks Syntek12 Historias – Tommy Torres
;Best Latin Rock Urban or Alternative AlbumTreinta Días – La Santa CeciliaEl Objeto Antes Llamado Disco – Café TacubaOjo Por Ojo – El TriChances – Illya Kuryaki and the ValderramasRepeat After Me – Los Amigos Invisibles
;Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano)A Mi Manera – Mariachi Divas de Cindy SheaEl Free – Banda Los RecoditosEn Peligro De Extinción – IntocableRomeo y Su Nieta – Paquita la del Barrio13 Celebrando El 13 – Joan Sebastian
;Best Tropical Latin AlbumPacific Mambo Orchestra – Pacific Mambo Orchestra3.0 – Marc AnthonyComo Te Voy A Olvidar – Los Angeles AzulesSergio George Presents Salsa Giants – Various ArtistsCorazón Profundo – Carlos Vives

Americana Music

;Best American Roots Song
;Best Americana Album
;Best Bluegrass Album
;Best Blues Album
;Best Folk Album
;Best Regional Roots Music Album

Reggae

;Best Reggae AlbumZiggy Marley In Concert – Ziggy MarleyReincarnated – Snoop LionOne Love, One Life – Beres HammondThe Messiah – SizzlaReggae Connection – Sly & Robbie and the Jam Masters

World Music

;Best World Music AlbumSavor Flamenco – Gipsy KingsLive: Singing for Peace Around the World – Ladysmith Black Mambazo No Place for My Dream – Femi KutiThe Living Room Sessions Part 2 – Ravi Shankar

Children's

;Best Children's AlbumThrow a Penny in the Wishing Well – Jennifer GasoiBlue Clouds – Elizabeth Mitchell & You Are My FlowerThe Mighty Sky – Beth Nielsen ChapmanRecess – Justin RobertsSinging Our Way Through: Songs for the World's Bravest Kids – Alastair Moock & Friends

Spoken Word

;Best Spoken Word Album America Again: Re-becoming The Greatness We Never Weren't – Stephen ColbertCarrie and Me – Carol BurnettLet's Explore Diabetes with Owls – David SedarisStill Foolin' 'Em – Billy CrystalThe Storm King – Pete Seeger

Comedy

;Best Comedy AlbumCalm Down Gurrl – Kathy GriffinI'm Here to Help – Craig FergusonA Little Unprofessional – Ron WhiteLive – Tig NotaroThat's What I'm Talkin' About – Bob Saget

Musical Show

;Best Musical Theater AlbumKinky Boots

Music for Visual Media

;Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media
;Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media
;Best Song Written for Visual Media"Skyfall"

Composing/Arranging

;Best Instrumental Composition
  • "Pensamientos For Solo Alto Saxophone And Chamber Orchestra"
  • *Clare Fischer, composer
  • " Away"
  • *Chuck Owen, composer
  • "California Pictures For String Quartet"
  • *Gordon Goodwin, composer
  • "Koko On The Boulevard"
  • *Scott Healy, composer
  • "String Quartet No. 1: Funky Diversion In Three Parts"
  • *Vince Mendoza, composer
;Best Instrumental Arrangement
  • "On Green Dolphin Street"
  • *Gordon Goodwin, arranger
  • "Invitation"
  • *Kim Richmond, arranger
  • "Side Hikes – A Ridge Away"
  • *Chuck Owen, arranger
  • "Skylark"
  • *Nan Schwartz, arranger
  • "Wild Beauty"
  • *Gil Goldstein, arranger
;Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)

Crafts

;Best Recording Package
;Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package
  • Wings Over America
  • *Simon Earith & James Musgrave, art directors
  • The Brussels Affair
  • *Charles Dooher & Scott Sandler, art directors
  • How Do You Do
  • *Mayer Hawthorne, art director
  • The Road To Red Rocks
  • *Ross Stirling, art director
  • The Smith Tapes
  • *Masaki Koike, art director
;Best Album NotesAfro Blue Impressions

Historical

;Best Historical AlbumCharlie Is My Darling – Ireland 1965
  • *Teri Landi, Andrew Loog Oldham & Steve Rosenthal, compilation producers; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer The Complete Sussex And Columbia Albums
  • * Leo Sacks, compilation producer; Joseph M. Palmaccio, Tom Ruff & Mark Wilder, mastering engineers Call It Art 1964–1965
  • * Joe Lizzi & Ben Young, compilation producers; Steve Fallone, Joe Lizzi & Ben Young, mastering engineers Pictures Of Sound: One Thousand Years Of Educed Audio: 980–1980
  • * Patrick Feaster & Steven Ledbetter, compilation producers; Michael Graves, mastering engineer Wagner: Der Ring Des Nibelungen
  • * Philip Siney, compilation producer; Ben Turner, mastering engineer

Production

;Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical
;Producer of the Year, Non-Classical
;Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical

Production, Surround Sound

;Best Surround Sound AlbumLive Kisses

Production, Classical

;Best Engineered Album, ClassicalWinter Morning Walks
  • * David Frost, Brian Losch & Tim Martyn, engineers; Tim Martyn, mastering engineer Hymn to the Virgin
  • * Morten Lindberg, engineer La Voie Triomphale
  • * Morten Lindberg, engineer Roomful of Teeth
  • * Mark Donahue & Jesse Lewis, engineers Vinci: Artaserse
  • * Hans-Martin Renz, Wolfgang Rixius & Ulrich Ruscher, engineers
;Producer of the Year, ClassicalDavid Frost
  • *Andres: Home Stretch
  • *Angel Heart, A Music Storybook
  • *Beethoven: Piano Sonatas, Vol. 2
  • *Ben-Haim: Chamber Works
  • *Celebrating The American Spirit
  • *Elgar: Enigma Variations; Vaughan Williams: The Wasps; Greensleeves
  • *Guilty Pleasures
  • *Verdi: Otello
  • *Winter Morning Walks
  • Manfred Eicher
  • *Beethoven: Diabelli-Variationen
  • *Canto Oscuro
  • *Pärt: Adam's Lament
  • *Tabakova: String Paths
  • Marina A. Ledin, Victor Ledin
  • *Bizet: Symphony In C; Jeux D'Enfants; Variations Chromatiques
  • *Traveling Sonata – European Music For Flute & Guitar
  • *Voyages
  • *Zia
  • James Mallinson
  • *Berlioz: Grande Messe Des Morts
  • *Bloch: Symphony In C-Sharp Minor & Poems Of The Sea
  • *Fauré: Requiem; Bach: Partita, Chorales & Ciaccona
  • *Nielsen: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 3
  • *Wagner: Das Rheingold
  • *Wagner: Die Walküre
  • *Weber: Der Freischütz
  • Jay David Saks
  • *Adams: Nixon in China
  • *Adès: The Tempest
  • *The Enchanted Island
  • *Handel: Rodelinda
  • *Live At Carnegie Hall
  • *Verdi: ''Rigoletto''

Classical

;Best Orchestral Performance

;Best Opera Recording
;Best Choral Performance
Performers who are not eligible for an award are mentioned in parentheses
;Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance
;Best Classical Instrumental Solo
;Best Classical Vocal Solo
;Best Classical Compendium
  • Hindemith: Violinkonzert; Symphonic; Konzertmusik
  • *Christoph Eschenbach
  • Holmboe: Concerto
  • *Dima Slobodeniouk, Preben Iwan
  • Tabakova: String Paths
  • *Maxim Rysanov, Manfred Eicher
;Best Classical Contemporary Composition

Music Video/Film

;Best Music Video
;Best Music Film

Special Merit Awards

[MusiCares Person of the Year]

Lifetime Achievement Award">Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award">Lifetime Achievement Award

Trustees Award">Grammy Trustees Award">Trustees Award

[Technical Grammy Award]

Music Educator Award

  • Kent Knappenberger

Grammy Hall of Fame inductions

TitleArtistRecord labelYear of releaseGenreFormat
After the Gold RushNeil Young and Crazy HorseReprise1970Folk RockAlbum
All Things Must PassGeorge HarrisonApple1970RockAlbum
The Chicago Transit AuthorityChicagoColumbia1969Progressive RockAlbum
Cosmo's FactoryCreedence Clearwater RevivalFantasy1970RockAlbum
Doc WatsonDoc WatsonVanguard1964FolkAlbum
"Fortunate Son"Creedence Clearwater RevivalFantasy1969RockSingle
"Georgia on My Mind"Hoagy Carmichael & his Orchestra Victor1930JazzSingle
"Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine"James BrownKing1970FunkSingle
"Honky Tonk Women"The Rolling StonesLondon1969Hard RockSingle
"Jolene"Dolly PartonRCA Nashville1973Country PopSingle
The Joshua TreeU2Island1987RockAlbum
KristoffersonKris KristoffersonMonument1970CountryAlbum
"Low Rider"WarUnited Artists1975FunkSingle
Mary PoppinsCast including Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, David Tomlinson, Karen Dotrice, Matthew Garber and othersWalt Disney1964SoundtrackAlbum
"Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen"Louis ArmstrongDecca1938Negro SpiritualSingle
"Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head"B. J. ThomasScepter1969Easy ListeningSingle
"Rapper's Delight"The Sugarhill GangSugar Hill1979Old-school hip hopSingle
Relaxin' with the Miles Davis QuintetMiles Davis & his QuintetPrestige1958JazzAlbum
"The Revolution Will Not Be Televised"Gil Scott-HeronFlying Dutchman1971FunkSingle
"Strange Things Happening Every Day"Sister Rosetta TharpeDecca1944Negro SpiritualSingle
"Sweet Home Chicago"Robert JohnsonVocalion1936BluesSingle
"3 O'Clock Blues"B.B. KingRPM1951R&BSingle
"Under the Boardwalk"The DriftersAtlantic1964PopSingle
"Walk This Way"Run-D.M.C. featuring AerosmithProfile1986Rap RockSingle
"(What a) Wonderful World"Sam CookeKeen1960R&BSingle
Woodstock: Music from the Original Soundtrack and MoreVarious Artists including John Sebastian, Joan Baez, and Crosby, Stills, Nash & YoungCotillion1970SoundtrackAlbum
"Yardbird Suite"Charlie Parker & his SeptetDial1946BebopSingle

In Memoriam

The following people appeared in the In Memoriam segment:

Artists with multiple wins and nominations

The following artists received multiple nominations:
The following artists received multiple awards:

Live-GIFs

The 56th Annual Grammy Awards were the first in the show's history to incorporate comprehensive Live-GIF integration through Tumblr. Creative agency Deckhouse Digital was hired to facilitate the integration, producing more than 50 animated GIFs during the live broadcast and publishing them to the official Grammy tumblr page in real time. The images contributed to the more than 5.1 million reblogs and likes that Grammy related posts received on the blogging site, and the record breaking 34 million combined social media interactions related to the live broadcast.