Grammys: Fun facts about the awards that recognise achievements in the music industry

The Grammy Awards are among the most prestigious honours in the global music industry, celebrating artistic and technical excellence across genres. While many people know about the red carpet and big winners, the Grammys also have a fascinating behind the scenes history filled with unusual rules, records, and milestones. Here are six lesser known facts that might surprise you. (wikimedia commons)

The Grammys were Named after a Gramophone: The award’s name comes from the gramophone, an early sound recording and playback device. The trophy itself is shaped like a golden gramophone, chosen to honour the origins of recorded music technology rather than any specific artist or genre. (wikimedia commons)

The First Grammy Ceremony was Held in Two Cities: The very first Grammy Awards in 1959 were presented simultaneously in Los Angeles and New York City. Smaller ceremonies took place instead of one large televised event, and television broadcasting of the Grammys came later. (unsplash)

Not All Grammys are Broadcasted: Only a small portion of Grammy categories are shown during the main TV broadcast. The majority of awards, often over 70 categories are presented earlier in a separate Premiere Ceremony attended by industry professionals and nominees. (wikimedia commons)

There are Separate Grammys for Technical Achievement: Beyond performance awards, the Recording Academy also gives Technical Grammy Awards and Lifetime Achievement Awards. These honour inventors, engineers, producers, and contributors who have shaped music technology and recording quality. (wikimedia commons)

The Number of Categories Changes Often: Grammy categories are not fixed — they are regularly added, merged, or removed to reflect changes in the music industry. Over the decades, categories have been restructured multiple times, including major overhauls to genre groupings.

You Don't Have to be Famous to Submit for a Grammy: Artists don’t need to be signed to a major label to be considered. Independent musicians can submit their work through the Recording Academy’s entry process, and many nominees over the years have come from non mainstream or indie backgrounds. (wikimedia commons)