No report deal, supervisor, or publicist?
No Gold or Platinum certification from the RIAA?
No music movies on YouTube with 1,000,000,000+ views?
You may nonetheless win a Grammy, the most prestigious award within the music business. Sure, you!
A powerful variety of unbiased musicians win Grammy awards yearly, and on this step-by-step information, I’ll present you the way to:
- Develop into a voting member of the Recording Academy
- Be eligible for a Grammy nomination
- Run a “For Your Consideration” marketing campaign
- Improve your probabilities of successful
However earlier than we discover the chronological steps it is best to take to win a Grammy, listed below are a couple of big-picture issues to remember.
Neglect the televised awards
It is advisable to have reasonable expectations.
The precise awards you in all probability consider everytime you hear “Grammys” — Greatest New Artist, Album of the 12 months, and many others. — yeah, these are possible NOT the awards you’ll be capable of win as an unbiased musician.
The Grammy Awards course of is a small business unto itself, with its personal customs and networks of affect. And to place it merely: If it’s an award they announce on TV, that statuette might be going dwelling with a serious label artist.
Nonetheless, there are many different awards which might be given out earlier within the night time earlier than the prime-time TV broadcast. Purpose for THOSE awards!
WHY attempt to win a Grammy?
There are a variety of causes you may want a Grammy, or perhaps a Grammy nomination.
Validation. Your mates, household, followers, and the broader business could take higher discover of your skills and achievements.
A celebration. Of your personal exhausting work, and the help your followers have shared with you.
A resumé-builder that opens new income alternatives, higher live shows, collaborations, or placements.
However be warned…
It nonetheless includes advertising and marketing
Everytime you need your music to realize recognition, it is advisable to get the eye of the fitting folks. That normally takes music advertising and marketing.
Within the case of the Grammys, you’re making an attempt to persuade a distinct type of individual to like your music. You’re not in search of followers within the conventional sense.
As an alternative, you need the eye of voting members of the Recording Academy — most of whom are fellow music-makers and business professionals.
That’s going to take work. Within the type of a “For Your Consideration” marketing campaign that I’ll define later on this article.
You MUST observe the principles
There are a variety of particulars, eligibility timelines, and deadlines. If you wish to win a Grammy, it’s a must to observe all the principles in the official rulebook.
One massive one: You CANNOT ask somebody to vote for you!
This course of isn’t for each artist
Provided that the Grammy course of includes advertising and marketing, networking, and attainable promoting or PR bills, it’s not for everybody. It could possibly take a variety of money and time.
It’s additionally possible not for artists who’re at the beginning of their careers. “Greatest New Artist,” after all, goes to a debut act. However if you’re aiming for a extra area of interest, genre-based award, you usually tend to win as an unbiased artist when you’ve got a resumé of success and a constructive popularity amongst your friends.
Lastly, you need to be making nice music. A mediocre album will not be going to garner the respect (and votes) of Grammy members. So ensure it’s a report you’re extraordinarily pleased with, with nice songs, preparations, performances, manufacturing, and mixing. Plus a terrific story. The story is commonly the way you’ll appeal to preliminary consideration for the music.
A fast overview of the Grammy course of
What most individuals know of the Grammys is what they see on TV every year. However there’s so much that occurs within the 12 months prior, constructing as much as the large night time.
The method begins lengthy earlier than the awards present when members of the Recording Academy, media corporations, and report labels submit entries — about 20,000 entries per 12 months — throughout the OEP (on-line entry course of).
What makes a track or album eligible for a Grammy?
Based on the Grammy’s web site:
- Recordings have to be launched throughout the eligibility 12 months. For instance, for the 2025 Grammys, recordings launched between September 16, 2023 and August 30, 2024 are eligible.
- Recordings have to be out there for buy or streaming, and meet the business commonplace of 16-bit, 44.1 kHz.
- Every track should have correct metadata, together with songwriters and producers, and an Worldwide Commonplace Recording Code (ISRC).
- Albums should have a complete taking part in time of quarter-hour with at the least 5 tracks, or half-hour with no minimal variety of tracks.
- For albums, greater than 75% of the recordings have to be new and never beforehand launched.
Every submission is then screened by The Recording Academy Awards Division to verify its eligibility.
After that, genre-based screening committees — comprised of 300+ specialists — overview submissions to position them within the acceptable class.
These teams do not make vital or merit-based judgements at this level; they’re merely guaranteeing the submissions are eligible and correctly categorized.
First-Spherical Voting for Grammys
Following that step, there’s the “First Spherical” poll. On this first spherical of voting, members of the Academy in good standing (which means they’ve paid their dues) undergo entries of their respective fields of experience, serving to to find out the 5 finalists in every class.
These voting members are, based on the Grammys:
Lively inventive professionals concerned within the recording course of, similar to performers, songwriters, producers, and engineers.
Every voting member can vote in as much as ten classes throughout three style fields, plus the six classes within the “Basic Subject,” together with:
- Report of the 12 months
- Album of the 12 months
- Tune of the 12 months
- Greatest New Artist
- Producer of the 12 months (Non-Classical)
- Songwriter of the 12 months (Non-Classical)
When you’d prefer to change into a voting member of the Recording Academy, go HERE.
Last-Spherical Voting for Grammys
After the First Spherical voting determines the 5 finalists in every class, there’s a last voting course of to determine who wins the Grammy.
Once more, members are directed to vote solely in classes the place they’re friends of the nominees and have related genre-expertise.
The voting is managed by a agency (Deloitte & Touche LLP) who retains the outcomes secret till the day of the Grammy Awards, when sealed envelopes are delivered with the names of the winners.
NOTE: Sure “Craft” classes that acknowledge a really specialised subject of experience have a barely totally different voting course of, so for all the main points, see the Grammy rulebook.
These envelopes deliver us to the ultimate step within the course of…
The Grammy Awards Present
The recording with essentially the most votes wins! Within the case of ties (fairly uncommon), the tied nominees are each thought of winners.
Nominees obtain a medallion and certificates. Winners are given the Grammy award statuette, so long as they comply with these phrases.
The subsequent present — the 67th Annual Grammy Awards — is occurring on February 2, 2025 on the Crypto.com Space in LA. It’ll additionally air stay on CBS.
Many of the awards are introduced BEFORE the televised portion, however you possibly can stay stream the entire thing on stay.grammy.com and YouTube.
Any recording that wins an award in 2025 could have entered the web submission course of the prior summer season (between July 17, 2024 – August 30, 2024), and could have had a launch date between September 16, 2023 and August 30, 2024.
Your step-by-step information to successful a Grammy
Okay, now that you just’re conversant in the method at a excessive degree, let’s offer you a chronological motion plan.
Stage 1: Develop into a voting member of the Recording Academy
(24 months earlier than Grammy submission, if attainable)
Not solely will this enable you to later submit your album for Grammy consideration, it’ll additionally offer you an insider’s take a look at all the course of.
As a voting member, you’ll higher perceive the timelines and necessities, and also you’ll have first-hand information of what will get the eye of voting members. This may empower you to run a simpler “For Your Consideration” marketing campaign a 12 months or two down the road.
- Community with current Grammy members. Attend Grammy meetups, each IRL and on-line. Get lively in your native music scene and ask round to see who may already be a member.
- Get two robust suggestions from voting members. You may’t simply “be a part of.” And you’ll’t submit your self. You have to be really helpful to the Recording Academy by musical friends (so long as you meet these necessities). In the event that they’re current members, that’s greatest — and so they can fill out a suggestion for HERE.
- As soon as the Academy has obtained the 2 nominations, you possibly can fill out an artist profile. It have to be accomplished by March 1st to be thought of for that 12 months’s class. You’ll get an e-mail notification when it’s time to fill out the profile. Simply ensure each individuals who really helpful you for membership use the identical e-mail tackle for you.
- A peer overview panel will then think about you for membership. You’ll be notified by July in case you are accepted, and also you’ll have till that 12 months’s voting interval to simply accept.
- If accepted, be lively in all nomination and voting processes, in addition to any networking alternatives.
- Maintain paying your dues! You need to stay in good standing when it’s time to submit your personal music for a Grammy.
Stage 2: Pre-Launch Preparation
1. Plan for a Grammy-worthy album
(12-24 months earlier than Grammy submission)
- Choose one of the best songs, gamers, engineer(s), and producer(s). Members of the Recording Academy are inspired to vote for music based mostly on excellence, not recognition. Guide your inventive group properly prematurely to make sure they’re out there.
- Collaborate with former Grammy-nominees and winners (if attainable); you could increase your music’s visibility and achieve perception concerning the Grammy nomination course of.
- Analysis the Grammy classes most carefully related together with your sound.
- Make clear your audience and style beforehand so your recording periods are centered in the fitting path.
2. Make the music
(6-18 months earlier than submission)
- Now it’s time to place your Grammy ambitions apart for a bit, and simply make nice music. Your pre-recording prep helped you create parameters for the challenge, however Grammy awards are finally given to artists who put the artwork first and made nice inventive decisions, not those who most carefully adhere to current stylistic conventions.
- Make certain your music is professionally combined and mastered.
- Create a visible id to your music, together with memorable album art work, press images, and extra.
- Shoot behind-the-scenes video of your recording course of, in addition to interviews concerning the which means of the songs, or the rest that can assist inform the story of the music.
3. Construct knowledgeable group
(6-12 months earlier than submission)
- Don’t spend your complete price range on the recording. Save a large quantity of your price range to rent any administration consultants, promoters, PR specialists, or advertising and marketing businesses that you just need to help your launch. In case your publicist has expertise working “For Your Consideration” campaigns on behalf of earlier Grammy-nominees, that’s an enormous profit right here.
- Work with these professionals to craft the story of your album. Whereas a few of your efforts will likely be centered on fan-facing promo, you’ll want to write a model of your story that can enchantment to voting members of the Recording Academy.
Stage 3: The music Launch Technique
(3-12 months earlier than Grammy submission)
1. Set a launch date inside the eligibility window
- That window has closed for the 2025 Grammy Awards, which suggests you’re now taking a look at 2026 or past.
- Plan your album or single launch early sufficient to permit ample time for promotion and engagement earlier than the following OEP (“on-line entry course of”).
2. Distribute your music
3. Construct buzz
- Whereas Grammy voting is predicated on high quality and never recognition, the extra public consideration your music receives, the extra possible voting members will likely be to know who you might be. The extra conscious they’re prematurely, the much less work you’ll should do in FYC introductions.
Stage 4: Submit your music for Grammy Consideration
(In the course of the subsequent OEP)
- Once more, pay shut consideration to all of the submission deadlines and eligibility standards. However as a member, you’ll in all probability be properly knowledgeable. Often, the primary spherical of submissions begins in late summer season and closes in early fall.
Stage 5: Launch the “For Your Consideration” Marketing campaign
(When you’ve submitted your music)
Time to make voting members conscious of your music, and that you just’d like them to pay attention and take it into consideration as they put together to forged their first-round ballots. To start:
1. Create a FYC touchdown web page in your artist web site.
It may be public (for comfort), however ought to NOT be accessible by way of the highest navigation bar. In different phrases, you need voting members to simply entry the web page, however it’s not meant for followers.
The web page ought to comprise:
- Grammy-related language similar to “GRAMMY®” or “GRAMMY Awards®” — so voting members know they’re in the fitting place
- Embedded behind-the-scenes video or promo reel
- A concise and fascinating story concerning the music
- Brief artist bio with profession highlights
- Hello-res art work and press images associated to the challenge
- Clear description of the music
- Listing of collaborators and credit
- Hyperlinks to your album on streaming and associated content material (not simply Spotify!)
- Contact data for media inquiries
The web page ought to NOT:
- Include any trash-talking about different nominees, artists, or albums
- Exaggerate any particulars concerning the challenge
- Use the Grammy brand
- Embody a private signature or a direct request to vote for the challenge
Learn that final one once more. You CANNOT ask voting members to vote for you. You may’t bribe them. No gifting. No vote-trading. You may solely ask them to CONSIDER your music.
And though this information offers fairly thorough instructions, it’s at all times advisable to learn the newest Grammy rulebook every year, as a result of there could also be different stipulations about whether or not or not you possibly can point out gross sales numbers or streaming metrics, and many others.
2. Get the FYC messaging on the market
(Beginning in October)
You need related voting members to see your launch. If in case you have an skilled publicist, they’ll be an enormous assist.
- Don’t spam or DM voting members. You may run e-mail and social campaigns aimed toward voting members, however it should embrace an opt-out (and observe all different Grammy guidelines).
- Leverage any business networks you’ve constructed up up to now — and remind them to hearken to your music, and please think about it for the primary spherical of voting.
- Attend Grammy occasions and mixers.
- Run focused PR and advert campaigns specializing in FYC messaging in Billboard, Selection, and different commerce publications. In reality, Billboard has an annual print version devoted to FYC campaigns.
- Digital and print advertisements ought to look clear, use art work that aligns with the FYC web page and album branding, have concise advert copy, spotlight why it deserves consideration inside the style, together with the music’s story or distinguished collaborators.
- Host your personal FYC occasion when you’ve got the cash. Once more, observe the Grammy guidelines as a result of you possibly can’t bribe, present, or commerce your approach into votes.
- Listing your music on the Recording Academy’s FYC web site for max visibility.
Then it’s time to observe voting, cross your fingers, and preserve getting the FYC phrase on the market!
Stage 6: Last Grammy Voting
(November – January)
You’ve been awaiting these nominations. Did you obtain one? If that’s the case, it’s not time to relaxation. It’s time to step on the gasoline to your last consciousness marketing campaign main as much as the awards present.
- Change your messaging. Your FYC language might want to shift from outreach and introductions to a last case to your music and story.
- However preserve a light-weight contact. Once more, no ASKING for votes. However now you can confidently place your self as a nominee within the last spherical of consideration. Nonetheless, you continue to need to ensure the message highlights the journey on the middle of your album, and the worth of your music, over any particular nomination, accolades, or metrics. Do not forget that voting members are largely artists themselves.
- Amplify your PR efforts by doing extra interviews, live performance dates, and many others.
Stage 7: Go to the present!
(February)
When you can attend the Grammys in individual, do it.
If not, there could also be Grammy-related occasions in your space.
However c’mon, in the event you’re nominated for a Grammy, get to that awards ceremony to symbolize your work and achievement!
Have a quick speech prepared in case you win. Don’t tempt the sound-person to begin taking part in music over your rambling remarks.
Stage 8: Afterwards
Whether or not you win or not, this second is value celebrating.
- Be ready for additional PR to speak concerning the expertise.
- Do an audit in your internet properties and press blurbs so as to add “Grammy-winning” or “Grammy-nominated” wherever it belongs!
- Don’t let your dues lapse. Maintain lively within the Recording Academy so you possibly can construct extra relationships, vote on subsequent 12 months’s nominations, and increase your personal probabilities of future recognition.
And that’s it!
This guidelines solely spans two full years. Simple. Haha.
Hopefully it’s been a superb overview of all the pieces it takes to qualify for a Grammy.
Cleary it is advisable to plan prematurely and be actively engaged within the Recording Academy.
So one of the best place to start your Grammy journey is on the Grammy web site itself.
