Grammy Award

The Grammy Awards (originally called the Gramophone Awards) are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States for outstanding achievements in the record industry. The current President of the Academy is Neil Portnow. It is one of several major music awards shows held annually in the U.S.; among the others are the American Music Awards, and the Billboard Music Awards. However, the Grammys are considered the highest music honor, the U.S. record industry's equivalent to the Academy Awards (Oscars) for motion pictures. The award show is normally held in February. The 49th Grammy Awards ceremony took place on February 11, 2007 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. In 2008 the 50th Grammy Awards will take place on February 10 again at the Staples Center. Nominations were announced on December 6, 2007. The awards ceremony features performances by prominent artists, and some of the more prominent Grammy Awards are presented in a widely-viewed televised ceremony. Of the "big three" music awards shows, the Grammys are the highest rated.

As of 2006, the eligibility period for the Grammy Awards begins October 1. The Grammy Awards are currently broadcast on CBS. Prior to the first live Grammys telecast in 1971 on ABC (CBS bought the rights in 1973 after moving the ceremony to Nashville, Tennessee; the American Music Awards were created for ABC as a result), a series of taped annual specials in the 1960s called The Best on Record were broadcast on NBC.

The awards were held for several years at the Shrine Auditorium, known as the home of the Oscars and its famous red carpet, however due to the increase in categories and attendance it was moved to the Staples Center. Non presenting attendees and nominees must pay to attend the event; however, the fee is traditionally covered by the record label. A separate paid ticket is required to enter the official post party which is in addition to the ticket price. For 2007, tickets started at $750 for members, climbing to $2,500 per person. Anyone attending the official Grammy party pays $250; however attendees receive a gift bag with considerable "swag", which is, in industry parlance, free goods. This can include perfume, gift certificates, jewelry, CDs and more, usually in an event commemorative bag. For 2007 the official Grammy post party swag gift was a Tigi Fashionista Frenzy 5 piece hair care assortment in a custom case with a Grammy award seal.