At the heart of the Grammy Awards are the 13,000+ members of the Recording Academy who determine the winners each year. These voters are professionals actively working in the music industry, including musicians, producers, songwriters, and even those behind the scenes, like CD liner note writers.
To become a voting member, individuals must be currently involved in the music industry and pay an annual membership fee of $150 (£120). Former Grammy winners also retain the privilege to vote.
Members have the opportunity to vote in up to 10 categories, but they are encouraged to focus on genres where they have expertise. However, every member, no matter their background, has a say in the six major categories of the night: Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best New Artist, Songwriter of the Year, and Producer of the Year.
For the 2025 Grammys, which recognize music released between September 16, 2023, and August 30, 2024, the results of these votes will only be revealed during the ceremony itself.