Grammy Award for Best Music Film
{{short description|Award for concert/performance films or music documentaries}}
{{Distinguish|Grammy Award for Best Music Video}}
{{Infobox award
| name = Grammy Award for Best Music Film
| awarded_for = Quality long form music videos
| image =
| imagesize = 100px
| alt = A gold gramophone trophy with a plaque set on a table
| caption = Gilded gramophone trophy presented to Grammy Award winners
| presenter = National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
| country = United States
| year = 1984
| holder = American Symphony (2025)
| website = [http://www.grammy.com/ grammy.com]
}}
The Grammy Award for Best Music Film is an annual accolade for performers, directors, and producers of quality videos or musical programs. It is presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony established in 1958 when it was called the Gramophone Awards.{{cite news|url=http://theenvelope.latimes.com/awards/grammys/env-grammy_awards_info,0,5279018.htmlstory?track=center|title=Grammy Awards at a Glance|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=May 13, 2011|archive-date=July 13, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713191651/http://theenvelope.latimes.com/factsheets/env-grammy_awards_info,0,5838827.htmlstory|url-status=live}}
Criteria
Honors in several categories are presented at the ceremony annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to "honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry, without regard to album sales or chart position".{{cite web|url=http://www.grammy.com/recording_academy/ |title=Overview |access-date=May 14, 2011 |publisher=National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091027163924/http://www.grammy.com/recording_academy/ |archive-date=October 27, 2009 }} In order to qualify for this category, concert/performance films or music documentaries must be released theatrically or for sale to the public for the first time or first appearing on television or online during the current eligibility year. Dramatic feature films and biopics are not eligible.{{Cite web |url=https://www.grammy.org/awards-process-updates |title=Grammy.com |access-date=2015-12-08 |archive-date=2017-07-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170703200557/https://www.grammy.org/awards-process-updates |url-status=dead }}
Prior to 2024, films were only considered eligible for this category if they featured a minimum of 51% performance-based material. As of the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, this requirement has been removed entirely.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/2024-grammy-awards-changes-harvey-mason-jr/|title=Here Are the 10 Biggest Changes to the Grammy Awards Process for 2024|magazine=Billboard|author=Paul Grein|date=June 16, 2023|access-date=June 16, 2023|archive-date=June 16, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616170326/https://www.billboard.com/lists/2024-grammy-awards-changes-harvey-mason-jr/|url-status=live}}
Background
The category was preceded by the Grammy Award for Video of the Year, which was presented in 1982 and 1983, awarding long form videos (or video albums as they were known back then) in the budding music video market. Along with the similar honor Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video, this award was first presented in 1984. From 1984 to 1985, the accolade was known as Best Video Album, but in 1986, it was renamed to Best Music Video, Long Form. From 1998 to 2012, it was named Best Long Form Music Video,{{cite web |url= https://www.grammy.com/grammys/awards/55th-annual-grammy-awards |title= 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards (2012) |access-date= January 11, 2018 |publisher= National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences |archive-date= March 3, 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190303135523/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/awards/55th-annual-grammy-awards |url-status= live }}{{cite web |url= https://www.grammy.com/grammys/awards/56th-annual-grammy-awards |title= 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards (2013) |access-date= January 11, 2018 |publisher= National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences |archive-date= March 21, 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190321012128/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/awards/56th-annual-grammy-awards |url-status= live }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.grammy.org/recording-academy/press-release/the-recording-academy-elects-new-national-officers-and-approves |title=Press release, 4 June 2013 |access-date=4 June 2013 |archive-date=12 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130612070324/http://www.grammy.org/recording-academy/press-release/the-recording-academy-elects-new-national-officers-and-approves |url-status=live }} before changing to Best Music Film since 2013.
In 1988 and 1989, the award criteria were changed and the video accolades were presented under the categories Best Concept Music Video and Best Performance Music Video. The awards were returned to the original format in 1990. Except in 1988 and 1989, the Grammy Award for Best Long Form Music Video recipients included the artists, directors, and producers associated with the winning videos. The Best Music Film category is one of two categories in the Best Music Video/Film Field. The other one is Best Music Video, which recognizes stand-alone videos of one song or performance. In 2024, the Field was abolished and both categories were moved to a Children's, Comedy, Audio Book Narration & Storytelling, Visual Media & Music Video/Film Field.
Multiple wins and nominations
Singers Madonna and Sting hold the record for the most wins as a performer in this category, with two each, while there have been three films about the Beatles among the winners. However, in two instances, the Beatles were not recognized as individual winners. To date, three directors won the award twice: David Mallet, Jonas Akerlund and Bob Smeaton. Beyoncé holds the record for the most nominations with five. The British pop rock group Eurythmics and Coldplay hold the record for the most nominations as a performer without a win, with three each. Although Beyoncé also held four losing nominations, she won with her fourth nomination with Homecoming in 2020.
Recipients
In 1984 and 1985, only the artists were presented with an award. In 1986 the award went to the artist(s) and the video director(s). From 1987 onwards, the award has been presented to the artist(s), video director(s) and video producer(s). (Nominations from 1984 to 1986 listed performing artists only).
File:Duran Duran.jpg group Duran Duran, among recipients of the 1984 accolade for Duran Duran, performing in 2005.]]
File:Michael Jackson 1984.jpg winner for Making Michael Jackson's Thriller, Michael Jackson]]
File:Sting 2009 portrait.jpg has earned two accolades from this category for Bring On the Night and Ten Summoner's Tales.]]
File:Janet Jackson.jpg won the award in 1990 for Rhythm Nation 1814.]]
File:MC Hammer (cropped).jpg recipient rapper MC Hammer won for Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em]]
File:Madonna at the premiere of I Am Because We Are.jpg. She won in 1992 for Madonna: Live! – Blond Ambition World Tour 90 and again in 2008 for The Confessions Tour: Live from London.]]
File:Annie Lennox SING campaign, Vienna 2010 b.jpg.]]
File:Alanis Morissette at Espacio Movistar 3.jpg won the award in 1998 for Alanis Morissette: Jagged Little Pill, Live]]
File:MelBrooksApr10.jpg won the award for Recording The Producers: A Musical Romp with Mel Brooks.]]
File:Bad-don-letts-2-np.jpg received the award for the documentary Westway to the World about the band The Clash.]]
File:Martin Scorsese by David Shankbone.jpg award winner for directing the documentary No Direction Home, Martin Scorsese]]
File:Bruce Springteen Front (cropped).jpg won the accolade in 2007 for Wings for Wheels: The Making of Born to Run]]
File:Peter Bogdanovich.jpg, Peter Bogdanovich earned the Grammy Award for Best Long Form Music Video for directing Runnin' Down a Dream]]
File:The Doors in Copenhagen 1968.jpg award winners included director Tom DiCillo for When You're Strange: A Film About The Doors.]]
File:James Moll MovieGuide Awards 3.jpg won Foo Fighters's Back and Forth.]]
File:Amy Winehouse f4962007 crop.jpg was the subject of 2016 winner Amy that depicted her life and death. The award went to the director Asif Kapadia who also won an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature for the same film as well.]]
File:Ron Howard Cannes 2018.jpg won for the documentary The Beatles: Eight Days a Week.]]
File:Rashida Jones 2017 (cropped).jpg won the award as co-director of Quincy, a film about her father, Quincy Jones.]]
File:Beyoncé - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium - 1st June 2023 (6 of 118) (52945304172) (high cropped).jpg hold the record for the most nominations as of 2022 with five. She won the award in 2020 for directing and performing on Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé.]]
class="wikitable"
! width="5%" | Year{{ref|1|[I]}} ! width="20%" | Work(s) ! width="20%" | Performing artist(s) ! width="20%" | Director(s) and Producer(s){{ref|2|[II]}} ! width="40%" | Nominees ! width="1%" | Ref. |
scope="row"|1984
| {{sort|Duran Duran|Duran Duran}} | {{sortname|Duran|Duran}} | {{n/a}} | {{smalldiv|
| align="center"|{{cite web|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZBEhAAAAIBAJ&pg=2286,2445615&dq|title=Complete List of the Nominees for 26th Annual Grammy Music Awards|date=January 9, 1984|access-date=May 14, 2011|work=Schenectady Gazette|location=Schenectady, New York|archive-date=April 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427092313/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZBEhAAAAIBAJ&pg=2286,2445615&dq|url-status=live}} |
---|
scope="row"|1985
| {{sort|Making Michael Jackson's Thriller|Making Michael Jackson's Thriller}} | {{sortname|Michael|Jackson}} | {{n/a}} | {{smalldiv|
| align="center"|{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7CQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT151|title=27th Annual Grammy Awards Final Nominations|date=January 26, 1985|page=78|volume=97|number=4|access-date=May 13, 2011|magazine=Billboard|archive-date=November 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231119160723/https://books.google.com/books?id=7CQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT151#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}} |
scope="row"|1986
| {{sort|Huey Lewis & The News: The Heart of Rock 'n Roll|Huey Lewis & The News: The Heart of Rock 'n Roll}} |
| {{smalldiv|
|
scope="row"|1987
| {{sort|Bring On the Night|Bring On the Night}} | Sting |
| {{smalldiv|
|
scope="row"|1988
| {{n/a}}{{ref|3|[III]}} | {{n/a}} | {{n/a}} | {{n/a}} | align="center"|{{cite web|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wEMaAAAAIBAJ&pg=4752,831175&dq|title=List of Grammy Award winners|date=March 3, 1988|access-date=May 13, 2011|work=Times-News|archive-date=April 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427092319/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wEMaAAAAIBAJ&pg=4752,831175&dq|url-status=live}} Note: This source verifies the existence of the categories Best Concept Music Video and Best Performance Music Video in 1988. |
scope="row"|1989
| {{n/a}}{{ref|3|[III]}} | {{n/a}} | {{n/a}} | {{n/a}} | align="center"|{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/1989/02/24/arts/mcferrin-and-chapman-top-grammys.html?pagewanted=2&src=pm|page=2|title=McFerrin and Chapman Top Grammys|date=February 24, 1989|access-date=May 13, 2011|work=The New York Times|archive-date=October 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231011033137/https://www.nytimes.com/1989/02/24/arts/mcferrin-and-chapman-top-grammys.html?pagewanted=2&src=pm|url-status=live}} Note: This source verifies the existence of the categories Best Concept Music Video and Best Performance Music Video in 1989. |
scope="row"|1990
| {{sort|Rhythm Nation 1814|Rhythm Nation 1814}} | {{sortname|Janet|Jackson}} |
| {{smalldiv|
| align="center"|{{cite news |title=Here's a list of Grammy nominees |date=January 13, 1990|work=St. Petersburg Times }} |
scope="row"|1991
| {{sort|Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em|Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em: The Movie}} | {{sortname|MC|Hammer}} |
| {{smalldiv|
| align="center"|{{cite news|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19910111/1260054/symphony-nominated-for-4-grammys|title=Symphony Nominated For 4 Grammys|date=January 11, 1991|access-date=May 14, 2011|work=The Seattle Times|first=Melinda|last=Bargreen|archive-date=October 28, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111028054202/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19910111&slug=1260054|url-status=live}} |
scope="row"|1992
| {{sort|Madonna: Live! – Blond Ambition World Tour 90|Madonna: Live! – Blond Ambition World Tour 90}} | Madonna |
| {{smalldiv|
|
scope="row"|1993
| {{sort|Diva|Diva}} | {{sortname|Annie|Lennox}} |
| {{smalldiv|
|
scope="row"|1994
| {{sort|Ten Summoner's Tales|Ten Summoner's Tales}} | Sting |
| {{smalldiv|
|
scope="row"|1995
| {{sort|Zoo TV: Live from Sydney|Zoo TV: Live from Sydney}} | U2 |
| {{smalldiv|
|
scope="row"|1996
| {{sort|Secret World Live|Secret World Live}} | {{sortname|Peter|Gabriel}} |
| {{smalldiv|
| align="center"|{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/Music/9601/grammy_noms/grammy_list.html|title=List of Grammy nominees|date=January 4, 1996|access-date=May 14, 2011|work=Time Warner Inc|publisher=CNN|archive-date=December 7, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121207073959/http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/Music/9601/grammy_noms/grammy_list.html|url-status=live}} |
scope="row"|1997
| {{sort|The Beatles Anthology|The Beatles Anthology}} | {{sortname|The|Beatles}} |
| {{smalldiv|
| align="center"|{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1997/01/08/pumpkins-a-smash-with-7-grammy-nominations/ |title=Pumpkins A Smash With 7 Grammy Nominations |date=January 8, 1997 |first=Greg |last=Kot |access-date=May 14, 2011 |work=Chicago Tribune |page=12 |author-link=Greg Kot |archive-date=July 7, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707040956/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1997-01-08/news/9701080229_1_grammy-nominations-grammy-award-nominations-alternative-music-performance/12 |url-status=live }} |
scope="row"|1998
| {{sort|Jagged Little Pill, Live|Jagged Little Pill, Live}} | {{sortname|Alanis|Morissette}} |
| {{smalldiv|
|
scope="row"|1999
| {{sort|American Masters: Lou Reed: Rock & Roll Heart|American Masters: Lou Reed: Rock & Roll Heart}} | {{sortname|Lou|Reed}} |
| {{smalldiv|
|
scope="row"|2000
| {{sort|Band of Gypsys: Live at Fillmore East|Band of Gypsys: Live at Fillmore East}} | {{sortname|Jimi|Hendrix}}{{ref|4|IV}} |
| {{smalldiv|
|
scope="row"|2001
| {{sort|Gimme Some Truth: The Making of John Lennon's Imagine Album|Gimme Some Truth: The Making of John Lennon's Imagine Album}} | {{sortname|John|Lennon}}{{ref|4|IV}} |
| {{smalldiv|
|
scope="row"|2002
| {{sort|Recording The Producers: A Musical Romp With Mel Brooks|Recording The Producers: A Musical Romp with Mel Brooks}} | {{sortname|Mel|Brooks}} |
| {{smalldiv|
| align="center"|{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/complete-list-of-grammy-nominees/|title=Complete List Of Grammy Nominees|date=January 4, 2002|access-date=May 14, 2011|work=CBS News|archive-date=October 10, 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031010122104/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/01/04/entertainment/main323197.shtml|url-status=live}} |
scope="row"|2003
| {{sort|Westway to the World|Westway to the World}} | {{sortname|The|Clash}} |
| {{smalldiv|
| align="center"|{{cite news|url=https://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/2003-01-08/entertainment/17470880_1_vanessa-carlton-norah-jones-steve-mcqueen-sheryl-crow/7|page=7|title=Complete list of Grammy nominees; ceremony set for Feb. 23|date=January 8, 2003|access-date=May 14, 2011|work=San Francisco Chronicle|archive-date=March 22, 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120322181921/http://articles.sfgate.com/2003-01-08/entertainment/17470880_1_vanessa-carlton-norah-jones-steve-mcqueen-sheryl-crow/7|url-status=live}} |
scope="row"|2004
| {{sort|Legend|Legend}} | {{sortname|Sam|Cooke}}{{ref|4|IV}} |
| {{smalldiv|
| align="center"|{{cite web |url=http://www.livedaily.com/news/5838.html |title=Nominee list for the 46th Annual Grammy Awards |date=December 4, 2003 |access-date=May 13, 2011 |publisher=LiveDaily |archive-date=January 2, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102194430/http://www.livedaily.com/news/5838.html |url-status=dead }} |
scope="row"|2005
| {{sort|Concert for George|Concert for George}} | Various artists{{ref|4|IV}} |
| {{smalldiv|
|
scope="row"|2006
| {{sort|No Direction Home|No Direction Home}} | {{sortname|Bob|Dylan}}{{ref|4|IV}} |
| {{smalldiv|
|
scope="row"|2007
| {{sort|Wings for Wheels: The Making of Born to Run|Wings for Wheels: The Making of Born to Run}} | {{sortname|Bruce|Springsteen}} |
| {{smalldiv|
|
scope="row"|2008
| {{sort|The Confessions Tour|The Confessions Tour}} | Madonna |
| {{smalldiv|
|
scope="row"|2009
| {{sort|Runnin' Down a Dream|Runnin' Down a Dream}} | {{sortname|Tom Petty and|the Heartbreakers}} |
| {{smalldiv|
|
scope="row"|2010
| {{sort|Beatles Love – All Together Now|The Beatles Love – All Together Now}} | The Beatles and Cirque du Soleil{{ref|4|IV}} |
| {{smalldiv|
|
scope="row"|2011
| {{sort|When You're Strange|When You're Strange: A Film About The Doors}} | {{sortname|The|Doors}}{{ref|4|IV}} |
| {{smalldiv|
|
scope="row"|2012
|
| {{smalldiv|
| align="center"| |
scope="row"|2013
| Mumford & Sons, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, and Old Crow Medicine Show |
| {{smalldiv|
| align="center"| |
scope="row"|2014
|
| {{smalldiv|
| align="center"| |
scope="row"|2015
| Darlene Love, Merry Clayton, Lisa Fischer & Judith Hill |
| {{smalldiv|
| align="center"| |
scope="row"|2016
| Amy ≈ | Amy Winehouse{{ref|4|IV}} |
| {{smalldiv|
| align="center"| |
scope="row"| 2017
| The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years | The Beatles{{ref|4|IV}} |
|{{smalldiv|
| align="center"| |
scope="row" |2018
| Various artists{{ref|4|IV}} |
| {{smalldiv|
|
scope="row" |2019
| Quincy |
| {{smalldiv|
|
scope="row" |2020
| Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé | Beyoncé |
| {{smalldiv|
|
scope="row" |2021
|
| {{smalldiv|
|
2022
|Various Artists{{ref|4|IV}} |
|{{smalldiv|
}} |
2023
|Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story |Various Artists{{ref|4|IV}} |
|{{smalldiv|
}} |
2024
|David Bowie{{ref|4|IV}} |Brett Morgen, video director and video producer |{{smalldiv|
}} |
2025
|Matthew Heineman, video director; Matthew Heineman, Lauren Domino & Jordan Okun, video producers |{{smalldiv|
}} |
{{note|1|[I]}} Each year is linked to the article about the Grammy Awards held that year.
{{note|2|[II]}} Director(s) are only indicated if they were presented a Grammy Award.
{{note|3|[III]}} Award was not presented. Music video categories presented that year included Best Concept Music Video and Best Performance Music Video.
{{note|4|[IV]}} Award not presented to the performing artist (only to video director(s) and video producer(s))
{{note|5|[V]}}Director unknown; award presented to video producers only
Notes
- ≈ indicates an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature winner
- ± indicates an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature nominee
See also
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
- {{cite web |url=http://www.grammy.com/nominees/search?artist=&title=&year=All&genre=18 |title=Past Winners Search |publisher=National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences |access-date=May 14, 2011 |archive-date=July 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728121953/http://www.grammy.com/nominees/search?artist= |url-status=live }}
External links
- [http://www.grammy.com/ Official site of the Grammy Awards] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140507010400/http://www.grammy.com/ |date=2014-05-07 }}
{{Grammy Award for Best Music Film}}
{{Grammy Award categories}}
{{featured list}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Grammy Award For Best Long Form Music Video}}