I don't know much since I'm not a voting member, but what I've been told is this:
Ensemble Novo is being considered in Latin jazz album category (that's the group I play with)
Also Engineering/album/ non classical
Church Is Where You Are (one of the tenor player in the group's tunes) in jazz composition
I'm up for solo jazz performance for Church Is Where You Are
So that's what I know! Apparently, the next round of voting is towards the end of the month. If anyone knows anything more of it, please help spread the word!
Hi Behn, I can explain how it works. First, CDs are submitted, resulting in an eligibility list. Members and record labels can enter any records, in whatever categories are appropriate. The record has to be released between Sept 30, 2012 and Oct 1, 2013 and available for purchase commercially, to be eligible. The entries are screened by committees from each area of music (jazz, classical, country, etc), to verify that the entries are in the correct categories (I believe that these days there are about 80-some Grammy categories - there are five categories in the jazz field, for instance: large ensemble, small ensemble, best improvised solo, jazz vocal and Latin jazz). The eligibility list, which includes probably 90% of all records released the previous year, is sent out to the approximately 12,000 voting members. Apparently, someone - label, group member, fan? - has entered your group's CD in the relevant categories. Submitting an entry for the eligibility list is not a round of voting. The first round of voting is taking place now, and voting members will select the top five in each category. Those will be the so-called nominees. The final round of voting takes place in December, when the winners will be chosen from the five nominees in each category and announced on January 26 at the Grammy telecast. So briefly stated: An entry list of pretty much all eligible recordings is created, the first round of voting determines the 5 nominees in each category, and the final round decides the winners.
Yes, good to clarify. I love it when artists say they are "Grammy nominated" just because they submitted a CD! But the process is arguably flawed. In the final voting round, members select certain categories to vote in, ostensibly where they have some knowledge. This helps save the jazz nominees, cause people who know nothing about them don't have to vote in that category. I also know of music publishers and others who basically let their secretaries and assistants fill out the ballots...
I think you could say "I'm up for a Grammy" and be more or less honest. At least if you are listed as eligible, your CD could be technically considered a potential winner. But, you can't say you've been nominated for a Grammy unless you are one of the top 5 candidates in a category. In answer to Steve's commentary, I think most people vote in the categories where they feel they have some knowledge of what is going on (there is a limit to how many categories you can vote in, though it is fairly generous). I personally only vote in the jazz categories because I don't know jack about the recent CDs in country, pop, rap, classical, etc. The thing is, though, few voters have actually heard all of the nominated records. In, say, the jazz area's five categories, that's a total of 25 nominated records up for consideration. I can only think of a small number of people who are likely to have heard all five records in any given category and can choose based on those recordings' specific attributes. What is more likely is that a voter might look at the five nominees in, say, small ensemble jazz, and realize they have heard at least some tracks from two of the nominated CDs, and they also recognize the well-known names of all the main band leaders. So there's a big tendency to vote for the players you like, rather than the specific work represented on these particular CDs. As a result, icons tend to keep winning much of the time, because people feel safe voting for them, and genuinely admire their work, even if they haven't heard this particular CD that is up for a vote. At least that's my guess for how it goes with quite a few voters. It's easier than ever now to check out tracks online, if you want to be an informed voter, but how many people have the time for that, I wonder? I only vote if I feel I have a pretty good handle on the nominated records. Of course I always vote for my own if they show up on the nominee list, but hey, wouldn't most everyone? I'm pretty sure my one vote has never put me over the top in the ballot counting. LOL
Haha, I know a lot of people that do that! I knew I didn't get a nomination since that hasn't been determined yet, though a lot of people have been coming up to me saying they saw my name on the ballot. Consideration and nomination are completely different!
I just figured there was some kind of screening or narrowing down process before nominations were announced, but from what Gary is saying, it sounds like almost any submission can be considered if it is categorized correctly.
I'm happy someone felt compelled to send it in, and I've had a few people send some emails telling me how excited they were to see it up for consideration, so that's cool. I'm not really expecting anything, though it would be neat if the group I play with got a nomination for something, I like the band!
Interesting, thanks for the clarification guys. The engineer at the studio I recorded the album at told me he was submitting some stuff, and I didn't think anything of it. I guess it must be in that "consideration" phase now, or whatever it's called! This is just the info I've been told, and the guys in my band are encouraging me to help get the word out.
I agree and think it's funny when people say they are a "considered nominee", because anyone can do that! It's like saying that I'm going to be a presidential candidate because I'm putting my name on the ballot, haha!
Comments
I don't know much since I'm
behng Wed, 10/23/2013 - 09:54
I don't know much since I'm not a voting member, but what I've been told is this:
Ensemble Novo is being considered in Latin jazz album category (that's the group I play with)
Also Engineering/album/ non classical
Church Is Where You Are (one of the tenor player in the group's tunes) in jazz composition
I'm up for solo jazz performance for Church Is Where You Are
So that's what I know! Apparently, the next round of voting is towards the end of the month. If anyone knows anything more of it, please help spread the word!
Behn
Grammy voting process
Gary Burton Thu, 10/24/2013 - 07:34
In reply to I don't know much since I'm by behng
Hi Behn, I can explain how it works. First, CDs are submitted, resulting in an eligibility list. Members and record labels can enter any records, in whatever categories are appropriate. The record has to be released between Sept 30, 2012 and Oct 1, 2013 and available for purchase commercially, to be eligible. The entries are screened by committees from each area of music (jazz, classical, country, etc), to verify that the entries are in the correct categories (I believe that these days there are about 80-some Grammy categories - there are five categories in the jazz field, for instance: large ensemble, small ensemble, best improvised solo, jazz vocal and Latin jazz). The eligibility list, which includes probably 90% of all records released the previous year, is sent out to the approximately 12,000 voting members. Apparently, someone - label, group member, fan? - has entered your group's CD in the relevant categories. Submitting an entry for the eligibility list is not a round of voting. The first round of voting is taking place now, and voting members will select the top five in each category. Those will be the so-called nominees. The final round of voting takes place in December, when the winners will be chosen from the five nominees in each category and announced on January 26 at the Grammy telecast. So briefly stated: An entry list of pretty much all eligible recordings is created, the first round of voting determines the 5 nominees in each category, and the final round decides the winners.
Grammy
Steve Shapiro Thu, 10/24/2013 - 11:31
In reply to Grammy voting process by Gary Burton
Yes, good to clarify. I love it when artists say they are "Grammy nominated" just because they submitted a CD! But the process is arguably flawed. In the final voting round, members select certain categories to vote in, ostensibly where they have some knowledge. This helps save the jazz nominees, cause people who know nothing about them don't have to vote in that category. I also know of music publishers and others who basically let their secretaries and assistants fill out the ballots...
ha ha, i knew a guy that
tonymiceli Thu, 10/24/2013 - 14:18
In reply to Grammy by Steve Shapiro
ha ha, i knew a guy that would announce every year that he's been nominated for a grammy. but i think it was this way!
i don't think behn's doing that, but i think we're all learning the process.
More Grammy
Gary Burton Thu, 10/24/2013 - 15:42
In reply to ha ha, i knew a guy that by tonymiceli
I think you could say "I'm up for a Grammy" and be more or less honest. At least if you are listed as eligible, your CD could be technically considered a potential winner. But, you can't say you've been nominated for a Grammy unless you are one of the top 5 candidates in a category. In answer to Steve's commentary, I think most people vote in the categories where they feel they have some knowledge of what is going on (there is a limit to how many categories you can vote in, though it is fairly generous). I personally only vote in the jazz categories because I don't know jack about the recent CDs in country, pop, rap, classical, etc. The thing is, though, few voters have actually heard all of the nominated records. In, say, the jazz area's five categories, that's a total of 25 nominated records up for consideration. I can only think of a small number of people who are likely to have heard all five records in any given category and can choose based on those recordings' specific attributes. What is more likely is that a voter might look at the five nominees in, say, small ensemble jazz, and realize they have heard at least some tracks from two of the nominated CDs, and they also recognize the well-known names of all the main band leaders. So there's a big tendency to vote for the players you like, rather than the specific work represented on these particular CDs. As a result, icons tend to keep winning much of the time, because people feel safe voting for them, and genuinely admire their work, even if they haven't heard this particular CD that is up for a vote. At least that's my guess for how it goes with quite a few voters. It's easier than ever now to check out tracks online, if you want to be an informed voter, but how many people have the time for that, I wonder? I only vote if I feel I have a pretty good handle on the nominated records. Of course I always vote for my own if they show up on the nominee list, but hey, wouldn't most everyone? I'm pretty sure my one vote has never put me over the top in the ballot counting. LOL
Haha, I know a lot of people
behng Thu, 10/24/2013 - 18:12
In reply to ha ha, i knew a guy that by tonymiceli
Haha, I know a lot of people that do that! I knew I didn't get a nomination since that hasn't been determined yet, though a lot of people have been coming up to me saying they saw my name on the ballot. Consideration and nomination are completely different!
I just figured there was some kind of screening or narrowing down process before nominations were announced, but from what Gary is saying, it sounds like almost any submission can be considered if it is categorized correctly.
I'm happy someone felt compelled to send it in, and I've had a few people send some emails telling me how excited they were to see it up for consideration, so that's cool. I'm not really expecting anything, though it would be neat if the group I play with got a nomination for something, I like the band!
Interesting, thanks for the
behng Thu, 10/24/2013 - 12:46
Interesting, thanks for the clarification guys. The engineer at the studio I recorded the album at told me he was submitting some stuff, and I didn't think anything of it. I guess it must be in that "consideration" phase now, or whatever it's called! This is just the info I've been told, and the guys in my band are encouraging me to help get the word out.
I agree and think it's funny when people say they are a "considered nominee", because anyone can do that! It's like saying that I'm going to be a presidential candidate because I'm putting my name on the ballot, haha!