9 Things You Didn’t Know About the GRAMMY Awards

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Grammy Fun facts

The glitz. The glamour. The golden gramophone trophies.

Every year, the GRAMMY Awards capture the world’s attention as music’s biggest night. But behind the star-studded performances and emotional acceptance speeches, there are some fascinating facts about the GRAMMYs that even die-hard fans might not know.

Let’s dive into the stories, traditions and surprises that make the GRAMMYs so iconic—and shine a spotlight on how The Los Angeles Film School is part of the action.

1. How the GRAMMY Got its Name

It didn’t always have such a catchy name for its awards.

When the ceremony debuted in 1959, it was called the Gramophone Awards—a nod to the phonograph’s impact on recorded music.

Today, the name “GRAMMY” rolls off the tongue… but it almost didn’t happen. Originally, there was talk of naming the award “Eddie” in honor of Thomas Edison. Thankfully, a mail-in contest settled the matter, and “GRAMMY” was born.

2. Our Alumni are Making GRAMMY History

Did you know that L.A. Film School alumni have worked on projects nominated for the GRAMMYs’ BIG THREE categories—Record, Song, and Album of the Year?

This year alone, nine alumni contributed to nine different projects that received a whopping 26 nominations! Among these talented graduates:

  • Jaycen Joshua (Recording Arts, 2003) – Mixing Engineer
  • Brandon Harding (Recording Arts, 2013) – Recording Engineer
  • Henrique Andrade (Recording Arts, 2011) – Recording Engineer
  • Jacob Richards (Recording Arts, 2017) – Assistant Engineer

From the mixing board to the recording studio, our alumni are shaping the soundtracks of history. Learn more about our programs.

3. The “King of Pop” Still Reigns Supreme

Michael Jackson’s 1984 GRAMMY triumph remains unmatched.

With a record-breaking eight wins in one night, he also delivered the highest-rated GRAMMY telecast in history. What a Thriller.

Relive the moment on the GRAMMY YouTube Channel.

4. GRAMMY Double Takes

Winning “Record of the Year” is rare enough, but a select few artists have done it an impressive two times in a row:

  • Billie Eilish: 2020 (Everything I Wanted) and 2021 (Bad Guy)
  • U2: 2001 (Beautiful Day) and 2002 (Walk On)
  • Roberta Flack: 1973 (The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face) and 1974 (Killing Me Softly With His Song)

And speaking of Roberta Flack, her soulful anthem inspired The Fugees’ GRAMMY-winning cover decades later. A talent that is as timeless as it is inspiring. 

5. GRAMMYs are literally made of GRAMMIUM

What’s in a GRAMMY? No, really.

The iconic trophy is crafted from a secret zinc alloy known as “GRAMMIUM” and plated with 24-karat gold. A fitting material for music royalty.

Take a closer look at how the GRAMMYs are made.

6. GRAMMY winners go beyond music awards

Not all GRAMMY winners are musicians.

Steve Martin has five for comedy and bluegrass. Bill Clinton and Barack Obama earned theirs for audiobooks and Carrie Fisher won a posthumous spoken-word GRAMMY.

Even Martin Luther King Jr. is a GRAMMY recipient, proving the awards’ reach extends far beyond the stage. Learn about other surprising winners here.

7. Beyonce’s Record-breaking Reign

Beyoncé has established herself as one of the most celebrated artists in Grammy history. She is the most Grammy-nominated artist with 99 nominations since 2000 and the most decorated Grammy winner with 32 awards. Her remarkable journey began with Destiny’s Child, earning her first nominations for hits like ‘Bills, Bills, Bills. In 2025, Beyoncé received 11 nominations for her album Cowboy Carter, including album of the year, record of the year, and song of the year. Cowboy Carter tied Michael Jackson’s Thriller for the most nominated release.

Jay-Z, the Brooklyn-born rapper, entrepreneur and music mogul has racked up an incredible 83 nominations since his first nod in 1998 for his third studio album Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life. His GRAMMY journey spans multiple decades, cementing his status as one of the most influential figures in music history.

Trailing just two nominations behind is none other than Sir Paul McCartney, a music icon since the early days of The Beatles in 1963.

With 81 nominations under his belt, McCartney’s contributions to rock, pop and even classical music have kept him at the forefront of the industry for over half a century.

8. More than a night of awards

The Recording Academy is more than the GRAMMYs. It supports the music industry year-round through initiatives like:

9. Historic Moments that Shaped the GRAMMYs

The GRAMMYs have marked pivotal moments in music history. From The Beatles’ British Invasion taking center stage in 1964 to hip-hop’s rise in the 1980s, the awards have spotlighted the evolution of music’s most influential genres.

The GRAMMY stage has also hosted unforgettable performances, like Whitney Houston’s rendition of I Will Always Love You and Beyoncé’s iconic Lemonade medley, each adding to the show’s legacy.

Moments like the 2018 white rose protest for #MeToo and Beyoncé and Megan Thee Stallion’s groundbreaking win for Savage in 2021 highlight the GRAMMYs as a platform for social change.

Safe to say, the GRAMMY stage is where legends are made and history is written.

The GRAMMYs and The L.A. Film School

As an institution at the heart of Hollywood, The L.A. Film School plays a key role in the entertainment industry.

Our alumni’s GRAMMY nominations and wins are a testament to the quality of education and hands-on experience we provide. Whether it’s producing award-winning tracks or working behind the scenes on iconic albums, our graduates are shaping the future of music. See how you can join the ranks of GRAMMY-recognized talent through our programs.

So, as you tune in to this year’s GRAMMYs, keep an eye out for the names behind the music. You might just see an L.A. Film School alum bringing their talent center stage.

The Names Behind the Music Could Be Yours

Every golden gramophone on that stage represents a team of people who shaped the sound: the mixing engineers, recording engineers, and producers who turn raw tracks into music history. This year alone, nine L.A. Film School alumni contributed to nine projects that earned 26 GRAMMY nominations, working everywhere from the mixing board to the recording studio.

That’s the kind of career our music programs are built to launch. At The L.A. Film School, our Audio Production and Music Production programs give you hands-on experience with industry-standard technology and the skills to craft award-worthy sound, right in the heart of Hollywood.

Request Info to explore our programs, or Apply Now and start working toward the night your name is behind the music.

FAQs: 9 Things You Didn’t Know About the GRAMMY Awards

1. How did the GRAMMY Awards get their name?

When the ceremony debuted in 1959, it was called the Gramophone Awards, honoring the phonograph’s impact on recorded music. The catchy “GRAMMY” nickname almost didn’t happen, though. There was early talk of naming the award “Eddie” after Thomas Edison, but a mail-in contest ultimately settled it, and “GRAMMY” won out.

2. What are the GRAMMYs’ “Big Three” categories?

The Big Three are Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Album of the Year, the night’s most coveted honors. L.A. Film School alumni have worked on projects nominated across all three, a strong signal of the level of work coming out of the school’s recording and engineering programs.

3. Who holds some of the biggest records in GRAMMY history?

A few standouts: Michael Jackson won a record-breaking eight awards in a single night in 1984, paired with the highest-rated GRAMMY telecast ever. Beyoncé is both the most-nominated artist (99 nominations) and most-decorated winner (32 awards) in GRAMMY history. Jay-Z (83 nominations) and Paul McCartney (81) round out some of the most-nominated figures.

4. What is a GRAMMY trophy actually made of?

The iconic trophy is crafted from a secret zinc alloy nicknamed “GRAMMIUM” and plated in 24-karat gold. It’s a fittingly one-of-a-kind material for an award considered music royalty.

5. Do you have to be a musician to win a GRAMMY?

Not at all. GRAMMYs have gone to comedians, authors, and public figures. Steve Martin has five for comedy and bluegrass, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama won for audiobooks, Carrie Fisher earned a posthumous spoken-word GRAMMY, and even Martin Luther King Jr. is a recipient, showing how far the awards reach beyond the stage.

6. Is the Recording Academy only about the awards show?

No. The Recording Academy supports the music industry year-round through initiatives like the GRAMMY Museum Foundation, which advocates for music education and preservation, and MusiCares, which provides emergency assistance and addiction recovery support for industry professionals.

7. How is The L.A. Film School connected to the GRAMMYs?

Through its alumni. Graduates of the school’s recording and engineering programs have contributed to GRAMMY-nominated and award-winning projects as mixing engineers, recording engineers, and assistant engineers, including Jaycen Joshua, Brandon Harding, Henrique Andrade, and Jacob Richards. Their success reflects the hands-on, industry-focused training the school provides.