Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album explained

Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album
Awarded For:	Quality vocal pop music albums
Presenter:	National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
Country:	United States
Year:	1968
Most Nominations:	Kelly Clarkson (6)
Holder:	Taylor Swift – Midnights (2024)
Website:	grammy.com

The Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album is an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards,^[1] to recording artists for quality vocal pop music albums. Awards in several categories are distributed 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."^[2]

The honor was first presented in 1968 at the 10th Grammy Awards as Best Contemporary Album to The Beatles for Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. The category was then discontinued until 1995 where it emerged with the new name Best Pop Album. In 2001, the category became known as Best Pop Vocal Album. According to the category description guide for the 52nd Grammy Awards, the award is presented to artists that perform "albums containing at least 51% playing time of newly recorded pop vocal tracks."^[3]

The award goes to the artist, producer and engineer/mixer, provided they worked on more than 50% of playing time on the album. A producer or engineer/mixer who worked on less than 50% of playing time, as well as the mastering engineer, do not win an award, but can apply for a Winners Certificate.^[4]

Adele, Kelly Clarkson and Taylor Swift are the only two-time winners of this award, and Clarkson was the first to win twice. Clarkson leads all performers with six nominations.

Recipients

Year	Winner(s)^[5]	Work	Nominees
1968			The Association – Insight Out Vikki Carr – It Must Be Him The 5th Dimension – Up, Up and Away Bobbie Gentry – Ode to Billie Joe	^[6]
1995			Ace of Base – The Sign José Carreras, Plácido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti with Zubin Mehta – The Three Tenors in Concert 1994 Lyle Lovett – I Love Everybody Seal – Seal	^[7]
1996			Mariah Carey – Daydream Eagles – Hell Freezes Over Annie Lennox – Medusa Madonna – Bedtime Stories	^[8]
1997			Toni Braxton – Secrets Tracy Chapman – New Beginning Shawn Colvin – A Few Small Repairs Sting – Mercury Falling	^[9]
1998			Paula Cole – This Fire Fleetwood Mac – The Dance Jamiroquai – Travelling Without Moving Sarah McLachlan – Surfacing	^[10]
1999	Madonna		Eric Clapton – Pilgrim Celine Dion – Let's Talk About Love Natalie Imbruglia – Left of the Middle Brian Setzer Orchestra – The Dirty Boogie	^[11]
2000	Sting		Backstreet Boys – Millennium Cher – Believe Ricky Martin – Ricky Martin Sarah McLachlan – Mirrorball	^[12]
2001	Steely Dan Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, producers; Phil Burnett, Roger Nichols, Dave Russell and Elliot Scheiner, engineers/mixers		Don Henley – Inside Job Madonna – Music NSYNC – No Strings Attached Britney Spears – Oops!... I Did It Again	^[13]
2002	Sade Sade Adu and Mike Pela, producers		Nelly Furtado – Whoa, Nelly! Janet Jackson – All for You Elton John – Songs from the West Coast NSYNC – Celebrity	^[14]
2003	Arif Mardin and Jay Newland, producers; S. Husky Höskulds and Jay Newland, engineers/mixers		Avril Lavigne – Let Go No Doubt – Rock Steady Pink – Missundaztood Britney Spears – Britney	^[15]
2004	Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams, producers; Serban Ghenea, engineer/mixer		Christina Aguilera – Stripped George Harrison – Brainwashed Annie Lennox – Bare Michael McDonald – Motown	^[16]
2005	and various artists John R. Burk, producer; Al Schmitt, engineer/mixer		Norah Jones – Feels like Home Sarah McLachlan – Afterglow Joss Stone – Mind Body & Soul Brian Wilson – Brian Wilson Presents Smile	^[17]
2006	Clive Davis, producer; Serban Ghenea, engineer/mixer		Fiona Apple – Extraordinary Machine Sheryl Crow – Wildflower Paul McCartney – Chaos and Creation in the Backyard Gwen Stefani – Love. Angel. Music. Baby.	^[18]
2007	Steve Jordan, producer; Michael H. Brauer, Joe Ferla and Chad Franscoviak, engineers/mixers		Christina Aguilera – Back to Basics James Blunt – Back to Bedlam Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint – The River in Reverse Justin Timberlake – FutureSex/LoveSounds	^[19]
2008	Mark Ronson, producer		Bon Jovi – Lost Highway Feist – The Reminder Maroon 5 – It Won't Be Soon Before Long Paul McCartney – Memory Almost Full	^[20]
2009	Duffy		Sheryl Crow – Detours Eagles – Long Road out of Eden Leona Lewis – Spirit James Taylor – Covers	^[21]
2010	Black Eyed Peas Dylan Dresdow and Padriac Kerin, engineers/mixers		Colbie Caillat – Breakthrough Kelly Clarkson – All I Ever Wanted The Fray – The Fray Pink – Funhouse	^[22]
2011	Lady Gaga Lady Gaga and RedOne, producers; Robert Orton, RedOne and Dave Russell, engineers/mixers		Justin Bieber – My World 2.0 Susan Boyle – I Dreamed a Dream John Mayer – Battle Studies Katy Perry – Teenage Dream	^[23]
2012	Adele	21	CeeLo Green – The Lady Killer Lady Gaga – Born This Way Bruno Mars – Doo-Wops & Hooligans Rihanna – Loud	^[24]
2013	Serban Ghenea and John Hanes, engineers/mixers	Stronger	Florence and the Machine – Ceremonials Fun – Some Nights Maroon 5 – Overexposed Pink – The Truth About Love	^[25]
2014	Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine and Bruno Mars, producers; Ari Levine and Manny Marroquin, engineers/mixers	Unorthodox Jukebox	Lana Del Rey – Paradise Lorde – Pure Heroine Robin Thicke – Blurred Lines Justin Timberlake – The 20/20 Experience – The Complete Experience
2015	Jimmy Napes, producer; Steve Fitzmaurice, engineer/mixer	In the Lonely Hour	Coldplay – Ghost Stories Miley Cyrus – Bangerz Ariana Grande – My Everything Katy Perry – Prism Ed Sheeran – x	^[26]
2016	Max Martin and Shellback, producers	1989	Kelly Clarkson – Piece by Piece Florence and the Machine – How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful Mark Ronson – Uptown Special James Taylor – Before This World	^[27]
2017	Adele Tom Elmhirst, engineer/mixer	25	Justin Bieber – Purpose Ariana Grande – Dangerous Woman Demi Lovato – Confident Sia – This Is Acting	^[28]
2018	Ed Sheeran, producer; Joe Rubel, Chris Sclafani and Mark "Spike" Stent, engineers/mixers	÷	Coldplay – Kaleidoscope EP Lana Del Rey – Lust for Life Imagine Dragons – Evolve Kesha – Rainbow Lady Gaga – Joanne	^[29]
2019	Pharrell Williams, producer; Mike Larson, engineer	Sweetener	Camila Cabello – Camila Kelly Clarkson – Meaning of Life Shawn Mendes – Shawn Mendes Pink – Beautiful Trauma Taylor Swift – Reputation	^[30]
2020	Finneas O'Connell, producer; Rob Kinelski and Finneas O'Connell, engineers/mixers	When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?	Beyoncé – Ariana Grande – Thank U, Next Ed Sheeran – No.6 Collaborations Project Taylor Swift – Lover	^[31]
2021		Future Nostalgia	Justin Bieber – Changes Lady Gaga – Chromatica Harry Styles – Fine Line Taylor Swift – Folklore	^[32]
2022	Olivia Rodrigo Dan Nigro, producer	Sour	Justin Bieber – Justice (Triple Chucks Deluxe) Doja Cat – Planet Her (Deluxe) Billie Eilish – Happier Than Ever Ariana Grande – Positions	^[33]
2023	Harry Styles	Harry's House	ABBA – Voyage Adele – 30 Coldplay – Music Of The Spheres Lizzo – Special	^[34]
2024	Taylor Swift	Midnights	Kelly Clarkson – Chemistry Miley Cyrus – Endless Summer Vacation Olivia Rodrigo – Guts Ed Sheeran – −	^[35]

Artists with multiple wins

2 wins

• Adele
  • Kelly Clarkson Taylor Swift

Artists with multiple nominations

6 nominations

• Kelly Clarkson

5 nominations

• Ariana Grande
• Justin Timberlake (including 2 with NSYNC)
• Taylor Swift

4 nominations

• Justin Bieber
• Lady Gaga
• Pink
• Ed Sheeran

3 nominations

• Adele
• Coldplay
• Don Henley (including 2 with Eagles)
• Madonna
• Paul McCartney (including 1 with The Beatles)
• Sarah McLachlan
• James Taylor

2 nominations

• Christina Aguilera
• Sheryl Crow
• Miley Cyrus
• Lana Del Rey
• Celine Dion
• Eagles
• Billie Eilish
• Florence and the Machine
• George Harrison (including 1 with The Beatles)
• Norah Jones
• Annie Lennox
• Maroon 5
• Bruno Mars
• John Mayer
• NSYNC
• Katy Perry
  • Olivia Rodrigo Britney Spears
• Gwen Stefani (including 1 with No Doubt)
• Sting
• Harry Styles

See also

• Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album

References

General

• Web site: Past Winners Search. National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. April 29, 2011. February 12, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150212013733/http://www.grammy.com/nominees/search?artist=&title=&year=All&genre=24. live.

Specific

External links

• Official site of the Grammy Awards

Notes and References

1. News: Grammy Awards at a Glance. Los Angeles Times. February 4, 2011. March 9, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120309064412/http://theenvelope.latimes.com/factsheets/env-grammy_awards_info%2C0%2C5838827.htmlstory. live.
2. Web site: Overview. March 16, 2011. National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. August 11, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110811045631/http://www.grammy.org/recording-academy. live.
3. Web site: 52nd OEP Category Description Guide . February 4, 2011 . 1 . National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20091027172820/http://www.grammy.com/PDFs/Recording_Academy/52guide.pdf . October 27, 2009 .
4. Web site: AWARDS, CERTIFICATES, AND GRAMMY TICKETS. Grammy.com. March 21, 2022. June 10, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200610183728/https://www.grammy.com/sites/com/files/bluebook_awards_certs_and_grammy_tickets.pdf. live.
5. Web site: GRAMMY Awards Winners & Nominees for Best Pop Vocal Album . . October 2, 2020 . September 7, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220907125542/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/awards/winners-nominees/194 . live .
6. 1967 Grammy Awards Finalists. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.. 10. February 17, 1968. February 19, 2011. 80. 7.
7. News: The 37th Grammy Nominations. January 6, 1995. February 4, 2011. Los Angeles Times. 2. May 30, 2012. https://archive.today/20120530082353/http://articles.latimes.com/1995-01-06/entertainment/ca-17089_1_vocal-performance?pg=2. live.
8. News: List of Grammy nominees. January 4, 1996. February 4, 2011. CNN. December 7, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121207073959/http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/Music/9601/grammy_noms/grammy_list.html. live.
9. News: Pumpkins A Smash With 7 Grammy Nominations. 4. January 8, 1997. Greg. Kot. Chicago Tribune. Tribune Company. April 26, 2011. September 26, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120926193002/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1997-01-08/news/9701080229_1_grammy-nominations-grammy-award-nominations-alternative-music-performance/3. live.
10. News: Complete list of Grammy nominations. April 26, 2011. USA Today. Gannett Company. March 5, 1999. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/19990210075205/http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/awards/grammy/lgram003.htm. February 10, 1999.
11. News: Women Dominate Grammys / Lauryn Hill leads with 10 nominations. January 6, 1999. James. Sullivan. 3. San Francisco Chronicle. April 26, 2011. Hearst Corporation. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110816074642/http://articles.sfgate.com/1999-01-06/entertainment/17676878_1_nominated-folk-album-san-francisco-symphony/3. August 16, 2011.
12. News: 42nd Annual Grammy Awards nominations . CNN . February 4, 2011 . January 4, 2000 . dead . https://archive.today/20120722190443/http://transcripts.cnn.com/2000/SHOWBIZ/Music/01/04/grammy.noms.01/list.html . July 22, 2012 .
13. News: 43rd Grammy Awards . February 21, 2001 . February 4, 2011 . CNN . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081106040823/http://archives.cnn.com/2001/SHOWBIZ/Music/02/21/grammy.winners/ . November 6, 2008 .
14. News: Complete List Of Grammy Nominees. January 4, 2002. February 4, 2011. CBS News. October 10, 2003. https://web.archive.org/web/20031010122104/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/01/04/entertainment/main323197.shtml. live.
15. News: Complete list of Grammy nominees; ceremony set for Feb. 23. January 8, 2003. February 4, 2011. San Francisco Chronicle. Hearst Corporation. 1. October 21, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101021221356/http://articles.sfgate.com/2003-01-08/entertainment/17470880_1_vanessa-carlton-norah-jones-steve-mcqueen-sheryl-crow. live.
16. News: They're All Contenders. December 5, 2003. February 4, 2011. The New York Times. March 5, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160305003628/http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/05/movies/they-re-all-contenders.html. live.
17. News: Grammy Award nominees in top categories. February 7, 2005. February 4, 2011. Gannett Company. USA Today. June 28, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110628185751/http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2004-12-07-grammy-nominee-list_x.htm. live.
18. News: The Complete List of Grammy Nominations. February 4, 2011. December 8, 2005. 1. The New York Times. May 3, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150503165707/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/08/arts/09gram-list.html. live.
19. News: 49th Annual Grammy Grammy Nominees. CBS News. March 16, 2011. December 7, 2006. January 31, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110131212227/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/12/07/entertainment/main2239101.shtml. live.
20. News: 50th annual Grammy Awards nominations. December 6, 2007. February 4, 2011. Variety. Reed Business Information. May 26, 2012. https://archive.today/20120526053106/http://www.variety.com/awardcentral_article/VR1117977172.html?nav=news&categoryid=1983&cs=1. live.
21. News: Grammy Awards: List of Winners. January 31, 2010. The New York Times. March 16, 2011. February 10, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230210105511/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/01/arts/music/01grammylist.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1. live.
22. Web site: Nominees And Winners . National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences . March 16, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101206065013/http://www.grammy.com/nominees?year=2009&genre=All . December 6, 2010 .
23. News: Grammy Awards 2011: Winners and nominees for 53rd Grammy Awards. September 11, 2016. Los Angeles Times. May 13, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150513020610/http://www.latimes.com/la-et-env-grammys-nominees-2010-list-htmlstory.html. live.
24. News: Grammy Awards 2012: full list of winners. March 6, 2017. The Daily Telegraph. February 10, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230210105701/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/9078330/Grammy-Awards-2012-full-list-of-winners.html. live.
25. News: Maroon 5, fun. among early Grammy nominees. Associated Press. December 5, 2012. November 11, 2016.
26. Web site: 57th Grammy Nominees . . December 5, 2014 . November 13, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151113092219/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-grammys-2015-nominees-winners-list-story.html . live .
27. Web site: 58th Grammy Nominees . . December 7, 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120201120225/http://www.grammy.com/nominees . February 1, 2012 .
28. Web site: 59th Grammy Nominees . . December 6, 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120201120225/http://www.grammy.com/nominees . February 1, 2012 .
29. Web site: 60th Grammy Nominees. Grammy.com. 28 November 2017. 28 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171128172753/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/awards/60th-annual-grammy-awards. live.
30. Web site: 61st Grammy Nominees. 7 December 2018. 7 December 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181207140528/http://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/2019-grammy-awards-complete-nominations-list#1. live.
31. Web site: 2020 GRAMMY Awards: Complete Winners & Nominations Lists. 7 June 2020. 26 January 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200126102347/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/2020-grammy-awards-complete-nominees-list. live.
32. News: Shafer. Ellise. Grammys 2021 Winners List. March 14, 2021. Variety. March 14, 2021. March 16, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210316041012/https://variety.com/2021/music/news/2021-grammys-winners-list-1234926947/. live.
33. Web site: 2022-04-04 . Olivia Rodrigo Wins Best Pop Vocal Album for Sour at 2022 Grammys . 2022-04-04 . Pitchfork . en-US . 2022-11-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221102190934/https://pitchfork.com/news/olivia-rodrigo-wins-best-pop-vocal-album-for-sour-at-2022-grammys/ . live .
34. Web site: 2023 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Complete Nominees List . 2022-11-15 . www.grammy.com . 2022-11-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221116125127/https://www.grammy.com/news/2023-grammy-nominations-complete-winners-nominees-list . live .
35. Web site: SZA leads Grammy nominees, Miley could get 1st win and Taylor Swift is poised to make history. McClellan. Jennifer. Ruggieri. Melissa. USA Today. November 10, 2023. November 10, 2023. November 10, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231110163333/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2023/11/10/grammy-nominations-2024-list-biggest-news/71523834007/. live.