The Grammy Award for Best Music Film is an accolade presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally named the Gramophone Awards, to performers, directors, and producers of quality videos or musical programs. 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". The category was preceded by the Grammy Award for Video of the Year, which was presented in 1982 and 1983, awarding long form videos in the budding music video market. The category was discontinued after 1983. The Best Music Film category is for concert/performance films or music documentaries. The eligibility rules have changed slightly over the years. As of 2016, the main rules are:
Concert/performance films or music documentaries released theatrically or for sale to the publicfor the first time or first appearing on television or online during the current eligibility year.
Music-related documentaries with a preponderance of performance-based material.
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 recognises stand-alone videos of one song or performance. Artists who are the focus of nominated films may not always be eligible for a Grammy themselves, depending on the type of film and the level of involvement of those artists in making the film.
History of the award
This category has undergone several name changes through the years:
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 1984, 1985, 1988 and 1989, the Grammy Award for Best Long Form Music Video recipients include the artists, directors, and producers associated with the winning videos. 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. Madonna holds the record for the most nomination with four. The British pop rock group Eurythmics and Coldplay hold the record for the most nominations as a performer without a win, with three each.
Recipients
In 1984 and 1985, only the artists were presented with an award. In 1986 the award went to the artist and the video director. From 1987 onwards, the award has been presented to the artist, video director and video producer.. , among recipients of the 1984 accolade for Duran Duran, performing in 2005. and Ten Summoner's Tales. won the Grammy Award for Best Long Form Music Video for the video entitled Rhythm Nation. won for Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em won the award in 1998 for Alanis Morissette: Jagged Little Pill, Live , Martin Scorsese won the accolade in 2007 for Wings for Wheels: The Making of Born to Run earned the Grammy Award for Best Long Form Music Video for directing Runnin' Down a Dream performing in 1968 is the subject of 2016 winner Amy, that depicts her life and death. The award goes to the director and producer.
1980s and 1990s
2000s and 2010s
2020s
Each year is linked to the article about the Grammy Awards held that year.
Director are only indicated if they were presented a Grammy Award.
Award was not presented. Music video categories presented that year included Best Concept Music Video and Best Performance Music Video.
