Special Merit Awards
- Julie Andrews, Roy Haynes, Juilliard String Quartet, the Kingston Trio, Dolly Parton, Ramones, George Beverly Shea[10]
General
- Record of the Year
- Lady Antebellum & Paul Worley, producers; Clarke Schleicher, engineer/mixer
- "Nothin' on You" – B.o.B & Bruno Mars
- The Smeezingtons, producers; Ari Levine, engineer/mixer
- "Love the Way You Lie" – Eminem & Rihanna
- Alex Da Kid & Makeba Riddick, producers; Alex Da Kid, Eminem & Mike Strange, engineers/mixers
- "F*** You" – Cee Lo Green
- The Smeezingtons, producers
- "Empire State of Mind" – Jay-Z & Alicia Keys
- Angela Hunte, Jane't "Jnay" Sewell-Ulepic & Shux, producers; Ken "Duro" Ifill, Gimel "Young Guru" Keaton & Ann Mincieli, engineers/mixers
- Album of the Year
- Arcade Fire & Markus Dravs, producers; Arcade Fire, Mark Lawson & Craig Silvey, engineers/mixers; Mark Lawson, mastering engineer
- Recovery – Eminem
- featured artists; Kobe, Lil Wayne, Pink & Rihanna, producers; Alex Da Kid, Boi-1da, Nick Brongers, Supa Dups, DJ Khalil, Dr. Dre, Eminem, Havoc, Emile Haynie, Jim Jonsin, Just Blaze, Mr. Porter & Script Shepherd, engineers/mixers; Brian "Big Bass" Gardner, mastering engineer
- Need You Now – Lady Antebellum
- Lady Antebellum & Paul Worley, producers; Clarke Schleicher, engineer/mixer; Andrew Mendelson, mastering engineer
- The Fame Monster – Lady Gaga
- Beyoncé, featured artist; Ron Fair, Fernando Garibay, Tal Herzberg, Rodney Jerkins, Lady Gaga, RedOne, Teddy Riley & Space Cowboy, producers; Eelco Bakker, Christian Delano, Mike Donaldson, Paul Foley, Tal Herzberg, Rodney Jenkins, Hisashi Mizoguchi, Robert Orton, Dan Parry, Jack Joseph Puig, RedOne, Teddy Riley, Dave Russel, Johnny Severin, Space Cowboy, Mark Stent, Jonas Wetling & Frank Wolff, engineers/mixers; Gene Grimaldi, mastering engineer
- Teenage Dream – Katy Perry
- Snoop Dogg, featured artist; Ammo, Benny Blanco, Dr. Luke, Kuk Harrell, Max Martin, Stargate, C. "Tricky" Stewart, Sandy Vee & Greg Wells, producers; Steve Churchyard, Mikkel S. Eriksen, Serban Ghenea, John Hanes, Sam Holland, Jaycen-Joshua, Damien Lewis, Chris O'Ryan, Carlos Oyanedel, Paris, Phil Tan, Brain Thomas, Lewis Tozour, Miles Walker, Emily Wright & Andrew Wuepper, engineers/mixers; Brian Gardner, mastering engineer
- Song of the Year
- Dave Haywood, Josh Kear, Charles Kelley & Hillary Scott, songwriters (Lady Antebellum)
- "Beg, Steal or Borrow"
- Ray LaMontagne, songwriter (Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs)
- "F*** You"
- Cee Lo Green, Philip Lawrence & Bruno Mars, songwriters (Cee Lo Green)
- "The House That Built Me"
- Tom Douglas & Allen Shamblin, songwriters (Miranda Lambert)
- "Love the Way You Lie"
- Alexander Grant, Holly Hafferman & Marshall Mathers, songwriters (Eminem featuring Rihanna)
- Best New Artist
Pop
- Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
"Bad Romance" – Lady Gaga
- "King of Anything" – Sara Bareilles
- "Halo" (Live) – Beyoncé
- "Chasing Pirates" – Norah Jones
- "Teenage Dream" – Katy Perry
- Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
- "Haven't Met You Yet" – Michael Bublé
- "This Is It" – Michael Jackson
- "Whataya Want from Me" – Adam Lambert
- "Half of My Heart" – John Mayer
- Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals
"Hey, Soul Sister" (Live) – Train
- "Don't Stop Believin'" (Regionals Version) – Glee Cast
- "Misery" – Maroon 5
- "The Only Exception" – Paramore
- "Babyfather" – Sade
- Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals
- "Airplanes, Part II" – B.o.B, Eminem, & Hayley Williams
- "If It Wasn't for Bad" – Elton John & Leon Russell
- "Telephone" – Lady Gaga & Beyoncé
- "California Gurls" – Katy Perry & Snoop Dogg
- Best Pop Instrumental Performance
- "Flow" – Laurie Anderson
- "No Mystery" – Stanley Clarke
- "Orchestral Intro" – Gorillaz
- "Sleepwalk" – The Brian Setzer Orchestra
- Best Pop Instrumental Album
- Pushing the Envelope – Gerald Albright
- Heart and Soul – Kenny G
- Singularity – Robby Krieger
- Everything Is Everything: The Music of Donny Hathaway – Kirk Whalum
- Best Pop Vocal Album
- My World 2.0 – Justin Bieber
- I Dreamed a Dream – Susan Boyle
- Battle Studies – John Mayer
- Teenage Dream – Katy Perry
Dance
- Best Dance Recording
- Crystal Johnson, Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen, Sandy Wilhelm, producers: Stargate, Sandy Vee
- "Rocket" – Goldfrapp
- Alison Goldfrapp & Will Gregory, producers; Mark 'Spike' Stent, mixer
- "In for the Kill" – La Roux
- Elly Jackson & Ben Langmaid, producers; Serban Ghenea & John Hanes, mixers
- "Dance in the Dark" – Lady Gaga
- Fernando Garibay & Lady Gaga, producers; Robert Orton, mixer
- "Dancing on My Own" – Robyn
- Patrik Berger & Robyn, producers; Niklas Flyckt, mixer
- Best Electronic/Dance Album
- These Hopeful Machines – BT
- Further – The Chemical Brothers
- Head First – Goldfrapp
- Black Light – Groove Armada
Traditional pop
- Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
- The Greatest Love Songs of All Time – Barry Manilow
- Let It Be Me: Mathis in Nashville – Johnny Mathis
- Fly Me to the Moon... The Great American Songbook Volume V – Rod Stewart
- Love Is the Answer – Barbra Streisand
Rock
- Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance
- "Run Back to Your Side" – Eric Clapton
- "Crossroads" – John Mayer
- "Silver Rider" – Robert Plant and the Band of Joy
- "Angry World" – Neil Young
- Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals
- "Ready to Start" – Arcade Fire
- "I Put a Spell on You" – Jeff Beck & Joss Stone
- "Radioactive" – Kings of Leon
- "Resistance" – Muse
- Best Hard Rock Performance
- "A Looking in View" – Alice in Chains
- "Let Me Hear You Scream" – Ozzy Osbourne
- "Black Rain" – Soundgarden
- "Between the Lines" – Stone Temple Pilots
- Best Metal Performance
"El Dorado" – Iron Maiden
- "Let the Guilt Go" – Korn
- "In Your Words" – Lamb of God
- "Sudden Death" – Megadeth
- "World Painted Blood" – Slayer
- Best Rock Instrumental Performance
"Hammerhead" – Jeff Beck
- "Black Mud" – The Black Keys
- "Do the Murray" – Los Lobos
- "Kundalini Bonfire" – Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds
- "The Deathless Horsie" – Dweezil Zappa
- Best Rock Song
"Angry World"
- Neil Young, songwriter (Neil Young)
- "Little Lion Man"
- Ted Dwane, Ben Lovett, Marcus Mumford & Country Winston, songwriters (Mumford & Sons)
- "Radioactive"
- Caleb Followill, Jared Followill, Matthew Followill & Nathan Followill, songwriters (Kings of Leon)
- "Resistance"
- Matthew Bellamy, songwriter (Muse)
- "Tighten Up"
- Dan Auerbach & Patrick Carney, songwriters (The Black Keys)
- Best Rock Album
- Emotion & Commotion – Jeff Beck
- Backspacer – Pearl Jam
- Mojo – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
- Le Noise – Neil Young
Alternative
- Best Alternative Music Album
- The Suburbs – Arcade Fire
- Infinite Arms – Band of Horses
- Broken Bells – Broken Bells
- Contra – Vampire Weekend
R&B
- Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
"Bittersweet" – Fantasia
- "Everything to Me" – Monica
- "Gone Already" – Faith Evans
- "Tired" – Kelly Price
- "Holding You Down" – Jazmine Sullivan
- Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
- "Second Chance" – El DeBarge
- "Finding My Way Back" – Jaheim
- "Why Would You Stay" – Kem
- "We're Still Friends" – (Kirk Whalum &) Musiq Soulchild
- Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals
"Soldier of Love" – Sade
- "Love" – Chuck Brown, Jill Scott & Marcus Miller
- "Take My Time" – Chris Brown & Tank
- "You've Got a Friend" – Ronald Isley & Aretha Franklin
- "Shine" – John Legend & The Roots
- Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance
"Hang On in There" – John Legend & The Roots
- "When a Woman Loves" – R. Kelly
- "You're So Amazing" – Calvin Richardson
- "In Between" – Ryan Shaw
- "Go" (Live) – Betty Wright
- Best Urban/Alternative Performance
"Fuck You!" – Cee Lo Green
- "Little One" – Bilal
- "Orion" – Carolyn Malachi
- "Tightrope" – Janelle Monáe & Big Boi
- "Still" – Eric Roberson
- Best R&B Song
"Shine"
- John Stephens, songwriter (John Legend & The Roots)
- "Bittersweet"
- Charles Harmon & Claude Kelly, songwriters (Fantasia)
- "Finding My Way Back"
- Ivan "Orthodox" Barias, Curt Chambers, Carvin "Ransum" Haggins, Jaheim Hoagland & Miquel Jontel, songwriters (Jaheim)
- "Second Chance"
- E. Debarge & Mischke, songwriters (El DeBarge)
- "Why Would You Stay"
- K. Owens, songwriter (Kem)
- Best R&B Album
- Still Standing – Monica
- Back to Me – Fantasia
- Another Round – Jaheim
- The Love & War Masterpeace – Raheem DeVaughn
- Best Contemporary R&B Album
Rap
- Best Rap Solo Performance
"Not Afraid" – Eminem
- Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group
- "Shutterbugg" – Big Boi & Cutty
- "Fancy" – Drake, T.I. & Swizz Beatz
- "My Chick Bad" – Ludacris & Nicki Minaj
- "Lose My Mind" – Young Jeezy & Plies
- Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
- "Nothin' on You" – B.o.B & Bruno Mars
- "Deuces" – Chris Brown, Tyga & Kevin McCall
- "Love the Way You Lie" – Eminem & Rihanna
- "Wake Up Everybody" – John Legend, The Roots, Melanie Fiona & Common
- Best Rap Song
- Shawn Carter, Angela Hunte, Burt Keyes, Alicia Keys, Jane't "Jnay" Sewell-Ulepic & Alexander Shuckburgh, songwriters (Jay-Z & Alicia Keys)
- "Love the Way You Lie"
- Alex da Kid, Holly Hafferman & Marshall Mathers, songwriters (Eminem & Rihanna)
- "Not Afraid"
- M. Burnett, J. Evans, Marshall Mathers, L. Resto & M. Samuels, songwriters (Eminem)
- "Nothin' on You"
- Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine, Bruno Mars & Bobby Simmons Jr., songwriters (B.o.B & Bruno Mars)
- "On to the Next One"
- Shawn Carter, J. Chaton & K. Dean, songwriters (G. Auge & X. De Rosnay, songwriters) (Jay-Z & Swizz Beatz)
- Best Rap Album
- The Adventures Of Bobby Ray – B.o.B
- Thank Me Later – Drake
- The Blueprint 3 – Jay-Z
- How I Got Over – The Roots
Country
- Best Female Country Vocal Performance
- "Satisfied" – Jewel
- "Swingin'" – LeAnn Rimes
- "Temporary Home" – Carrie Underwood
- "I'd Love To Be Your Last" – Gretchen Wilson
- Best Male Country Vocal Performance
- "Macon" – Jamey Johnson
- "Cryin' for Me (Wayman's Song)" – Toby Keith
- "Turning Home" – David Nail
- "Gettin' You Home" – Chris Young
- Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals
- "Free" – Zac Brown Band
- "Elizabeth" – Dailey & Vincent
- "Little White Church" – Little Big Town
- "Where Rainbows Never Die" – The SteelDrivers
- Best Country Collaboration with Vocals
- "Bad Angel" – Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert & Jamey Johnson
- "Pride (In the Name of Love)" – Dierks Bentley, Del McCoury & The Punch Brothers
- "Hillbilly Bone" – Blake Shelton & Trace Adkins
- "I Run to You" – Marty Stuart & Connie Smith
- Best Country Instrumental Performance
"Hummingbyrd" – Marty Stuart
- "Tattoo of a Smudge" – Cherryholmes
- "Magic #9" – The Infamous Stringdusters
- "New Chance Blues" – Punch Brothers
- "Willow Creek" – Darrell Scott
- Best Country Song
- Dave Haywood, Josh Kear, Charles Kelley & Hillary Scott, songwriters (Lady Antebellum)
- "The Breath You Take"
- Casey Beathard, Dean Dillon & Jessie Jo Dillon, songwriters (George Strait)
- "Free"
- Zac Brown, songwriter (Zac Brown Band)
- "The House That Built Me"
- Tom Douglas & Allen Shamblin, songwriters (Miranda Lambert)
- "I'd Love to Be Your Last"
- Rivers Rutherford, Annie Tate & Sam Tate, songwriters (Gretchen Wilson)
- "If I Die Young"
- Kimberly Perry, songwriter (The Band Perry)
- Best Country Album
- Up On The Ridge – Dierks Bentley
- You Get What You Give – Zac Brown Band
- The Guitar Song – Jamey Johnson
- Revolution – Miranda Lambert
New Age
- Best New Age Album
Miho: Journey to the Mountain – Paul Winter Consort
- Ocean – Michael DeMaria
- Sacred Journey of Ku-Kai, Volume 4 – Kitaro
- Dancing into Silence – R. Carlos Nakai, William Eaton & Will Clipman
- Instrumental Oasis, Vol. 4 – Zamora
Jazz
- Best Contemporary Jazz Album
The Stanley Clarke Band – The Stanley Clarke Band
- Never Can Say Goodbye – Joey DeFrancesco
- Now Is the Time – Jeff Lorber Fusion
- To the One – John McLaughlin
- Backatown – Trombone Shorty
- Best Jazz Vocal Album
Eleanora Fagan (1915–1959): To Billie with Love from Dee Dee – Dee Dee Bridgewater
- Freddy Cole Sings Mr. B – Freddy Cole
- When Lights Are Low – Denise Donatelli
- Ages – Lorraine Feather
- Water – Gregory Porter
- Best Improvised Jazz Solo
"A Change Is Gonna Come" – Herbie Hancock
- "Solar" – Alan Broadbent
- "Body and Soul" – Keith Jarrett
- "Lonely Woman" – Hank Jones
- "Van Gogh" – Wynton Marsalis
- Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group
Moody 4B – James Moody
- Positootly! – John Beasley
- The New Song and Dance – Clayton Brothers
- Historicity – Vijay Iyer Trio
- Providencia – Danilo Pérez
- Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
Mingus Big Band Live at Jazz Standard – Mingus Big Band
- Infernal Machines – Darcy James Argue's Secret Society
- Autumn: In Moving Pictures Jazz – Chamber Music Vol. 2 – Billy Childs Ensemble featuring the Ying String Quartet
- Pathways – Dave Holland Octet
- 54 – Metropole Orkest, John Scofield & Vince Mendoza
- Best Latin Jazz Album
Chucho's Steps – Chucho Valdés and the Afro-Cuban Messengers
- Tango Grill – Pablo Aslan
- Second Chance – Hector Martignon
- Psychedelic Blues – Poncho Sanchez
- ¡Bien Bien! – Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet
Gospel
- Best Gospel Performance
"Grace" – BeBe & CeCe Winans
- "He Wants It All" – Forever Jones
- "You Hold My World" – Israel Houghton
- "Nobody Greater" – VaShawn Mitchell
- "He's Been Just That Good – Kirk Whalum & Lalah Hathaway
- Best Gospel Song
"It's What I Do"
- Jerry Peters & Kirk Whalum, songwriters (Kirk Whalum & Lalah Hathaway)
- "Beautiful Things"
- Lisa Gungor & Michael Gungor, songwriters (Gungor)
- "Better than a Hallelujah"
- Sarah Hart & Chapin Hartford, songwriters (Amy Grant)
- "Our God"
- Jonas Myrin, Matt Redman, Jesse Reeves & Chris Tomlin, songwriters (Chris Tomlin)
- "Return to Sender"
- Gordon Kennedy, songwriter (Ricky Skaggs)
- Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album
- Church Music – David Crowder Band
- For Those Who Wait – Fireflight
- Beautiful Things – Gungor
- Rehab – Lecrae
- Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album
- Beauty Will Rise – Steven Curtis Chapman
- Pieces of a Real Heart – Sanctus Real
- Mosaic – Ricky Skaggs
- Tonight – TobyMac
- Best Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Gospel Album
- Times Like These – Austins Bridge
- Expecting Good Things – Jeff & Sheri Easter
- Journey On – Ty Herndon
- Live at Oak Tree: Karen Peck & New River – Karen Peck & New River
- Best Traditional Gospel Album
- The Experience – Vanessa Bell Armstrong
- A City Called Heaven – Shirley Caesar
- Here I Am – Marvin Sapp
- All in One – Karen Clark Sheard
- Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album
- Get Ready – Forever Jones
- Love Unstoppable – Fred Hammond
- Triumphant – VaShawn Mitchell
- Aaron Sledge – Aaron Sledge
Latin
- Best Latin Pop Album
- Poquita Ropa – Ricardo Arjona
- Alex Cuba – Alex Cuba
- Boleto de Entrada – Kany García
- Otra Cosa – Julieta Venegas
- Best Latin Rock, Alternative or Urban Album
El Existential – Grupo Fantasma
- Oro – ChocQuibTown
- Amor Vincit Omnia – Draco
- Bulevar 2000 – Nortec Collective Presents: Bostich+Fussible
- 1977 – Ana Tijoux
- Best Tropical Latin Album
Viva la Tradición – Spanish Harlem Orchestra
- Sin Salsa No Hay Paraiso – El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico
- Asondeguerra – Juan Luis Guerra 4.40
- Irrepetible – Gilberto Santa Rosa
- 100 Sones Cubanos – (Various Artists); Edesio Alejandro, Nelson Estevez & Juan Hidalgo, producers
- Best Tejano Album
Recuerdos – Little Joe & la Familia
- Sabes Bien – Juan P. Moreno
- In the Pocket – Joe Posada
- Homenaje a Mi Padre – Sunny Sauceda y Todo Eso
- Cookin – Tortilla Factory
- Best Norteño Album
Classic – Intocable
- Indispensable – Angel Fresnillo
- Ni Hoy Ni Mañana – Gerardo Ortiz
- Desde la Cantina Volumen 1 – Pesado
- Intensamente – Principez de la Musica Norteña
- Best Banda Album
Enamórate de Mí – El Güero y Su Banda Centenario
- Ando Bien Pedo – Banda Los Recoditos
- Caricias Compradas... – Cuisillos
- Con la Fuerza del Corrido – El Chapo
- Todo Depende de Ti – La Arrolladora Banda El Limon
Americana music
- Best Americana Album
- The List – Rosanne Cash
- Tin Can Trust – Los Lobos
- Country Music – Willie Nelson
- Band of Joy – Robert Plant
- Best Bluegrass Album
Mountain Soul II – Patty Loveless
- Circles Around Me – Sam Bush
- Family Circle – The Del McCoury Band
- Legacy – Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band
- Reckless – The SteelDrivers
- Best Traditional Blues Album
Joined at the Hip – Pinetop Perkins & Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith
- Giant – James Cotton
- Memphis Blues – Cyndi Lauper
- The Well – Charlie Musselwhite
- Plays Blues, Ballads & Favorites – Jimmie Vaughan
- Best Contemporary Blues Album
Living Proof – Buddy Guy
- Nothing's Impossible – Solomon Burke
- Tribal – Dr. John and the Lower 911
- Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook – Bettye LaVette
- Live! In Chicago – Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band featuring Hubert Sumlin, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, Bryan Lee, and Buddy Flett
- Best Traditional Folk Album
- Onward and Upward – Luther Dickinson & The Sons Of Mudboy
- Memories of John – The John Hartford Stringband
- Maria Muldaur & Her Garden Of Joy – Maria Muldaur
- Ricky Skaggs Solo: Songs My Dad Loved – Ricky Skaggs
- Best Contemporary Folk Album
God Willin' & the Creek Don't Rise – Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs
- Love Is Strange – En Vivo con Tino – Jackson Browne & David Lindley
- The Age of Miracles – Mary Chapin Carpenter
- Somedays the Song Writes You – Guy Clark
- Dream Attic – Richard Thompson
- Best Hawaiian Music Album
Huana Ke Aloha – Tia Carrere
- Amy Hanaiali'i and Slack Key Masters of Hawaii – Amy Hanaiali‘i And Slack Key Masters of Hawaii
- Polani – Daniel Ho
- The Legend – Ledward Kaapana
- Maui on My Mind – Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar – Jeff Peterson
- Best Native American Music Album
2010 Gathering of Nations Pow Wow: A Spirit's Dance – (Various Artists); Derek Mathews, Dr. Lita Mathews & Melonie Mathews, producers
- XI – Bear Creek
- Temptations: Cree Round Dance Songs – Northern Cree
- Woodnotes Wyld: Historic Flute Sounds from the Dr. Richard W. Payne Collection – Peter Phippen
- Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album
Zydeco Junkie – Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band
- En Couleurs – Feufollet
- Happy Go Lucky – D.L. Menard
- Back Home – The Pine Leaf Boys
- Creole Moon: Live at the Blue Moon Saloon – Cedric Watson et Bijou Créole
Reggae
- Best Reggae Album
Before the Dawn – Buju Banton
- Isaacs Meets Isaac – Gregory Isaacs & King Isaac
- Revelation – Lee "Scratch" Perry
- Made in Jamaica – Bob Sinclar And Sly & Robbie
- One Pop Reggae + – Sly & Robbie and the Family Taxi
- Legacy An Acoustic Tribute to Peter Tosh – Andrew Tosh
World music
- Best Traditional World Music Album
Ali and Toumani – Ali Farka Touré & Toumani Diabaté
- Pure Sounds – Gyuto Monks of Tibet
- I Speak Fula – Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba
- Grace – Soweto Gospel Choir
- Tango Universal – Vayo
- Best Contemporary World Music Album
Throw Down Your Heart , Africa Sessions Part 2: Unreleased Tracks – Béla Fleck
- All in One – Bebel Gilberto
- ÕŸÖ – Angelique Kidjo
- Bom Tempo – Sérgio Mendes
- Om Namo Narayanaya: Soul Call – Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon
Children's
- Best Musical Album for Children
Tomorrow's Children – Pete Seeger with the Rivertown Kids and Friends
- Here Comes Science – They Might Be Giants
- Jungle Gym – Justin Roberts
- Sunny Days – Battersby Duo
- Weird Things Are Everywhere! – Judy Pancoast
- Best Spoken Word Album For Children
Julie Andrews' Collection of Poems, Songs, And Lullabies – Julie Andrews & Emma Walton Hamilton
- Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl: The Definitive Edition – Selma Blair
- The Best Candy in the Whole World – Bill Harley
- Healthy Food For Thought: Good Enough to Eat – (Various Artists); Jim Cravero, Paula Lizzi & Steve Pullara, producers
- Nanny McPhee Returns – Emma Thompson
Spoken Word
- Best Spoken Word Album
- American on Purpose – Craig Ferguson
- The Bedwetter – Sarah Silverman
- A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future… – Michael J. Fox
- This Time Together: Laughter and Reflection – Carol Burnett
- The Woody Allen Collection: Mere Anarchy, Side Effects, Without Feathers, Getting Even – Woody Allen
Comedy
- Best Comedy Album
- Cho Dependent – Margaret Cho
- I Told You I Was Freaky – Flight of the Conchords
- Kathy Griffin Does the Bible Belt – Kathy Griffin
- Weapons of Self Destruction – Robin Williams
Musical show
- Best Musical Show Album
American Idiot (featuring Green Day) – Billie Joe Armstrong, producer (Green Day, composers; Billie Joe Armstrong, lyricist)
- Fela! – Robert Sher, producer (Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, composer; Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, lyricist)
- A Little Night Music – Tommy Krasker, producer (Stephen Sondheim, composer; Stephen Sondheim, lyricist)
- Promises, Promises – David Caddick & David Lai, producers (Burt Bacharach, composer; Hal David, lyricist)
- Sondheim on Sondheim – Philip Chaffin & Tommy Krasker, producers (Stephen Sondheim, composer; Stephen Sondheim, lyricist)
Film, TV and other visual media
- Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media
- Glee: The Music, Volume 1
- Tremé
- True Blood – Volume 2
- The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
- Best Score Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media
- Alice in Wonderland – Danny Elfman
- Avatar – James Horner
- Inception – Hans Zimmer
- Sherlock Holmes – Hans Zimmer
- Best Song Written for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media
"The Weary Kind" (From Crazy Heart)
- Ryan Bingham & T Bone Burnett, songwriters (Ryan Bingham)
- "Down in New Orleans" (From The Princess and the Frog)
- Randy Newman, songwriter (Dr. John)
- "I See You" (From Avatar)
- Simon Franglen, Kuk Harrell & James Horner, songwriters (Leona Lewis)
- "Kiss Like Your Kiss" (From True Blood)
- Lucinda Williams, songwriter (Lucinda Williams & Elvis Costello)
- "This City" (From Tremé)
- Steve Earle, songwriter (Steve Earle)
Composing and arranging
- Best Instrumental Composition
"The Path Among the Trees" – Billy Childs
- "Aurora" – Patrick Williams
- "Battle Circle" – Gerald Clayton
- "Box of Cannoli" – Tim Hagans
- "Fourth Stream...La Banda" – Bill Cunliffe
- Best Instrumental Arrangement
"Carlos" – Vince Mendoza
- "Fanfare for a New Day" – Patrick Williams
- "Itsbynne Reel" – Gil Goldstein
- "Monet" – Ted Nash
- "Skip to My Lou" – Frank Macchia
- Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)
"Baba Yetu" – Christopher Tin, arranger (Christopher Tin, Soweto Gospel Choir & Royal Philharmonic Orchestra)
- "Baby" – Roger Treece, arranger (Bobby McFerrin)
- "Based on a Thousand True Stories" – Vince Mendoza, arranger (Silje Nergaard & Metropole Orchestra Strings)
- "Don't Explain" – Geoffrey Keezer, arranger (Denise Donatelli)
- "Imagine" – Herbie Hancock & Larry Klein, arrangers (Herbie Hancock, Pink, Seal, Jeff Beck, India.Arie, Konono No 1 & Oumou Sangare)
Package
- Best Recording Package
Brothers – Michael Carney, art director (The Black Keys)
- Eggs – Malene Mathiasson, Malthe Fischer, Kristoffer Rom, Nis Svoldgård & Aske Zidore, art directors (Oh No Ono)
- Hadestown – Brian Grunert, art director (Anaïs Mitchell)
- What Will We Be – Devendra Banhart & Jon Beasley, art directors (Devendra Banhart)
- Yonkers NY – Andrew Taray, art director (Chip Taylor)
- Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package
Under Great White Northern Lights (Limited Edition Box Set) – Rob Jones & Jack White III, art directors (The White Stripes)
- Light: On the South Side – Tom Lunt, Rob Sevier & Ken Shipley, art directors (Various Artists)
- Minotaur (Deluxe Edition) – Jeff Anderson & Vaughan Oliver, art directors (The Pixies)
- A Sideman's Journey (Limited Collector's Super Deluxe Box Set) – Daniel Reiss & Klaus Voormann, art directors (Voormann & Friends)
- Story Island – Qing-Yang Xiao, art director (Various Artists)
Album notes
- Best Album Notes
Keep an Eye on the Sky – Robert Gordon, album notes writer (Big Star)
- Alan Lomax in Haiti: Recordings for the Library of Congress, 1936–1937 – Gage Averill, album notes writer (Various Artists)
- Side Steps – Ashley Kahn, album notes writer (John Coltrane)
- There Breathes a Hope: The Legacy of John Work II and His Fisk Jubilee Quartet, 1909–1916 – Doug Seroff, album notes writer (Fisk University Jubilee Quartet)
- True Love Cast Out All Evil – Will Sheff, album notes writer (Roky Erickson With Okkervil River)
Historical
- Best Historical Album
The Beatles (The Original Studio Recordings)
- Jeff Jones, compilation producer; Paul Hicks, Sean Magee, Guy Massey, Sam Okell & Steve Rooke, mastering engineers (The Beatles)
- Alan Lomax In Haiti: Recordings For The Library Of Congress, 1936–1937
- Jeffrey A. Greenberg, David Katznelson & Anna Lomax Wood, compilation producers; Steve Rosenthal & Warren Russell-Smith, mastering engineers (Various Artists)
- The Complete Mother's Best Recordings...Plus!
- Colin Escott, Mike Jason & Jett Williams, compilation producers; Joseph M. Palmaccio, mastering engineer (Hank Williams)
- Not Fade Away: The Complete Studio Recordings And More
- Andy McKaie, compilation producer; Erick Labson, mastering engineer (Buddy Holly)
- Where The Action Is! Los Angeles Nuggets 1965–1968
- Alec Palao, Cheryl Pawelski & Andrew Sandoval, compilation producers; Dan Hersch & Andrew Sandoval, mastering engineers (Various Artists)
Production, non-classical
- Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical
An Engineer's Award.
Battle Studies
- Michael H. Brauer, Joe Ferla, Chad Franscoviak & Manny Marroquin, engineers (John Mayer)
- Dirty Side Down
- John Keane, engineer (Widespread Panic)
- Emotion & Commotion
- Steve Lipson, engineer (Jeff Beck)
- God Willin' & The Creek Don't Rise
- Ryan Freeland, engineer (Ray LaMontagne And The Pariah Dogs)
- Pink Elephant
- Seth Presant & Leon F. Sylvers III, engineers (N'dambi)
- Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical
- Broken Bells – Broken Bells (A)
- Dark Night of the Soul – Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse (A)
- Tighten Up – The Black Keys (T)
- Rob Cavallo
- Brand New Eyes – Paramore (A)
- Hang Cool Teddy Bear – Meat Loaf (A)
- Happy Hour – Uncle Kracker (A)
- Music Again – Adam Lambert (T)
- Soaked – Adam Lambert (T)
- Sure Fire Winners – Adam Lambert (T)
- Time for Miracles – Adam Lambert (T)
- When It's Time – Green Day (T)
- Dr. Luke
- California Gurls – Katy Perry Featuring Snoop Dogg (T)
- For Your Entertainment – Adam Lambert (T)
- Hungover – Ke$ha (T)
- Kiss n Tell – Ke$ha (T)
- Magic – B.o.B Featuring Rivers Cuomo (T)
- Take It Off – Ke$ha (T)
- Teenage Dream – Katy Perry (T)
- Your Love Is My Drug – Ke$ha (T)
- RedOne
- Alejandro – Lady Gaga (S)
- Bad Romance – Lady Gaga (S)
- The Fame Monster – Lady Gaga (A)
- I Like It – Enrique Iglesias Featuring Pitbull (S)
- More – Usher (T)
- We Are the World 25 for Haiti – Various Artists (S)
- Whole Lotta Love – Mary J. Blige (S)
- The Smeezingtons (Bruno Mars, Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine)
- Billionaire – Travie McCoy Featuring Bruno Mars (T)
- Bow Chicka Wow Wow – Mike Posner (T)
- Fuck You – Cee Lo Green (S)
- Island Queen – Sean Kingston (T)
- Just the Way You Are – Bruno Mars (S)
- Nothin' on You – B.o.B Featuring Bruno Mars (T)
- Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical
Revolver (David Guetta's One Love Club Remix)
- David Guetta, remixer (Madonna)
- Fantasy (Morgan Page Remix)
- Morgan Page, remixer (Nadia Ali)
- Funk Nasty (Wolfgang Gartner Remix Edit)
- Wolfgang Gartner, remixer (Andy Caldwell Featuring Gram'ma Funk)
- Orpheus (Quiet Carnival) (Funk Generation Mix)
- Mike Rizzo, remixer (Sérgio Mendes)
- Sweet Disposition (Axwell & Dirty South Remix)
- Axel Hedfors & Dragan Roganovic, remixers (The Temper Trap)
Production, surround sound
- Best Surround Sound Album
- Britten's Orchestra
- Keith O. Johnson, surround mix engineer; Keith O. Johnson, surround mastering engineer; David Frost, surround producer (Michael Stern & Kansas City Symphony)
- The Incident
- Steven Wilson, surround mix engineer; Darcy Proper, surround mastering engineer; Steven Wilson, surround producer (Porcupine Tree)
- Parallax Eden
- David Miles Huber, surround mix engineer; David Miles Huber, surround mastering engineer; David Miles Huber, surround producer (David Miles Huber)
- Songs And Stories (Monster Music Version)
- Don Murray, surround mix engineer; Sangwook Nam & Doug Sax, surround mastering engineers; John Burk, Noel Lee & Marcus Miller, surround producers (George Benson)
- Trondheimsolistene – In Folk Style
- Morten Lindberg, surround mix engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround mastering engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround producer (TrondheimSolistene)
Production, classical
- Best Engineered Album, Classical
An Engineer's Award. (Artist names appear in parentheses.)
- Daugherty: Metropolis Symphony; Deus Ex Machina
- Mark Donahue, John Hill & Dirk Sobotka, engineers (Giancarlo Guerrero & Nashville Symphony Orchestra)
- Have You Ever Been...?
- Robert Friedrich, engineer (Turtle Island Quartet, Stefon Harris & Mike Marshall)
- Mackey, Steven: Dreamhouse
- David Frost, Tom Lazarus, Steven Mackey & Dirk Sobotka, engineers (Gil Rose, Rinde Eckert, Catch Electric Guitar Quartet, Synergy Vocals & Boston Modern Orchestra Project)
- Porter, Quincy: Complete Viola Works
- Leslie Ann Jones, Kory Kruckenberg & David Sabee, engineers (Eliesha Nelson & John McLaughlin Williams)
- Vocabularies
- Steve Miller, Allen Sides & Roger Treece, engineers (Bobby McFerrin)
- Producer Of The Year, Classical
A Producer's Award. (Artist names appear in parentheses.)
- Blanton Alspaugh
- Corigliano: Violin Concerto 'The Red Violin' (Michael Ludwig, JoAnn Falletta & Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra)
- Daugherty: Metropolis Symphony; Deus Ex Machina (Giancarlo Guerrero & Nashville Symphony)
- Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 2 (Leonard Slatkin & Detroit Symphony Orchestra)
- Tower Of The Eight Winds – Music For Violin & Piano By Judith Shatin (Borup-Ernst Duo)
- Tyberg: Symphony No. 3; Piano Trio (JoAnn Falletta & Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra)
- Wind Serenades (Gregory Wolynec & Gateway Chamber Ensemble)
- David Frost
- Britten's Orchestra (Michael Stern & Kansas City Symphony)
- Chambers, Evan: The Old Burying Ground (Kenneth Kiesler & The University Of Michigan Symphony Orchestra)
- Dorman, Avner: Concertos For Mandolin, Piccolo, Piano And Concerto Grosso (Andrew Cyr, Eliran Avni, Mindy Kaufman, Avi Avital & Metropolis Ensemble)
- The 5 Browns In Hollywood (5 Browns)
- Mackey, Steven: Dreamhouse (Gil Rose, Rinde Eckert, Catch Electric Guitar Quartet, Synergy Vocals & Boston Modern Orchestra Project)
- Meeting Of The Spirits (Matt Haimovitz)
- Two Roads To Exile (ARC Ensemble)
- Tim Handley
- Adams: Nixon In China (Marin Alsop, Tracy Dahl, Marc Heller, Thomas Hammons, Maria Kanyova, Robert Orth, Chen-Ye Yan, Opera Colorado Chorus & Colorado Symphony Orchestra)
- Debussy: Le Martyre De Saint Sébastien (Jun Märkl & Orchestre National De Lyon)
- Dohnányi: Variations On A Nursery Song (JoAnn Falletta, Eldar Nebolsin & Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra)
- Harris: Symphonies Nos. 5 & 6 (Marin Alsop & Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra)
- Hubay: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 And 2 (Chloë Hanslip, Andrew Mogrelia & Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra)
- Messiaen: Poèmes Pour Mi (Anne Schwanewilms, Jun Märkl & Orchestre National De Lyon)
- Piazzolla: Sinfonía Buenos Aires (Daniel Binelli, Tianwa Yang, Giancarlo Guerro & Nashville Symphony Orchestra)
- Ries: Works For Flute And Piano (Uwe Grodd & Matteo Napoli)
- Roussel: Symphony No. 1 (Stéphane Denève & Royal Scottish National Orchestra)
- Shchedrin: Concertos For Orchestra Nos. 4 & 5 (Kirill Karabits & Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra)
- Stamitz: Flute Concertos (Robert Aitken, Donatas Katkus & St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra)
- Strauss, R: Josephs-Legende; Rosenkavalier; Die Frau Ohne Schatten (Orchestral Suites) (JoAnn Falletta & Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra)
- Marina A. Ledin, Victor Ledin
- Brubeck: Songs Of Praise (Lynne Morrow, Richard Grant, Quartet San Francisco & The Pacific Mozart Ensemble)
- Cascade Of Roses (Janice Weber)
- Gnattali: Solo & Chamber Works For Guitar (Marc Regnier)
- If I Were A Bird (Michael Lewin)
- Kletzki: Piano Concerto (Joseph Banowetz, Thomas Sanderling & Russian Philharmonic Orchestra)
- Porter, Quincy: Complete Viola Works (Eliesha Nelson & John McLaughlin Williams)
- Rubinstein: Piano Music (1852–1894) (Joseph Banowetz)
- Rubinstein: Piano Music (1871–1890) (Joseph Banowetz)
- 20th Century Harp Sonatas (Sarah Schuster Ericsson)
- James Mallinson
- Mahler: Symphony No. 2 (Bernard Haitink, Duain Wolfe, Miah Persson, Christianne Stotijn, Chicago Symphony Chorus & Chicago Symphony Orchestra)
- Prokofiev: Romeo And Juliet (Valery Gergiev & London Symphony Orchestra)
- Shchedrin: The Enchanted Wanderer (Valery Gergiev, Evgeny Akimov, Sergei Aleksashkin, Kristina Kapustinskaya, Mariinsky Chorus & Mariinsky Orchestra)
- Strauss, R: Ein Heldenleben; Webern: Im Sommerwind (Bernard Haitink & Chicago Symphony Orchestra)
- Strauss, R: Eine Alpensinfonie (Bernard Haitink & London Symphony Orchestra)
- Tchaikovsky: Rococo Variations; Prokofiev: Sinfonia Concertante (Gautier Capuçon, Valery Gergiev & Orchestra Of The Mariinsky Theatre)
- Wagner: Parsifal (Valery Gergiev, Gary Lehman, Violeta Urmana, René Pape, Evgeny Nikitin, Alexei Tanovitski, Nikolai Putilin, Mariinsky Chorus & Mariinsky Orchestra)
Classical
- Best Classical Album
- Bruckner: Symphonies Nos. 3 & 4 – Mariss Jansons, conductor; Everett Porter, producer; Everett Porter, mastering engineer (Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra)
- Daugherty: Metropolis Symphony; Deus Ex Machina – Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor; Blanton Alspaugh, producer; Mark Donahue, John Hill & Dirk Sobotka, engineers/mixers (Terrence Wilson; Nashville Symphony Orchestra)
- Mackey, Steven: Dreamhouse – Gil Rose, conductor; Rinde Eckert; Catch Electric Guitar Quartet; David Frost, producer; David Frost, Tom Lazarus, Steven Mackey & Dirk Sobotka, engineers/mixers; Silas Brown, mastering engineer (Boston Modern Orchestra Project; Synergy Vocals)
- Sacrificium – Giovanni Antonini, conductor; Cecilia Bartoli; Arend Prohmann, producer; Philip Siney, engineer/mixer (Il Giardino Armonico)
- Verdi: Requiem – Riccardo Muti, conductor; Duain Wolfe, chorus master; Christopher Alder, producer; David Frost, Tom Lazarus & Christopher Willis, engineers/mixers (Ildar Abdrazakov, Olga Borodina, Barbara Frittoli & Mario Zeffiri; Chicago Symphony Orchestra; Chicago Symphony Chorus)
- Best Orchestral Performance
- Bruckner: "Symphonies Nos. 3 & 4" – Mariss Jansons, conductor (Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra)
- Daugherty: Metropolis Symphony; "Deus Ex Machina" – Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor (Terrence Wilson; Nashville Symphony)
- Mackey, Steven: "Dreamhouse" – Gil Rose, conductor; Rinde Eckert (Catch Electric Guitar Quartet; Boston Modern Orchestra Project; Synergy Vocals)
- Salieri: "Overtures & Stage Music" – Thomas Fey, conductor (Mannheimer Mozartorchester)
- Stravinsky: Pulcinella; Symphony in Three Movements; "Four Études" – Pierre Boulez, conductor (Roxana Constantinescu, Kyle Ketelsen & Nicholas Phan; Chicago Symphony Orchestra)
- Best Opera Recording
- Berg: "Lulu"
- Antonio Pappano, conductor; Agneta Eichenholz, Jennifer Larmore, Klaus Florian Vogt & Michael Volle; David Groves, producer (Orchestra of The Royal Opera House)
- Hasse: "Marc' Antonio E Cleopatra"
- Matthew Dirst, conductor; Jamie Barton & Ava Pine; Keith Weber, producer (Ars Lyrica Houston)
- Saariaho: "L'Amour de Loin"
- Kent Nagano, conductor; Daniel Belcher, Ekaterina Lekhina & Marie-Ange Todorovitch; Martin Sauer, producer (Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin; Rundfunkchor Berlin)
- Shchedrin: "The Enchanted Wanderer"
- Valery Gergiev, conductor; Evgeny Akimov, Sergei Aleksashkin & Kristina Kapustinskaya; James Mallinson, producer (Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre; Chorus of the Mariinsky Theatre)
- Sullivan: "Ivanhoe"
- David Lloyd-Jones, conductor; Neal Davies, Geraldine McGreevy, James Rutherford, Toby Spence & Janice Watson; Brian Pidgeon, producer (BBC National Orchestra of Wales; Adrian Partington Singers)
- Best Choral Performance
- Bach: "Cantatas" – Nikolaus Harnoncourt, conductor; Erwin Ortner, chorus master (Bernarda Fink, Gerald Finley, Christian Gerhaher, Werner Güra, Julia Kleiter, Christine Schäfer, Anton Scharinger & Kurt Streit; Concentus Musicau Wien; Arnold Schoenberg Chor)
- "Baltic Runes" – Paul Hillier, conductor (Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir)
- Haydn: "The Creation" – René Jacobs, conductor; Hans-Christoph Rademann, choir director (Julia Kleiter, Maximilian Schmitt & Johannes Weisser; Freiburger Barockorchester; RIAS Kammerchor)
- Martin: "Golgotha" – Daniel Reuss, conductor (Judith Gauthier, Marianne Beate Kielland, Adrian Thompson, Mattijs Van De Woerd & Konstantin Wolff; Estonian National Symphony Orchestra; Cappella Amsterdam & Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir)
- Verdi: "Requiem" – Riccardo Muti, conductor; Duain Wolfe, chorus master (Ildar Abdrazakov, Olga Borodina, Barbara Frittoli & Mario Zeffiri; Chicago Symphony Orchestra; Chicago Symphony Chorus)
- Best Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance (with Orchestra)
- Daugherty: "Deus Ex Machina" – Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor; Terrence Wilson (Nashville Symphony)
- Dorman, Avner: "Mandolin Concerto" – Andrew Cyr, conductor; Avi Avital (Metropolis Ensemble)
- Kletzki: "Piano Concerto in D Minor, Op. 22" – Thomas Sanderling, conductor; Joseph Banowetz (Russian Philharmonic Orchestra)
- Mozart: "Piano Concertos Nos. 23 & 24" – Mitsuko Uchida (The Cleveland Orchestra)
- Porter, Quincy: "Concerto for Viola & Orchestra" – John McLaughlin Williams, conductor; Eliesha Nelson (Northwest Sinfonia)
- Best Instrumental Soloist Performance (without Orchestra)
- Chopin: "The Nocturnes" – Nelson Freire
- Hamelin: "Études" – Marc-André Hamelin
- Messiaen: "Livre du Saint-Sacrement" – Paul Jacobs
- Paganini: "24 Caprices" – Julia Fischer
- "20th Century Harp Sonatas" – Sarah Schuster Ericsson
- Best Chamber Music Performance
- Beethoven: "Complete Sonatas for Violin & Piano" – Isabelle Faust & Alexander Melnikov
- Gnattali: "Solo & Chamber Works for Guitar – Marc Regnier" (Tacy Edwards, Natalia Khoma & Marco Sartor)
- Ligeti: "String Quartets Nos. 1 & 2" – Parker Quartet
- Porter, Quincy: "Complete Viola Works" – Eliesha Nelson & John McLaughlin Williams (Douglas Rioth; Northwest Sinfonia)
- Schoenberg: "String Quartets Nos. 3 & 4" – Fred Sherry String Quartet (Christopher Oldfather & Rolf Schulte)
- Best Small Ensemble Performance
- "Ceremony and Devotion – Music for the Tudors" – Harry Christophers, conductor; The Sixteen
- "Dinastia Borja" – Jordi Savall, conductor; Hespèrion XXI & La Capella Reial De Catalunya (Pascal Bertin, Daniele Carnovich, Lior Elmalich, Montserrat Figueras, Driss El Maloumi, Marc Mauillon, Lluís Vilamajó & Furio Zanasi; Pascal Bertin, Daniele Carnovich, Josep Piera & Francisco Rojas)
- "Trondheimsolistene – In Folk Style" – Øyvind Gimse & Geir Inge Lotsberg, conductors (Emilia Amper & Gjermund Larsen; TrondheimSolistene)
- "Victoria: Lamentations Of Jeremiah" – Peter Phillips, conductor; The Tallis Scholars
- Whitacre, Eric: "Choral Music" – Noel Edison, conductor; Elora Festival Singers (Carol Bauman & Leslie De'Ath)
- Best Classical Vocal Performance
- "Ombre de Mon Amant – French Baroque Arias" – Anne Sofie Von Otter (William Christie; Les Arts Florissants)
- "Sacrificium" – Cecilia Bartoli (Giovanni Antonini; Il Giardino Armonico)
- Turina: "Canto A Sevilla" – Lucia Duchonová (Celso Antunes; NDR Radiophilharmonie)
- Vivaldi: "Opera Arias – Pyrotechnics" – Vivica Genaux (Fabio Biondi; Europa Galante)
- Wagner: "Wesendonck-Lieder" – Measha Brueggergosman (Franz Welser-Möst; The Cleveland Orchestra)
- Best Classical Contemporary Composition
- "Deus Ex Machina" – Michael Daugherty (Giancarlo Serrano)
- "Appassionatamente Plus" – Hans Werner Henze (Stefan Soltesz)
- "Graffiti" – Magnus Lindberg (Sakari Oramo)
- "Symphony No. 4" – Arvo Pärt (Esa-Pekka Salonen)
- "The Enchanted Wanderer" – Rodion Konstantinovich Shchedrin (Valery Gergiev)
- Best Classical Crossover Album
- Meeting of the Spirits – Matt Haimovitz (Amaryllis Jarczyk, Jan Jarczyk, John McLaughlin, Dominic Painchaud, Leanna Rutt & Matt Wilson)
- Off the Map – The Silk Road Ensemble
- Roots – My Life, My Song – Jessye Norman (Ira Coleman, Steve Johns, Mike Lovatt, Mark Markham & Martin Williams)
- Tin, Christopher: Calling All Dawns – Lucas Richman, conductor (Sussan Deyhim, Lia, Kaori Omura, Dulce Pontes, Jia Ruhan, Aoi Tada & Frederica von Stade; Anonymous 4 & Soweto Gospel Choir; Royal Philharmonic Orchestra)
- Vocabularies – Bobby McFerrin
Music video
- Best Short Form Music Video
"Bad Romance" – Lady Gaga
- Francis Lawrence, video director; Heather Heller, video producer
- "Ain't No Grave" – (Johnny Cash)
- Chris Milk, video director; Jennifer Heath, Aaron Koblin & Rick Rubin, video producers
- "Love the Way You Lie" – Eminem & Rihanna
- Joseph Kahn, video director; Maryann Tanedo, video producer
- "Stylo" – Gorillaz, Mos Def & Bobby Womack
- Pete Candeland & Jamie Hewlett, video directors; Cara Speller, video producer
- "Fuck You!" – Cee Lo Green
- Matt Stawski, video director; Paul Bock, video producer
- Best Long Form Music Video
- Tom Dicillo, video director; John Beug, Jeff Jampol, Peter Jankowski & Dick Wolf, video producers
- No Distance Left to Run – Blur
- Will Lovelace, Dylan Southern & Giorgio Testi, video directors; Thomas Benski, Laura Collins & Lucas Ochoa, video producers
- The Greatest Ears in Town: The Arif Mardin Story – Arif Mardin
- Doug Biro & Joe Mardin, video directors; Doug Biro & Joe Mardin, video producers
- Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage – Rush
- Sam Dunn & Scot McFadyen, video directors; Sam Dunn & Scot McFadyen, video producers
- Under Great White Northern Lights – The White Stripes
- Emmett Malloy, video director; Ian Montone & Mike Sarkissian, video producers