Grammy Award for Best Recording Package

The Grammy Award for Best Recording Package is one of a series of Grammy Awards presented for the visual look of an album. It is presented to the art director of the winning album. An art director in the context of a music album is a professional responsible for overseeing the visual aspects of the album's production.

Grammy Award for Best Recording Package
Awarded forquality visual look of an album
CountryUnited States
Presented byNational Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
First awarded1959
Currently held byDry Cleaning – Stumpwork (2024)
Websitegrammy.com

Often, the performer also takes on the role of art director, rather than that of the designer. For larger projects or those associated with major labels, professional art directors and designers are typically involved, as specified by contractual agreements. Independent musicians, on the other hand, may handle these roles themselves.

This role includes designing the album cover, selecting artwork and photography, and coordinating the overall visual presentation that aligns with the music's theme and the artist's image. The art director works closely with graphic designers, photographers, and stylists to create a cohesive aesthetic that complements the music and enhances the artist's branding. This position is crucial in shaping how listeners perceive the album through its visual elements.

The Grammy Award for Best Album Cover dates back to the first Grammy Awards in 1959. From 1962 to 1965 it was separated into Classical and Non-Classical divisions. From 1966 to 1968 it was separated into Graphic Arts and Photography divisions. In 1974, the name of the award was changed to Best Album Package, and changed again in 1994 to the current name.

In 1995, boxed sets were no longer eligible, as they were split off into a separate award, currently known as the Grammy Award for Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package.

Winners and nominees

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Year[I] Art Director(s) Work Performing artist(s) Nominees
Performers are in parentheses
Ref.
1959 Frank Sinatra Frank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely Frank Sinatra
[1]
1959 Robert M. Jones Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5 Howard Mitchell (conducting the National Symphony Orchestra)
[2]
1961 Marvin Schwartz Latin ala Lee! Peggy Lee
[3]
1962
Best Album Cover – Other Than Classical [4]
Jim Silke Judy at Carnegie Hall Judy Garland
Best Album Cover – Classical
Marvin Schwartz Puccini: Madame Butterfly Gabriele Santini
1963
Best Album Cover – Other Than Classical [5]
Robert M. Jones Lena... Lovely and Alive Lena Horne
Best Album Cover – Classical
Marvin Schwartz The Intimate Bach Laurindo Almeida, Virginia Majewski & Vincent DeRosa
1964
Best Album Cover – Other Than Classical [6]
John Berg The Barbra Streisand Album Barbra Streisand
Best Album Cover – Classical
Robert M. Jones Puccini: Madama Butterfly Erich Leinsdorf
1965
Best Album Cover – Other Than Classical [7]
Robert Cato and Don Bronstein People Barbra Streisand
Best Album Cover – Classical
Robert M. Jones and Jan Balet Saint-Saëns: Carnival of the Animals/Britten: Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra Arthur Fiedler conducting the Boston Pops
1966
Best Album Cover, Graphic Arts [8]
George Estes and James Alexander Bartók: Concerto No. 2 for Violin/Stravinsky: Concerto for Violin Joseph Silverstein & Erich Leinsdorf conducting the Boston Symphony Orchestra
Best Album Cover, Photography
Robert M. Jones and Ken Whitmore Jazz Suite on the Mass Texts Paul Horn
1967
Best Album Cover, Graphic Arts [9]
Klaus Voormann Revolver The Beatles
Best Album Cover, Photography
Robert M. Jones and Les Leverette Confessions of a Broken Man Porter Wagoner
1968
Best Album Cover, Graphic Arts [10]
Peter Blake and Jann Haworth Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band The Beatles
Best Album Cover, Photography
John Berg, Bob Cato, and Rowland Scherman Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Bob Dylan
1969 John Berg, Richard Mantel, and Horn/Griner Studio Underground Thelonious Monk
[11]
1970 Evelyn J. Kelbish and David Stahlberg America the Beautiful Gary McFarland
[12]
1971 Robert Lockhart and Ivan Nagy Indianola Mississippi Seeds B. B. King
[13]
1972 Gene Brownell and Dean O. Torrence Pollution Pollution
[14]
1973 Acy Lehman and Harvey Dinnerstein The Siegel-Schwall Band The Siegel-Schwall Band
[15]
1974 Wilkes & Braun Tommy London Symphony Orchestra and Chambre Choir
[16]
1975 Ed Thrasher and Christopher Whorf Come & Gone Mason Proffit
[17]
1976 Jim Ladwig Honey Ohio Players
[18]
1977 John Berg Chicago X Chicago
[19]
1978 John Berg Love Notes Ramsey Lewis
[20]
1979 Johnny Lee and Tony Lane Boys in the Trees Carly Simon
[21]
1980 Mike Doud and Mick Haggerty Breakfast in America Supertramp
[22]
1981 Roy Kohara Against the Wind Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
[23]
1982 Peter Corriston Tattoo You The Rolling Stones
[24]
1983 Kosh and Ron Larson Get Closer Linda Ronstadt
[25]
1984 Robert Rauschenberg Speaking in Tongues Talking Heads
[26]
1985 Janet Perr She's So Unusual Cyndi Lauper
[27]
1986 Kosh and Ron Larson Lush Life Linda Ronstadt
[28]
1987 Eiko Ishioka Tutu Miles Davis
[29]
1988 Bill Johnson King's Record Shop Rosanne Cash
[30]
1989 Bill Johnson Tired of the Runnin' The O'Kanes
[31]
1990 Roger Gorman Sound + Vision David Bowie
[32]
1991 Len Peltier, Jeff Gold, and Suzanne Vega Days of Open Hand Suzanne Vega
[33][34]
1992 Vartan The Complete Decca Recordings Billie Holiday
[35]
1993 Melanie Nissen Spellbound Paula Abdul
[36]
1994 David Lau The Complete Billie Holiday on Verve 1945–1959 Billie Holiday
[37]
1995 Buddy Jackson Tribute to the Music of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys Asleep at the Wheel
[38]
1996 Robbie Cavolina and Joni Mitchell Turbulent Indigo Joni Mitchell
[39]
1997 Andy Engel and Tommy Steele Ultra-Lounge (Leopard Skin Sampler) Various Artists
[40]
1998 Hugh Brown, Al Q, and Jeff Smith Titanic: Music As Heard on the Fateful Voyage Various Artists
[41]
1999 Kevin Reagan Ray of Light Madonna
[42]
2000 Ray Benson, Sally Carns, and Buddy Jackson Ride With Bob Asleep at the Wheel
  • Carla Leighton – Bleecker Street: Greenwich Village in the 1960s (Various Artists)
  • Tammy Dotson, Michael Hodgson, and Clive Piercy – Late Night Sessions (Caravana Cubana)
  • Brad Benedict, Andy Engel, Johnny Lee, and Tommy Steele – Ultra-Lounge: Tiki Sampler (Various Artists)
  • Joseph Arthur and Zachary Larner – Vacancy (Joseph Arthur)
[43]
2001 Kevin Reagan Music Madonna
[45]
2002 Stanley Donwood and Tchocky Amnesiac (Special Limited Edition) Radiohead
[47]
2003 Kevin Reagan Home Dixie Chicks
[48]
2004 Ani DiFranco and Brian Grunert Evolve Ani DiFranco
[49]
2005 Peter Buchanan-Smith and Dan Nadel A Ghost Is Born Wilco
[50]
2006 Aimee Mann and Gail Marowitz The Forgotten Arm Aimee Mann [51]
2007 Adam Jones 10,000 Days Tool
[52]
2008 Zachary Nipper Cassadaga Bright Eyes
[53]
2009 Bruce Duckworth, Sarah Moffat and David Turner Death Magnetic Metallica
[54]
2010 Stefan Sagmeister Everything That Happens Will Happen Today David Byrne & Brian Eno
[55]
2011 Michael Carney Brothers The Black Keys
[56]
2012 Caroline Robert The Suburbs (Deluxe)[57] Arcade Fire
[58]
2013 Michael Amzalag & Mathias Augustyniak Biophilia Björk [59]
2014 Sarah Dodds and Shauna Dodds Long Night Moon Reckless Kelly
[60]
2015 Jeff Ament, Don Pendleton, Joe Spix, and Jerome Turner Lightning Bolt Pearl Jam
[61]
2016 Sarah Dodds, Shauna Dodds & Dick Reeves Still the King: Celebrating the Music of Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys Asleep at the Wheel
[62]
2017 Jonathan Barnbrook Blackstar David Bowie
[63]
2018 Carlos Dussan, Juliana Jaramillo, Juan Martinez & Claudio Roncoli El Orisha De La Rosa Magín Díaz
[64]
Sasha Barr, Ed Steed & Josh Tillman Pure Comedy (Deluxe Edition) Father John Misty
2019 Willo Perron Masseduction St. Vincent
[65]
2020 Barry Ament, Jeff Ament, & Joe Spix Chris Cornell Chris Cornell
  • Luisa María Arango, Carlos Dussan, Manuel García-Orozco & Juliana Jaramillo-Buenaventura – Anónimas & Resilientes (The Voces del Bullerengue)
  • Andrew Wong & Fongming Yang – Hold That Tiger (The Muddy Basin Ramblers)
  • Aaron Anderson & Eric Timothy Carlson – I,I (Bon Iver)
  • Irwan Awalludin – Intellexual (Intellexual)
[66]
2021 Doug Cunningham & Jason Noto Vols. 11 & 12 The Desert Sessions
[67]
2022 Li Jheng Han & Yu Wei Pakelang 2nd Generation Falangao Singing Group & The Chairman Crossover Big Band
[68]
2023 Chun-Tien Hsiao & Qing-Yang Xiao Beginningless Beginning Tamsu-Kavalan Chinese Orchestra [69]
2024 Rottingdean Bazaar (Luke Brooks & James Theseus Buck) and Annie Collinge Stumpwork Dry Cleaning [70]
2025 Winner TBA on 2 February 2025 [71]

Multiple wins

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The following individuals received two or more awards for Best Recording Package (or any previous iteration of the award):

Wins Art director
6 Robert M. Jones
5 John Berg
3 Kevin Reagan
Marvin Schwartz
2 Bill Johnson
Buddy Jackson
Jeff Ament
Joe Spix
Kosh
Ron Larson
Sarah Dodds
Shauna Dodds

References

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