TheGrammy Award for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album (previously:Best Pop Instrumental Album) is an award presented at theGrammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards,[1] to recording artists for qualityinstrumental albums in thepop music genre. Honors in several categories are presented at the ceremony annually by theNational 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 award was first presented toJoe Jackson in 2001. According to the category description guide for the52nd Grammy Awards, the award is presented to albums containing "at least 51% playing time of newly recorded pop instrumental tracks".[3] As of 2025,Larry Carlton,Taylor Eigsti,Béla Fleck,Booker T. Jones,Edgar Meyer andSnarky Puppy are the only musicians to receive the award more than once. (Snarky Puppy has had the most wins, with 4.)Gerald Albright has received the most nominations, with six.
The award goes to the artist, producer and engineer/mixer of more than 50% of playing time on the winning album. A producer or engineer/mixer who worked on less than 50% of playing time, as well as the mastering engineer, can apply for a Winners Certificate.[4]
In 2015, the category was renamedBest Contemporary Instrumental Album and moved from the Pop category field to the Contemporary category field.[5] The category description did not change.
^[I] Each year is linked to the article about the Grammy Awards held that year. ^[II] An award was presented to James R. Jensen as the producer of the album.
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