Award Show Season: “And the Award Goes to…”
The well-known award shows, including the Emmys, Grammys, Oscars, Tonys, and Golden Globes, are held each year to recognize the achievements of the film, music, television, and theater industries in the past year. Each award show has specific categories and rules for qualification to honor further the artists who shape their fields.
Emmys
The Emmys are the annual presentation for accomplishments in the television industry. The awards are made by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS), where academy members may present nominees for each category. Awarded categories include dramatic series, comedy series, special drama, limited series, and variety, music, or comedy. Under the general distinction of these categories, members will vote on a best program and, in most categories, academy members will also select and nominate a best actor and actress, supporting actor and actress, director, and writer. Additional awards are given out for special achievements, the creative works behind a television program, and technical categories. Eligible programs must be distributed within the calendar year of January 1 to December 31 in order to be considered for a nomination.
Grammys
The Grammys are a series of awards presented by the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (NARAS) to recognize outstanding achievements in the music industry. Winners are selected from over 25 fields, covering genres including pop, rock, rap, R&B, country, reggae, classical, gospel, and jazz, as well as the production and behind-the-scenes work of producing a song, music video, and/or album. Four general awards are also recognized, including record, album, song of the year, and best new artist, totaling more than 75 being presented over the course of the evening. In order to be eligible for a nomination from the NARAS, the piece of music must be released between October 1st of the previous year and midnight of September 30th of the year of the Grammy ceremony, which will later be reviewed by members of the academy to determine further placement and ultimately, award winners.
Oscars
The Oscars represent the achievements of the film industry of the previous calendar year, recognizing the artists who have made a significant impact and contribution to the cinematic arts. Established in 1929, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) runs the Oscar Awards and the ceremony, looking each year to find the actors who will be selected from the following 24 categories: best picture, actor, supporting actress, director, original screenplay, adapted screenplay, cinematography, production design, editing, original score, original song, costume design, makeup, hairstyling, sound mixing, sound editing, visual effects, foreign-language film, animated feature film, animated short, live-action short, documentary feature, and documentary short. The academy also awards scientific and technical, special achievement, and honorary awards, although these are not awarded each season. To be eligible for a nomination, films must be released and completely paid for at least one week at a commercial theater in Los Angeles County between January 1 and midnight of December 31 of that year, with exceptions granted to foreign language films, which are expected to send their records to their country of origin in order for their nomination to be considered.
Tonys
The Tony Awards acknowledge distinguished achievement in American theater each year. Intending to recognize excellence in plays and musicals staged on Broadway, the American Theatre Wing, and the Broadway League award Best Play, Best Musical, Best Play Revival, and in categories such as acting, directing, music, choreography, set design, and costume design. Acting awards are given for leading roles and featured performances, separated into male and female categories. Additional aspects of show production are awarded including sound design, orchestration, and scenic design. For the 2025 Tony Award ceremony, any show that opened between April 26, 2024, and April 27, 2027, will be eligible for nomination.
Those who have won all four of the major entertainment awards – Emmys (television), Grammys (music), Oscars (film), and Tony (broadway) – are also awarded the distinction of an EGOT. As of the beginning of this year’s award season, only 21 artists have been recognized with this distinction.
Golden Globe
The Golden Globes are the awards presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) in recognition of outstanding achievement in motion pictures and television. While within the entertainment industry as a whole, the Golden Globes are considered to be the second most important award show. It is often compared to the Oscars for film and the Emmys for television, however the award ceremony is still very honorable. For each genre, the Golden Globes are broken up into several categories. The film awards recognize Best Motion Picture, Best Actor, and Best Actress, each separated into divisions for drama and for comedy or musicals. Supporting acting performances, direction, screenwriting, music, animated works, and foreign language films are also included in the evening’s awards. The television awards include those for drama series, comedy or musicals, miniseries or movies, and acting performances in each medium.
The 2025 Grammys are shaping up to be nothing short of iconic, set to blend fresh faces with industry legends for a night of history in music. With Cowboy Carter by Beyoncé standing out in the Album of the Year category, closely followed by Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department, the evening promises a battle of the industry’s best with a handful of exciting newcomers.
In the coveted Record of the Year category, the nominees range from icons like The Beatles with their farewell track Now and Then to bold, fresh sounds like Sabrina Carpenter’s Espresso and Kendrick Lamar’s Not Like Us. Each track brings something unique to the table, whether that be a pop song or a diss track, showcasing the broad spectrum of contemporary music.
Meanwhile, Album of the Year is expected to be a close race, with Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter and Billie Eilish’s HIT ME HARD AND SOFT, Charli XCX’s BRAT standing alongside Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department and Sabrina Carpenters Short n’ Sweet. Each album reflects deeply personal stories and a new beginning for some; all in all, these picks are prime examples of innovative production.
Song of the Year highlights lyrical excellence with Taylor Swift’s Fortnight featuring Post Malone, Kendrick Lamars Not Like Us, and Billie Eillishis Birds of a Feather, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ unexpected collaboration Die With a Smile, and Shaboozey’s hit song on TikTok, A Bar Song (Tipsy). Beyoncé’s TEXAS HOLD ‘EM also stands strong, marking her continued influence across genres.
One of the most anticipated moments of the night will come from the Best New Artist category. Where breakout stars like Gracie Abrams and Tyla bring a new energy to the industry. Their modern sound reflects a shift in pop culture, blending genres effortlessly and resonating with younger audiences.
The Grammys aren’t just about competition, they’re about the celebration of creativity and the power of music to connect people across the world. Whether it’s Beyoncé potentially breaking more records, Taylor Swift delivering another emotional speech, or a surprise performance, the night is sure to deliver many more memorable moments.
Social media will buzz with live reactions, debates over who was ‘robbed’ this year, and viral moments. Expect standout performances and a few surprises, all underscoring the night’s theme of a powerful intersection of tradition and innovation.
Award shows have been going on since the 1950s. However, once the pandemic hit in 2020, the movie and TV industry was affected greatly. Theatres were closed to watch movies fresh out of production and no new movies could be filmed. Award shows themselves were difficult to film during the pandemic. Since then, the Emmy Awards hit their all-time low with 4.3 viewers in 2023.
On the other hand, shows like the Oscars and Grammys have since improved from the pandemic. Some of the Oscars’ success can be attributed to the rebirth of the movie theatre with blockbusters like Barbie, Oppenheimer, more fondly known as “Barbinheimer”, and, most recently, Wicked. Barbie joined the ranks of box office greats with a lifetime gross of $1,446,938,421. Although newer fans of media have tuned into the award shows, because of the shows’ deep-rooted history, it seems obvious that they garner predominantly adult audiences.
To better understand the younger generation’s view of award shows, Eastside surveyed Cherry High School Hill East students. Among 53 total responses, 36% said they do not watch award shows at all. Thirteen students specifically reasoned that award shows are boring and they do not care much for them. For the minds of people who have adapted to quick TikTok videos, award shows seem too long in comparison.
“They never keep my attention long enough, [they’ve] become a little drawn out,” one student expressed in the survey. Many students accounted for the ease of finding the results the next day via social media.
Another student stated, “I don’t care and can find the results the next day easier than just sitting waiting. None of the stuff I like gets nominated for the award shows anyway.”
Another factor in the decline of viewership is the rise of streaming services. In the past few years, families around the country have made the executive decision to cut cable television and rely on streaming services like Netflix or Hulu instead. Award shows are available on certain streaming platforms, like Hulu or Paramount+, but many will not purchase a subscription for one night of use. Some other students factored in their busy schedules.
“I just don’t find myself having the time or interest to invest a part of my time into watching award shows, especially while I have so much work at school. I also don’t often have the channels or streaming services to access them, either.” Because of these various factors, many East students are uninterested in award shows.
Though 36% of students made their dislike of award shows clear, the other 64% of students answered the contrary. According to survey answers, at 44%, the Grammy Awards is the most popular among students, followed by the Oscar Awards at 27% and the Tony Awards at 15%. People enjoy watching when they recognize many of the nominees. Although they may set themselves up for disappointment when their favorite does not win, the shows are more compelling when you have something, or someone, to root for.
The Oscars, Emmys, and Golden Globes are among three of the most popular awards given to actors for their work in the industry, however they are not the only rewards they can receive. Actors also get a chance to to receive accolades for their work with the SAG award or one of many choice awards. They also, unfortunately, may be up for a Raspberry award, which can have the opposite meaning from an Oscar. Additionally, artists that may not win a Grammy for their melodies can still win a VMA or Billboard Music Award for ther music.
SAG
The Screen Actors Guild Award is among one of the many awards in Hollywood to honor outstanding performances in movies and television. The award was founded by Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, or SAG-AFTRA in 1995 to honor both individual performances and the work of an entire ensemble on comedy and drama series, as well as a cast of a motion picture. Formed in 1933, the union was formed to represent film and television cast performers, both principal and background actors. The award allows ensemble casts to be rewarded for their hard work in the industry to create a powerful drama or amusing comedy. This year, the SAG awards show will be held at the Shrine Auditorium in LA on February 23.
Critic’s Choice, People’s Choice, and Kid’s Choice Awards
Each one of the choice awards allows different voices to express their opinions about film, television, and music in the world. The Critic’s Choice Awards, held in Barkar Hangar in Santa Monica, CA, applaud cinematic achievements, given to actors, actresses, and artists by the American-Canadian Critics Choice Association (CCA). The People’s Choice Awards, like the Critic’s Choice Awards, recognizes people in the entertainment industry, voted for by the general public and fans online. This year, it will be on February 16 in Barkar Hangar as well. The Kid’s Choice is to honor big actors and actresses, as well as musicians by Nickolodeon viewers. The Kid’s choice allows the kids voices to be heard and express their opinions on those in the entertainment industry.
Raspberry Awards
A parody of Oscars and other positive awards, the Raspberry Awards honor the worst of cinematic failures. The Golden Raspberry Foundation was created by UCLA film graduates as a satirical version of award shows like the Oscars or the Golden Globes. Stars like Halle Berry and Sandra Bullock have received these awards, with their speeches running with the joke. Sylvester Stallone holds the record for most “Razzie” Awards won. The show is held close to the Oscars, giving cinematic disappointments a time to shine while critically acclaimed films are praised at the Oscars.
MTV VMAs
A Video Music Award (VMA) honors the best music videos for a single. The award has been given since the 1980s, with significant artists such as Cyndi Lauper and Michael Jackson winning. The categories include best music video for pop artists, rnb artists, rap artists, and others of various genres. It allows all artists to get a chance to showcase their creativity in how they want their songs to be perceived in a story-like frame. Taylor Swift currently holds the record for most VMAs won by a solo artist, winning 30 trophies between 2009 and 2024. Known as the “superbowl for the youth”, the VMAs are another award in which fans get a chance to vote and choose too. The event occurs at the end of summer and is held in either NYC or LA.
Billboard Music Awards
The BillBoard charts are no doubt something everyone has heard of. It is one of the most renowned names in the music industry. The Billboard charts highlight the top names in music today. The Billboard Music Awards accounts for the popularity of albums and songs, not necessarily just the critics’ thoughts. Located in MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV, the Billboard Music Awards Show is an event that accounts for album and digital sales, radio airplay, touring, social engagement, and streaming. Like the VMAs, Taylor Swift currently holds the record for most Billboard Music Awards won by an artist.