The 58th Annual Grammy Awards, held on February 15, 2016, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, honored the best recordings, compositions, and artists of the eligibility year spanning from October 1, 2014, to September 30, 2015. Kendrick Lamar led the nominations with eleven nods, followed closely by Taylor Swift and The Weeknd with seven each. Swift ultimately emerged as one of the night's biggest winners, capturing Album of the Year for 1989, while Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars secured Record of the Year for "Uptown Funk."
Introduction to the 58th Annual Grammy Awards
The 58th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony stands as one of the defining moments in modern music history, celebrating a transitional era where streaming services began to heavily influence music consumption and traditional album sales. Hosted by rapper and actor LL Cool J for the fifth consecutive year, the event brought together the global music industry to recognize artistic excellence across 83 distinct categories.
Understanding the complete list of winners requires looking beyond the headline-grabbing categories like Album of the Year and Song of the Year. The Recording Academy evaluated a diverse musical landscape encompassing pop, hip-hop, rock, R&B, country, jazz, and classical genres. This comprehensive guide details the major winners, analyzes the defining moments of the evening, and provides a structured overview of the triumphs that shaped the musical landscape of 2016.
Major General Field Winners
The "General Field" of the Grammy Awards comprises the four most prestigious categories, which are open to artists regardless of genre: Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist. These categories capture the cultural touchstones of the eligibility period.
Album of the Year
Taylor Swift made history at the 58th ceremony by winning Album of the Year for 1989. With this victory, Swift became the first female solo artist to win the category twice, having previously won for Fearless in 2010. 1989 represented a critical and commercial pivot for Swift, successfully transitioning her from country music to pure pop.
- Nominees: Sound & Color by Alabama Shakes, To Pimp a Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar, Traveller by Chris Stapleton, and Beauty Behind the Madness by The Weeknd.
Record of the Year
Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars claimed Record of the Year for their ubiquitous funk-pop collaboration, "Uptown Funk." The track dominated global airwaves throughout 2015 and showcased a masterclass in retro-modern production.
- Nominees: "Really Love" by D'Angelo and the Vanguard, "Thinking Out Loud" by Ed Sheeran, "Blank Space" by Taylor Swift, and "Can't Feel My Face" by The Weeknd.
Song of the Year
Song of the Year honors the songwriters rather than the performing artists. Ed Sheeran and Amy Wadge won the prestigious award for "Thinking Out Loud," a heartfelt acoustic ballad that became a wedding staple worldwide and spent significant time atop the Billboard charts.
- Nominees: "Alright" by Kendrick Lamar, "Blank Space" by Taylor Swift, "Girl Crush" by Little Big Town, and "See You Again" by Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth.
Best New Artist
Meghan Trainor took home the award for Best New Artist, capping off a meteoric rise that began with her breakthrough 2014 hit "All About That Bass" and continued through her self-titled major-label debut album Title.
- Nominees: Courtney Barnett, James Bay, Sam Hunt, and Tori Kelly.
Summary Table of General Field Winners
| Category | Winner | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Album of the Year | Taylor Swift | 1989 |
| Record of the Year | Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars | "Uptown Funk" |
| Song of the Year | Ed Sheeran and Amy Wadge | "Thinking Out Loud" |
| Best New Artist | Meghan Trainor | — |
Genre-Specific Highlights and Winners
While the General Field captures mainstream success, the genre-specific categories recognize mastery within distinct musical communities. The 2016 ceremony featured notable triumphs that balanced commercial viability with profound critical acclaim.
Rap and Hip-Hop
Kendrick Lamar dominated the rap categories, translating his eleven nominations into five wins. His critically acclaimed third studio album, To Pimp a Butterfly, won Best Rap Album. Furthermore, his powerful track "Alright" won Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance, cementing the song as an anthem for the Black Lives Matter movement. Additionally, "These Walls" secured the Grammy for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.
Rock and Alternative
Alabama Shakes experienced a breakout night, winning multiple awards for their sophomore album Sound & Color. The album won Best Alternative Music Album, while their single "Don't Wanna Fight" earned accolades for Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song. Meanwhile, English rock band Muse won Best Rock Album for Drones.
Pop and R&B
In the pop categories, Taylor Swift added Best Pop Vocal Album for 1989 to her tally, while Ed Sheeran earned Best Pop Solo Performance for "Thinking Out Loud." In R&B, The Weeknd secured two Grammys: Best R&B Performance for "Earned It (Fifty Shades of Grey)" and Best Urban Contemporary Album for Beauty Behind the Madness. D'Angelo and the Vanguard won Best R&B Album for Black Messiah.
Country Music
Chris Stapleton achieved a monumental breakthrough at the 2016 ceremony. Following his performance with Justin Timberlake earlier in the evening, Stapleton's debut solo album Traveller won Best Country Album. He also took home Best Country Solo Performance for the album's title track, while Little Big Town won Best Country Duo/Group Performance and Best Country Song for "Girl Crush."
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the most Grammy Awards in 2016?
Kendrick Lamar won the most awards of the night, taking home five trophies out of his eleven nominations, largely driven by the immense success of his album To Pimp a Butterfly and its associated singles.
Which album won Album of the Year at the 2016 Grammys?
Taylor Swift won Album of the Year for 1989, making her the first female solo artist in history to win the category twice.
Who hosted the 58th Annual Grammy Awards?
Rapper and actor LL Cool J hosted the 58th Annual Grammy Awards. This marked his fifth consecutive year hosting the live broadcast from the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
What song won Record of the Year in 2016?
"Uptown Funk" by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars won Record of the Year, recognizing the collaborative effort of the producers, recording engineers, and performing artists.
How are Grammy winners determined?
Winners are voted on by the Recording Academy's voting membership body, which is comprised of music creators, including artists, songwriters, producers, mixers, and engineers. Voting members vote within their areas of expertise for the general categories and specific genre fields.
Practical Conclusion and Next Actions
Reviewing the historical record of the 2016 Grammy Awards winners provides valuable context on how popular music evolved during the mid-2010s, bridging the gap between physical media, digital downloads, and the dawn of streaming dominance. For music historians, researchers, and fans looking to explore the complete, unedited archive of all 83 categories—including technical fields like mastering, packaging, and classical composition—the official Recording Academy Grammy Awards Database offers searchable records of every nominee and winner across all historical ceremonies.
