The
Grammys, given out by National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS)
of the United States, are the most prestigious of numerous awards that honor
the music industry. And with the advent of music videos, there is a whole other
category of awards to honor that segment of the music industry: the MTV
"Moonman" for example. As in the movie industry there is
certain fiscal reward for being the most popular and making the most money through
sales. The Grammy Awards seek to honor outstanding achievement and artistry.
There is also a United States-based Latin Academy of Recording Arts and
Sciences with its own separate awards to honor works produced anywhere around
the world that were recorded in either Spanish or Portuguese.
The USA is home to various musical styles and has originated such defining genres as jazz and R&B, rock and roll and hip-hop. The most uniquely American music is probably COUNTRY. Like many things American, the popularity of Country music has spread around the world and been adopted by other countries. Originally known as "Country Western," its origins are in regional folk music of the Appalachian Mountains and the South. The early 20th century phenomenon of the "singing cowboy" helped to cement its image as that of the West. Even though cowboys exist in other countries like Argentina, Mexico and Australia, the culture and music of the American West and Southwest conjure up the epitome of the American spirit. Part of the broad appeal of Country Western is that anything west of the original thirteen colonies was at one time or another "The West" ! The current reigning capital of Country music is Nashville, Tennesee.
The two coastal poles of American culture: Los Angeles and New York, both play major roles in the music industry, but there are certainly other renown cities that contribute such as Detroit and Memphis and Miami. The Grammy Museum can be found @LA Live, across from Staples Center, which is the site of this year's ceremony in Los Angeles.
