The most prestigious awards in music:

The Grammys

Chamari SENANAYAKE

The most prestigious award in music, the 52nd Annual Grammy awards took place on January 31, 2010 at Staples Centre in Los Angeles, California. This year Neil Young was honoured as the 2010 MusiCares Person of the year, two days prior to the Grammy telecast. Altogether 109 awards were given out as the traditional Gold plated small Gramophone trophies. The Grammy Awards (originally called the Gramophone Awards) are presented annually by the 'National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences' of the United Sates for outstanding achievements in the music industry. The awards ceremony features performances by prominent artists, and some of the awards of more popular interest are presented in a widely-viewed televised ceremony.

Beyonce Knowles, who was nominated for 10 categories this year, set a record for female artists with her half-dozen wins. Her "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" earned three awards - Song of the Year, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song, while her "At Last" earned her Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance honours, and "Halo" was the top Female Pop Vocal Performance.

The youthful Kings of Leon claimed Record of the Year for "Use Somebody," which also earned the Nashville-rooted band Best Rock Song and Rock Performance by a duo or Group with Vocals. The "Run This Town" trio Jay-Z, Kanye West, and Rihanna were two-time winners, collecting gramophones for Best Rap Song and Rap/Sung Collaboration.

The most famous faces from Hollywood presented the awards and Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin, Milley Cyrus, Carlos Santana, Seal, Ryan Seacrest and Quentin Tarantino were some of them.

During the evening, performances included Taylor Swift and Stevie Nicks; Mary J. Blige and Andrea Bocelli, whose "Bridge Over Troubled Water" duet will be available on iTunes for Haiti relief; T-Pain, Slash and Jamie Foxx; and Eminem, Lil Wayne and Drake, backed by Travis Barker on drums, who brought down the house with a rollicking show-closing, bleep-filled performance.

With her imitation of circus style, cradled in white bunting, Pink spent a whole minute singing while spinning around and around and then, by the power of production tricks, she ended up soaked and spraying water every which way. Also, Black Eyed Peas (three-time winners) had energy to spare and gave a powerful performance.

Although almost all award shows have paid their respects to Michael Jackson since his death, the Grammys topped them all on Sunday night because they not only displayed the King of Pop's music but captured the sentiment of one of the issues closest to his heart -saving the planet.

Then for the shocking finale, introduced by Lionel Ritchie, Jackson's two eldest children, Prince Michael and Paris, accepted the Grammy "Lifetime Achievement" on their father's behalf accompanied by their cousins.

Celine Dion, Usher, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson, and Smokey Robinson joined for a performance of Jackson's "Earth Song" as a 3D version of the video from Jackson's concert/movie 'This is It' played in the background. Michael Jackson's voice was heard talking about his passion of saving our planet and then part of the song was sung by Jackson.

It was clear that seeing Jackson's kids walk out was emotional to everyone, as the entire hall gave a standing ovation. Prince Michael and Paris wore black suits with red arm bands, an outfit which Jackson often wore.

The two children looked amazingly confident and composed and Michael Jackson would have been proud to hear son speaking these words, "We like to thank the fans, our father loved you so much," Prince Michael said. "Our father was always concerned about the planet.

Through his hard work and dedication he has helped many charities and donated to all of them." Prince Michael added that his father's music had a universal theme of love. "We will continue to spread his message," he said.

"The Staples Centre in Los Angeles where the Grammy awards were held ironically was the final place Michael Jackson was in final rehearsals for his tour when he died.

The record for the most Grammy Awards in a lifetime is held by Sir Georg Solti, a Hungarian-British conductor who conducted the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for twenty-two years. He has won 31 Grammy Awards. Most Grammys won by a male artist was by Steve Wonder, who won 22 Grammys. Alison Krauss as a solo artist, producer, and collaborator has won 26 Grammy Awards as the female artist who has won most Grammys. U2 has won 22 Grammy Awards in their career, more than any other recording group or band. Quincy Jones with 27 awards holds the record for most Grammys won by a music producer. The Record for Most Grammys won in one night 8 which is tied between Michael Jackson in 1984 and Santana in 2000.

The Record for Most Grammys won in one night by a male artist Michael Jackson who in 1984 won 8 awards. In 1984 Michael Jackson set the record for most Grammy Nominations in one night with 12 nominations.

Earth Song -Michael Jackson

What about sunrise What about rain What about all the things That you said we were to gain.. . What about killing fields Is there a time What about all the things That you said was yours and mine... Did you ever stop to notice All the blood we've shed before Did you ever stop to notice The crying Earth the weeping shores?"

Prominent winners of the night

Album of the Year: Fearless, Taylor Swift

Record of the Year: "Use Somebody," Kings of Leon

Song of the Year: "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)," Beyoncé

New Artist: Zac Brown Band

POP

Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals: The Black Eyed Peas, "I Gotta Feeling"

Pop Vocal Album: The E.N.D., The Black Eyed Peas

Female Pop Vocal Performance: Beyoncé, "Halo"

Male Pop Vocal Performance: Jason Mraz, "Make It Mine" Traditional

Pop Vocal Album: Michael Bublé Meets Madison Square Garden, Michael Bublé

Pop Collaboration With Vocals: Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat, "Lucky"

Pop Instrumental Performance: Bela Fleck, "Throw Down Your Heart"

Pop Instrumental Album: Potato Hole, Booker T. Jones

R&B

Female R&B Vocal Performance: Beyoncé, "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)"

Male R&B Vocal Performance: Maxwell, "Pretty Wings"

R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals: Jamie Foxx and T-Pain, "Blame It"

Traditional R&B Vocal Performance: Beyoncé, "At Last"

R&B Song: "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)," Beyoncé

R&B Album: Blacksummers' Night, Maxwell

Contemporary R&B Album: I Am...Sasha Fierce, Beyoncé

RAP

Rap/Sung Collaboration: "Run This Town," Jay- Z, Rihana, and Kanye West

Rap Performance by a Duo or Group: "Crack a Bottle," Eminem, Dr. Dre and 50 Cent

Rap Song: "Run This Town," Jay-Z, Rihanna and Kanye West

Rap Album: Relapse, Eminem

Rap Solo Performance: Jay-Z, "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)" Urban/Alternative Performance: India.Arie and Dobet Gnahoré, "Pearls"

COUNTRY

Country Album: Fearless, Taylor Swift

Female Country Vocal Performance: Taylor Swift, "White Horse"

Male Country Vocal Performance: Keith Urban, "Sweet Thing"

Country Song: "White Horse," Taylor Swift

Country Collaboration With Vocals: "I Told You So," Carrie Underwood and Randy Travis

Country Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals: Lady Antebellum, "I Run to You"

Country Instrumental Performance: Steve Wariner, "Producer's Medley"

ROCK

Rock Album: 21st Century Breakdown, Green Day

Solo Rock Vocal Performance: Bruce Springsteen, "Working on a Dream"

Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals: Kings of Leon, "Use Somebody"

Rock Song: "Use Somebody," Kings of Leon

Hard Rock Performance: AC/DC, "War Machine"

Metal Performance: Judas Priest, "Dissident Aggressor"

Rock Instrumental Performance: Jeff Beck, "A Day in the Life"

DANCE

Dance Recording: "Poker Face," Lady Gaga

Electronic/Dance Album: The Fame, Lady Gaga

Some of the Others

Musical Show Album: West Side Story

Compilation Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: Slumdog Millionaire

Score Soundtrack Album to Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: Up, Michael Giacchino

Song Written for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: "Jai Ho" (from Slumdog Millionaire), A.R. Rahman, Sukhvinder Singh, Tanvi Shah, Mahalaxmi Iyer and Vijay Prakash

Instrumental Composition: Married Life (from Up), Michael Giacchino

Instrumental Arrangement: "West Side Story Medley," Bill Cunliffe.