Which Grammy category honors the songwriter rather than the recording artist?

Song of the Year is the Grammy category that honors the songwriter rather than the recording artist.

The award recognizes the writing of a song, including its lyrics and melody. Songwriters receive the Grammy even when they are not the people who perform the winning recording. This differs from Record of the Year, which honors the performance and production of a specific recording.

Song of the Year is one of the Grammy Awards’ four general-field honors, alongside Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best New Artist. It was first presented at the inaugural Grammy Awards in 1959, when “The Battle of New Orleans” won for songwriter Jimmy Driftwood.

A frequent mix-up is treating Song of the Year and Record of the Year as interchangeable. A performer may win both for the same song, but the awards recognize different creative contributions. Song of the Year focuses on composition, while Record of the Year focuses on the finished recording.