Last Updated on June 15, 2023 by Scott Shetler
“Producer of the Year” is shorthand for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical, the awkwardly-titled Grammy Award that goes to the music producer judged to have the most success in a given year. It was created in 1975. There is a separate award specifically for producers of classical music, called Producer of the Year, Classical.
Most career Producer of the Year nominations:
Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis 11
David Foster 7
Quincy Jones 7
Babyface 6
Nigel Godrich 5
Rick Rubin 5
Danger Mouse 5
Rob Cavallo 5
Most career Producer of the Year wins:
Babyface 4
David Foster 3
Quincy Jones 3
Pharrell Williams 3
Producer of the Year Winners and Nominees
Winners in bold; other nominees listed beneath.
2023: Jack Antonoff
Dan Auerbach
Boi-1da
DJ Dahi
Dernst “D’mile” Emile II
2022: Jack Antonoff
Roget Chahayed
Mike Elizondo
Hit-Boy
Ricky Reed
2021: Andrew Watt
Jack Antonoff
Dan Auerbach
Dave Cobb
Flying Lotus
2020: Finneas O’Connell
Jack Antonoff
Dan Auerbach
John Hill
Ricky Reed
2019: Pharrell Williams
Boi-1da
Larry Klein
Linda Perry
Kanye West
2018: Greg Kurstin
Calvin Harris
No I.D.
Black Mills
The Stereotypes
2017: Greg Kurstin
Benny Blanco
Max Martin
Nineteen85
Ricky Reed
2016: Jeff Bhasker
Dave Cobb
Diplo
Larry Klein
Blake Mills
2015: Max Martin
Paul Epworth
John Hill
Jay Joyce
Greg Kurstin
2014: Pharrell Williams
Rob Cavallo
Dr. Luke
Ariel Rechtstaid
Jeff Tweedy
2013: Dan Auerbach
Jeff Bhasker
Diplo
Markus Dravs
Salaam Remi
2012: Paul Epworth
Danger Mouse
The Smeezingtons
Ryan Tedder
Butch Vig
2011: Danger Mouse
Rob Cavallo
Dr. Luke
RedOne
The Smeezingtons
2010: Brendan O’Brien
T-Bone Burnett
Ethan Johns
Larry Klein
Greg Kurstin
2009: Rick Rubin
Danger Mouse
Nigel Godrich
Johnny K
will.i.am
2008: Mark Ronson
Howard Benson
Joe Chiccarelli
Mike Elizondo
Timbaland
2007: Rick Rubin
Howard Benson
T-Bone Burnett
Danger Mouse
will.i.am
2006: Steve Lillywhite
Danger Mouse
Nigel Godrich
Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis
The Neptunes
2005: John Shanks
T-Bone Burnett
Rob Cavallo
Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis
Tommy LiPuma
2004: The Neptunes
Nigel Godrich
Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis
The Matrix
Outkast
2003: Arif Mardin
Dr. Dre
Nellee Hooper
Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis
Rick Rubin
2002: T-Bone Burnett
Dr. Dre
Gerald Eaton & Brian West
Nigel Godrich
Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis
2001: Dr. Dre
Bill Bottrell
Nigel Godrich
Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis
Matt Serletic
2000: Walter Afanasieff
Rob Cavallo
Dan Huff
Rick Rubin
Matt Serletic
1999: Rob Cavallo
Michael Beinhorn
Tchad Blake
Sheryl Crow
Lauryn Hill
1998: Babyface
Walter Afanasieff
Paula Cole
Kirk Franklin
Keith Thomas
1997: Babyface
David Foster
Don Gehman
Brendan O’Brien
Don Was
1996: Babyface
Glen Ballard
Rick Chertoff
Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis
Rick Rubin
1995: Don Was
David Foster
Trevor Horn
Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis
Brendan O’Brien
1994: David Foster
Walter Afanasieff
Tony Brown
Bruce Fairbairn
Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis
Hugh Padgham
1993: Brian Eno & Daniel Lanois (tie)
LA Reid & Babyface (tie)
Mitchell Froom
Teddy Riley
Bruce Swedien
Chris Thomas
1992: David Foster
Walter Afansieff & Mariah Carey
Andre Fischer
Paul Simon
Keith Thomas
1991: Quincy Jones
Glen Ballard
Phil Collins & Hugh Padgham
Mick Jones & Billy Joel
Arif Mardin
1990: Peter Asher
Emilio Estefan, Jorge Casas & Clay Ostwald
Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis and Janet Jackson
LA Reid & Babyface
Prince
Tears for Fears & David Bascombe
1989: Neil Dorfsman
Thomas Dolby
David Kershenbaum
LA Reid & Babyface
Narada Michael Walden
1988: Narada Michael Walden
Emilio Estefan & the Jerks
Quincy Jones & Michael Jackson
Daniel Lanois & Brian Eno
John Mellancamp & Don Gehman
1987: Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis
David Foster
Michael Omartian
Paul Simon
Steve Winwood & Russ Titelman
1986: Phil Collins & Hugh Padgham
David Foster
Don Henley, Danny Kortchmar & Greg Ladanyi
Mark Knopfler & Neil Dorfsman
Narada Michael Walden
1985: David Foster (tie)
Lionel Richie & James Anthony Carmichael (tie)
Prince & the Revolution
Robert John “Mutt” Lange & the Cars
Michael Omartian
1984: Michael Jackson & Quincy Jones
James Anthony Carmichael & Lionel Richie
Jay Graydon
Quincy Jones
Phil Ramone
1983: Toto
Gary Katz
John Cougar Mellencamp & Don Gehman
David Foster
Quincy Jones
1982: Quincy Jones
Val Garay
Arif Mardin
Lionel Richie
Robert John “Mutt Lange” & Mick Jones
1981: Phil Ramone
Quincy Jones
Michael Omartian
Queen & Reinhold Mack
Stevie Wonder
1980: Larry Butler
Mike Chapman
Quincy Jones
Ted Templeman
Maurice White
1979: Bee Gees, Albhy Galuten & Karl Richardson
Peter Asher
Quincy Jones
Alan Parsons
Phil Ramone
1978: Peter Asher
Bee Gees, Albhy Galuten & Karl Richardson
Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff
Richard Perry
Bill Szymczyk
1977: Stevie Wonder
Richard Perry
Lenny Waronker
Joe Wissert
1976: Arif Mardin
Peter Asher
Gus Dudgeon
Dennis Lambert & Brian Potter
Bill Szymczyk
1975: Thom Bell
Rick Hall
Lenny Waronker
Stevie Wonder
Billy Sherrill
Find the Grammy Awards at grammy.com. See more Grammy winners and nominees throughout history.
