“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, that is unrelated to this one.
As of 2026, no woman has ever won this category. Only ten have been nominated.
This award often features many of the same names year after year. Iconic producers like Quincy Jones, David Foster, Babyface, and Jack Antonoff have won multiple times.
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
Dan Auerbach 5
Most career Producer of the Year wins:
Babyface 4
David Foster 3
Quincy Jones 3
Jack Antonoff 3
Pharrell Williams 3
Producer of the Year Winners and Nominees
Winners in bold; other nominees listed beneath.
2026: Cirkut
Dan Auerbach
Dijon
Blake Mills
Sounwave
2025: Daniel Nigro
Alissia
Dernst “D’mile” Emile II
Ian Fitchuk
Mustard
2024: Jack Antonoff
Dernst “D’mile” Emile II
Hit-Boy
Metro Boomin
Daniel Nigro
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 Mellencamp & 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.
Last Updated on February 2, 2026